It's been quite a while since we've updated our outer circle of support. We've been growing, praying, and changing, mostly for the better. It's been a tough 2 months since coming home, but we have had an unbelievable amount of encouragement and support that helps us get through the extra tough times.
We are still visiting lots of doctors, but my in-home mini pharmacy has shrunk considerably in the past few weeks - praise Jesus. I am so not a nurse, and this journey has made that brutally clear. When you say, "I feel like I've been called to adopt", no one sits you down and says, "That's great. Just so you know, adoption may include scooping up fecal matter, inserting it into poisonous liquid, and then sending it IN THE MAIL." Guys - I sent poop in the mail. Welcome to this episode of "Adoption: Truth". But, that mail made it safely up to Cincinnati and I can officially say he is PARASITE FREE!! Guys, I never thought I would be so happy to hear those words. His sweet little belly has shrunk down to a tiny, but normal looking size and I no longer have to bathe each child separately, cleaning the tub in between (talk about bath time taking forrrreverrrrr). We are still battling some thyroid and blood abnormalities, but nothing serious, and nothing that needs our attention right this minute. So, we put those on hold and try and conquer some of the easier things in the meantime - eye doctor, PT, OT, feeding therapy, with the dreaded DENTIST coming up in December. The cleft team will be after that. We are making headway on all the doctors we need to visit, and it feels really good to have some of them behind us (like the parasites. so gross).
Niko is doing so unbelievably well. For someone who has had his entire world flipped on its' head in the past 2 months, he is blowing our mind everyday. He seems so attached to us, especially as of late - he is now reaching for us if he gets upset or hurt, which is such a big step with him understanding that we are his mama and daddy. Crying and wanting comfort when he gets injured is HUGE. He has now learned to sign another sign (BOOK - which is hysterical because he doesn't even like books. He's obviously like any other 3 year old and uses them as stall tactics for bedtime. Well played sir. If you keep using language, I will keep reading.) and has learned many more signs/words receptively. We are finally back to getting his vitamins and meds in his little body after a 2 week eating battle - which is such a relief! He is wanting to walk, and stand more, and is much more confident when he tries. He takes pride when he can take a few steps without falling - and that pride is something that was missing in his eyes before. He looks "up" to his siblings for safety. Both with touch and sensory experiences, if Ana & Jack do something that he is afraid to do, he will then do it after they do. That is completely amazing to me - they show him that something, or someone, is safe. Cue heart melt. My kiddos are acting like sweet siblings (at least until Jack pulls Niko's hair, Ana tries to hug the boys but actually chokes them, and Niko takes all their toys - then they just act like normal siblings). He is smiling more, laughing more, and seems so much more comfortable with the schedule we've created and the place he can now call home.
But GUYS. There are a LOT of diapers. 3 kids under 3 leads to an insane amount of diapers - might I add that they are all different sizes. ERMYGERSH. Next thing on the list is to get that girl potty trained - come January, we won't be leaving the house. See y'all in Feb.
So, we're surviving, maybe even thriving. We definitely have some battles that we are still facing (moody 2 year old isn't helping), but I am leaning on the Lord with every fear. Adoption has taught me that I am not all these things that I once thought I was - I am NOT a patient person, I am NOT compassionate, I am NOT selfless, I am NOT slow to anger. But, the Lord can help change me, because he is all those things. He is the sweet and perfect God that I need when things don't make sense. He is the light I need when my malnourished and once starved child refuses to eat and all I want to do is shove cream and butter down his throat. But trauma. And love. And patience. And peace. AND GRACE.
I honestly don't know how I could do this if I didn't have Jesus giving me strength and grace every second of every day. This parenting thing is tough enough, and this special needs adoption thing is even tougher, but we are pulled through the darkness into the light.
Please, continue to pray for us. Pray that Niko continues to eat and gain weight - overcoming malnourishment will help a lot of our problems. And pray that Jack sleeps. Sleep will fix ERRRRYTHING.
Thank you for standing by us and loving us. This month is adoption awareness month, so when your church and/or your community talks about the orphans of this world, imagine Niko's friends, sitting in an orphanage in Yambol, Bulgaria, and pray for them. Pray that their family finds them and brings them home. If you are not being called to adopt, step in and support those that are - donate to the process, bring them meals when they get home, pray for them, ask how things are going, let them vent, help them take care of their others when they are going to doctors, etc. Orphan care does not mean you need to adopt if you do not feel called - it just means that you support the fatherless in whatever ways you feel led. Thank you for supporting us on our journey to ONE LESS. Thank you for stepping up and fighting this world with us as we brought him home.
