Seven Weeks Together

Good gravy, it's been a busy week!  There is a lot to report, so get your reading glasses on...

• Morning routine.  I think we've got it figured out...including me getting a shower while Isaac is awake.  It involves pulling him in the highchair into the bathroom and me singing The Itsy-bitsy Spider for 10-12 minutes, but everyone ends up clean & happy! (Thankfully, through the week we've upgraded to the ipod and the Frank Sinatra Pandora channel, which Isaac LOVES...and I think that is funny!)
 
• First Packer Game. Not sure I want to talk about this one...thankfully, Isaac was already asleep by the time "the incident" happened so he will forever be spared that ugly piece of our history. On a brighter note...look how stinking cute he is with his jersey & cheesehead!

Ready for his first Packer game.

Sorry kiddo.
When China gets a professional football team, we'll talk about options.

 

• Eye exam. We got the A-OK from the pediatric opthamologist this week. Isaac does not have 20/20 vision but he is not crossing his eyes to accommodate like many kids with Ds do, so no glasses for us right now. (Hallelujah!) We'll check back in quarterly for a while just to keep ahead of the game in case he does need some super cute specs in the future.
 
• Hearing test. Isaac isn't especially fond of anyone messing with his ears so this test was a little more complicated. The pediatric audiologist was giving me the initial report of probable hearing loss while Isaac was on the floor dancing to his musical panda so I'm not too worried. :) Some degree of hearing loss is common in Ds so we'll get a more accurate test in a few months and then get tested twice a year for quite a while.
 
• Developmental report.  We met with Isaac's early intervention case manager, speech therapist, and occupational therapist for a couple hours this week to review last week's evaluation. They were uber-impressed with Isaac's domination of the learning curve and couldn't stress enough how quickly he is picking up new skills. He officially only has minor delays in his speech and motor skills, but we are going to take full advantage of the resources available to us in the coming months.  I'm excited to see how much he learns & grows! 

• Heart evaluation. We confirmed this week that Isaac does indeed have a little hole in his heart, called a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). Of all the holes in the heart that a child can be born with, this is actually the 'best' one to have and the easiest to fix, so I am happy about that (I've put some information below). There are two other holes that are more common in Ds that are more complicated to repair (open heart surgery is needed) but Isaac doesn't show any signs of those, which is AWESOME.  We'll have an appointment with a pediatric cardiac surgeon soon to develop a treatment plan, which will most likely include patching the hole by going through a vein instead of major surgery.  Isaac was super through the two hour appointment, although he wasn't fond of the ultrasound gel in his armpit!
 

 



Baby's first EKG. One for the baby book.



Getting his echocardiogram.
He was fascinated by the colors on the screen

 
• Preparing for daycare.  That's right...the day has come. Starting tomorrow I return to work part time (16hours per week) and Isaac will start at the Knowledge Kollege. I love my profession and am blessed to have a job that is flexible, close to home, & provides for us as a family...but I have dreaded this day. I just don't want to be away from my sweet boy! To prepare, we did a dry run to daycare; getting up and going just like we will this next week. We spent an hour together in Isaac's classroom with some of his future friends.  He was cautious and didn't stray far from me for quite a while, but warmed up to his teachers...and their snacks (Let's be honest. This boy's heart is in his stomach!). When he found the big mirror and the soft blocks he was a happy boy.  Please pray for both he & I as we go through this major transition. He'll do well there, I know that...but I'm still praying for Jesus to return on sometime before 7:30 tomorrow morning!

We were so busy this week the camera didn't come out much. But here are a few photos of our week:

Checking out one of the MANY waiting rooms we toured this week



Seriously, how many toys can he sneak into the car seat?!

This boy is a BIG fan of bath time!
 

Lounging in the tub

Loving him some bubbles!

 

Six Weeks Together

     Six weeks old as a family. That seems like it should be a milestone of some kind.  At this point in traditional new families is right about when parents look at their little bundle adoringly and think "yep..I think we'll keep'm" (as if sending them back is an option!) I think he is a definate keeper!!

