Three Months!

It's hard to believe three months have passed since Boy Wonder was placed in our arms!  Despite the break-neck speed of the past few months, we've had incredible bonding time.

Gotcha, Kohlby Zane, March 2015!

 This is his personality - he brings the happy!

 And the funny!

Bless the boy and his pink.

Precious!

Kohlby, 

You are forever a son and a brother.  I am so blessed to be your mama.  I am also thankful for all the people who helped us get you home.  You are energetic, fun and affectionate.  You add a little sunshine to every day.  I look forward to what the Lord has for you, and I cherish each moment I get to hold you.

Mama

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:18

One Month!

It's hard to believe that one month ago today we held Kohlby for the very first time!

I didn't even see the gal walk in with him because I was watching the other 25 families receive their babies.

In one month, this little man has experienced a whole lot of FAMILY, and come so far.
He celebrated his first Resurrection Sunday!
(Well, he might not have understood the significance)

He's taken possession of a car.

He's gotten into construction.

He's taken long, windy walks.

He's begged to stay outside.

And he's watched a lot of softball.

And we've had our first post-placement visit.

But most of all, he has transitioned into the family incredibly well!  He still prefers to have Mama to himself, but he's much more tolerant than before.  He and Khloie play hard all day long...until it's time for their 2 1/2 hour nap.

Some of the typical two-year-old-boy behaviors have gotten less extreme, thank You, Jesus!

Kohlby was described as "active," and that is putting it mildly.  From the minute he wakes to the minute he crashes he lives life in high gear.

He still allows me to give him a bottle and to feed him.  I've just learned to give him bigger bites :)  

We've just requested his medical records from the New Hope Foundation so we'll have a base line before we see any specialists.  

Kohlby can say, "Mama, Dada, hot, uh-oh, bye-bye, night-night and hi," as well as lots of cute toddler gibberish.  I'm amazed at his transition.

I've had to set my alarm a little earlier just to get my quiet time in, but so far I've had the energy to do it.  I feel great, and so does he!

This post would typically take 10 minutes, but I've spent over an hour with multiple interruptions...so I'm out.

One Week Home!

Oh, how times flies this side of the journey!

Just gonna' say, if I had my way we would never leave home...at least for a few weeks.  But LIFE.  It happens.  Dental appointments schedule pre-travel, softball games, necessary desperate grocery runs.  They happen.

Fortunately, I have the energy to do all that's necessary, thanks to the magic milk bottle that may or may not contain melatonin :)  Thank YOU for the encouragement and prayers!  We really are doing so well!

You can't take the two-year-old outa the boy, but you can work hard to encourage the two-year-old boy to express himself without fits.  We are almost there.  Seriously.  Almost there!  In fact, we are planning to attend church next Sunday!

We've been cocooning as much as possible, and while the rest of the family attends worship the last two Sundays, Kohlby and I have stayed home to solidify the bond.  He loves it!  He still struggles sharing Mama with his siblings, but every day is better.  This week I'm going to try to build in some individual time with each of them as well.

I don't have many pictures because my hands are mostly full.  If I'm not carrying Kohlby or picking up Khloie, Kasidi, or Kennah for a quick hug, I'm toting laundry baskets.  Or cooking.  

Speaking of meal time, I'm seeking a way to make it run more smoothly.  I should have this...but I just don't.  Our current method is that everyone sits and we serve them so there aren't 14 people running around the kitchen.  When they are ready for seconds, we get them.  So there aren't 14 people running around the kitchen.  When everyone is excused, they rinse their plate, or throw it away when we use paper, and go on their merry way.  But we still have such a mess.  What do you do?

But enough of the mundane.  What about Kohlby?  He is fiercely possessive of his mama.  He's pretty cool with his daddy because his daddy is fun.  He has a special bond with Kenzie and Kayden, but also loves for Kambry to treat him like a prince of a brother.  He's crazy for Kaeleb and all the Legos he's got to offer.  He really likes Kinley's silliness.  He's growing on the people-who-are-much-too-close-to-his-size, Kennah, Kasidi and Khloie.  He loves playing with Kolton, but mostly I'm pretty sure he's flirting with Allie!

