Making Progress

Sunday will be one month since we've been home with Alex. Everyone was right...it does get a little easier each day. We are starting to get into more of a routine which is helpful. Alex has recently become interested in toys. His favorites right now are a monkey jack in the box and any toy that has beads on it he can push around with his hands. We have a big cube that has activities on each side. The top has wires on it with beads that slide along the wires. He loves to push those beads back and forth. He also loves his jack in the box. He works so hard to turn the knob on the side. He doesn't have the coordination to turn it yet...but he sure is contect on trying! I've also learned that he can really get around a room when he wants something. I left my sunglasses laying on the floor yesterday...and he crawled all the way across the floor to get them. He doesn't get up on all four when he crawls..it is more of a belly crawl...but he can certainly move when he wants to.

Doug had President's Day off on Monday so we had a nice 3 day weekend as a family. Saturday it was still nice enough to get outside a little so we spent alot of the morning playing on our swingset in the backyard. We couldn't believe how much more coordinated Sam is. He can now climb right up the rockwall to the fort with no trouble and no help. He also got to show his big brother how to go down a slide and how he likes to swing in the big boy swing now. Alex swung on the swing with me and seemed to like it. I couldn't help but think how much easier my life would have been if we adopted in the summer! The morning flew by just being able to go outside with the boys! We all get cabin fever stuck in the house all day. Monday we took the boys to the Naperville Children's Museum. Sam just loved it. Most of the activites were too advanced for Alex, but he got to enjoy some things. They had a station where you could put colored stickers on a window and peel them back off again. This was his favorite station. He loves to work with his hands....exactly like his big brother!

I'm expecting a call from the doctor today regarding the results of Alex's bloodwork and ultrasounds. From what the nurse told me yesterday, everything looks good...however, the doctor will need to interpret them completely and call me back today. The doctors wanted to rule out any "mixed" gender issues due to the severity of Alex's genital deformity. It looks like that has all been ruled out - and we will be able to proceed with the surgeries like we had expected. Thanks for the prayers

Pictures

Pictures

The Transition

It has been just over 2 weeks since we've been home and the transition is finally starting to get easier. Just in the past few days, Alex has become more of the happy, laid back child we knew in China. He has become less clingy and will now sit and play on the floor. I have to be right by his side, but just this change alone is making it much easier to manage both boys. He is also just starting to take an interest in toys...and is starting to find his big brother pretty entertaining. Sam and Alex are still getting along very well, but still tend to play in parallel, more than play together. I am sure that will change soon enough! Alex is making alot of progress developmentally. When we got him, he couldn't stand up at all. He can now stand on his own holding onto something (couch, coffee table, etc..). He also says "mama" and "dada" and can use them in the right context. He also has just recently learned to eat from a spoon. We are now working on getting him to feed himself. He has come a long way in just 3 weeks!

Alex had an appt with the pediatrician the day after we got home. The doctor said it looked as if he had been well cared for. He was 22 pounds (15 % for weight) and continues to eat like a champ. His doctor recommeneded we keep giving him bottles for the next several months to help nourish him and to "make up" for the nutrients in his diet he was certainly lacking in China. He was also 15% for height. He had his first appt with the urologist specialist last week. They are running some bloodwork tests now. He also has an ultrasound tomorrow, and when they get the results of those tests back, we will proceed with making plans for this surgeries.

The Transition

Well, tomorrow will mark the one week point of arriving home.  The transition hasn't been easy.  Alex has been very clingy since we've been home.  That is making it very hard on me when I am home alone with both boys.  Sam is such an energetic little 2 year old that he hardly stays in the same place for more than a few minutes at a time and then he is on to his next adventure.   I'm finding it hard to keep up with him while having to hold Alex constantly.  Alex was such a happy, laid back boy in China...but his adjustment here has been hard on him.  He adjusted to his new sleep schedule very quickly (only took a few nights) so that is a relief.  I talked to our adoption counselor about his change in behavior and she confirmed that this is pretty normal behavior.  She said I should just try and comfort him as much as I can right now.  She said when he starts feeling more secure in his environment..the clinginess will go away.  So, for now - I am spending much of the day wearing an infant carrier with him attached to the front of me.   They also reminded me that he is just scared because everything is new to him.   New people, new smell, new sounds, new surroundings, new family.  That helped me to remember that his world was turned upside down and to think of it from his little standpoint instead of thinking about how inconvienced I am and how hard this is on me.  So, we would appreciate your prayers for Alex to become accustomed to his new life quickly and for patience and compassion for our family as  we adjust.    Sam is a great big brother.  He helps me give Alex his bottle every morning.  He also loves to go in with me and get him up from his nap.    There have even been times when he will ask with genuine concern "baby Alex...baby Alex?"  when he doesn't see him around.  He has such a sweet temperment.