2 Years a Family of 6

It really is hard to believe it's been 2 years since we met Asher and Annalise.  They have grown and changed dramatically during this time. Long gone are the kiddos from the orphanage- here are drastically different kiddos who are thriving! 

UPDATES:

Annalise continues with her passion for all things Hello Kitty- clothing, stickers, dolls, puzzles, anything!  She swims like a fish and has finally mastered riding her bike with training wheels!   We discovered at Disney that she LOVES rollercoasters!  Medically, we have learned key information.  She has been diagnosed with dyspraxia, affects of prenatal alcohol (but not FASD as she doesn't fit all the requirements), and cerebral palsy.  Now that we know how to help her, she has started specialized therapies to help with coordination, learning, and speech.  She is an amazing, spunky, spirited and compassionate little lady!  She is really starting to "get" reading, is developing a love of "writing", and her favorite part of math is money.  Her speech is starting to improve- she is still mostly unintelligible to those who do not know her- and her vocabulary is through the roof!  She is excited to play on the Special Needs baseball league near us this Spring.  She loves her teachers- she is in co-taught 1st grade and receiving small-group instruction for reading, writing, and math.  She also receives speech and occupational therapies at school as well in addition to her specialized therapies to address her global dyspraxia.  She is the first to offer help or a toy to someone who is sad and to quote "Love is patient, Love is kind..."  Her compassion and kind heart are going to take her far in this life!

Asher continues to keep us laughing- and groaning- with his deep, deep, deep love of all potty humor.  He can out-burp any middle school boy and hearing anything resembling a fart has him rolling on the floor with laughter.  While at Disney, he got a kiss from every Princess or Queen we met- and he thought it was AWESOME!  Medically, he continues to struggle to sleep- getting to, staying, and waking way too early.  We met with a sleep specialist who agrees that his poor sleep is probably the root cause of some of his other issues- still soaking his bed at night, constant thirst, poor coordination, lack of academics "sticking."  In an effort to help this, he had his tonsils out and had another eye surgery.  Already he is sleeping better and his eyes are tracking together better!  We love his ability to laugh and forgive quickly.  He loves people, talking with them, making them laugh, discussing the movie Elf, explaining construction equipment to anyone who will listen- his desire to love and connect with people will take him far- and what a drastic change from the little boy who just sat in a corner and played by himself!

Last year, we watched "Annie" as a family to celebrate our "Tomorrow."  This year, Al discovered a great out-reach- Cafe 458.  During the week, Cafe 458 serves meals to the local homeless.  They also offer help getting the homeless jobs and housing!  On Sunday, they open a brunch- bring in a chef- and people like us come and eat!  The money from brunch is what they use to pay for the food for the rest of the week.  Our family was excited to help others reach their dreams!

It's been a bumpy year- moving from Virginia to Georgia- new schools, new doctors, new friends- we are thankful for our family and how God has been faithful in it all.  We have been able to share our story with others and connect with other adoptive families.   This next year promises to be full of adventures, battles, and happiness!

Winter Memories

We have been busy this winter- so busy intact, that I haven't been able to blog!  It's been fun to see how much Asher and Annalise have changed and in what areas they are starting to feel truly comfortable!

Asher started the Early Intervention Preschool program- he LOVES is!  I'm not sure if he loves the fact that he has a big kid backpack or that he gets to ride a school bus, or that he loves his teacher, or that he has his own thing- the bottom line is he loves it!  He goes 4 days a week, and on Wednesday he goes to Goddard with the rest of us.  We are thankful for our friend Elizabeth, who loves on him and puts him on the bus for us when Al is not able to.

Getting on the bus!

Annalise finally showed the swim coach her backstroke and was able to join the Midlothian Tidal Waves!  She was SO excited!  Each practice she worked hard and we saw her times drop!

All lined-up!

Asher continues to struggle at swim meets- he can't understand why he is at a pool and can't get in the water!  Poor buddy!

