Birthdays, School, and Medical Decisions

I have not been very good about keeping our blog up to date.  I also have Annika's Adoption Journey group on Facebook where I do all our updating.  But, I try to remember to upload to Blogger for anyone who doesn't have FB and also where I can update about our whole family.

Annika had a great reunion with her best buddy, Jack.  Jack and his family live in Tennessee, so we were overjoyed to have them come stay with us for a weekend so Jack and Annika could reunite! We had a great weekend of spending time with him and his amazing momma, Rainer.  They joined us in celebrating Annika's and Jadyn's half birthday and then we spent the rest of the time just being together! Annika was shy for a few seconds when she first saw Jack at the airport, but they soon picked up where they left off and were side by side pretty much the whole rest of the weekend!  These kiddos went through a lot together in the orphanage, and now they're making new memories in loving families!  I love seeing them together!  Seeing Jack and his mom before my very eyes was so surreal after having only connected through Facebook and FaceTime for the past year!  They are a great family and we look forward to a lifetime friendship! We plan to take a road trip out to TN this summer and spend some more time with them.  
 

Annika and Jadyn had a wonderful half birthday celebration on May 21st.  They were surrounded by so many friends and family, and the Lord showed us His favor by not letting it rain so we could have the party at the park as originally planned.  We ended up having WAY too much pizza leftover and our kids ate it for nearly a week straight (without complaint, surprisingly).   This was Annika's first birthday party and she soaked it up.  The girls got a TON of birthday gifts! I'll admit that I couldn't make it through singing "Happy Birthday" to them as I was all choked up and crying from being in amazement that Annika was here in our presence, an orphan no more, and having the time of her life!  And thinking about Jadyn, who so selflessly gave up having a party when her birthday came last November so we could finish the adoption process and get her sister home.... here she was...finally getting that much-deserved party and she was all smiles and laughs! My heart was bursting with gratitude and pride!

The end of school was a whirlwind of activities and doctor appointments for our household!
Jadyn finished 3rd grade, Eli and Annika finished 2nd grade and Asher is an official PreK graduate!

Bring on 4th grade, 3rd grade and Kindergarten!

The first day of school is going to be real hard for this momma.  Jadyn's last year in elementary and Asher's first year.... no more babies in the nest! If you need me on Aug 15th, you'll find me definitely in the BooHoo/WooHoo room!

Asher

A couple weeks ago, we had Asher evaluated for Occupational Therapy.  Our zealous Asher has always been that... zealous and full of life... and more.  He's also been the one who is quick to become bouncing off the walls and feeding the chaos of small children in a room :), head-butting teachers or soccer coaches (playfully), playfully throwing himself on the ground or draping himself over people of objects, or blurting out noises randomly for fun when he's been quietly engaged in an activity alone.  He even got his own personal teacher for his PreK graduation that stood by his side to help him stay on task during the graduation ceremony (Jay and I had a good chuckle about that, but it IS what he needed to get through the ceremony without causing major distraction!) My momma gut has told me for years that there was more going on in his brain besides just being a boy, but I wondered if he'd grow out of it or if we just needed to parent better.  Finally, over the last few months, I began exploring different avenues to help us figure out what makes Asher tick.  We did bloodwork to make sure it wasn't allergies or ANYTHING the bloodwork would tell us.  (That came back normal.)  We recently sent off hair samples to have them analyzed to make sure Asher isn't deficient in anything that could be playing a part in his overstimulation and hyperactivity. (We are awaiting the results). And we had him evaluated for Sensory-related Occupational Therapy.  Last week, we learned that Asher has Sensory Processing Disorder and has some mild delays in certain areas.  I can't tell you what a relief it is to FINALLY put a name to it and to have him in weekly Occupational Therapy (OT), helping him at his level and what he needs to be successful in life.  And thankfully, it's only mild.  (He won't have to be in OT forever!)  He likes going to his weekly sessions and getting to do 'fun' things... all geared to helping his sensory needs! We've also invested in a small trampoline and are learning to do some small things at home, like providing him with a weighted lap blanket to help.  Jay and I are still learning what it means to have SPD and what it means for helping Asher, but one thing is for sure, this kiddo is smart and has a bright and successful future ahead of him!

And the medical journey continues with Annika...

Heart
We learned a few weeks ago after a routine echocardiogram that Annika has an anomalous origin of her right coronary artery (it's not where it should be).  That means that as she gets older, there's a big chance she's going to need open-heart surgery to correct it.  (Praise God it is correctable!) After another round of testing and meeting with the cardiologist, Annika was deemed healthy enough to keep being a kid and doing with kids like to do.  Our cardiologist said to go ahead and move forward with the ear reconstruction and then we will check on Annika's heart in about a year.

Ear Canals
After meeting with several doctors/otolaryngologists about her ear canals, and them meeting with their peers regarding Annika's case, it has been decided that the best and least-risky route would be to leave her ear canals as they are and move forward with ear reconstruction.  Annika will continue to go into the doctor's office for routine ear cleanings and routine CTs to monitor her canals over the years.  Jay and I both have peace about this after our last otolaryngologist fully examined Annika and reviewed her CTs and MRIs.  Annika's case is very unique and Jay and I appreciate that each doctor has been very honest with us with their professional opinion and expertise.  We have sought the leading doctors in the United States in this field, so we feel comfortable with moving forward with ears.  So, I called our plastic surgeon's office this past Thursday and left a message that we are ready to proceed with the planning of ear reconstruction.

Ears
Which brings us to the next complicated step.....based on Annika's anatomy around her ear locations, our plastic surgeon (one of THE leading and top doctors in the microtia reconstruction world) wants to be very careful and thorough with the examining/planning for Annika's new ears.  Dr. Lewin wants a special study done of Annika's vascular makeup around where her new ears will be along with an in-office exam.  That means we may be making a "quick" trip to California soon to get that office exam in so that we can hopefully move forward with scheduling the first ear surgery.  It never occurred to me that it may not even be possible to have ear reconstruction..... if the vascular makeup is not there on either side of her head, no ear reconstruction (whether medpor or rib-grafting) would be able to 'take' if there isn't blood flow to the new ears.  We are still learning what exactly Annika needs to have already existing for the ear reconstruction.  Please pray that when she does have the study, EVERYTHING she needs to have will be there.  As parents, we want the best for our children and our dreams for them and their dreams for themselves... we desire it to be a reality.  Will you please pray that Annika will have EVERYTHING she needs to be able to have ear reconstruction?  That she'll have the veins for blood flow, the cartilage for building ear lobes, and that her current ear canals will be able to be successfully 'camouflaged' behind her new ears? I broke down today with the thought of WHAT IF Annika isn't able to have ear reconstruction? WHAT IF she has to have a life of prosthetic ears (removed every night)?  I dream of her having two beautiful ears on her head... just like you and me.... ears with pretty little earrings in them that she can change out to whatever she wishes to wear that day.  Ears that hold her glasses up.  Ears that don't come off at night like her glasses do.  Ears that she is not self-conscious to show each day when she pulls her hair back into a ponytail.  