One of a gazillion smooches he gets every day

 

     In six weeks Isaac has gained two pounds, grown an inch & a half, and added five new teeth (what a little protein will do!). Just this week he has added three more signs to his communication arsenal and blew his developmental assessment out of the water!  We met with a speech & occupational therapist and for nearly two hours they tested Isaac's communication, feeding, motor skills and cognitive development.  They were quite impressed with his signing and walking, but were floored by his cognitive skills. The OT kept giving Isaac advanced tests to find a ceiling by which to judge his skills.  "Don't by concerned, he's not supposed to be able to do this skill...Oh my!  He knows how to do that!  OK...um...let's try something different.  Well look at that!  He can do that too.  Huh, we'll just have to get creative, won't we?"  I wish I could have translated the look in Isaac's eyes because they clearly were stating "Come on ladies, shape sorters & puzzles are for sissies!".  I took the opportunity to shock the therapists a little when I pulled out my phone and Isaac opened up a couple of apps..some with horizontal swipes, others with vertical swipes.  The therapists just looked at each other. "Well now. We don't have a box to check for that!"  Needless to say, we rocked that assessment!!  We'll go back in a week for the full report, but I am joyful in knowing that Isaac will have so many resources to help him succeed...and that he'll be the smartest kid in the class!! (I didn't say that. I'm sure the other kids are delightful).

     In China we discovered that Isaac didn't know how to play. He would sit & watch us and interact well, but when it came to toys or creative exploration he just didn' t know what do to. He'd take things out of a drawer and put them back, but that was the extent of 'fun time'.  I've been spending a lot of time with him on the floor (we desperately need new carpet padding!) and slowing introducing new toys in hopes he'd find one Isaac likes.  His cousin Magdalene came to the rescue this week with a musical panda...he loves it!!  He drags it around the house, pushing the buttons and dancing to the music. It's super cute! One day this week I found both Isaac AND the panda IN the Tupperware drawer after a few minutes alone. What a duo!  In fact, I've 'caught' Isaac playing with his toys several times this week.  He'll go up to 20minutes with books and stackers on the floor. It is intentional play and creative problem solving. From across the room I can see him trying to figure things out. Well done, sweet boy!  You are figuring life out!

His favorite little friend

Catching up on some reading

A book of Chinese nursery rhymes...apparently he knew these already.

This next week will be a busy one with medical appointments every day of the week, including the cardiologist. I'm praying for wisdom for each of his medical team to know how to best care for the little body God gave Isaac. I'm sure there will be more than enough to report on next Sunday.  :)  Until then, a few photos from our week.

Playing peek-a-boo in the back yard

Blurry, but you can see how fast he is getting around on his own now.
I can't get the camera away fast enough!

An afternoon field trip to the beach with our friends the Hagmans

I assume this is his first experience with sand, but he knew what to do...it went straight into his mouth!

It's hard to tell, but he was jumping & splashing in the COLD Puget Sound.
This boy LOVES water.

Just look at my happy boy!

 

Five Weeks (plus one day) Together

     My sweet boy is snoozing in the next room as I type this. Thankfully, this week he wants to be rocked to sleep for naps. :) While I rock, he chews on the pulls on my sweatshirt...the strings on my hoody have become his new teething toy/pacifier/super fantastic fun-toy.  I'm sure my neighbors now think I never wear anything except sweatshirts...with wet, slobbery pull strings! 

     This week as been especially fun as the communication light bulb flipped on in Isaac's noggin. Isaac now responds to his name when you call him.  Yeah!!  It's so sweet to see him flip his head around to see who is calling him. He does get a little confused if he is sitting with me and someone else says his name.  "Um, Mom...your lips aren't moving".  :)  There are a lot of special people that want to talk to you, sweet boy!  He also figured out a couple of signs this week. This is HUGE!  Not only does this give him a way to communicate, it also gives us a window into how his little brain is working:  A) Momma has something I want/need; B) I want/need more of it; C) My brain can tell my hands how to ask for more of what I want/need; D) I can ask for what I want/ need in English with my hands.  This is such a big deal that when he signed "more" on his own this last week, I cried and squealed!  Isaac then got so excited he couldn't sign 'more' fast enough...so I kept shoving the yogurt in his face!  By the time we were done, he was drowning in yogurt and I was a crying squealing mess. :)   His "more" is a little lopsided (index finger of the right hand pointing to the palm of his left hand), but he uses it appropriately and has graduated onto "all done" and "milk".  We have our first developmental assessment this week, so I'm hoping he blows their mind with his new skills.  :)

