52 Weeks of Family: Week 10

Mila:

Before you came home, it didn't occur to me to ask what your exposure to animals had been. We don't have any pets, save two fish, but we have lots of pet friends in our social circle. I should have asked, 'cuz the first time you HEARD a dog bark in public our first week home YOU. FREAKED. OUT and I thought...oh crap; we've got to fix this fast. Operation Dogs Are Awesome started immediately. I learned how to say "dogs are our friends" in Albanian and we waved at every dog we saw...anywhere. I rolled down your car window as we drove by them, we waved and said Hi Friend Dog to every single one.  We looked a pictures. We watched videos. We played with stuffed dogs (you didn't like that so much). And aside from having to explain why the "dogs" that chase Anna and Kristoff in FROZEN and the dogs in THE STAR who are literally trying to kill Baby Jesus aren't our friends we powered through with some serious enthusiasm. As Christmas neared we talked about a dog coming to our house and looked a pictures of Uncle Thad's dog and how fun he is: "Fun friend dog. In our house. Yeah!"  When Uncle Thad arrived we met him in the drive way so you could see the dog in a car (something you were used to)...but you weren't having it.  Nuts.  We talked. I held you. You watched from the other room as your brother played with the dog and gave him commands. You heard me say over and over "It's OK. You are OK", begging your heart to trust me.  Gramma said, "it's OK", Isaac said "it's OK", Uncle Thad said "You're OK"...and then you were OK.  It became your mantra through the evening. So much so we couldn't tell if you were telling yourself or the dog or us: "it's OK, it's OK, it's OK" (it got to be funny!).  And then...you reached out and petted the 75 pound German shepherd!  And liked it!!  I'm so proud of you honey. That was a brave thing to do.  You trusted your family. You believed that you were OK. You didn't let fear drive you away. No one forced you to do a thing; you made the choice on your own. Such a brave girl.  I am pretty sure "Dogggg. It's OK. It's OK. Sit down!" is going to be a new family phrase *wink*

You made it through Christmas without any major issues. You seemed a bit overwhelmed with the number of gifts from friends & family but I could tell which ones you liked best as you immediately took those to your room where they couldn't be touched. *wink* You have enjoyed the Christmas season so very much, I think it'll be sad for you to see it packed up and put away.

Food has not been an issue for you. I think mostly because you are used to eating what is put in front of you...which is kinda great, if you have to pick an upside to lifelong institutionalization.  You have found a few preferences in your time HOME though--pizza, hamburgers & fried rice!  Silly girl, you are fitting right into this Asian-American family.

Eating your first hot dog--thumbs up!

Isaac:

Pneumonia is the worst. I've lost track of how many times you've had this nasty affliction in your little life...are we up to 6? 8 even? I hate it and how it makes you feel, forced to sit upright to breath in the middle of the night to avoid your lungs filling with fluid. Uggggggg. I'm thankful that your body is stronger than it was when you first came home. You almost didn't make it through that first bout with 11 days in the hospital. This time, six years later, we know what to do and your body knows how to fight. We've got this.

You are doing a good job taking care of your sister, you want so desperately to be her bestie.  NS when you two aren't annoying the daylights out of each other you are indeed best buds. The current conversation that I hear 15 times per day is:

Isaac: Eee-la, chill. OK? Thank you.
Mila: Isaac, NO chill. Thank you. 

I have to laugh. At least you are both using your manners!  None of the sibling bickering really bothers me, truly. Neither of you have ever had to share life before like this and you need time to navigate what your relationship is going to be like. Many times I sit back and let the two of you figure it out, even if it gets a little ugly. I never allow disrespect and purposeful injury is never ok, but the rest is part of building relationship.  You'll both figure it out together.

Playing together with one of your new toys:

Me:

This time of unpaid leave has been an exercise of faith. The dishwasher, hot water heater and guest bathroom all decided to act up. The radiator and water pump in the car both had to be emergently replaced. And this week the alternator blew up while you were out doing errands---it was a day that you were supposed to be up in the mountains playing in the snow. Can you imagine if you had actually been up there?! The beauty of it all is how God has provided. Isaac's pneumonia had cancelled our mountain plans. And you "just happened" get a check in the mail two days prior from an old church friend who knew all the adoption fees had been paid but 'just wanted to do something'. That money bought a new alternator.  Thank you Jesus.   
The kids go back to school later this week and you'll have a few days to catch up before returning to work yourself. These weeks have flown by!