Adjustments

The best laid plans of mice and men (or something like that).... I have been trying to get back to blogging on a regular basis; however, our house is "adjusting" once again to an added member. Rather than get stressed, I have given myself permission to just take life as it comes these days, and sometimes that means that my "intentions" and "ideas" never get met. I am ok with that, I think... but sometimes my "ideas" get the best of me, and I want to accomplish so much more than I do in a given day, week, or month even.
As for Toby, he is adjusting better than we could have even imagined. He is the happiest little boy. He smiles and laughs. He shouts for joy when he sees his brothers and sisters. He loves to go, go, go, and then he loves to come home again to be with his family. There have been several occassions when Brad and I have had to run a few errands, leaving the teen to babysit. To keep from hindering Toby's attachment to us, we take him along. He is happy to go, to be with us and to see all there is to see in our great big world. There is nothing sweeter than to see his reaction when we return home! He runs around the house finding each sister and brother... racing around to deliver his great big hugs to each one.
This boy loves to eat. I tease Brad ,often, that there is only one thing Toby loves more than his daddy, and that is FOOD, FOOD and more food. He has begun to adjust to the volume of food and even stops when he is full. He just loves his meal times! He loves to try new and different foods! To this point there isn't anything he won't try and very,very little that he doesn't like.
He loves to sing and listen to music. He and I sing preschool songs a lot, and I can't help but laugh a lot as he loves to follow "hand signs" and make a few of his own to go along with our silly songs. He loves to sing along at church with all of the worship music. Most of what he sings is unintelligable, but you can make out a few words and most importantly "Jesus, oh Jesus". He is picking up on English rapidly, understands what we say to him, and sounds much like a parrot mimicking everything we say to him. He has learned most of the kiddos names, and is beginning to make them clear sounds.We are teaching him baby "sign language". He is very astute and picks up on the signs and words quickly. He can now sign and say "please", "eat", "drink", "thank you" and "diaper" (thank you sounds like "chank chew" and diaper like"deye der").
He is so very precious and sweet. His personality is gentle, but he is learning to make himself heard in our large crowd.  He has begun to love on momma again (praise Jesus), and allows me to care for him during the times that daddy is away. But, I have to say that I am "TOAST" when daddy is around. He is most definitely his daddy's boy! He has more than enough hugs for each of his family members, and we are thrilled that he is attaching and prefers to stay close to family at this time (sometimes this is not the case for adopted children, and they readily go to others because they are unable to form firm attachments to family).
As you can see, he is adjusting amazingly well! As a matter of fact, the only hard adjustment for him has been at bedtime, but he is trusting us more and learning to not fear sleeptime.  We have implemented a bedtime "routine" and he loves listening to stories, being rocked and cuddled with a bottle (we continue to give him a nighttime bottle to further strengthen bonding and attachment), and then ,momma,  or daddy, or both sing to him, kiss him good night, and then it is off to bed. He has begun to go into his bed without crying or "meltdowns". This is a big step, and we are having fewer and fewer wake episodes during the night as well.

As for the family, we are adjusting well, but it is an adjustment none the less. The other children are having to learn to share our time even further and for some this is harder than for others. Many times they don't want to have anything to do with us (busy with their own "little" world) EXCEPT when the newest member is needing our care and attention. Sometimes, the ugly "green-eyed" monster appears...more often than we care to deal with it. Many times there are several "temper-tantrums" (and not always the 2 yr old).  It is an adjustment for Brad and I too. We are having to remember what it is like having a toddler in our home. He is an active, ornery "boy" toddler who needs constant supervision. We are learning that when a sibling "wants to play" that they aren't always reliable at staying with and watching the said toddler. We are learning that he likes to explore, touch and play with anything he can get his little hands on.  He isn't potty-trained as yet, and so that means constant diaper changes (forgot about the added duty that entails). Many days nothing at all gets accomplished except for holding, loving and cuddling my kiddos and helping my newest treasure adjust. I remind myself often that nothing else matters except for those precious treasures that God has entrusted to my care. Time management is perhaps our biggest struggle...learning what we can and cannot accomplish at this time in our lives.  We are still serving as Children's ministers at our church. Brad still works for Sprint, and we still homeschool. So, we are learning to adjust our time, adjust our ideas and projects and adjust our attitudes. That is just it!  It is all a "time", a "season", that we will get through, and our routines will be back together and life will move forward in a new normal. It is our prayer that we will move forward serving our Lord in any way that He calls us. ...and, I cannot wait until our "new Normal" is challenged once again by yet another of His callings (whatever and whenever that may be)!

Happy Birthday Nolan

Nolan and his baby brother

Well, I was supposed to do this post yesterday; however, our day was so full and I chose to enjoy time with the family. We had a small family picture session yesterday morning. We needed some family shots for our first post-placement visit coming up this Wednesday morning. We then took Nolan to lunch at Logan's Steakhouse. Following his birthday lunch, Nolan made the request that we go to Orange Leaf (a self serve yogurt place). All the kiddos enjoyed their yummy treat, but it did take Toby a while to warm up to the idea of eating something cold (as of now, he still likes warm water, warm milk...). This momma loved seeing all my kiddos enjoying their time together while celebrating their big brother's birthday. We returned home with a load of movies and a birthday cake. We piled on the couches and the floor to watch movies and snuggle away the afternoon. It was a very lazy, laid back day filled to the brim with family togetherness.
Happy Birthday To our oldest Son!! How is it that you are 15 years old today?! It seems as if it were just yesterday when you were born and placed in my arms. Then, I remember on your 6th birthday when you proudly announced, "Yeah! I'm a teenager now!"... "Not for several years my little man." Little did I know that those several years would go by in a flash, and now you are that teenager and growing into an amazing young man. Dad and I are so proud of you and the person you are becoming. We love your devotion to serving others and serving your Lord Jesus. We pray that God will always be the center of everything you do and that you will always show the love and compassion of Christ to all that you meet. We love you so very much!! Happy Birthday Nolan!

