Happy Birthday Daddy!

The hubs turned 29 today:)

We celebrated his youth by making a cake.  I really haven't cooked in a couple of weeks, so it was quite the conundrum to have to hunt for the ingredients in my pantry. (My sister and mom unpacked my food a few weeks ago.)

Don't let this picture fool you.  It is full fledged summer, and we've had a lot of together time.  It is definitely touch and go with all of them, and this was a sweet moment.

Brother bear is doing better.  He's so sweet to David, and loves it when David engages with him, but it doesn't happen too often.  

Chocolate was a hit!

We dropped in to see him at work, and had our first family photo.  It's too bad about the scenery, but what a day to celebrate.  We are so thankful for his life and for the daddy and husband he is.

It's been 2 weeks since we brought David home.  It feels like 2 months honestly.  This past week has been hard.  Some days are really good and some days are really NOT so good as we learn to adjust to one another.  David is really clingy most days, (although today was GOOD!)  and it's hard to meet everyone's needs when he is this way, so I'm praying for patience and endurance.  I know it's just going to take time, and patience is not my strong suit.  

Have a great Father's Day Weekend!!

Last month is HISTORY.

May was CRRRRRAZY.  I just passed through the single busiest month that I can remember.  I'm not exaggerating.  We moved the beginning of May.  School ended for the kids the week after we moved.  We left for Korea a week after that.

It took half the town to make it all happen.  My sweet friends helped in so many ways, that I will never get all the thank you notes written.   

My friend Mommy Lion moved in with her kids to keep Mary and Garrett while we were gone.  The kids love each other and they had a blast with the longest sleepover they've ever had.  Garrett had a REALLY hard time when little lion left because he didn't want to sleep by himself anymore.

Fresh manis by Becky.  Becky has been babysitting for our family for quite a few years.  She moved in too to help shuttle kids around that last week of school while I unpacked!  She absolutely could not wait to meet David.  I wonder how many kids she'll adopt:)

These two go WAY back.  They are like brother and sister..still.

We bought them these in Korea obviously.  I hated they had to leave right after we returned, but I'm so glad they could stay the whole week.

Mamma lion and my our other friend K, pretty much kept things cracking' around here the whole week or two.  I was so foggy after we got the call and when we returned that I just had a hard time making decisions.  They kept me on track.  They dealt with workers in and out of the house after we moved in.  They put together furniture.  I could go on and on. 

The Lord truly has provided everything we have needed through our friends.  I can't list everyone, but they took care of all our kids and so I didn't have to pack and prepare to leave them behind because their lives just continued where they were.

When we returned home, my sister had organized meals for a couple of weeks and just showed up every day to make sure I wasn't on the verge:)  Friends gave rides to the kids all week took them to swim lessons, etc.

I'm thankful for my friends and my family.  Last night, I was able to go out with a group that has been getting together for years now.  They make me laugh.  They have supported us through this journey too like so many others.

So thank you friends for loving us.  Thank you for cheering us on and for praying and supporting us on this long journey.  We've only just begun, but I'm so encouraged every day.

And don't worry Beth Ann...I left plenty for you to do:)

Faces

Hubs commented tonight that David likes to make faces.  He doesn't just have many expressions..He intentionally makes all kids of faces...to make you laugh:)

This is random blogging.  The video is of him swimming!  He's learning to balance in the water with his many floatation devices.  He LOVES the water.  It took him a while to LIKE the pool though.

So here are the faces we are seeing.  His hair is combed over because he had just gotten out of the pool.  It too makes him looks so different.

He does this scrunchy face a lot.  

The "come get me if you can" face.

Without prompting he walked up to Mary to hug her..

He LOVES LOVES LOVES Mary....but who doesn't ..I mean really?

This little man had a better day today.  Yesterday was hard. I found him outside on the couch crying because he'd been in trouble over something.  He looked all flustered.  I asked him what was wrong, and he said, "I hate my job!"  I asked him what was his job, and he said, "This..This is my job!"  I didn't really understand, but it just told me he's frustrated with the way things are rolling right now.  Today David was really happy with Mary and I was able to play with Garrett more.  It made a big difference.

Mary had a perfect day because David finally "let her" in.  Allie was at soccer camp tonight, and they needed a little break.

Finally, the help me face.  He came to us, often saying this phrase that we quickly figured meant..help me now!  We taught him "please", "all done", and "more" in signs and he can do all of them, and it's cut down on the frustration.  He's such a quick learner.

Let's play

It seems like all we've done this week is play at home.  The girls went to VBS, which left a lot of time for the boys and I to play.  It's been a while since I've sat down and played because we've been so busy the past couple of months.

Garrett loves the Wii and we haven't discouraged it much lately because we felt like it would be good to keep him distracted technologically babysat while we managed a new toddler.

When we pulled out the trains, he came running.

They were a big hit with David.

Again, David is just doing great.  We had been calling him KwonHee, then KwonHee David, and now if you call him David, he turns around.  If asked, "Where's David?", he points to himself.  He's saying a couple of new English words every day.  And those cheeks??  Nothing but kissable.  I've never seen a kid who is so "lovey."  He gives kisses ALL THE TIME.  He'll grab my face with both hands and smack me right on the lips!  

I finally tricked him into drinking milk (yes Mommy Lion it was chocolate milk.)  I don't know why he went from drinking 4 bottles of formula a day to not wanting bottles or milk.  It's baffling.

He seems so much more secure even though it's been a week.  We finally realized rocking him wasn't the way to get him to sleep because he can't be transferred.  Now, if I just sit at the end of the bed and pat his bottom, he falls asleep in about 15 minutes.  The past 2 nights he has slept all night without either of us in the room.  He has a little cold, so I don't know if it's making him more tired, but he's sleeping well.

