Hello, Spring

We've emerged!  Spring is here, the sun is shining, and my little girl can hardly wait to get outside.  It's time for those after dinner walks, where you barely make it around the block, as you stop to chat with everyone else who has emerged from the winter.  The first spring runs outside, pumping up all the yard equipment and bikes, running to a friend's house to play, wanting to be outside until dusk settles.
I love the sun, it's warmth, the heat. 
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One year ago....

A year ago, we packed our bags, said goodbye to our kids, and traveled across the ocean to meet Sarah.  I look back at what a year we've had.  She is as spunky as ever and more independent, and definitely a risk-taker.  She has yet to master the concept that she doesn't float when the life jacket is taken off.

She will sit and watch a performance at school, lift her hands in a wave, and laugh when she sees Addy or Austin up on stage. 

Taking a picture of her sister during the program.

I laugh as I'm now Sarah's mama to everyone we see.  At school, "Sarah, your mama's here."  Dropping the kids off at their parties, and the kids and their mamas' ask, "Where's Sarah?"  She's known and recognized in our circles.  She is loved and I marvel at the gift we received the moment she came home.  Whenever she passes a milestone, learns something new, or will find her Easter basket tomorrow that matches her siblings, I count my blessings, my half-full glass.

While we were in Florida, she was a rock star.  The neighbors in the pool, those passing by, could hardly wait until Sarah joined them.  Even those we see one week every year, she mesmerizes in her cute factor way.  My parents loved watching her take to the water in a few short days, and they, also, see the blessings she has bestowed on our family.  "She will never know how truly blessed she is," was a remark spoken in the pool. 

But, it's the other way around.  We are the ones who are truly honored, blessed, and been given a gift like no other.  I can't look back at the 3 1/2 years she was alone.  All we do is look forward to where she is going, what she will do, and how she will make a difference in this world.
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Friday, I learned the book I had been waiting was in stores.  At Target, I pushed my cart to the book aisle, there it was...the very last copy in the store.  It was mine and I held onto that precious book all the way home.

I remember two years ago as I was learning more about orphans with Down syndrome, I stumbled upon Kelle Hampton's blog and I remember reading into the wee hours of the morning, crying tears of joy as she wrote with raw emotion the morning of her daughter's birth.  Since then, she has become an advocate for the NDSS, sharing her story through her words and pictures, and showing us all that life is beautiful.  I recommend it for anyone.  The glass if always half-full.

Have a blessed weekend.
Shelly

The Crayon Box

We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, while others bright, some have weird names, but they all have learned to live together in the same box. Robert Fulghum

 My little sprite has made a place for herself in this world for 3 1/2 short years.  We learn daily how she has touched someone's life around the grounds.  Caretakers, teachers, and other staff frequently stop to speak, wave, give her a kiss, or to let her know she is special.
She is known, celebrated, and loved.   My almond-shaped eye, button nose, wispy hair little girl has made a positive impact on those she has lived in the "same box" with for 3 1/2 years. 
She is making a difference.

Our weather is taking a cold, wet spell this week and I know we'll be inside more.  Pulling out a new box of crayons, I wanted to see what she would do.  Infatuated with the bright colors, she was up for making any line, using any hand, and any color on the page.  She even was particular of making certain the crayons were neatly placed in the box.

Yesterday afternoon, she walked into her groupa area early and we had 30 minutes left until our taxi arrived.  Normally, we wait at our familiar table outside, but because of the rain we sat on the steps.  Of course, that was not good enough for the caretakers.  One asked us a question, of which Andy replied,"I don't speak russian," in Russian.  That always throws people for a loop.  She laughed and then motioned if we are there for a baby.  I said,"Da, (and used her given name),"  A look of surprise registered, she walked on, and brought us two chairs.  After that, we could still her Sarah's name being talked about inside another groupa's room.


Over here, surprise and questions have been asked multiple times.
Why do you want to adopt a Down's syndrome child?
Do you not know the amount of extra care and concern they require?


Sarah has a diagnosis of Down syndrome, but she is more than those two words.  Sarah is full of curiousity, vigor, a zest for life, and spontaneity.  She is eager to learn, and watches your mouth, your hands, and your face to copy what she sees.  She has learned signs, and is beginning to speak a few English words in the short time we've been visiting.  She also has her own ideas, and will see what all she can get away with in our visits.

Mostly, she is infatuated with birds, cats, and dogs.  Nothing will ever change her mind about birds.  They must want to be touched or why would they be on the ground every day.
Why do they always fly away when I get near? 


This is the Sarah we've come to love and celebrate. The toddler who has learned to giggle, pucker up for a kiss, throw her arms around you for a hug, and knows the best place for a book to be read is in her mama's lap.

Yes, Down syndrome is a part of Sarah.  But, it's not who she is.

She is a life worthy of love.

P.S.  It's 2:30pm our time and we do not have a court time for tomorrow.  

A little anxiety is setting in...

P.P.S  At 8pm, we learned our court time for May 4th is 3pm.