Bell Choir

Nate, Levi and friend waiting to perform

Mandy and friends wait to perform

Mia and friend waiting to perform

2nd Annual Christmas Hand Bell Choir

Four of our kiddos participated in the hand bell choir at our church. This marked our second year of performing a Christmas program. All of the children that participated seemed to enjoy every practice, and all were very dedicated to doing their best. All of their hard work showed in the final performance. They all did a super job!

Big Brother

A Brother's Love

Levi is relishing his role as big brother. He is beyond excited that he and Toby will be sharing a room. He is already super protective of Toby and loves any opportunity that he gets to help or play with his "di di". At Levi's request, the two boys dressed alike the other day. Our house is overflowing with cuteness...

Home Again, Home Again...

We are home! We arrived home around midnight December 9th. We were scheduled to make a slightly earlier arrival; however, our plane out of Chicago was delayed. So after a long,long day of travel, we finally made it home. There was never a more wonderful sight for this momma's "teary" eyes than to see my precious group of treasures waiting for us with welcome signs. After hugs and kisses all around, we grabbed the luggage, piled it into the car, and headed out for the hour long trip home. Everyone was so excited, laughing, and talking at the same time. I just sat back and took it all in even in my "dazed" like state of being. We were thrilled to watch Toby's reaction to all his siblings and laughed a lot at his exhuberance. He grabbed his picture book up and started pointing at the pictures, and then he would look up at each sibling saying "ge ge" or "jie jie", and then he would just shake his head. I think he was just processing that the people in the pictures were real. After he had assured himeself that they were indeed real, he just kept running around grabbing their hands or alternately giving hugs to all 6 of his siblings. After handing out the few souvenirs we brought for each kiddo,we had a little catch up time. Finally, worn out, we all went to bed and slept until about 11am the next day (with a couple of wake up times in between...but, with no other options given, we convinced Toby that it was indeed time to sleep). There is no rest for the weary around this place because we had to return to work in the Children's Ministry that Sunday. We spent a good bit of time Saturday working on preparation for Sunday morning, and then when "jet-lag" got the best of us...sleeping. Sunday arrived, and we were off and running. All the kids were gathering around and welcoming Toby into the church family. They were all so good with him and just wanted to love on him all morning. He was thrilled to run around and make friends with everyone, and not so thrilled when momma drew him back in and made him ride in the carrier attached to his momma all morning.

Since we couldn't take red couch pictures at the White Swan

Smiling less than five seconds after the meltdown over having to be still long enough for a picture

Welcome Home Toby, Welcome Home! .... my 7 treasures together at last

I have to say that I tried to approach "jet-lag" in a totally different way this time back, but no matter which way you try to tackle it, it is still "BAD". It has really been knocking me off my feet. I have often wondered if I had some sort of virus or something to go along with it because I have been so tired and just felt lousy. Some days are definitely better than others. I think I am finally "getting over it" and reasdjusting to U.S. time, but then there are days like today when I am so tired I fall asleep sitting up (and that is after sleeping 7-8 hours). Brad, Garrett, and even Toby readjusted quickly in the first 2-3 days. Toby sleeps through the night even with taking a two hour nap. We are counting our blessings and feeling very blessed that Toby is adjusting so very well because we know only too well that it can be very different. Least you think everything is easy, Toby is having his share of meltdowns. He doesn't like to go to bed or take naps, and we see some major "temper-tantrums" at the mere mention of nighty-night. We are still working on attachment issues, but he is learning and starting to accept love, hugs and kisses. He is finally allowing mommy to care for his needs, to rock him and to hold him on occassion. We are seeing that he rushes through all the motions at the moment...only allowing us to cuddle, hug and feed him because he has "accepted" his fate. However, first steps first... we know that these actions will eventually lead to the "real" thing and often many "hurting" children cannot even give this much.. He loves cuddling and hugs way too much to turn them away for too long...it is just an adjustment to know that you have a mommy and daddy who love you forever. And that he does... He has a mommy, daddy, 4 brothers, and 2 sisters that are head over heals in love with him, and he has a forever family! Praise the Lord for He is Good!!!

We have Toby!!!

Follow along at http://www.blessingfromchina.com/.

Travel Dates

Not a lot of time to blog right now. I am trying to get things packed and accomplished. I did want to let everyone know our travel dates. We are still waiting on the in-country itinerary, but we know flights and gotcha day (the most important thing on the itinerary anyway). We will leave on Thursday Nov.24th, arriving in Beijing late Friday night. We will tour Beijing and then leave for Nanjing on Sunday. Gotcha Day will be Monday November 28th. We will return home on Thursday Dec. 8th. Our flight will arrive in Springfield at around 10pm.
If you wish to follow along on this journey, we will be using our website from our previous adoptions .
http://www.blessingfromchina.com/
If for some reason that site will not work, we will try to post here on fivechilipeppers.
We will update our itinerary as soon as we know something. We are so thankful for all of you who have supported us, prayed for us and lifted us up on this journey.
We appreciate all prayers on our behalf , for our kids that are remaining at home and for their caregivers, and for our precious Toby who will undergo so many changes.
Until China...