We took him for his initial medical evaluation, and he was laid back as usual.  The Dr. said he looked great and was very age appropriate.  

I am so relieved that we have traveled, are home and settling in as a new family.  I'm so thankful the kids are out of school because it's really helped David.  He loves kids, and it would have been hard if they were all away.  There are so many things about the timing of all this, that only God could have planned better.  I'm still amazed.

More of our week

David hasn't even been physically in our family for a week yet, and I'm amazed at his progress.  

My parents came down Saturday to meet him.  He took right to them.  They were of course so excited to finally meet him.

Bunny and Pappy came down to meet him yesterday, and same thing.  After a day, he warmed right up. 

We've had a good week and have enjoyed sharing him with our parents.

Does he look like he already owns the place or what?

He's readily saying Daddy.  He added "bye bye" and "Uh oh" to his list today.  He seems to understand a lot of what we are saying based on the way he responds.

Garrett has handled him well.  He's been sweet so far.  I'm wondering with the newness will "wear off" :) My sweet sweet boy.

As of tonight, going to bed has not been nearly as hard.  He's not screaming for anyone else to come rescue him.  He crawled up into the bed beside me, and fell asleep within 10 minutes.  That's HUGE compared to a few days ago when he was curled up in a ball in front of the door wanting nothing to do with me.  He is attaching quickly, and I pray daily that it is real and healthy.  He seems content as long as someone in the fam is with him.  He mostly wants to be with me, but when the kids are around he'll mosey off with one of them and play.   He loves to get out in the car.  THAT IS GOOD because we are normally out and about regularly.  Tonight we had lasagna, and he ate every bite.  Mary and Garrett were riding there tricycles around and he was content to follow them around and around.  

He hasn't napped well the last couple of days, but I guess that's toddlers, and I CANNOT COMPLAIN.  

Thank you again for all your prayers.  We've seen so many answered.  I know life is not "normal" yet because we truly have so much help.  I'm so thankful!!! I'm good with not being back to "normal" yet!!

Adjusting...and just hangin

We are settling in and thankful the jet lag is behind us!  

David has done remarkably well.  I'm amazed and thankful.  His normal disposition is happy.  He can pitch some tantrums, but that is to be expected.

The first night home he was awake an hour or so.  Last night was about the same.  He is a heavy sleeper, so he's napped well, and sleeping long stretches at times.  It's not easy getting him to bed, but much easier than the first couple of days.  

He is starting to eat more (the first few days he didn't have much interest in eating or drinking).  He's tried many new things today.  Hubs worked today and and the kids were busy with VBS, so we had alone time this morning.  He's really starting to prefer me over Allie..ha ha ha!  He was giving me kisses today looking for me all over calling me "OMMA."  He even said the words "Mommy and Daddy" if asked to speak them.  I took a video below.

He loves to be outside,

and we've taken many walks.  He loves the stroller and likes to be pushed around the house because it's already so hot.

My brother and his family stopped by yesterday, and he was a little shy for a while.  He did warm up, but we couldn't really get close enough for a good pic.  

Garrett has taken to him and cried tonight when David couldn't sleep in his room.  (I took David upstairs to put the kids to bed so that he could see a normal bed time routine, and G thought he was going to sleep there.)

We even managed to get a floatie and swim trunks on him.  He was fine with it today!  

He's more of a "stay on the edge of the pool" kinda guy, but at least we can all be there together.  

We've gotten so many texts and messages saying that people are so proud of us.  I just want to make sure that God receives all the glory for David being a part of our family.   We strongly felt God leading us in this direction...undeniably over 2 years ago.  He has given us confirmation after confirmation along the way, that He had it all figured out.  There were MANY moments of uncertainty and much uncertainty lies ahead, but my faith has increased dramatically because God keeps answering specific prayers even when I am so very doubtful at times.  It is not because of our great courage that we walked down this road.  It was shaky and wavering obedience at best.  He has carried us this far, and He will continue to walk with us.

Long road home

We made it home yesterday.  

There were signs along our street that Becky and Christy made with the kids.  We could not have made this trip with the help of sweet friends taking care of our other kids.  I'll never be able to say thank you enough:)

I didn't even have my video camera out.  Garrett and Mary were SO EXCITED to see him.  They were so sweet.  David did pretty well coming home.  He slept about 4-5 hours on the flight and didn't get too upset sitting in our laps the other 8 hours.  He fell asleep immediately when we drove home.

Even as tired as he was he did great meeting my parents and Mary and Garrett.  He likes his stroller and wanted to be in it all afternoon crazy enough.

He wanted to get in the pool but did not want to wear a swim diaper or shorts.  That was a big ole battle, so we let him have his way.  He LOVES water!

Bedtime was ugly.  He only wanted Allie and his foster mom.  He did not want me which was hard but is as I had read it might be.  After about 30 minutes of screaming on the floor he gave up and fell asleep.  I expected him up at 3am and he was.  HOWEVER, he just laid there and looked at ceiling until 4am and then fell right back asleep.  It's 9:00 a.m. and he's still asleep. (13 hours).  He must have just been so tired.  

I don't want to give the impression that this has all been hunky dory.  It is going to be very challenging to set boundaries with a toddler who can't communicate with us.  There have been multiple tantrums (which I know is normal for his age), but it is so different parenting when you constantly have to keep in mind that they don't know you or trust you.  I became overwhelmed in the middle of the night just thinking about the long road ahead.  Thank you so much for loving us and praying for us.  Our friends and family have been incredibly supportive and we couldn't have made it this far without your help.  Please keep praying:)