So much weighing on my mind and heart... so much going on in our family of 6.... 

Summer school for Annika, swim lessons for Annika and Asher, tutoring for Annika after summer school ends, OT for Asher, VBS fun for all 4 whenever we have the opportunity, and a summer schedule with academic-enriched opportunities for all 4 along with lots of fun adventures in between.  

In the midst of it all... I am indescribably thankful that we serve a BIG BIG God Who loves us and His ways are not our ways.  We are praying for Annika's ears to become a reality (and hopefully this year when we've already met our deductible), for the finances to be there to pay for those ears and all that it entails (traveling, medical appts, etc), and for the Lord's direction and favor every step of the way.

To God be the glory.....

reunion and birthday party

Over a year ago, Annika had to say goodbye to a little boy whom she loved like a brother as he walked out of the orphanage to his new life with his new family. I have often wondered what Annika thought during that time, what she felt when he left.... knowing she'd never see him again, feeling loss once again as one of her friends left, and wondering if she too would ever be adopted.  I remember when Jack's family went to China to adopt him and bring him home to the USA... I was so happy for him and happy for us, for I knew Annika would get to see her Jack again because of technology and using FaceTime.... but at the same time, my heart grieved for my little girl on the other side of the world as I knew she was losing a piece of her world when Jack left that orphanage. Someday, Annika will have the words to tell me about all she went through. 

I will never forget the day we got Annika and how scared and terrified she was... to the point of hysteria. We needed a picture taken of Jay and I with her, yet she was too hysterical and scared to cooperate. I will never forget that moment that I pulled out that little pink photo album and opened it to the back to specific pages as I handed it to our guide to show Annika.  I'll never forget how Annika stopped in disbelief as she jerked the album from our guide's hands and stared through tears streaming and cries still wailing from her at picture of faces she knew so well yet they were smiling and happy with new faces surrounding them. Esther....Alex....Enora... and Jack. Annika knew them by their Chinese names and called them by such. It was then and in that moment that hope once again must have renewed in Annika's heart that she would see them again.   I will never forget that moment. And someday, I know she'll be able to tell me about it through her eyes. 

In the last 5 months, Annika and Jack have often Facetimed or sent videos to each other. And there have been many times when Annika, feeling too vulnerable and shy to see him on FaceTime, yet needing to see and feel close to Jack, would ask me to open up the app so she could see "Hong Fu Jack" and she would literally scroll through Jack's mom's Facebook pictures and videos for a long time, looking for her Jack. In 4 short days, Jack and his momma, Rainer, are hopping on a plane from Tennessee and coming to Texas. For the first time in 13 months, Jack and Annika are going to be face to face for a whole weekend. Annika has been nervous, a bit tinker, yet excited as everyday, she goes to her calendar to cross off another day in our countdown. 

It's going to be a big weekend. Will you pray for Annika and Jack as they reunite?  Will you pray for our two families, strangers just a little over a year ago, now connected together by the bond of adoption and the love of two precious children. The Lord is still writing these two little ones' stories. And I am SO thankful their friendship didn't end 13 months ago. Because of it, our family has grown to include Jack and his family. 💗 And that makes this momma's heart and eyes overflow with gratitude of the Lord's goodness. 

We are also celebrating Annika's and Jadyn's "half birthdays" on Friday evening since we didn't get to 6 months ago. The girls are beyond excited and we've invited a lot of friends and family to join us at a nearby park to celebrate! Annika's first birthday party since coming home....her first since becoming forever a part of our family... 😍💗

A reunion AND a birthday party happening this weekend for Annika??? We can hardly wait. 😊 

Special Visitors!

Annika and Asher reading together

Annika has been doing really well these days. She is doing great in school and we continue to work to get her 504 and special services in place. We continue to wait to hear from the third opinion on her ear canals - hoping to hear before this week is up!

Annika loves all things sports, baseball being her favorite these days. She loves to watch her brother, Eli, play and is excited for the day she gets to be on a team. The soccer season just ended for her and she loved being out there playing. We are thankful for great coaches and teammates who accepted her in with open arms! 

Aunt Cal came to visit!

Aunt Carol came to visit us for a few days and meet her newest great niece! Y'all, Annika is usually pretty shy and reserved, even a bit stand-offish to new people. She welcomed Aunt "Cal" with open heart and arms! Annika literally jumped for joy and squealed with delight that Aunt Cal was staying a few days with us! Talk about melt my heart. We loved having Aunt Cal here, and unfortunately, a stomach bug has been going through our family and it went home with aunt Cal. :( (So sorry about that!) Tummy bug aside, we loved having our aunt here and soaked up every minute. She taught us a new fun activity: kumihimo! It's Japanese braiding! So easy and so fun! Annika enjoys it as do the rest of us (Jay watches from the recliner ;) Thank you, Aunt Carol, for coming and visiting. We always love when you are here! We missed seeing Uncle Jim and hopefully he can come next time. We love you guys dearly!

Yang AoFang and Hong Fu

Yang Ao Fang and Hong Fu......Annika and Jack 

Two VERY special kids who share a special bond. 

They were like brother and sister during their days at their orphanage. I have several pictures of the two of them together...inseparable. Many more like the ones included here. Jack left the orphanage in April 2016 when he was adopted by an INCREDIBLE and loving family. Annika did not see him again until we brought her home in December and they were able to reunite via Facetime and by sending videos to each other. 

Well, GUESS WHAT?!?! On May 19, 2017, these two precious children are going to be reunited IN PERSON when Jack and his momma, Rainer, come to TEXAS from Tennessee to spend the weekend with our family!!! I didn't catch Annka's initial reaction on video when I told her the news today, but she squealed and jumped up and down in excitement! To help her understand the concept of time, we got the calendar down and created a countdown from today until they come. 23 days! 

I cannot wait to witness these two together ... reunited once again! Making more memories! I've got big hugs ready and waiting for Rainer too! We want to give Rainer and Jack a warm Texas welcome and make some great Texas memories when they come! What are some must-dos we should do with them? :)

#adoptionrocks
#wecouldhavemissedthis

God is good!

