We've had a communication breakthrough! Google Translate is our only option for emergent translation, but the voice recording is an awkward robot sounding guy. I honestly didn't think you'd be able to understand him. But in a pinch, I grabbed Captain Albanian Robot and you totally understood it and responded. Hallelujah! The phrases are simple but we now have at least a one way method of adequate communication.
Three more medical visits this week. You've had some damage to your ear drums, probably from untreated ear infections, but your hearing hasn't been affected much which is awesome. Your brother can be our super ear champ. You can be our glasses victor. Your speech evaluation was hysterical. Either you know WAY MORE English than I've given you credit for, or you are an absolute rain man in speech evaluations, 'counting cards' if you will and choosing the right word from a field of four. Seems "bolder" and "disgusting" are in your vocab arsenal! The orthopedics evaluation went as expected. You need major-major surgery on both your hips and feet. There is no acute issue; your body has taken good care of you for nearly 14 years, but to ensure your long term engagement in life we'll need to come up with a good plan in the next year or so. I am thankful to hear that you don't have any activity limitations; we'll listen to your body as it tells us what you can and cannot do.
You haven't started school yet, but we got to visit your classroom and meet your teachers and some of your new classmates. The middle school is BIG and busy and I could see you were feeling a bit overwhelmed, but when I told you so many of these students could be your friend you literally hugged me. Sweet girl. You left your life long best friends and an active institution with tons of people to engage with every day to a home of three. I know the quiet of our current cocooning has been an adjustment and you are eager for friends...like any teenager would be. You LOVED your classmates and showed some new academic skills I didn't know you had! Read your first word!! (bear) and attempted to sound out & spell the names of your favorite people. And you just learned the alphabet! Your teachers were FLOORED. I fully expect that once you are exposed to formal education you are going to absolutely take off! The sky is the limit Sweet Girl.
In an exciting development, I have officially moved up to NUMBER ONE on Mila's List of Eight Most Important People! I'm not sure how that happened but I'm not one to question the polls. *wink* I jest, but we crossed a major hurdle this week. It wasn't with any fanfare but slowly and softly. I noticed you haven't been declaring you are going to Elbasan or Shkodra "tomorrow" any more. Then you casually started calling our home "my house", which felt really big to me. But when you joyfully mentioned you wanted your favorite Sister to come to YOUR house in America, I knew we had crossed over. You've rooted yourself. You are HOME.
Three more medical visits this week. You've had some damage to your ear drums, probably from untreated ear infections, but your hearing hasn't been affected much which is awesome. Your brother can be our super ear champ. You can be our glasses victor. Your speech evaluation was hysterical. Either you know WAY MORE English than I've given you credit for, or you are an absolute rain man in speech evaluations, 'counting cards' if you will and choosing the right word from a field of four. Seems "bolder" and "disgusting" are in your vocab arsenal! The orthopedics evaluation went as expected. You need major-major surgery on both your hips and feet. There is no acute issue; your body has taken good care of you for nearly 14 years, but to ensure your long term engagement in life we'll need to come up with a good plan in the next year or so. I am thankful to hear that you don't have any activity limitations; we'll listen to your body as it tells us what you can and cannot do.
You haven't started school yet, but we got to visit your classroom and meet your teachers and some of your new classmates. The middle school is BIG and busy and I could see you were feeling a bit overwhelmed, but when I told you so many of these students could be your friend you literally hugged me. Sweet girl. You left your life long best friends and an active institution with tons of people to engage with every day to a home of three. I know the quiet of our current cocooning has been an adjustment and you are eager for friends...like any teenager would be. You LOVED your classmates and showed some new academic skills I didn't know you had! Read your first word!! (bear) and attempted to sound out & spell the names of your favorite people. And you just learned the alphabet! Your teachers were FLOORED. I fully expect that once you are exposed to formal education you are going to absolutely take off! The sky is the limit Sweet Girl.
