Only Child

I am so glad today is Friday. This week just needs to end. We are ready for a redo. It has been a stressful week for all 5 of us. A lot happening with school, at work for EJ and with the adoption. All in the SAME week. It has been pure survival mode and not pretty.

It finally happened. Tears this morning from Mason. He just wanted to stay home and play LEGOS. I was so thankful I could at least say tomorrow is Saturday and you can play ALL day long (minus soccer). YAY!

At least someone is having a good time ;)

 

He didn't fuss this morning when they all left us and he has slowly stopped asking where the boys are every few minutes. I am loving this extra time with him. There are lots of reasons to wish my boys were closer in age, but this is one perk I love about them being 3 years a part. I have had one-on-one time with all 3 when they were 2.5 -3yrs. Such a pivetol time for instruction and training. And such a fun age (most of the time). He is talking up a storm. Today I pointed to a body of water in a book and asked him what it was. Hoping he'd say water. He said "ocean." Cracked me up. I have been missing a lot of his words b/c they are muffled by the noise around us. Now that the noises are in school all day, I can listen so much better ;)

While We Wait

The four of us (me and the boys) have convinced EJ of her name ;) Even Ryan says it when asked. I suppose that might ruin the surprise, but we are hoping to wait and reveal her name once we have her picture to share. We are constantly wondering who is she and where is she and what she is doing. The boys desperately want to know how old she is and where she will sit in the van ;)
I know the second I see her face it will be even more difficult to wait, but oh how I want to see her sweet face. I am praying boldly that I will know she is our daughter right away. It is not uncommon to refuse a referral and I have no idea how we will know. Trusting God will help us.
Today we received a draft of the home study report to review. Which means we will be applying for our immigration approval soon! The approval could take 2-3 months. Then we put the Dossier together and send it to China. After that we wait for a Log-in date (LID) (3 to 4 weeks) and then a referral for Sugarplum (which should be fairly quick)!!!!!!
Oh and the agency is right on schedule with their first batch of referrals from their new orphanage partnerships. So encouraging to us.

1st day update

The boys had a good first day.

Owen already recognizes the year is going to be harder. Not sure if this is based on just yesterday or preconceived notions. I am under the same assumption ;)

Mason was pretty quiet. After a quick snack he scurried off to his rooms where I found him happily playing with his legos. He was content being left a lone. I didn't push. At bedtime, however the tears started flowing and flowing. It was so obvious that he was SO tired, but he was fighting it. I don't think it helped that I took Owen to soccer practice and was gone almost 2 hours when I am normally home. After back rubbing and snuggling he calmed down. In the middle of the night he climbed in our bed. Nothing was "wrong" I think he just needed to be close to me. I missed the little guy too, so I can only imagine it was a shock to his system. Oh my heart!

Mason is supposed to go to soccer practice tonight. I am not sure he can handle it. Hmm...

1st Day

Ryan and I drove to school to be one of those parents (and there were plenty) to see them off the bus.

This is Mason spotting my mom (on the left) she works at their school two days a week.

 I peeked in their classrooms too ;)

Play dough waiting at Mason's desk

That woman is Mason's teacher.

 and in 3rd grade it's straight to work ;)
Owen's teacher in the background

He didn't even see me.

Ryan has asked at least a dozen times about Owen. Not so concerned with Mason.

It's quiet here. I haven't been too sad. Just more wondering how they are and what they are doing.

Twas the Night Before School...

Skyping with Mim, so she could send her love and best wishes for their first days back.

 Then at bedtime, Mason had his first assignment ;)

 I may have gotten a little teary when reading the part about the teacher being excited too.

The confetti didn't last under their pillows. Not sure what they were worried about but they didn't like the idea of it being under there. Ha!
I am not nervous yet ;) Thankfully I have a fun mtg at church to look forward to and occupy some of our time.
I am sure going to miss them. Lunch time will be especially hard. But, I must be honest, I am SO excited to have a longer nap time again. Hopefully 2 hours. My to-do list is growing by the minute.