4 months a Sappington!

 

Annika saw me getting ready to write on our sign tonight and immediately knew what it meant and what number we were going to write on it! She was so excited and it warmed my heart with her happy reaction! It was picture time and she posed all on her own and I went with it. :-)

4 months since we first saw her in person...4 months since she walked into that Civil Affairs room, so scared and inconsolable for many hours afterwards... what an amazing transformation these past 4 months. What an amazing kid she is and I am so proud and honored to be her momma. 

 

As of today, she loves all things baseball. She can now count to over 130 in English. She recognizes many of her alphabet letters, and can even read the word GO in English.  Her favorite food is still noodles. She is quick to smile and laugh.  She's a pro on her scooter (she was so wobbly when she first came home). She loves to be outdoors and play with anyone who will join her. Her kind heart and sincerity continue to show more and more, and she is blossoming with each passing week. 

God is good. 

Happy 4th month anniversary, our dear precious Annika. You are dearly loved!

 

How is it going with Annika?

I know I haven't been posting as much these days, so tonight feels like a good time to get you caught up!

Ears update: 

I heard from our ENT last week and after much conversing with other doctors and thinking through, he felt it best we pursue another doctor to do surgery on Annika's ear canals and cholosteatoma removals. Jay and I highly respect him for saying he didn't want to risk messing up the final outcome and goal: ears for Annika. Her case is a complicated one with the location of her ear canals and cholosteatomas compounding the issue. In a way, we are kind of like being back to square 2, which is frustrating, but I'd rather be back to square 2 than to risk it. Our ENT recommended 2 other doctors for us to look into and they are actually doctors we have heard of because they are the best of the best. Both doctors are out of state. Our ENT said he was going to fax Annika's CT scans (with our permission) over to each doctor while Jay and I decided which doctor we wanted to pursue. That was last week (Thursday, I believe) and today I put a call into the doctor in Virginia to initiate contact as well. Tomorrow or Wednesday, I plan to contact the other doctor who is in California and see if we can get the ball back rolling again on getting surgery on the books to remove the cholosteatomas in the next month or two. 

Tomorrow is our first post placement visit with our social worker. Per adoption requirements, we have to submit a 6 month, 1 year and 4 other post placement reports to our agency who then submits them to China. It's China's way of knowing that we are indeed loving and taking care of our child we promised to never hurt or abandon and to love her as our own flesh and blood. I can't help but be a bit excited for our social worker to come and see our family and meet our Annika! We enjoyed working with her in the adoption process and we really connected well with her, so we are looking forward to seeing her! 

Annika continues to grow and blossom and thrive. She still has many moments of complaining, and often we have to work on our polite manners and not being disrespectful (and lots of patience on our part as parents), but she continues to improve and the Lord continues to give us mercy and grace as parents, as a family, as individuals. Tonight, while at big sister's 3rd grade program, Annika wanted me to hold her so I obliged. She was enjoying her sister's musical program and then at one point, randomly leaned in and gave me a loving and happy kiss on the cheek. I needed that and she didn't even know it. Sometimes I worry that she's not happy with me as a parent, but that random moment when Annika's heart spontaneously came through, my heart melted all over again and I thanked the Lord for that gift. She continues to grow (physically, emotionally and socially!) and I thank the Lord for bringing her into our family. 

Annika's English language continues to grow! And at nearly 4 months since Gotcha Day, I'm also thankful she's still communicating in Chinese. I try to make her read/hear Chinese everyday so she doesn't lose her first language, but getting her to willingly and without complaint to read in Chinese is not easy. Once we are past surgeries and such, we are planning to enroll her (and her siblings, if possible!) into Chinese school once a week after school or on Saturdays so she continues to retain and grow in her native language. 

Prayer Requests:

- for wisdom, favor and provision for Annika'a medical needs. With traveling out of state for ear canal surgery and ear surgery... that won't be cheap, but it will be worth it all in the long run. 

- for Annika to continue to grow in the love of our family

- for refreshing for Jay and I. It's been a busy, tiring and draining several months. 

- for Annika to come to know and love Jesus and her Lord and Savior. As opportunities arise, we try to teach her about our Heavenly Father who loves her and made her for a purpose. Her heart and mind are not comprehending yet, but I pray that one day she will not only understand, but fully receive Him with arms and heart opened wide. 

❤️

To God be the glory....

 

Library Books in Chinese? Yes, please!

Can I just brag again how awesome Annika's school is? I want to express how amazing the school librarian, Mrs. Toal is! She ordered books in Chinese for the school's library so that Annika would have some books to check out and read. 

 

Today, she cheerfully sat in my lap as we looked through this book together and she read some of the pages to me. She's even having me practice my Mandarin by repeating her when she reads. (I have no idea what I am saying sometimes, but I love that she's "teaching" me her native language.)  Later, as I made dinner, she proudly counted to 100 in English. This girl is learning so much and having fun doing it! She's also recognizing her alphabet letters and saying them aloud. 

I am so grateful for all the people the Lord has placed in Annika's life. She is truly flourishing and I am in awe of her beauty inside and out. Her tantrums are fewer these days and she's genuinely happy. I am truly blessed to be her momma!

We are currently waiting to hear back from our ENT sometime this week after he talks to Dr. Lewin in California regarding Annika's ears and canals. We have an estimated timeline of Annika's first round of surgeries happening around the end to middle of of April to remove the cholosteatomas in her ear canals.

stop and smell the roses

Can I just be real? 

Life has been fast-paced, nonstop and quite "full" the last few months. It's been hard, it's been fun, it's been worth it.... but this momma is just depleted. A floor of muddy foot prints, laundry piled and a house desperately needing a top to bottom clean...has turned me into a blubbering hot mess today. I texted Jay earlier and said I'm crying and the kids are looking at me like I've lost my mind. 

The truth is I don't know why I was crying except to think those muddy clothes and floors were just one more thing to get done now. And that made me feel even more rotten for thinking that. I should be thankful for the muddy trails in my house because that means I have children who fill our home with life and adventure. 

My sweet husband came home with flowers in hand and "I love you" on his lips and wrapped me in his arms before taking the kids out back to get them to help him fill in the mud hole they had created..... 

Our 11th anniversary is Sunday. If we're lucky, we'll get a date in this weekend, but even if we don't.... I think I'll sit awhile, count my blessings and smell the roses.....

#adoptionisharddrainingbutohsoworthit

#justbeingreal

#soldieron

 

Annika can hear soft voices now!

https://youtu.be/pXEBZ1t3Hg4

After she got her BAHAs fitted, we went to celebrate with ice cream! 