     As if that wasn't enough, Isaac also got up on his hands & knees and took a couple of crawls!  He's been flirting with walking...up to 8-10steps on his own...but walking doesn't take near the core strength & coordination that crawling does, so when he got up on all fours to fetch a cracker he had thrown I almost fell on the floor myself. Way to go, buddy!!  You are getting stronger and your brain is telling your body what to do!!  It's so exciting!!  There is a bitter sweetness to all these milestones.  As much as I'd like to think I'm merely witnessing the developmental trajectory that Isaac was already on in China, the sad reality is he may not have done any of these things there. Without the medical & social resources, nutrition and love he has received here in just 5 short weeks, he would have been institutionalized and left alone to bang his head on the ground when he is tired & hungry.  It breaks my heart to think about my Little One alone...and so very many others that are in that situation at this very moment...

     God provided a daycare miracle this week as well.  I'll be returning to work part time in a few weeks (sadness!), and I've been in a mad scramble to find options that could flex to Isaac's needs, adapt to my wonky schedule, and not break the bank. Long story short, my God is the God that provides and I shouldn't have doubted His ability to provide exactly what we needed when we need it (after ALL we've been through in the last 2 years, you'd think I would have learned that lesson!).  Isaac will be in a great program just 10 minutes form my work, with lovely women who will care for him and every day teach him about how much Jesus loves him. I couldn't ask for more.

     A few photos from our week.  Is it possible?  I think he is getting cuter!

Clearly, I've been organizing the Tupperware wrong.

Helping make dinner

Clapping solo!

Cuteness

Tackling Uncle Thad

A misguided attempt to get a photo with three of the four grand kids & Gramma

 

One Month Update--An Interview With Isaac Himself

Today is our one month family anniversary day!  Isaac doesn't have many words developed yet, but he certainly has a lot to say, so I thought I'd ask him a little about what the last month has been like...and translate appropriately.  ;)

 

 

One month family anniversary day!

So, Isaac, your life totally changed 1 month ago. How's it going?

I'd say great! My foster mom told me all about my new home in America and my forever Mommy coming to get me.  When she finally came with Gramma & Auntie Jessie it was super exciting and I kept flapping my arms and laughing. Momma looked just like her pictures--except more sweaty! (She says that was the exception and I'm not to get used to it, whatever that means). There were lots of people from the orphanage and therapy center who knew me all taking pictures of my send-off and Auntie Jessie didn't take that camera off her face for days!  I cried the first night when I went to bed, but so did Momma.  I don't think it really hit me that things were different for a couple of days...then I cried really hard that night. Momma held me and let me fall asleep on her bed. She said it would get better and we'd learn how to do things together. Now it's totally great!  Momma is always with me and if something is too new, she is right there to tell me it's OK.

How was the plane ride from China?

Is that what that was?! I know we had to go in the funny shaped room with all the people for a long time, but Momma gave me crackers and let me watch the TV  (she doesn't let me do that much anymore!), so I really didn't pay attention much to what was happening around me. I slept a lot and Gramma walked with me, but mostly I liked the part where the plane bounced.  I think Auntie Jessie called that "turbulence" but she didn't think it was very funny.

What's your favorite part of your new home?

It's so big!  Momma says it's a normal size house, but when we first got here from the airport, it was a little overwhelming. Momma was carrying me on her hip and the rooms kept whizzing by...I couldn't take it all in.  Thankfully, she figured that out and walked me slowly from room to room, then for a few days we mostly we just hung out where my new bed was and the room with the toys & food.  Now we go in all the rooms when we practice my walking.  I think I'm going to like playing outside, but that green stuff on the ground is a little unusual...it feels like spiders on my feet.

Have you discovered a favorite food?

Momma still gives me my favorite cracker that we brought from China and thankfully, we found the same brand at the local Asian market so I know I won't have to go cold-turkey off those anytime soon. The food here is SO different but I like nearly everything...AND I don't have to try to manage chop sticks!  Ravioli is super cool. So are pears, but my most favorite thing to eat is anything that Momma has in her bowl that she isn't sharing.

How about your least favorite food?

What is up with kidney beans?!  We have a word for that flavor in China...rat poison!