There isn't a button he wouldn't risk his life to push.  He once was terrified of our kid-friendly Great Pyrenees, but his love for the outdoors has diminished his fear some.  He doesn't mind the car seat or the stroller, and he loves the Ergo.  Dream come true, eh?

He reluctantly allows me to brush his teeth, but a week ago he clenched his teeth, so that's progress.  There are so many things I take for granted until I experience the other side of them.  

May this week be glorious as we focus on our Savior!

His Clock's Tickin' China Time

I'm going to share a little secret, and then you'll have no sympathy for me whatsoever.  My kids have been rockstars about sleep transition after travel.  With the exception of one who had night terrors for six months, bless her, they've all slept through the night from the get-go.  Until now.

We've only been home three days so I realize I need to give it time, but it's getting worse.  We landed in bed at 3:30 am Friday and slept till noon, no problem!  All of us.  Friday night, little dude woke up at midnight, guzzled a bottle, and tossed and turned till 2.  That's doable.  

Saturday night, he woke up at 2, downed a bottle and tossed and turned till 5.  Last night he woke up at midnight and tossed and turned till 4:55.  Not cool.  My alarm rings at 5.

Around these parts when the alarms rings, we hit the ground with both feet and all hands on deck.  I don't know how that will play out today.

I'm desperate for suggestions to help Mr. Cool sleep!  And I'm not beyond medication, people.  When he doesn't sleep, I don't sleep.  He goes to his crib until he wakes for a bottle, and then we're co-sleeping.  But my littlest rockstar is like the Energizer bunny...on steroids.  He can be perfectly still for all of 2.2 nanoseconds, and then he's rolling around, kicking his legs and reaching to hold my hand.  He has to have my hand over his.  Sweet, huh?  It really is.  But he is so tired.  He's really awesome about not sitting up and playing.  I can tell he's frustrated though.  

So, what would you do?  And please don't say skip the nap because I've been letting him nap less than an hour.  And we've been staying up till between 9 and 10, which is so past my bedtime!

We all thank you for your words of wisdom :) 

Let's FACE it ~ He's Got Expression

Innonence

Satisfied 

Curious

Zoned

Sneaky

All-out Happy

Proud

Out

Surprised

Distaste

Stuffed, which leads to...

Yeah, never mind

Ornery

Intrigued

And so many more!

Goodbyes, Foster Mamas and Forever

Today was quite a day!  We visited the orphanage, and we didn't know if the foster parents would be able to come until we arrived and learned the foster mama would indeed be there.

Mr. Yan.  He is in charge of all the adoptions.  He is a super hero!  We learned today that it was Mr. Yan who took the videos of Kohlby last October and answered my ten complex questions.

 When we were logged in back in October, we were allowed to ask the orphanage ten questions, and there was none of this, "How is he doing?"  No, no.  My questions were more along the lines of, "Has he been hospitalized for any reason, and if so, when, how long and why?"  That was one question.  And he answered each and every one!

This is another super hero.  This ayi (nanny) took care of Kohlby for the first 11 months of  his life.

 This is the baby room.  There are nine babies, and three nannies.  Kohlby's crib was the one to our immediate left.  When we came in, the nannies were feeding bottles, and some of the babies were already asleep.  They appear to receive excellent care.

And then another super hero - Kohlby's foster mama!  She's cared for him for over a year and a half.  I have friends who are foster parents, and I see firsthand how much love is poured into the children they care for.  This mama will always have a place in my son's heart, as well as mine.

Little man has no idea how significant this visit is.  He's in his own two-year-old world.

 The first thing we did was deliver our gift of diapers to Mr. Yan.  He told us they had kept a small item that was left with Kohlby when he was found, and we were given that item.  Priceless!

 Signs of children everywhere!  In fact, this CWI cares for 800 children, 300 of which are in foster care.

Foster Mama came bearing gifts.

Lots and lots of snacks.  Kohlby's favs.  She told us that he will eat all the time, so his eating must be controlled...all the while making sure both his hands were full of snacks and shoving three crackers at a time into his tiny mouth :) 

 Who could resist, right?!?

