J is making a patient list for rounding.




-- Post From My iPhone

We had a whirlwind trip to UAB today for K's follow-up. No answers right now, more testing ahead.

The drive back is always very long, but it does give me time to process. There are times when I think that I am not up to another adoption. In my heart, though, I still feel God is leading us back to China someday. Not any time soon, but I know the road is not done yet.


-- Post From My iPhone

Here are the two darlings with the things they love--Miss Kitty and Batman.

Beyond that, I'm at a loss for what to say.

On second thought, I do have something to say. This blog update made me cry. This young man was severely burned in an accident that killed his father. To be loved by a new family is fantastic. More amazing is that he was able to spend the last few years among people who accepted him despite his special needs, who opened their arms, sought to meet his physical and spiritual needs and showed him the love of God through their actions and not mere words. If only every child in the world had such an opportunity...

A lot has happened since I last updated the blog. Keith had his follow-up appointment with the ophthalmologist. His corrected vision (with glasses) is somewhere between 20/100 and 20/200. For perspective, the big E at the top of a vision chart is 20/200. With glasses, he can see that line. The next line is 20/100. He cannot see that line. Without glasses, he walks into walls. Legally blind is best corrected vision of 20/200, so he is close but not quite legally blind. He is going to have an exam under anesthesia of his eyes on August 7. I have spent a good deal of time over the last month on the phone with the public school system trying to get him evaluated and into the regional blind school. It has thus far been a very frustrating and irksome process.

He is doing quite well with learning English. He has trouble with concepts and words that sound similar, like Sunday and Someday. Overall, though, he communicates with us very well.

He is better bonded to daddy than mommy still, but at least doesn't cry when daddy leaves anymore.

J is now four, which is hard to believe. She continues to have sleep issues. She remains our little princess.

These are from the beach this weekend. K looks like he is surfing on his own in the top, but in the bottom, you can see Paw Paw holding the back. They both had a great time. J liked being in the water more than K.
A lot of other stuff has happened that I'm still processing, some of which still makes me very mad. I think some things are beyond repair, but time will tell.

I'm listening to a sermon where the speaker says we should use all that happens to us as a witness. I've spent a lot of time mulling this sermon. I've been uncertain about the direction of the blog for months and maybe it's time to turn the focus a little.

Overall, I believe that our adoptions have been the road God wants us on and overall I believe all that has happened has been His sovereign plan. The struggle, though, is seeing that sovereignty in the daily battles and seeing His plan in the hurtful times. It's the point where faith becomes reality.

This morning the kids were driving me a little crazy and I passed through the kitchen and saw the above. It was quite endearing, somehow, and reminded me how much fun they add to my life, even during the battles.

iphone pic dump: spring '09

Here's the best from my iPhone. Enjoy!








These last ones, with Keith in his Bama shorts, Superman pajama shirt and Batman cape, are a pretty good indication of the constantly moving target that Keith is. He was acting "super" and was just cracking me up.

We had our orthopedic appointment this week. It was really uneventful. He got some X-Rays and a stuffed bunny. The doctor was not impressed by his foot. He thinks his gait problems and foot turn are related to the arm in the sense that you normally use your arms to balance as you walk and run and he cannot do that, so the gait and foot are off. He said the arm is what it is. There are surgeries available, but he does not recommend them because he does not think kids gain enough function to warrant the extent of surgery required. We go back in six months for a check up.

We are getting the semblance of routine around here. Some days are better than others, but overall, things are headed in a positive direction. His behaviors are muted compared to a couple of months ago and he is having fewer totally ramped up wild moments. They still happen, but we are getting better at recognizing the start and heading them off. Both kids are testing the limits constantly, but who's kids don't?

No new pictures. No excuses, just no pictures.

Things around here are in some ways settling in. Brother has really started to push the boundaries and test the limits. It is almost as though he figured out we were not going anywhere and decided he needed to establish the control. He is very different from sister in his power struggles. He will do more half-obedience and delay tactics than she would. Unfortunately, mommy wants full obedience and delay tactics result in being carried to bed. Sister is pushing the limits, too, I assume to figure out the new norm and establish some control for her. The days can be very long, but I know someday it will all pay off.

I have finally given up the battle of a toy free living room and have begun to turn it into a play room. I bought a kid table and two chairs today. I had one put together when brother woke up and he claimed it as his chair. It is identical to the other, but he drug that chair all over the house to make sure only he sat in it. I would walk to the kitchen and here he came with that chair. It was almost comical. He also went through his sister's room decided which toys in there were "his". She did not take well to that expedition.


We have our appointment with orthopedics May 7.

It remains difficult to get two children smiling, looking at the camera and not physically harming one another. We are sporting new glasses around here. They arrived yesterday. It is hard to tell if there is a big difference or not, but he does wear them pretty consistently.