Yes - this post is wayyyyy overdue - but I haven't had much time to sit down and post my thoughts about the last year :) I just don't know how you wrap it all into a blog post of words and paragraphs and pictures :) There is so much more behind it - so many emotions, so much work, so much joy, so many blessings. I just don't think I can write a post that will do the last year justice!
But - at the same time - I want to be open and honest and share what an amazing year it has been - through the harder things, and the amazing miracles, and again - most of all the blessings!
Adopting Pipsqueak has been a life defining journey for me and our family. I feel like through adoption, your life changes almost as much as the child you adopt - whether you are adopting a newborn, a toddler, an older child, or a teenager. There is grief and loss on all fronts - there is joy and immense blessings on all fronts :) And - there are so many incredibly deep emotions - on all fronts. I know you can look in and feel and understand it from the outside - but I don't think you really really know, until you walk the path - but again - each path is as different as each unique individual - so no two people will ever walk the same adoption or life path!!!
Over the last year we have worked a lot on bonding and attachment, learning English and enhancing receptive and expressive language and speech, motor skills, and adjusting to the changes in environment and family :) Branching out and enlarging Pipsqueak's world a little at a time - as she was ready, as we were ready to help her through any regression or anxiety or fears.
At times it was hard - like when Littlest Dude was so upset that we were gone so long that he wouldn't give me the time of day for about 3 weeks after we got home. That was incredibly heartbreaking, because we hadn't imagined that he would be so traumatized by us being gone, especially since he had rarely noticed time passing before and was at home and cared for by his siblings. That was super super hard :( Pipsqueak's anxiety over new situations, new people, new experiences and the regression in attachment and behaviors due to that anxiety was difficult. We would think we had worked through things, and then something would happen and trigger her emotions and fears and we would have to start all over again. It is expected, it happens in kids with traumatic pasts, but I just didn't expect it to be so hard and discouraging - my deal - not hers. She has been incredibly trusting and brave through all these changes in her life - through the changes that have become her life. And - I feel like I can safely say now that she has really adjusted to family life and loves having siblings, pets, parents - that she can call her own :)
Our sweet little gal who at the time of our referral weighed 19 lbs and was 30 inches tall, is now 28 lbs and 33 inches tall :) She has grown two shoe sizes and her physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development has progressed so well!!! When we came home from Latvia she had about 5-10 signs - she now has hundreds of signs, and most of them have words or word approximations to go with them. She is putting 2-3 words/signs together to request things and to comment about things. She is learning her colors - yes - most things are all still red - but - it's coming :) She can build towers with duplo blocks like nobody's business :) She can run and climb and go up and down stairs holding on to the rail independently - and occasionally even alternates feet! She can almost jump with two feet off the ground - although she does love jumping off other surfaces to the ground :) She shows love and compassion when babies and children cry, instead of turning away in fear. She swings, she slides, she rides ponies, she goes on rides at amusement parks, she jumps in puddles and holds her hand out to feel the rain!!! She has overcome many fears that she had when she first came to us, and continues to work on others :) A little patience, a little love, and a little help go a long way!!!
She has patiently sailed through specialist appointments, sleep studies, dentist appointments, surgery to remove her tonsils and adenoids. She has loved speech therapy and occupational therapy appointments. She has forgiven us for required blood draws and immunizations. She has impressed at educational evaluations - and while she still has significant delays due to her extra chromosome - she is doing so well :) She has made friends in her church class, in the neighborhood. She has met most of her large extended family of Grandmas, Grandpas, aunts, uncles, cousins, and cousins-once-removed :)
She is so loved - by everyone. Our Pipsqueak is one amazing, extra-special, wonderful little girl :) So - for every step back now, there are three or four steps forward :) We are getting ready to embark on preschool here in a few weeks and have been working in visits with her teacher and talking about routines and Mom being gone for a little bit, but always coming back. Our Pipsqueak is growing up and we are not placing any limits on our beautiful, spunky, determined little girl. She is going to SHINE and make a difference in the world - nothing is going to hold her back, not her anxieties or fears - she is one amazing, spectacular, resilient little girl and we couldn't be more blessed to have her in our family!
So - a very belated - but celebrated on time in real life - just a little later on this blog ;) Happy one year home beautiful girl!!!!