This winter was one full of snow and ice!  For the entire month of Feb the kids only to school Mon-Wed!  It snowed or iced every Thur!  Asher fully embraced the snow and would only come in once we made him- he was usually frozen to the bone and happy as a clam!  At first he didn't like sledding one bit- but after Daddy took him down our hill once, he couldn't get enough!  Annalise loved the snow for about 15min and then she was done.  She preferred to look at books and sip hot coco.

We made maple-sugar-candy one day

The siblings continue to create memories together!  Often Annalise and Alden are off creating artwork together while Addie and Asher are learning together.  Or Asher and Annalise are off exploring while Addie and Alden are off exploring.  It is neat to see their relationships continue to grow and change.

Medically we continue to explore and discover other "issues" that need to be fixed.  It's amazing what a drastic difference a little surgery or medication can make!

Asher at the neurologists' office- he received another script for PT/OT and a referral to a sleep specialist

Asher "lost" a tooth- it literally fell out, but the other is not loose...

Annalise had an anti-thumbsucking device placed in her mouth.  She only sucked her thumb at night, but she sucked it ALL night long.  Without this, her speech could never improve.  She has handled this like a champ!

She also needed her right eardrum replaced- she is the bionic girl now!  Her ear drum was totally collapsed and had large cysts in it.  She now has a fully functioning ear drum, a titanium hammer/brace, and the chance to regain 80% hearing in that ear! 

 We are SO blessed- often we are exasperated and irritated, but we end each day reminded of how blessed we are to have these 4 amazing kiddos....

Fun with friends on yet another snow day!

One Year Anniversary

This year has been amazing- emotionally draining and emotionally rewarding, physically demanding and covered in kisses and hugs, growth spurts, tantrums, giggle, tears, swimming, reading, doctors appointments, riding bikes, coloring, story telling, and lots of love!  The two children we met a year ago have changed so much that it is simply breath-taking!  We continue to be stretched as a family and parents- but God is good all the time.  He continues to give us grace and strength and almost daily reminders that this is HIS plan and HIS Grace is sufficient.  

Here are some facts about the kiddos now:

Annalise:

Favorite Color: Orange and purple and pink

Favorite Thing: HELLO KITTY (to be said in a high-pitched squeal)

Loves: All things Hello Kitty; her teacher, Mrs. Garcia; going to school; getting to be on the YMCA Swim Team; running errands with Mommy; being a big helper; singing the entire Frozen soundtrack

Hates: Sitting still; stinky smells

Asher:

Favorite Color: Blue or green

Favorite Things: Scoops (or any construction vehicle), Firetrucks, Police Cars

Loves: All things that move; Mommy; going to school- Miss Monica and now Mrs. Craig; swimming and anything to do with water; drinking- drinks all.day.long; that he can keep his diaper dry during naps

Hates: no foods- eats like a champ; having to take naps- but he's a bear without them; being told no

What a change a year can make!

Timeline of our girl

Timeline of our boy

Our two over their first year home

All 4 of my loves this years

Moments of Annalise over her first year

Moments with Asher over his first year

 Our family now- we are so blessed!

God has big plans for you two!!

Fall Memories

Asher and Annalise have grown and changed so much- the change is simply dramatic!

Annalise has lost her 2 bottom teeth!

Diva!

Asher LOVES to put out the cones before the school bus comes!

Asher has started pretend play!

Johnny Appleseed- apple picking! 

Annalise LOVED picking, and eating, apples from a trees!

These 4 make my heart happy!

Asher is a taco-eating machine!

Bubble-baths are super fun!

Asher loves his tools- and is constantly "fixing" things 

My 4 favorite pumpkins! 

Enjoying her first hay ride

Picking out his first pumpkin 

Hello Kitty tights and a German shirt!

Neighborhood heart throb...

Some milestones:
Annalise- knows her ABCs, can hold a pencil and write, is being successful in kindergarten, can ride a bike, sings some praise and worship songs, is excelling in math, loves to read and be read to, always needs 5 kisses before bed

Asher- can hold a crayon/pencil and color, can run and jump, has lots of friends in school, loves to be read to, is obsessed with trucks, can climb basic ladders unassisted, rides a bike, kicks a ball, wrinkles nose when he smiles

We are so blessed- a LOT has happened in 9 months- kinda like a pregnancy!