Busy Day

This time last night I had a feeling of dread over the next 24 hours. I breathed a long sigh of relief after we put the boys to bed tonight and am sitting down with a second helping of this delicious chicken casserole a friend from Sunday school brought us.





We got out this morning to run an errand and take Daniel to the doctor. We went to Tractor Supply to buy something for the farm. Daniel was apprehensive about riding in the buggy but he didn't cry. Then we went to the playground at Lake Peachtree. I consider this to be a big success because this park is very crowded and he played just as if he were at home. Joshua and Nathan went to Chickfila while Daniel and I went back to the doctor. Our ped. went over all of our referrals and gave me a list of appointments to make. I tried to make these this afternoon but it was too late in the day.


(Daniel is staring at the automatic doors.)

Today's visit was much harder. They had to pull seven vials of blood. Two nurses and I held him down. I was thinking that would be a lot of blood for a person my size much less his little body. It's all for his good though. It's so hard to not be able to communicate with him in Chinese. I'd like to tell myself that if he were a little baby he wouldn't understand me either, but this is different. He's been poked and prodded and had major surgery (his cleft lip repair). He knows what's coming and doesn't forget when you give him a bottle afterwards (like a baby). I tried to give him a bottle afterward to soothe him and he looked at me like "What the heck are trying to do with that bottle after you just put me through that! Get me out of here!" He kind of stopped crying by the time we got to Chickfila to see Nathan and Joshua.



Then things got better...when he saw his Daddy. He is a Daddy's boy. He reached out for him and clung to his shoulder. Wait, I don't want to forget to celebrate.We sat in Chickfila as a family...after that! Without tears!

We made it home later and the boys went down for a nap which gave me just enough time to straighten up for our first post-adoption home visit from our adoption agency. I was sweating the straightening the house part because honestly, I don't think I've ever had a messier house. Ever. I am amazed at the difference between one toddler and two. It's smellier too. ;) I woke the boys up from their nap with enough time to dress them, sit them in front of the TV, light a candle, dispose of the dirty diapers, and vacuum the doorway just before she arrived.

The home visit went well. She was comforting in one area in particular: the relationship between Joshua and Daniel. I shared how I've stressed about them interacting with each other. It was comforting for our adoption specialist to tell me that it is okay for them to get into it. See, I can't even say "fight." She said "interact more naturally"...but she meant fight...a little...with boundaries of course. She was very kind. I felt like we were having a guest over for supper as if she were an old friend, granted I don't get out much. But she really was nice.

So now, 24 hours later, I can breath again.