This video REALLY shows how well she hears now. Beforehand, if we are in the car and I would talk at a soft level, she wouldn't hear me. I'd have to turn towards her and talk louder. Not anymore! 

(Ignore my ugly cry at the end! I couldn't help it!) 

My heart is so overflowing at this HUGE day in my baby girl's life. And when I think of how the Lord has provided, and when I think that for the first time in her 8 years that Annika can hear clearly..... I can't help but cry tears of gratitude and thankfulness. 

 God is good. He is good indeed.

Annika gets her BAHAs!

Dear Annika,

Today was another life-changing moment for you when your audiologist fitted you with your BAHAs. We could see how nervous and apprehensive you were, because you aren't used to positive change yet, but you handled it so well in spite of your inward fears. We know when you would answer with a "no", that is your go-to response when you're nervous or you don't understand what we are saying. The great thing was you were hearing our voices at a soft level when you responded! That was incredible!!! I wish we would have caught on camera the smile you were trying to hide when you could hear your sister being silly and you were trying NOT to be amused. She was doing such a great job of helping you relax.  We could tell you were amused with her there, though you tried to keep your smiles and giggles at bay. :-) I wish we could have caught on camera when you whipped your head towards me when I wasn't looking at you and I whispered, "Annika" not once, but two separate times.  I wish we could have caught on camera in the hallway when we were talking to the first audiologist who did your first hearing test and you could hear her asking if you wanted a sticker or my saying "Do you want to go get ice cream?" in a soft normal voice. And how quickly you responded happily both times. I know you didn't understand why mommy cried tears at that moment and hugged your audiologist. It was a momentous afternoon and I was crying tears of joy that you, my precious daughter, have been blessed with hearing clearly for the first time. I was crying tears of joy and gratitude that our Heavenly Father who loves you so much more than I do, had provided once again, for your every need. These BAHAs are 100% paid for.... not because of daddy or I.... but because your Heavenly Father loves you. 

I hope one day that you look back at this video, my sweet Annika, and you remember that though you were apprehensive, how incredible it was to hear like that for the first time. 

We love you, sweet girl.  We know you're nervous about school tomorrow and what people will think. I know you're worried people will make fun of you, but I promise, once you walk through that door, nothing but GREAT friends and amazing moments await you! You will soon see, my precious daughter. The scariest part is always the first step. And you, my dear, are so brave. 

I love you,

Mommy

https://youtu.be/VXA-D6rVII8

What does adoption cost? Faith

 

$33, 115.73 is what it took to bring Annika home. And God provided every single penny. Through so many people who supported us...for every person who contributed in so many ways.... your time, garage sales, pumpkins, shirts, donations, monetary gifts, flipping burgers, silent auction, a bunk bed, clothes, dressers, grants, friends, family, complete strangers..so many ways.... thank you. God showed up in BIG way to bring one VERY special and VERY loved little girl home to us. I am in awe when I look at this number and think... GOD did this! NOTHING is impossible for Him! I am overwhelmed with awe and gratitude. My heart overflows...

Where He guides, He provides. And holy cow, He provided the $33k it took for us to get our our little girl and bring her home. 

God. Is. Good.

Ears this year!

We have been going through several doctor appointments and phone consultations in the past week.  Ironically, you go to a new doctor and it leads to more appointments. Ha! (A little humor there.... it's okay to laugh.)

I'll try to keep it from being a mile-long post, so here goes!
After doing our homework and getting doctors' opinions and even 2nd opinions, we will be having surgery in the near future (hopefully this month) to remove the cholosteatomas in both of Annika's ears. She will also need ear canal reconstruction in both canals, and we don't know yet if that will all be done at the same time or separate surgeries.  Once her ear canals heal (approx. 6 months), we will be flying to California around Aug/Sept to have Annika's first ear done.  <3  About 3 months later, we will fly back to California for the 2nd ear surgery.  By the end of 2017, our Annika should have two brand new pairs of ears healing hopefully quite nicely on her head. (PRAISE THE LORD!!!) We are thankful that the doctors agree that this is medically necessary (and not just aesthetics) for Annika.  Insurance-wise, that will help!

Dr. Sheryl Lewin is a well-known plastic surgeon in the ear community and one of the best doctors out there in the Microtia world.  Her life work is dedicated to creating beautiful ears for patients like Annika.  We want nothing but the best when it comes to Annika's ears, so that's why we chose her.  She is located in California and we are looking forward to meeting her face to face this summer when we travel to California for the Earicles conference!  Dr. Lewin and Dr. Paul Bauer (our ENT specialist here) will be talking and communicating closely in regards to the surgeries he performs here on Annika as he prepares the way for Dr. Lewin to be able to make Annika two brand new ears.

Currently, we are waiting to hear back from Dr. Bauer, who we just gave the go ahead to move forward with planning her surgery for the cholosteatomas to be removed and ear canal reconstructions.  Dr. Bauer is an excellent doctor and well -renowned around here.  He has been INCREDIBLE with our family so far and Jay and I have been very impressed with his knowledge and genuine personality.

We took Annika today to another craniofacial doctor here in Fort Worth.  We got a 2nd opinion on Annika's ears, and he is sending us to meet with a geneticist and also put in an order to have a renal sonogram done on Annika. He said that a lot of times, children born with microtia often have problems in their renal system, so he just wants to rule that out.  She also has some minor things about her physical appearance that a geneticist could tell us more since we have no biological parent information. (See how going to one doctor appt leads to more medical appts!? ;)

Next week, Annika gets fitted for her hearing devices AND has a 2-month followup with our eye specialist, Dr. Hunt.  He will be looking to see if the esotropia in both eyes has improved since wearing glasses and discuss possible eye muscle surgery.  I took this picture today (isn't she beautiful? :) and you can see her eyes are still turning inward.

So, needless to say, we are in the midst of a TON of doctor appointments and life is just a weeeeee bit cray-cray around here, but if you ask Annika how life is....  She'll probably give you a thumbs up and a smile. :)  And I couldn't agree more.

God is good.

Chosen and Loved, even when life is rough

I intentionally selected this shirt for Annika to wear today.  Our precious girl has been processing a lot lately and dealing with inner turmoil.  She has started to let out anger at times too. Sometimes, as a parent, I get caught up in the behaviors of my children and find myself getting frustrated with them....and I forget to take a step back and assess what's REALLY going on with them.  Adopting Annika has helped me change my perspective more often with ALL of my children and to be a better parent.... When I change my perspective, that helps me to walk with her through hers. So many emotions and so much change for her little world..... she has so much to process and grieve and even re-learn... and we are here to walk through it together. 