Have you found anything else you absolutely do not like?
Strollers! You try being strapped to a seat at the exact eye level of every wheel on the road, being forced to not look at your mom, and have a magic button that collapses the chair on top of you!  No thank you. The Exo-womb and I have a good thing going and I'm not going to mess that up.

What is something that really makes you laugh?
Sometimes Momma turns on the music and sings to big band music, then she picks me up & swings me around.  That is great fun!!  And that alphabet song?  The L-M-N-O-P part is hilarious!!

What makes your Momma laugh?

She always cracks up during my clapping solos in the car or in church. I say, hey--why waste the clapping when everyone else is clapping? It's the silence that demands my skills! But what really makes her laugh is when I'm filling my diaper, but I don't think we need to talk much about that.

What are some fun skills you've shown your mom that she didn't know you had?

Well, I don't like to brag about it, but...touch screens?  I'm ALL over that.  Ipads, smart phones, kindles, whatever.  I know what I'm doing!  And, I like to pretend to wash my hands after Momma is done changing my diaper.  You can never be too careful, is my motto. I am also extremely flexible. When I am laying on my belly, I can make my legs go absolutely straight out from my sides and bring them to the front of me. Saves a lot of time...and it freaks people it out when they see it for the first twenty times!

What are you most looking forward to in the next month?

Momma says we are going to be visiting a lot of new people at different medical offices soon. There are many people who want to make sure I stay healthy. That means more faces to smile at and people to wave to!  I'm also pretty sure I'm going to have this walking solo thing down pat soon. I've graduated from just 2-3 steps alone to 8-10!

Thank you for your time, Isaac. You seem to be doing particularly well with your new family. Will we hear from you again?
Hopefully, you'll hear directly from me...or at least a translation until I decide to speak an actual language...every month on my Family Anniversary Day.

Four Weeks Together

Four weeks already?!  Seriously...how did that happen? 

Lots of firsts this week:

     First medical visit which equalled five shots, one TB test, nine vials of blood and seven referrals.  It was quite the day but I am super happy to be under the care of a pediatrician that specializes in adoption medicine and L-O-V-E-S Down syndrome...plus he said my kid was cute so clearly he is a genius in all that he does!  A cardiology visit will be our top priority as Isaac has a notable murmur. This could be nothing or something big, either way we have the resources available here in town to address it...something he wouldn't have had in China.  We are reassured by Isaac's growth and development...he wouldn't be growing if his body wasn't able to compensate for whatever leak he has in his heart, so that is good.  While he is growing (almost a pound gained since coming home!) it's hard to truly measure his growth against the normal growth charts, which don't take into account his small Asian build and the Down syndrome stature. With some creative graphing (much like I did through most of sophomore math), his pediatrician put Isaac on the 3rd % for both his height & weight on the "normal" charts. This is great news! Most kiddos with DS don't ever make the normal charts so I am very happy that we don't need to waste any time making up lost ground.  

Not a happy day...

 

     First fever of 103! Yikes, this child was on FIRE at 3am.  Thankfully, it was a temporary event totally blamed on the 5 shots he got the day before and the new tooth that decided to arrive the same day.  We stayed home, cuddled, hung out in the fridge (hey, it worked) and chugged ibuprofen like it was last call (or so I've heard...I don't actually know anything about...last call...)


What can I say? He didn't feel good & condiments fix everything.

      First social work visit.  Our lovely social worker from the adoption agency made her first visit this week. We had already gotten the "welcome home; just wanted to make sure you aren't freaking out" phone call a few days after we got back. But this visit was to prove that both Isaac and I are indeed alive & doing well. (Reports will be going back to his home country for 5 years!) Isaac was a little cautious...watching the blond haired lady closely, but then he decided he had something to say too and babbled out a story with pointing & gestures that may have given away a family secret or two. I was secretly thankful that he hasn't formed any English words yet!
 