This is Foster Mama, Neighbor and Neighbor's son.  The neighbor also fostered a little boy, and they will meet the adoptive parents tomorrow.  Kohlby and this little boy played together all the time.  I would love to connect with this little boy's parents!  Can you help a sister out?

We toured the rehabilitation house.  Amazing!  Children with all sorts of medical needs receive necessary therapy here!  This is HUGE, folks!  Huge!  It is life changing for these children.  Orphanages not equipped like this must often cast the children with medical needs aside because they are understaffed and must focus on the children who are strongest and most likely to be adopted (in their opinion).  As a mama to seven children with medical special needs, this is HUGE!

They even teach the children skills by having a 'bank', a 'grocery store,' a 'restaurant,' an art room, and a 'clothing store,' inside.

As we were touring, the nurse for the Hope Floor flagged us down and gave us a letter from the doctor who is in charge of all the medical information.  We are allowed to contact him and get charts, scans, labs, ask questions, everything!

Then our guide, Celine, needed to go take video for a lucky Lifeline family awaiting news about their child, so it was time to break free and play!

 If all orphanages were as nice as this one, children and families would benefit greatly.  And there would be a need for people to serve more children right where they are.  But orphanage life is not ideal.  No matter how nice the facility, it is not all these children need.  It is not family.

We are created by the Father and for the Father.  The struggle to not conform to this world is very real.  But the more time we spend in the presence of those who depend on others for basic survival, the more we understand the need and desire to live radically different and apart from this world.

The crisis is big, and we are small, but we can all do something.  One thing.  The first step is surrender.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17

One gave birth; one gave health and love; I promise to give you my heart and my life...forever, my Treasure.  Your Mama.

A Day at the Museum...and Jesus

Wednesday started with cuddles for big sisters!  Kohlby loves climbing onto the bed and flinging himself into the pillows...and for a millisecond he is completely still.  I just realized I haven't shared the girls' blog here so please check it out at Sisters Point of View!

 Ice cream from Burger King

 We visited the Provincial Historical Museum, and this picture is taken with the mythical man who 'created the world.'

And that's where the story begins.
I wish I were more interested in history...but I'm just not.  I took it all in, and there was a temporary exhibit I particularly enjoyed - the evolution of the Cheongsam (traditional Chinese dress). 
 Fascinating.
As soon as we were told this mythical guy was known as the 'creator of the world,' it took Clayton two seconds to start sharing about the true Creator.

  With every replicated dig site dated a million years ago, there was a conversation about the beginning of time.  With every tomb containing relics believed to preserve the afterlife, there were conversations about security in the afterlife through Jesus Christ.  Beautiful.  Truth!

After the museum, it was lunch time so we had our driver drop us off near Wal-Mart so we could eat a bite and shop for diapers to take to the orphanage on Thursday.  And we needed a toy phone for Mr. I-love-every-kind-of-button!

I've spent a lot of time in the room with Kohlby, and sometimes a trip to a meal or to Wal-Mart are a major journey.  But today was beautiful.  The best weather we've had.

 Kayden's pushing the stroller full of diapers and snacks...

I'm carrying the baby...who thought he could carry the diapers.   It was much too warm for my awesome hoodie from my friend Amy.

The rest of the day was uneventful: National Geographic on TV, noodles and rice at the nearby restaurant and bedtime by 8:30.

Kohlby hasn't been the least bit shy, but he's really opening up to all of us.  He's starting to learn, "No hitting," "No pulling hair," "No biting," "No scratching,"....

Thursday we visit his orphanage, which is very large.  We've also asked if we could meet his foster parents, and we're praying that happens.  He was with them a long time, and they obviously loved him very much.

Today when we were watching TV on the bed, he would come to me and just sit on me.  No matter how I sat, he would find a place to sit.  Be still my heart.

Trivial pursuit:  Zhengzhou has a population of 8 million, and the Henan province is the largest populated province in China with 100 million.

TO HIM BE ALL GLORY!!!