She is a joy, she is a part of our family... Chosen and dearly loved.

Tomorrow, we have an appointment with her ENT doctor to go over the results from her CT and MRI scans last week and discuss what needs to happen next.

ears

It's been a long day and it was a bseh early start. But, Annika did well today for her outpatient procedure and tests and and we were headed home from the hospital by 12:45 this afternoon. We will meet with her ENT doctor in the next week or two to go over her CT and MRI. He told us that there is quite a bit of damage in both her inner ears. She has canal cholosteatomas (destructive skin growth and tumors) in both ears.  The CT and MRI will show us how extensive, but we are looking at canal reconstruction for both her ears along with surgery to remove the cholosteatomas in her middle ears.  Annika's doctor believes this is something she has had since she was a baby and has gone unnoticed and untreated all this time.

Jay and I have been talking to two leading doctors who are the best of the best in Ear Reconstruction. Each and every surgery/procedure Annika needs will go hand in hand with her eventual ear construction. So, our ENT doctor will be in close communication with the doctor who does Annika's ears. 

Lots of doctors, appointments and procedures... all for one VERY special little girl. 💗

We have quite the road ahead of us, but we know the Lord is with us and He has all of this in His hands.

Dedication Sunday and 2 months home!

Thankful....

Today, we had the privilege to stand before our church body and loved ones to thank everyone for helping us to bring our precious little girl home. We got to introduce her to all who hadn't met her yet. 

Thank you to our parents, my little sister and friends for being there this morning. That meant a lot to me. 

As I sat in church this morning, next to my parents, it brought back memories of growing up in church with them. It's been a long time since I sat next to them and it was a really nice feeling to be once again next to them in a church service. Thank you, mom and dad, for setting such a godly example and instilling in me a love for the Lord and serving Him.  I am thankful I had the opportunity to grow up in church and learning about God's love for me.  

We are thankful for our Pastor who is very dear to my heart. He is the one who married Jay and I nearly 11 years ago, and over the last 9 years he has dedicated and prayed over each of our children after they were born. Today, I am thankful he did the same today for our Annika. ❤ 

Words cannot express how thankful we are to the Grimmers who started up the Adoption Support Ministry at our church. They and the people in it have become family to us.  We are thankful for so many friends and family who came or watched online today. Kelly Murphy, thank you for coming and being there. You are a ray of sunshine, my friend! 

---

1 year and 3.5 days ago....

 

Exactly 1 year and 3.5 days ago, we first inquired for more info about "Bridget". I had already been looking at adoptable children since before Oct 2015. Some time in January 2016, I came across and saved "Bridget's" profile along with a few others children. I inquired about a small handful of others, but I always kept coming back to this little girl's profile, reading it....re-reading it.... praying... reading it again, poring over the picture, trying to "read" her facial expression and wondering what she was thinking in that moment....and then, on Feb. 2, 2016, I reached out and inquired for more information about the child who would become our daughter forever before the year 2016 was over.  

I'm so glad I clicked that button saying tell me more.... I'm thankful the Lord drew me repeatedly back to her.... I am so glad she's ours. 

On Sunday, Feb. 12, on her 2 month anniversary of her gotcha day and joining our family, we will give thanks and dedicate our daughter to the Lord in front of our church body. If you're nearby, we'd love for you to join us....

Calvary Chapel Fort Worth 

5617 S Diamond Oaks Dr

Fort Worth, TX 76117

10:45 am service 

#wecouldhavemissedthis

#inquiriescanbeawkward

#adoptingannika

#hashtagsarefun #soisridingthekrogerhorse

 

 

Hearing!

Yesterday, Annika had her 2nd hearing test which confirmed she has moderate hearing loss in both ears. The audiologist was wonderful and we discussed options on hearing devices, school accommodations, costs, and more. We meet tomorrow with the next ENT specialist and will decide which hearing device we will go with and then the audiologist will get them ordered. One of the decisions Jay and I will decide with the help of the ENT doctor is whether to implant the hearing devices now or later, and if we decide to do it later, then Annika will wear what’s called a soft band, which is a stretchy headband that the hearing devices click on to and rest on her head. There are so many decisions to make and Jay and I want to make sure we proceed carefully and do our homework thoroughly before making any surgical decisions. THE highlight of the appointment was Annika getting to try on a softband BAHA (hearing aid). Annika is NOT a headband kind of person and she was not at all thrilled about the animal-print headband. But, once the device was turned on, she got to hear for the first time in a way she never has! While she was wearing the BAHA, we went back into the soundproof booth and the audiologist performed another hearing test on Annika, this time through the speakers instead of headphones. I watched her expression and teared up as she heard my voice and responded. Then, as she responded to each sound or voice she heard at a soft whisper, I cried silent tears of joy for my little girl. 

Please pray for us as we navigate our way in the medical world and make decisions for Annika. Pray we make the right decisions for her and with her. She’s been a trooper and her world has already changed so much. She continues to thrive and grow. Her English is slowly increasing and every day I’m amazed at a new word or phrase that comes out of her mouth. 

I could spend hours writing about all the special moments and people in Annika's life! I could literally fill a book! But for now, let me highlight her buddy, Pierce. He is in Annika's class and he is one of her best buds. This kid has been through a lot in his little life. He and his precious family have known loss and heartache, but you''d never guess that when meeting him. He is one of THE most loving, kindest and passionate kids you'll ever meet. He's funny and he is one of Eli's and now Annika's favorite friends. Pierce has welcomed Annika into his school and class without hesitation and he continually shows her the love of Christ and friendship. God is using Pierce as one of the pieces of the puzzle of Annika's life, and I am so thankful for him (and his godly family). Because Annika had to leave school early yesterday for her hearing appointment, her incredible teacher let Annika and Pierce go in the hall and toss the football for a few minutes.... just so Annika wouldn't completely miss out on one the favorite parts of her day: playing football with her buddy, Pierce. 😍 Made. Annika's. Day. Melted my heart. 

<3
February 12th marks Annika’s 2 month home anniversary! Since it falls on a Sunday, we have chosen that day as the perfect opportunity to officially introduce her to our church body and dedicate her to the Lord. As so many of you have walked with us and supported us in our adoption journey, our church body has been just as amazing (remember our Family Play Day we had back in October? Our church body helped us raise thousands of dollars that day!) We want to stand before our church and say thank you, introduce her, and our Pastor will pray over our family. The ceremony itself only lasts a few minutes, but it is a big occasion and one near and dear to my heart. Our Pastor has prayed over our first 3 babies and presented them with a small New Testament Bible, which I have saved and treasure to this day. It means the world to me that he would also pray over our 4th child, no matter how old she is when she came to us. <3

God is good!