Surreal

Walking through the gate this morning, a bright yellow bus with 17 kids and 4 adults was waiting to be let through.  Two caretakers got off and between our limited russian and their english, they asked us if we want to go to  the park with them.  Uh, YES, PLEASE.  Tuesdays for her groupa are FIELD TRIP days.  Imagine...

And so we loaded onto the bus, they moved Sarah to our seat, and off we went.  To...the park. And not any park, the 411 Battery Memorial Park, complete with military equipment and vessels.    They didn't seem bothered that Andy shot lots of pictures and video, and this afternoon he made a DVD of the trip to give to the orphanage.

Unbelievable, awestruck, indescribable...this adoption trip has been surreal.  We recognize our experience is atypical.  Instead of the Groundhog Day metaphor, we've chosen a morphed Bourne Identity meets Kindergarten Cop movie genre to describe our adventure.

We understand not every group in this orphanage is afforded these same experiences.  But, we are daily filled with gratitude and give thanks that someone saw Sarah's perseverance, her determination, and her desire to learn everything she can.  Someone thought she deserves a chance, and she is living every day with gusto.

Instructions for Living a Life: 
1.  Pay Attention
2.  Be Astonished
3.  Tell About It
Mary Oliver

A Father's Love

Another post was planned.  But sometimes, plans alter, change, and you gotta go with it.  My friend Jenni and I use this saying at school. "When the spirit moves you, move with it to get the best out of your class!"  So when something absolutely remarkable, indescribable, and uncontainable happens, I need to spew out the happiness, goodness, and blessings appearing across the ocean with our little girl.

 Children in orphanages rarely see a male figure.  The one man we have seen inside the halls does not illicit a positive response when he appears.  So, Sarah was very apprehensive and leery with Andy at first.  Our best times have been in the little locker room area.  She allows him to undress her outside clothes, play cards with him, read to her, and play.  Outside, she will only let him swing, catch her down the slide, and read.  She REFUSES to let him hold her hand or pick her up.

Today, she felt his love for her.  He took her to the dog, and showed her how to pet gently.  They played High Five, and she let him hold her without squirming and trying to get down.  She knows...

The Best Belated Birthday Gift For Him

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This morning our translator told us our paperwork was going smoothly, but still no court date.  This afternoon, she told us we have an interview tomorrow at 5 with the adoption administration.  This is another unique adoption requirement in our region.  We've been told this is not a big deal, but a little uneasy to those who've not been through the process.  I do not know what happens next, but am hoping to get a little more information from our translator tomorrow.  Your prayers would be appreciated!

Sarah's had a little stomach issue these last few days.  Andy thinks it could be all the excitement, which could very well be.  She could definitely use your prayers, also.

My friend, Lisa, is "traveling" with us.  Her family adopted Alina this very month, a year ago and have been our adoption mentors.   This week, she's reliving their trip by writing about it on her blog.
Living In The  Light

Love In Any Language

Love in any language.  Straight from the heart.
Pulls us all together, never apart.
Once we learn to speak it, all the world will hear,

Love in any language, fluently spoken here.

Today, she didn't have the "deer in headlights, what the heck is going on, why are people looking at me" expression from our first meeting.  We were dropped off, went to the office, but I guess once we're through the gates, we can go to her groupa and ask for her.  She came out a little unsure, but once I pulled out the red beads, bracelet, and purse, she was good to go.

She is loving my red bag full of stuff.  I was reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear to her, and it's her favorite.  We go through the animals, making sounds, and rereading it over and over.  This afternoon, she even pointed to birds and cats when we were outside.

As my bag of tricks was emptying quickly, I pulled out some lotion and began rubbing some on her hands.  She LOVED it!  I used up half a bottle.  I would put some on her hands, rub them, then she would do it.  Grandma Eagy, she's going to love you slathering lotion all over her:)

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What's Been Going On...

Tuesday evening, we took the train to her city.  Left at 11pm and arrived at 9am.  Immediately we were met by our wonderful translator, Aloyna, who took us to an administration office to get the local referral to see her.  Then, on to the orphanage.

Once there, we met the director, doctor, and other administrative personal.  We were told a slightly different birth story than before, but nothing alarming.  What we noticed is they love her and are happy she will have a family.  They were boasting about all that she could do, how happy and loving she is, and she is BUSY!  (The scrapes on her face are because she tends to do a lot of faceplants on the ground from running!) She can build bricks, match pictures, do puzzles, and more.  They are very proud of her.

When they brought her to us, we were in the small doctor's office, with four desks, and eight adults looking at her.  It was overwhelming for me, let alone a three year old.  Our translator made the suggestion to go to a play room, and she came to life.  Her teacher was placing tasks after task to show us what all she could do fine motor wise, and Sarah sees a speech teacher, also!!!

A mere 20 minutes later, we left to check in to our hotel and eat lunch.  By now, it's been almost 17 hours since our last meal!  We checked in, ate a little lunch, and then notarized more paperwork to begin.  As of now, we have done all we can and our lawyer/translator will be getting everything ready.  Aloyna says our adoption will go smoothly because of her parents notarizing their termination rights, no siblings, and they all live in the city.  Within two weeks, we should have our court.  Now, we visit her twice a day.

Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, 
penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.

Maya Angelou