Two Months Home with Jonah and Rees

Happy New Year from our family to yours!!

It's been an eventful couple of weeks since our last post (as yours probably was too with the Christmas and New Years holidays).  I can't believe how quickly the last eight weeks went.  It's crazy how slowly it feels that time goes when you are waiting for something important ... and then ZOOM it just races by!

A few things that kept us busy over the last several weeks ...

... we went over to Calvary Community Church's Family Night: Make Your Own Gingerbread House event.  We thought this would be a great opportunity to have our kids work together to build something.  Yep, that's right ... you read correctly ... we did not get each child his or her own house kit.  We made them work on the same house.    **********************TOGETHER!

Yep!  It was a bit of a challenge at first.  

Everyone likes to take control.No matter what it is.Young and old alike.

We got through it though ... really, we did.

It's about letting go of the preconceived expectation that we dream up in our heads ...

... each of us has to do that sometimes.

The house (.or.whatever.it.is.you.have.to.let.go.of.) might not turn out exactly how each of us pictured in our heads ...

... but when it's done, we can be proud of our accomplishment ...

... and be blessed by what we've experienced.

(And yes, I'm not just talking about building a gingerbread house)

Jonah and Rees made it through their first week of school.  Our "test" week ended and everyone made it through.  Despite the few bumps (highly anticipated), both boys were very happy to have been there and are anxious to go back on Monday.  

Each of them received Christmas gifts from their new teacher and have been asking multiple times during the break about going to school again.

A day after the break from school began, Jonah woke up looking like this!  

We took him in to the nearest walk-in clinic and it turns out that he had a stye. 

We were given instructions for putting compresses on his eye and also some antibiotic ointment to put in his eye for the next week.

Jonah was originally scheduled for his orthodontic consultation on December 29, however, a week prior, their office called us to reschedule as the Orthodontist needs more time to research and meet with Staffing to determine the appropriate plan for Jonah.  So, now he is scheduled to see her on January 28 and then we'll follow up with the surgeon after that.  

He has been a little slow at speaking English BUT he is improving and also has shown that he CAN remember which words to use when speaking. His speech is limited and difficult to decipher ... until you get used to the way that he speaks ... but his understanding of speech and the world around him is quite extensive. 

Jonah is smart and eager to help.  He likes to please, doesn't like to be 'left-out' or feel like he's missing out and is even slightly competitive.  He goes from being highly emotional and easily distressed to being a "tough-y", a "teaser" and rock-solid and unflinching like when he's being given multiple shots/immunizations.   He can be very perplexing ... both boys, ... they're like little puzzles that need to be put together; except, some of the pieces are missing.  Some we have ... only we don't necessarily know which ones they are yet.

More time ... we'll figure it out ...

On Christmas Day, our little guy, Rees, woke up with a 102F fever.  His face was very pink and hot!  We gave him a cold compress, liquid fever reducer and .... a popsicle, of course!  He seemed miserable at first but was quite willing to take the popsicle. 

Then he perked up a bit when Grandma called; he had to break the news to her that we would not be able to spend his first Christmas with her.

Brynn and Jonah were eager to eye up the presents that were around the tree.

Everyone wanted in on the popsicles!

I think my favorite part of "presents" is seeing the reaction on the faces when they look into the stockings!  

Both Jonah and Rees did not seem confused or overwhelmed by all the 'hustle-n-bustle' of Christmas.  They went right with the flow and did really well with it all ... so different than our daughters' first Christmases.

Ben had a "MARVEL"-ous Christmas!!  Every one of his gifts had something to do with Marvel ... of which he is a BIG FAN!

Brynn has been asking for a while for a "mermaid tail".  She likes mermaids and in her child-like mind has imagined being a mermaid so we think her best present was this mermaid costume.  

Do you agree??

Molly is an avid reader and she was very pleased by several of the books that were on her wish list!

Jax liked Jacob's present ... a little too much!!

Rees' fever did not return after the fever-reducer and popsicles in the morning, but by evening, he was one tuckered out little boy.  I got the opportunity to cuddle him as he slept.  Yay for me!!  I oozed with vibes of hope ... that him sleeping to the sound of my heartbeat would bond us as mama and son.  

Rees has very good speech (when he uses it).  He is excellent at repeating words and even tones.  He has shown that he understands the meaning and context of words and phrases that we use in our daily activities.

He is a delightful child, ... energetic, ... curious, ... a little worker-bee ... with giant walls surrounding his heart and his emotions.  He's sort of like the boy playing hard to get ... only he's not really sure yet if he wants to be "got".

Right now, ... his favorite word is "NO".  

He has been the one to struggle the most with illness since we've been home from China.  He's still fighting the leftovers from the fever on Christmas Day ... but he's really a trooper and has barely even noticed any of his symptoms.

We're praying that he stays on the "healthy" side now as we draw closer to his surgery that is scheduled for January 20.  He has a couple of medical appointments before then so he will be evaluated to ensure that he is ready for the surgery.  

  For New Year's Eve, we were pretty low-key (we usually are) and we spent the evening with our friends who the boys are so fond of.  

Jonah decided to play with Jen's glasses!  What a character!

He really enjoyed the festivities and party hats!

 

Brynn and Molly loved getting to ring in the new year with their friend, Maggie!!

Jonah and Uncle Dave 'cheesin' it up!

Even Baba got in on the festive play ...

We wish you all a fabulous 2016!!  

We also hope you will continue to keep us in your prayers ... and, of course, let us know if we can be praying for you as well!

We certainly have a lot ahead of us this year, especially in regards to the medical plan for the boys.  We will do our best to continue to keep you updated.  We appreciate your interest, concern and encouragement ... most of all, your prayers!

God bless you in 2016!!