Certificate of Citizenship

Her official Certificate of Citizenship arrived today! 🇺🇸 I look at her picture below and I remember the day we took it in the last days of our time in Guangzhou. Even then, her facial expression is hardened, dazed and unsure.... a stranger still in so many ways, not sure of what her future holds and scared more than she let on. How far she has come in 6 weeks! 

 

Tomorrow, we go for her BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) hearing evaluation (momma got things done today on the phone!) and pick up the CD of her CT scan. Her hearing evaluation will take about 1.5 hours.  We meet with the ENT specialist on Thursday to go over hearing aid options and decide which device is best for her and talk about future plans on our road to ear construction and hearing.  It is an eventful week! :-)

Charity

****LONG POST ALERT****

One of the many things Jay and I knew going into our adoption process for Annika was that we were going to have some short-term but costly medical expenses to correct and reconstruct her ears and also correct her lazy eyes. Insurance is wonderful and we are VERY thankful to have it, but we knew we are also going to have lots of co-pays and our portion of medical costs for awhile. But, we also knew that the Lord had called us to adopt this precious little girl and that she was ours. So, when we stepped out in faith for the Lord to provide all the funds needed to bring her home (which He did!), we also stepped out, trusting He'd also provide everything she's going to need when she's home. 

Last August, Eli needed a minor outpatient procedure done. It was a sensitive and private area and to save him from embarrassment, we didn't post about it on social media. (The procedure went great and Eli is fine.) What I also didn't post about was that because we were in the adoption process, our finances were tight and we did not have all the money needed to pay our part of his surgery. The day of his procedure, as we checked in at the hospital, they asked us for payment, and we had to ask about a payment plan. We literally used $50 out of our weekly grocery money to put a deposit down that day. The lady in Registration kindly offered that we could also apply for Charity to see if we could get some assitance to help with medical costs. She said if we wanted to do that, then we could come back downstairs after Eli went in to surgery and ask to talk to the Financial person and fill out an application for assistance. 

Do you know how embarrassing and humbling it is to admit you need help? To ask for CHARITY? Jay and I looked at each other and we ALMOST said nah, we're okay. We'll figure something out. We'll put it on a credit card or something. Anything other than admitting we don't have the money to pay for our son's minor surgery. Anything but admitting that we don't have any extra money sitting around right now, saved up for such a time as this. Anything but admitting that we are CHOOSING to walk in faith and obedience of what the Lord had called us to do and adopt without going into major debt. Anything but swallowing our pride, humbling ourselves, and saying yes, we would like to apply for assistance. We almost said no thank you. Almost. But, we didn't. Because the love we have for our son - for all of our children- outweighs how we were feeling in that moment. As parents, we will do anything we can to get our children the help they need. So, we swallowed our pride, and when Eli went back for surgery, I made the (embarrassing) walk to the Financial office and asked if I could apply for financial assistance. As the Financial Rep asked me questions, I explained that we wouldn't normally need to ask, but that we were in the midst of adopting our little girl and all our extra money had been going to pay for the expenses. I explained that no, times aren't always this tough and it was only for a season. She congratulated us on our upcoming adoption, had me fill out a basic form and then said she would be in touch once the Board met and had decided if we qualified for charity. I thanked her for her time and went to join Jay waiting for Eli to come out of his procedure. 

Weeks later, we received notification from Cook Children's Hospital that we had been approved for charity and all our expenses were 100% covered for Eli's surgery. We also received reimbursement checks in the mail for what we had already paid! PRAISE THE LORD!!! OUR DEBT WAS FORGIVEN and Eli had gotten the medical help he needed! I cried tears of joy and Jay and I were full of thankfulness at the Lord's provision. And we had no idea that our Heavenly Father's goodness did not stop there....

Life has continued on since then and we have had a full schedule of doctor appointments, vision appointments, and just a busy life when you have four kids! December and January have been a blur of travel, adoption, getting settled in, and getting Annika's medical and vision needs met. Then this morning happened.... I took Annika into our pediatrician to have an ear canal looked at that was draining pus yesterday. As I was checking us in, the receptionist was asking me questions, confirming if all our info was still the same (same address, same phone number, insurance, etc). Then she said, “And I see you have Charity so you’re good and she's checked in”. I had been watching Annika make her way to a kids' computer when the receptionist said that and I turned from looking at Annika to stare at her... “What? OH! Yes, we applied for Charity when our son needed surgery and we were going through the adoption process and money was tight. That covered his surgery for us.” The receptionist then cheerfully said, “Ah. It covers everything Cook Children’s related and it shows it is good through October of this year.” The shock on my face was apparent as I said, “For all of my children?” “Yup” was her response. I then point to Annika as I say, “Even for all of surgeries and procedures she will be having?!?!” The receptionist smiled as she said, “as long as it’s Cook Children’s-related, it’s 100% covered.” I was all choked up as I realized what God already knew.... HE IS FAITHFUL TO PROVIDE! I croaked out a thank you and walked over to my daughter as we waited our turn to be called to see the pediatrician. I sat there in amazement at the Lord's continued hand in our lives as I realized all the appointments I've taken Annika and even Jadyn (her well visit) to lately that were at Cook Children's facilities and no co-pay was asked of me. I sat there in awe as I thought about all the appointments we are going to have between now and October and all the ones that are Cook Children's-related are COVERED! HOW GOOD IS OUR GOD????!!! How faithful is our Father? He is FULLY faithful to and able to provide ALL that we need! 

Not all of Annika's appointments, surgeries and procedures are going to be able to be through Cook Children's (i.e. her ear reconstruction will be elsewhere), BUT, that's okay. I'm not worried. God has provided every step of the way thus far and He continues to do so. He meets every need we have, whether it's an anonymous donation, or dinners provided for a couple of weeks, or a short term side job that comes up, or charity ... HE provides. Because, He knows what we need... before the need even arises. And I pray that every person who has given to our family... in action, in money, in time, in food... however it's been.... the Lord has used you to help us, to bless us.... I pray that the Lord will bless you a 100 times over in return! I pray that everyone who has contributed to the Charity fund at Cook Children's... however that works...that the Lord will bless them. I am in awe and humbled and overwhelmed with His Goodness. 

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Luke 11:13

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?"
Matthew 6:25

To God be the glory....