We are still visiting lots of doctors, but my in-home mini pharmacy has shrunk considerably in the past few weeks - praise Jesus. I am so not a nurse, and this journey has made that brutally clear. When you say, "I feel like I've been called to adopt", no one sits you down and says, "That's great. Just so you know, adoption may include scooping up fecal matter, inserting it into poisonous liquid, and then sending it IN THE MAIL." Guys - I sent poop in the mail. Welcome to this episode of "Adoption: Truth". But, that mail made it safely up to Cincinnati and I can officially say he is PARASITE FREE!! Guys, I never thought I would be so happy to hear those words. His sweet little belly has shrunk down to a tiny, but normal looking size and I no longer have to bathe each child separately, cleaning the tub in between (talk about bath time taking forrrreverrrrr). We are still battling some thyroid and blood abnormalities, but nothing serious, and nothing that needs our attention right this minute. So, we put those on hold and try and conquer some of the easier things in the meantime - eye doctor, PT, OT, feeding therapy, with the dreaded DENTIST coming up in December. The cleft team will be after that. We are making headway on all the doctors we need to visit, and it feels really good to have some of them behind us (like the parasites. so gross).
Niko is doing so unbelievably well. For someone who has had his entire world flipped on its' head in the past 2 months, he is blowing our mind everyday. He seems so attached to us, especially as of late - he is now reaching for us if he gets upset or hurt, which is such a big step with him understanding that we are his mama and daddy. Crying and wanting comfort when he gets injured is HUGE. He has now learned to sign another sign (BOOK - which is hysterical because he doesn't even like books. He's obviously like any other 3 year old and uses them as stall tactics for bedtime. Well played sir. If you keep using language, I will keep reading.) and has learned many more signs/words receptively. We are finally back to getting his vitamins and meds in his little body after a 2 week eating battle - which is such a relief! He is wanting to walk, and stand more, and is much more confident when he tries. He takes pride when he can take a few steps without falling - and that pride is something that was missing in his eyes before. He looks "up" to his siblings for safety. Both with touch and sensory experiences, if Ana & Jack do something that he is afraid to do, he will then do it after they do. That is completely amazing to me - they show him that something, or someone, is safe. Cue heart melt. My kiddos are acting like sweet siblings (at least until Jack pulls Niko's hair, Ana tries to hug the boys but actually chokes them, and Niko takes all their toys - then they just act like normal siblings). He is smiling more, laughing more, and seems so much more comfortable with the schedule we've created and the place he can now call home.
But GUYS. There are a LOT of diapers. 3 kids under 3 leads to an insane amount of diapers - might I add that they are all different sizes. ERMYGERSH. Next thing on the list is to get that girl potty trained - come January, we won't be leaving the house. See y'all in Feb.
So, we're surviving, maybe even thriving. We definitely have some battles that we are still facing (moody 2 year old isn't helping), but I am leaning on the Lord with every fear. Adoption has taught me that I am not all these things that I once thought I was - I am NOT a patient person, I am NOT compassionate, I am NOT selfless, I am NOT slow to anger. But, the Lord can help change me, because he is all those things. He is the sweet and perfect God that I need when things don't make sense. He is the light I need when my malnourished and once starved child refuses to eat and all I want to do is shove cream and butter down his throat. But trauma. And love. And patience. And peace. AND GRACE.
I honestly don't know how I could do this if I didn't have Jesus giving me strength and grace every second of every day. This parenting thing is tough enough, and this special needs adoption thing is even tougher, but we are pulled through the darkness into the light.
Please, continue to pray for us. Pray that Niko continues to eat and gain weight - overcoming malnourishment will help a lot of our problems. And pray that Jack sleeps. Sleep will fix ERRRRYTHING.
Thank you for standing by us and loving us. This month is adoption awareness month, so when your church and/or your community talks about the orphans of this world, imagine Niko's friends, sitting in an orphanage in Yambol, Bulgaria, and pray for them. Pray that their family finds them and brings them home. If you are not being called to adopt, step in and support those that are - donate to the process, bring them meals when they get home, pray for them, ask how things are going, let them vent, help them take care of their others when they are going to doctors, etc. Orphan care does not mean you need to adopt if you do not feel called - it just means that you support the fatherless in whatever ways you feel led. Thank you for supporting us on our journey to ONE LESS. Thank you for stepping up and fighting this world with us as we brought him home.
Love & Stuff,
Niko & Family