     First going-down-for-nap-in-the-crib-by-himself.  Whoa! Isaac co-slept with his foster mom, which wasn't something I tolerated well on our first night together (co-sleeping with Isaac, not his foster mother). So the compromise has been me rocking him to sleep & putting him down in the crib. In China, the crib was next to my bed in the hotel and for the first 7-10 days home-home I slept in Isaac's room so he could see me and there would be no delay in me getting to him if he fussed; he would know that I was there for him and I wasn't leaving (it's an adoption-attachment thing). Our routine for the last 2 weeks or so, is me rocking him to sleep, putting him down, and pulling him into my bed early in the morning when he moans himself awake. We get snuggle time together and 90% of the time he falls back to sleep at my side.  Both the rocking & snuggling is time I really enjoy.  Turns out...Mr. I'm Attaching Just Fine doesn't need to have rocking time.  What's up with that?! I just got you in my arms...I'm not ready to let go!

Surely, rocking with Momma is more comfortable?!

     First time away.  That's right...Gramma pulled duty this afternoon so I could get my haircut & run to the store. It was the LONGEST THREE HOURS OF MY LIFE. Oh my...I did not see that response coming. Isaac & Gramma of course did great, but I did not like being away.  I skipped having my hair styled, forgot half of what I needed at the store and sped home...to a happy kiddo that leaped right into my arms!  Yeah!  Good attachment for us both.  :)

     Here are a few random shots from the week.  You can see why I love this boy!

Crossed eyed!

Post I-walked-to-the-ottoman-by-myself smile

Apparently, my 21month old can work a smart phone. 
How is that possible?!

So stinking cute!

 

Three Weeks Together



     Isaac continues to do amazingly well! I am so in awe of the miracle that has settled on our home. God is so VERY good. Our sleep has finally adjusted, which means I get to sleep in my own bed again (hallelujah!),  and our daily routine is taking shape...part of which is a quick errand every day (to get me out of the house!) and a walk in the exo-womb (to facilitate an afternoon nap!).  Isaac enjoys both...but mostly the exo-womb.  ;)  I figure as long as he is weaned out of it before kindergarten, we should be OK. Two & a half new teeth have landed on Planet Isaac since we've been home as well.  The poor guy is drooling like a faucet and will gnaw on anything that gets close to his mouth. Nine times out of ten, its a piece of my clothing.  :)  He continues to eat EVERYTHING...except anything that resembles what he would've eaten in China.  I think that is just the funniest irony of all time.  The kiddo isn't a picky eater like was reported to me...he just doesn't like Chinese food! This week will start our medical visits.  I'm excited to see how much weight he has put on since coming home (his cheeks seem fuller to me), and to meet the team of people that will help keep my little one healthy.

  Today was also our first trip to church.  Yeah!  Three weeks away has seemed like a l-o-n-g time, especially after having been in a country where I couldn't speak openly about the Lord.  Isaac seemed a little confused during praise & worship time.  He kept a close eye on the people around us, but when he saw & heard an auditorium of people clapping just like he can, his eyes brightened.  Thankfully, a well timed cracker in the hand helped curb a clapping solo during prayer. (Although, it was well worth a clapping, Pastor Frank!) I teared up during the corporate prayer over the kids leaving for Kids Church.  If for no other reason--medical, developmental, emotional, mental (all of which he will receive care for)--THIS is why Isaac was brought home. To hear and receive the love of our Lord. If everything else goes sour in his little life, he will have been brought to the Throne of Grace & freely known God's love. Mission accomplished. (tearing up again!)

   Here are a few photos from our week. I just can't get over how stinking cute he is!!

 

Our first trip out...Target!

Silly boy

Playing with his little friend who was kind enough to join us from China.

Look where Gramma lets me play!

At the park...in the exo-womb, of course.

A Special Shout Out

     There are 30 different people who helped make the China trip possible. From those who checked on my house (Applins & Bergrens!), to the multiple families to helped watch Jessie's kids so her husband could work (Welchs, Westfalls, Kosiks, & Beals!), to my little brother who had an epic battle with bees at my mother's house while we were all gone. THANK YOU TO ALL! You all joined on this mission trip from the home front and we love you!! Isaac & I do want to give a special shout out to one person with whom we could not have functioned in China without...my Best Friend & Isaac's Auntie Ange. 

