I have been SO busy and SO happy with our new sons. They are just great. We are having so many new experiences every day. My husband is back in country for court for Barton. He will be coming home during the ten day wait because he will run out of leave otherwise. Yep, he will have spent three entire months in country by the time this is done - twice as long as most people take. That doesn't even include the time spent waiting at home for Barton's court date. It has been a long journey. We have a $500 matching grant that our FSP account needs to read $26,728 to meet. To be fully funded our account needs to read $29,277. These delays have required four extra flights during the expensive summer months, extra money for transportation and lodging, etc. We haven't included any of the lost income in our fundraising totals, but as you can imagine three months of lost salary has been a big hit. Evan's condition is miraculously good for his size at his age, but we are already seeing many expensive specialists to check up on things. Any donations to our account
HERE are greatly appreciated.
Now for the good stuff - pictures from the last month!
Evan, Theo and Orion are doing so well. I am so thankful to have each of them in our family. They are adjusting so well. We are working on new skills with Evan, but mostly just loving him more than words. He is such a treasure. Theo and Orion are playing all the time and asking every day to practice for when they start school at the end of the summer. I am constantly surprised by how many things Theo can do for himself when he tries. Sometimes it takes a little prompting because he isn't used to doing those things, but I think he is definitely capable of more than anyone realized. Orion is so proud of all the things he can do and loves to have someone to show them off to. He is also so sweet and gentle. They are great kids.
They all love spending time outside. We have had a few impromptu picnics. Theo loves having the chance to play with sticks and dig in the dirt too. Evan would cry when he was outside when we left the orphanage. Now he laughs and lights up when we take him out. Orion is always very busy building something. They are so much fun to be with.
Evan has been having a lot of appointments. So far the ENT removed huge impactions in both ears, we have done tons of lab tests with really great results, a full skeletal x-ray showing contractures, some hip degeneration and a bone age 3 years younger than his chronological age, and a swallow study with no aspiration. So much to be thankful for there. Here he is with Orion at one of his appointments. We have 8 more specialist to see in the next month.
The boys loved their first 4th of July. Independence Day indeed. We watched fireworks by the river and ate fried dough and had a great time. They even ate at McDonalds for the first time on our way home. I LOVE how excited they are by everything. These boys love life and everything it has to offer them. I can't say enough how awed I am by them.
We all can't wait for Barton to be here too. Orion and Theo ask me all the time when he will be sleeping in his bed and if he will go to school with them. They also ask about all of their friends who are still at the orphanage. I know people are wary of older kids. Ours are all wonderful and I can't imagine any of them being left behind for the rest of their lives just because they weren't chosen when they were younger.
Gene ages out very soon, but he is not scary. He is small and frail.
http://reecesrainbow.org/52866/gene
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The boys ask me about their friend Gideon and if he has a family almost every day.
http://reecesrainbow.org/70012/gideon-2
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Denzel was in the same room as Evan. He needs a family desperately. He was so alert and responsive and alive. He needs someone to give him a chance. He needs a bigger grant.
http://reecesrainbow.org/65205/denzel
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This girl is such a sweetheart. Kendall was in the playroom with my husband and Evan one day when Evan wasn't feeling well. She crawled over to check on him. She is learning to stand!
http://reecesrainbow.org/59320/kendall
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Vance is so full of love. He was so sweet and gentle and happy to get attention.
http://reecesrainbow.org/56885/vance
Please share any and all of these children. They need families.
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