The New Normal

Beck started back at public school this past Monday.  While I loved every second of planning, teaching, and engaging Beck in our 8 week homeschool trial, this fall has to be about Everlee.  He had a tough School Eve, crying that he wants to be with me, but the moment he stepped off that bus the first day, we was all smiles.  In fact, he candidly said yesterday, "I miss being home with you Mom, but learning at school is waaay more fun that learning at home."  As much as I tried, I get it.

Beck being gone during the day has changed the home dynamics a bit.  I've seen Penn go backwards in his transition.  He notices E more and is even more up in her face.  He wants to touch her, tickle her, harass her, and annoy her.  However you or I wish to look at it, he most definitely had a harder week than last.  And so did I.  My patience with my baby boy grew thin, and this calm and collected mama lost it on him one morning.  I called B at work and he talked me through it.  The man even came home with roses.  We don't ever do flowers.  And he brought home roses.  I told him he was rewarding my bad behavior.  He chuckled and said, "I am reminding you you're human."  

I know there will be mountains and valleys.  I had seen him improve so much that I was taken aback.  I guess Beck distracted him enough daily that the competitive interactions between he and E were lessened.  When it's just the two younger kids, the tension between them comes out more.  We'll just take one day at a time.  She continues to be uncomplicated, social, and and unaffected by the chaos of our family.  

This picture describes my week perfectly.  E must have been thinking, Oh my Lord kid.  Enough already.  At least I was.

When she naps, I carve out special time with Penn.  I did this the previous weeks too, but never called it "special time." A therapist we saw this week at the International Adoption Clinic suggested I call it that.  One afternoon in special time, we made goo on the front porch.

The clinic appointment was helpful in many ways.  They not only did a medical checkup like a regular pediatric office, but several different professionals assessed her within his/her discipline.  She was evaluated on speech, fine motor, gross motor, and emotional well being.  The first team even discussed sibling reactions.  The whole appointment lasted three hours, lab work included.  Penn came with us since we don't have many options otherwise and vegetated in front of the iPad the entire time.  Gotta do what we've gotta do. Um, yes ma'am.  We flew all that way and spent months of preparation to adopt and raise our children in front of an iPad.  I felt like I should make that disclaimer at the start of her appointment...

E scored at 12 months for expressive language and 16 months for receptive language.  Her motor skills both tested at a 19 month level.  So, she is much further behind verbally, but that makes sense.  This isn't her native language and she doesn't have a palate.  All things considered, she is doing very well.  Everlee also had seven vials of blood drawn and did not flinch.  She helped the technician hold them for Pete's sake!  What a difference from our medical in China! 

Her next big appointment is September 17 at the Cleft Clinic. Again, conveniently, six different disciplines of medicine will look at her in one swoop.  I'm not sure if I remember them all but plastics, orthopedics, dental, ENT, and ??  At that point, we will have a better idea of time frames for surgeries and if we need to extend our stay in South Carolina.  

MUSC is a God send!

Insurance is too, though billing the first appointment was fairly comical.  They couldn't find her in the system, because her American name is not on any official documents yet, and her Chinese name was entered incorrectly.  Oh, Tricare.  

Other happenings this week:

We've been working on fine motor activities, as per the occupational therapist.

She played at our second home, Rolly Pollies, for the first of many times.  

We ate at a pizzeria, our first meal out with all five of us.  

We went to the local market.

And as you can see, Mommy finally got some pictures with all three of her darlings.