Baby measurements and love

Going through post-adoption paperwork today and while making copies, I was wishing we had Annika's birth weight and measurements when she was found about 2 days old. I was feeling down that we didn't have that until I went back through her medical reports and FOUND her measurements! 

My precious daughter was born 11/25/2008,
Found on 11/27/2008
19.29 inches
6 lbs 9.82 ozs

And then my thoughts turned to her birth mom.....
Though we don't know the exact time or even for sure if her birthday was in fact 11/25, we do know that SOMEONE held on to her for 1-2 days. Surely it was her birth mom, maybe even her birth dad....Such a short time.... yet, I imagine she/they held on to her daughter and at LEAST for a brief second, loved her with all her being. I hope she did. And I hope that as she lay her daughter down at the entrance to the orphanage at whatever time of day it was, that she said a silent prayer for her baby. We will never know. It could have been total opposite...she could have been relieved to be rid of her, I don't know. I'm glad I don't know, because I can choose to think the birth mom laid her daughter at that entrance out of love for her. No matter her reasons or feelings, I am so thankful she did. Annika is the missing piece to our family that we never knew we were missing. She's my daughter, my treasure, and I love her with all of my being... and I'm so glad she's mine. 

Trip to the dentist and the first day of school!

What a big day this has been! Annika was so excited to finally get to start school today! But, first she had her first dentist appointment where she got a really report!  We absolutely LOVE our hygenist, Mrs. Sarah and our dentist, Dr. Lovering! Both of them greeted Annika warmly and were awesome with her! Mrs. Sarah even let Annika assist while Asher and I got our teeth cleaned too! 

Annika got to school about 10:30 am and we headed to join her class. She was went from excited to nervous pretty quick, but I stayed with her for most the day. Her teacher and her classmates are the best of the best! The patience, kindness and love that our school exhibits and exemplifies is above and beyond!  Annika has truly joined a loving school family and by the time 1:15 pm rolled around, I was standing outside of the class, looking in at my very happy girl participating and engrossed in math with her class! We are now home from school and she is excitedly making up multiplication problems and solving them as "homework". She is chattering happily away with her brother, Eli, and I can't help but smile at how happy she is. I think it's safe to say that she loves school and has had a great first day!

God is good!

❤

Hearing Test

Annika's hearing test today confirmed what we had already suspected... she does have mild to moderate hearing loss in both her ears. The great news is she can and does hear! :) In each ear she has equal hearing loss, but they are opposite in the level of pitches that she hears.... her left ear has moderate hearing loss of low tones and mild loss of high tones. Her right ear has moderate hearing loss of high tones and mild loss of low tones. She will have another hearing test coming up that will be more detailed and we will look at our options for hearing devices. 

Children with Microtia and Atresia are usually born deaf or hard of hearing, so early in our adoption journey, we began to explore the different options available in today's medical world that would help Annika hear better, if needed. We will be meeting again with the ENT specialist to go over our options and decide which one would be the best route for Annika at this time. Our ultimate plan is that she'll one day have ears like you and I, but we know it will be a multi-step process getting to the end result. We are excited that her world is about to sound much more clearer! 

January 12th

I'm catching up on blog posts, and January 12th was worthy of it's own post!  That day has always been special to us because it's Jay's birthday!  He is 38 years old and THE best daddy and husband around! When he got home that night, he was greeted by 4 very excited kiddos who had birthday balloons, cards and gifts in hand for him!  Each child had personally selected a card and gift for him and then wrapped it too!

On this same day, Annika was finally and officially able to enroll in school and will start on Tuesday, January 17th (which is my birthday, ha!) We received an immunization waiver in the mail and were able to enroll her in school.  We continue to wait on lab results for her immunizations, and I'm sure more shots are in her future, which we will slowly catch up on, but now she can finally start school.

And last, but not least....January 12th marked Annika's anniversary for being home with us ONE month! 

God's Word coming to life...

My soul leaps for joy at this moment! 

Annika's new Read With Me Bible and audio CD arrived today. (We previously ordered the wrong Chinese language 😣 and she couldn't read or understand). Today, though.... my heart and soul leapt for joy when she read the title to me and her face lit up as she asked, "Annika?" (For Annika?). Yes! And then when I put the audio CD in, she put the speaker up to her ear and just listened, fascinated. Then, when I showed her she could follow along In her Bible... she loved it even more! To see the words on the page and understand! She and I sat for about 10 minutes reading and following along. The fascination and curiosity on her face as she took in the stories of the Old Testament.... this is what I have been most excited for... this is one of the things I couldn't wait to be a part of in her life....to see her learning about the God who created the Heavens and the Earth... the One who created us, because He loves us... because He loves Annika. And she can now read and learn His Word! 

Adoption tells the story of God's love for us. Read on, my daughter. Read on. 

All to His glory...

#adoptionisworthit
#wecouldhavemissedthis

Getting ready to start school, doctor appts and more...

Annika's new classmates have been eagerly preparing and anticipating her arrival to their class. She met them on Tuesday, Jan. 3rd, and we have been waiting since then for our pediatrician to give her the last immunizations she needs to be officially enroll. January 5th, Eli came home with a folder for Annika from her new teacher and it was filled with drawings from each of her classmates of them playing with her! Melt. My. Heart!!! Look at her happy face. She is blessed to have such great fellow students and soon-to-be friends waiting for her.  She finally gets to start school this coming Tuesday and she is very excited and ready to be in school just like big sister and little brother!

And, this momma is blessed that Annika's teacher loves the Lord. She told me the other day that she had been praying over the Christmas break that the Lord would give her the new student HE wants her to have (our school apparently got quite the influx this week!), and when her teacher found out it was going to be Annika, she was excited. Y'all, I cried when she told me this. I couldn't help it. We continue to see God's Hand in this journey and to that I say....God is good! 

While waiting for Annika to be able to start school, she and I went up to her school one afternoon for a bit and met the ESL specialist for our campus. We spent sometime getting to know her and vice versa. Annika enjoyed our time there and hit it off with the ESL specialist. One of the things we really like about the specialist is she spent a couple years in living in China and she has a heart for the kiddos there. Annika will be spending a lot of time with her during school school days, so I'm glad Annika liked her! :-)

Doctor Appointments....