 

Flat Ange at the Great Wall of China

     Flat Ange joined us in China, but Real Ange managed all our travel, communications, medical issues & practical needs at home...from Minnesota.  Due to country constraints I was unable to post to the blog or facebook, so Ange took my daily email to her, signed into the blog & Facebook as me and re-posted all the day's news.  Then she sent update emails to blog-novice-extended family members across the nation, helped communicate our travel arrivals & departures to friends & family here in Seattle, acted as point person for my "estate" (makes me sound WAY cooler than I am, but I like using that word) 2,000 miles away from hers (estate, that is), figured out Isaac's prescriptions with two doctors' offices that I requested while still across the Pacific, and even coordinated in the grocery shopping for when we arrived home.  We really couldn't have done it without her! 

XiXi (thank you) Auntie Ange!!

High five to your face..?!

Um....I think he likes your shampoo.

 

Two Weeks Together

Two weeks together...amazing.  It still is so mind boggling.  God's plan for us as families.  God's adoption of us into His family. How this precious child looks at me in the morning.  Amazing.

We are still fighting the jet lag monster, but I think we are getting close to winning. No longer are we taking 3 hours naps every 2 hours around the clock (that was getting old for both of us) and Isaac actually slept 8 hours straight on the right side of the clock (1:30am to 9:30am)--now just to tweak it a little to the left side midnight over the next few days and we should be OK.   Isaac continues to eat like a champ.  We are working on self feeding, which I don't think he was given much opportunity to do in his foster home.  He seems to enjoy it...and it results in a bath immediately after, which he enjoys too!

We haven't left the house yet, as Isaac seems a little overwhelmed with his new environment.  After 2 weeks in a single hotel room, me being out of his sight unnerves him a little. From an attachment point of view, this is wonderful news.  I'm hoping once our sleep evens out, we'll be in better sorts to tackle the outside world. Until then, we play and get to know each other.  Gramma visits in the evenings and helps practice walking.  I wish I could get a picture of his face of sheer terror when he realizes that he has left Gramma's arms and still has four steps to get to me!  Talk about walking in faith!!

He likes the big bear! (I didn't think he would)

Could he get any cuter?!

Opening a gift from Auntie Ange
(...in his grampa pants...)

First trip out into the yard.


 

 

 

The Very Best Day

A children's tale by Anne Cavanaugh Sawan

Mommy, tell me again about the very best day.

 

The day the social worker called & said you could adopt a baby, was that the best day ever?

 

Well, that was a wonderful day, full of wishes, dreams, and hope, but, no, it wasn't the best day ever.

 

The day you opened the mail and saw a picture of me for the first time, was that the best day?

 

That was without a doubt a truly marvelous day, full of happiness, excitement, and joy, but that was not the best day.

 

The day you went on the airplane to come and get me and bring me home--was that the best day?

 

That was an extraordinary day, full of luggage and taxis and lots of rushing around, but, no, that wasn't the best day ever.

 

How about the day you held me in your arms for the first time, was that the best day?

 

That day was so very close to being the best day.  It was a miraculous day, full of love, wonder, and awe, but it was still not the best day.

 

The day you and me and Daddy all came home, and there were lots and lots of people at the house having a party, and a big painted sign, saying "Welcome Home," that spread across the whole front porch--was that the best day ever?

 

That day was utterly special, incredible, amazing, and fabulous! It was a day full of hugs and kisses, meetings and greetings, brothers and sisters, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends, cakes and cameras and gifts, but still, still it was not the best day ever, because...

 

While all of those days were wonderful, marvelous, extraordinary, miraculous, special, incredible, amazing, and fabulous, the best day, the absolute, very best day ever, was the next day.

 

The sun came up, dogs barked, birds chirped, and you were there.

 

There were empty cups scattered about the house, and paper plates with crumbs of chocolate cake still stuck on them. There were scraps of wrapping paper and brightly covered ribbons covering the floor, and three clunky suitcases waiting to be unpacked in the corner. And you were there.

 

Daddy fed the dogs, got out the flour, cracked some eggs into a big bowl...and you were there.

 

I put on a pot of fresh coffee...and you were there.

 

Your brothers and sister came running downstairs, and suddenly there was laughter and yelling and sticky pancakes and you were there.

 

The snow started to fall quietly outside and you were there.

 

And what could have been just an ordinary day was suddenly wonderful, marvelous, extraordinary, miraculous, special, incredible, amazing, and fabulous...because you were there.

 

Now that, THAT was the very, very best day ever.