In an exciting development, I have officially moved up to NUMBER ONE on Mila's List of Eight Most Important People! I'm not sure how that happened but I'm not one to question the polls. *wink* I jest, but we crossed a major hurdle this week. It wasn't with any fanfare but slowly and softly. I noticed you haven't been declaring you are going to Elbasan or Shkodra "tomorrow" any more. Then you casually started calling our home "my house", which felt really big to me. But when you joyfully mentioned you wanted your favorite Sister to come to YOUR house in America, I knew we had crossed over. You've rooted yourself. You are HOME.
Isaac:
You and your sister are tag-teaming me in the jealousy department as one of you always seem to NEED to be glued to me and away from the other during one part of the day or other. I expected this, but what has impressed me with you is how quickly you are bouncing back. Separation anxiety is a real struggle for you. It is the nasty shadow of your own adoption that we have struggled to manage for five of the last six years. But you can feel it coming now and look to me for reassurance...and then you are reassured! Yes, momma can love you and sister at the same time. Yes, momma will always come back and give you exactly what you need. Yes, you can help show sister that she is loved too. This is a really big deal! The layers of your own heart are healing as you welcome your sister. Three times this week I saw you step out in leadership & compassion to care for either Mila or someone else all on your own. You saw a need and you helped meet it---oh buddy, that is Jesus living in you. That makes me so very proud.
Also, you've taught Mila "Jingle Bells" and you prefer the Michael Buble version to be played on repeat (for more than an hour solid!) while you both sing at the TOP OF YOUR LUNGS in the back of the car. It's hysterical! I can only imagine what the people around us think is happening! The cherry on top is instead of asking for the music to be "louder please" (which is what I thought I taught you) you ask for "more music in my ears please". hahaha!
You and your sister are tag-teaming me in the jealousy department as one of you always seem to NEED to be glued to me and away from the other during one part of the day or other. I expected this, but what has impressed me with you is how quickly you are bouncing back. Separation anxiety is a real struggle for you. It is the nasty shadow of your own adoption that we have struggled to manage for five of the last six years. But you can feel it coming now and look to me for reassurance...and then you are reassured! Yes, momma can love you and sister at the same time. Yes, momma will always come back and give you exactly what you need. Yes, you can help show sister that she is loved too. This is a really big deal! The layers of your own heart are healing as you welcome your sister. Three times this week I saw you step out in leadership & compassion to care for either Mila or someone else all on your own. You saw a need and you helped meet it---oh buddy, that is Jesus living in you. That makes me so very proud.
Also, you've taught Mila "Jingle Bells" and you prefer the Michael Buble version to be played on repeat (for more than an hour solid!) while you both sing at the TOP OF YOUR LUNGS in the back of the car. It's hysterical! I can only imagine what the people around us think is happening! The cherry on top is instead of asking for the music to be "louder please" (which is what I thought I taught you) you ask for "more music in my ears please". hahaha!
Me:
You are taking advantage of the quiet after bedtime and feeling much more recharged. There have been several, uh, "distinct parenting opportunities", lets say, this week with both kiddos. You are teaching them boundaries, forgiveness and unconditional love. The Holy Spirit has been present and whispered His wisdom in the intimacy of those family moments: "draw them near; show them how to come to Me boldly without any shame." These are big foundation blocks being laid in their journey with the Lord. Things that you get to model for them (yippee *no pressure*). There have been some pretty solid giggles too: "Isaac, please don't put wet oranges in your sister's shoes" (classic little brother move); "Mila, it IS Jesus's birthday, but I don't think He needs a red sparkly dress" (nice try). Bunch of yahoos.
You are taking advantage of the quiet after bedtime and feeling much more recharged. There have been several, uh, "distinct parenting opportunities", lets say, this week with both kiddos. You are teaching them boundaries, forgiveness and unconditional love. The Holy Spirit has been present and whispered His wisdom in the intimacy of those family moments: "draw them near; show them how to come to Me boldly without any shame." These are big foundation blocks being laid in their journey with the Lord. Things that you get to model for them (yippee *no pressure*). There have been some pretty solid giggles too: "Isaac, please don't put wet oranges in your sister's shoes" (classic little brother move); "Mila, it IS Jesus's birthday, but I don't think He needs a red sparkly dress" (nice try). Bunch of yahoos.
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