We went to the eye specialist on January 5th and learned Annika is farsighted, has a stigmatism and needs glasses. The doctor is hopeful that glasses will also help correct her crossing eyes, and we go back in a couple months to see how her eyes are doing. If the glasses do not help her wandering eyes, then we will talk about I muscle surgery at that time. The amusing part today was trying to fit her for glasses. She has no ears, a flat nose, and a head that won't hold a head strap on to hold up the glasses! 😜 She did enjoy trying different types on though and selected a pair of Hello Kitty glasses.  Once they come in, I'm going to work to create a headband with loops to hold her glasses on her head.  :-)

Annika had her appt recently with the ENT doctor and did great! This was just the initial appt to get the ball rolling on her other ear appts.  We learned that she does indeed have not one, but BOTH ear canals. Yay! We didn't think she had one on the right side, but she does, the opening is just tiny :). And we learned she has some infection in the other ear canal, so the Dr has prescribed some antibiotics ear drops. This past Friday, we went to our Children's hospital and got a CT scan of Annika's head so we can see what inner ear parts she has or doesn't have, and tomorrow we go back for a hearing test!  It is exciting to be going through these appointments so that we can see what our little girl needs to live a better and fuller life!  She does great at every appointment and is a good patient.  She knows that all of these appointments are to help her eyes and ears, both of which she desires to be better.  We have an appointment set with the craniofacial specialist on March 1st in regards to any reconstructive surgeries she'll need too.  The ball is rolling and it feels good to finally be helping our little girl. And I do believe she would agree. 

To God be the glory...

❤

School

School is in session....sorta.

Going into this adoption, we knew Annika would be joining her brother and sister at school one day once we were home, but as for when she would join them, we decided to play it by ear.  We didn't know how long she would need to adjust and settle in at home, how long attachment and bonding would take, and how she would react to new environments.  As a parent, an educator, and having a counseling background, I knew that we wouldn't really know until Annika was with us and even then, it could potentially be awhile before she's ready to start school.  Jay and I decided to make a plan and keeping in mind, it could change.  Back in October, we met with the team at school to go over facts we knew about Annika, possibilities and options, and laid out a loose game plan to begin finding out what the school would need to have in place and prepare for Annika's coming.  The meeting went GREAT and Jay and I walked out of there feeling hopeful and at peace that we were in the right place for Annika, once she was settled in and we felt she would be ready to start school.  The team we have at our school is incredible!  We are truly blessed that we have a great administration, staff and community at our elementary school.  Jay and I have said from the first day when Jadyn entered Kindergarten there that God has blessed us with an amazing elementary school.  It is not just a job to so many of them... it's a calling and it is plain as day that they love what they do and it shows!  I know it is not that way for so many people and their children's schools, and I wish everyone could have the experience we have with our school! When we met with the team that would be involved in the planning and preparing for Annika's transition into school, we met with people who listen to us as parents, hearing our concerns and expectations, answering our questions and working with us as team to formulate the best plan that Annika needs to be successful in her environment.  Over the last couple of months, we've stayed in contact and kept our team up to date on our adoption journey and how Annika has been doing since we arrived home.  The last several days, with the start of school approaching after Christmas, Jay and I had been continuing to pray (and still do) that the Lord would continue to guide as as we make decisions about when Annika should start school.  Attachment has gone really well and life at home has adjusted somewhat seamlessly.  What does that mean when I say it has gone well?  She has securely attached to us as her parents and her siblings.  Without a doubt, she has become loyal and loving to each of us and knows we are her family.  All four siblings are just that.... siblings! They play like siblings do, argue at times like siblings do, and have fits at times....just as siblings sometimes do.  :) All four have adjusted to one another and the bond we have as a family is inseparable.  Annika has no problem telling someone no when she doesn't want to talk to them or play with them or even wear something I've picked out. (ha!) She feels secure in our love for her that she can express her opinions and emotions with us in a safe environment. And based on how well she is doing and the interest she has expressed to us, Jay and I agreed we were going to move forward with enrolling her at the start of the Spring semester.

And Annika did really well yesterday.  She is usually timid as she enters a new situation until she feels comfortable, and then she leads the way and is eager to dive in!  She took in and observed her surroundings and the people in it. Sometimes, she interacted and said hi, other times, she would hide behind me and say 'No' to whomever said hi to her until she was ready to come out.  Sometimes, SHE led the way down the hallway and sometimes she followed as we toured the school.  She was very curious, a little nervous, and mostly happy to be there.  While there, we learned that she does need some more vaccinations in order to fully enroll in school.  We were able to spend a couple hours there though, which was good for her as an introduction to the school environment.  She was able to see her new classroom, her brother's classroom across the hall and her sister's classroom upstairs.  She got to see there were friendly faces when she met her classmates and teachers.  She was actually disappointed to leave about mid-morning, ESPECIALLY since she knew her brother and sister weren't leaving too and she let me know she was quite put out that she didn't get to stay!  Once our pediatrician gets all the blood work results in and we know for sure which immunizations she needs more of, then we will get those done so she can begin school officially.

Our plan at this time is to begin with half days for her.  Once we do placement testing, we will know exactly what extra support she will need while at school, but yesterday, our team was able to get a good glimpse of our little girl and they met again yesterday afternoon to make sure we were all on the same page and they are fully ready to embrace and welcome Annika as a new Liberty Eagle. Starting with half days will allow her to acclimate and make sure she's not getting overwhelmed.  We will continue to follow her cues as far as how she's handling it all, and we will make changes along the way as needed for her.  We LOVE our kids' elementary school and we are truly blessed that is not a "cookie cutter" school... every child is different and their needs are going to be different too.  Annika has a taylor-made plan just for her so that she can be successful...academically, socially, emotionally, physically.... So, at anytime if we need to slow down or even halt, we will.  We know there will be days when she has meltdowns. There will probably be days when school just does not happen for her. And there may even be days when she only gets through a partial day then is done for that day. She has been through a lot in her short life and she will continually be processing things from her days in the orphanage that we have yet to know about..... adoption into a family does not immediately fix or take away her past hurts and hidden scars.  Rather, we will be continuing to see the effects of those scars throughout her life.  And we will walk through them together with her as she is ready.  In the meantime, school is in session, she's itching to be there, and she has not shown us any reason to be concerned with her starting....we have complete peace about her being in school. She's ready and wanting to be in school, so we aren't holding her back! :)  

So, since we had time to fill while Jadyn and Eli are at school today, Annika, Asher and I went to daddy's work today to say hi and meet some amazing people there.  We made a quick stop for a treat on our way there too and took daddy a coffee. :)  Annika is now counting down the minutes (again) until it's time to go get Jadyn and Eli from school.  I know she is eager to be doing what they are and she wants to go to school like them.  Soon, my daughter.  Soon.

And with that being said, it's about time to go.  I know a little girl who will be first in the car. ;)


To God be the glory....
Shannon