Update on Samuel

For all of you that were wondering, Samuel is doing really well.  His eardrum is sitting right were it needs to be and is working really well.  However, now Samuel can hear Andreas and I whisper, so we have no way of communicating behind his back.  We might have to learn a third language just between us.  Samuel is beyond thrilled to be able to hear without his hearing aide in his left ear.  He wants the other ear done now.  

We were suppose to keep this kid calm and collected for two weeks...good luck!  Andreas said he would rather shoot himself in the foot than have to keep Sam calm for two weeks.  Our active boy is on the move and has a new lease on life.  

This is Sam's cool attitude walk...he thinks he is the stuff!

Below is a pic of some friends and the kids eating and doing crafts.  This was one of my attempts to keep Sam calm (you can tell he still had his head wrap on in this pic).  It worked for a little while and we all had great fun being creative.

from left to right...David, Mariam, Michael H., Amy V. and Sam.  

Sadly for us, Amy has left to return to her family in Australia.  We were so glad to have her with us, but knew she would have to go back.  When she left yesterday Samuel asked, ''What do we do NOW without Amy?''  I think we ALL enjoyed her visit.  You are missed Amy.

Blessings,
laurie

Mors Dag

Today is Mother's Day in Sweden.  So I would like to say Happy Mother's day to my mother in law.  Thank you for all that you give as a mom and a farmor.  We all love you very much.  

Laurie

A milestone

On May 16th we past a milestone... a year ago David walked into a little room in Ch*na and his whole life changed drastically (much to his chagrin).  It amazes me to see the difference in him.  He walked into that room as a stranger and is now such an integral part of this family.     

some of the first moments with us

David's adoption was so drastically different from Samuels'.  There was the obvious...different country, different special needs, different ages.  However, there was also the hidden...the long wait that took it's toll on me, the necessity to switch countries, the heartache that I still carry of Nep^l closing adoptions (or all other countries closing to Nep^l) because of corruption, the moment of actually saying no to a Ta*wan ''unofficial'' referral after a month of prayer and seeking the Lord and professional advise, the distance I felt to the whole process because it was in Swedish and I could not be as involved because I simply didn't understand all the little details.  All of these factors brought so many more emotions, decisions, heartache, prayers and details with them.  The euphoria of the first adoption had disappeared into a new reality.  And I struggled with that reality.  I think at points I even struggled to believe that my second child would become a reality.

This all forced me to review my belief and how much I was lacking in it.  How I failed time and time again to understand the road that God took us down to bring us to David.  It took me two sentence to say that but many months, even years to experience it.

Then there was the referral.  A small picture with details that we tried to decipher.  I didn't feel the connection to the picture that I did with Sam's.  I understand now that it was the difference of seeing a baby picture to seeing an older child picture and the emotions and the actual physical hormones that those create, but that didn't help then.  Don't misunderstand...we asked for a child 3 or above, we understood (as much as you can before you experience) what that would entail.  My love for David was something that I needed to grow into.  I knew with my brain that I loved him...but I still had to go through the process of getting to know him.  This brought me guilt for quite some time even though we bonded quite quickly, which surprised me for a toddler that had been passed around.

the first evening walk (blurry, but forever etched in my mind)

One of the nice things about being a year out from the adoption is the fact that I know how this year ends.  It ends with an amazing, incredibly loved, well adjusted, beloved child.  I will be the first to admit it hasn't been easy.  David needed to bond with us and yet explore his world as a three year old who was suppose to be learning some independence.  He needed to deal with the strong emotions that came with leaving the culture he knew and being wisked away by people who look and sound strange.  He needed to learn the meaning of permanency, he needed, he needed.....

Most of all he needed a family. People that would try their best to understand, love, play, nourish (body and soul) and be there for life.  I was not always the best with my patience, I am sure I made plenty of mistakes (and will continue to do so), but thank you Jesus by your grace he is doing so well.

Now above is the boy that I get the privilege of parenting day in and day out.  He is quick to laugh and to whine. He is full of energy and loves to explore.  David will go outside for a walk, a run, a scooter ride or just to goof of in a heartbeat.  He loves to be out of doors.  He is incredibly stubborn, but quick to learn.  He has embraced life and his family.  He amazes me, he cuddles me, and he calls my name a million times a day.  He loves books and kisses and food (lots of it).  He loves to mimic, play with and wrestle with his older brother and daddy.  He can now pucker, finish a whole juice box through a straw, blow out candles and say the letters p, k, and m (this is not always easy for cleft lip/palate children).

he wasn't too hip on that roasted marshmallow

David has a great sense of humor and will be my prankster someday.  He will also be my sneaky child.   David has a laugh and a smile that can light up a room and make others laugh right along with him.

David,

You are a beloved son to us.  We went through so much to get to you and are so thankful that we did. I can't wait to see how you grow and weave more and more into our family.  You are precious to us and to Jesus whose hand you can see all through your story.

We love you,
Mommy and Daddy.

A Visit

I have a visitor right now.  She is a Jesus loving, amazing, beautiful, funny, wonderful friend.  Meet Amy....

Amy lived here in Sweden for 16 mths., but moved back to Australia with her family in 2010.  I have missed her greatly and told her I wanted her to come...so she did!

Amy and her family hold a special place in our hearts and we know that the Lord brought us together for a short time, but for a friendship that would last a lifetime.  I am so blessed to have a friend who would travel so far just to see me and join into my everyday life and find joy in that.  Thanks Jesus for Amy, thanks Amy for coming and thanks Tim for holding down the fort while your wife is gone!

Blessings,

laurie

Samuel the Brave

Samuel is amazing.  He showed me the meaning of being brave and trust in Jesus.  Even when we were in the operation room and they were hooking him up the everything he said, ''mommy, I am not nervous or scared''.  I was so proud of him because mommy was holding back the tears so she wouldn't make him scared.

When we went back to his room after recover he said that it was a good day.  He is so excited to hear without hearing aides.  My wonderful, brave, amazing son... I can't even begin to explain what a blessing he is.

We are now waiting a week until the stitches and packing come out and praying that the new eardrum will mesh and grow with the little eardrum he had left and work as normal.  Thank you for everyone that was praying, please continue.

Blessings,
Laurie

My Brave Boy

My Brave Samuel is an amazing boy.  He teaches me so much and I am so thankful to be his mommy.  When Sam was a baby and in the orphanage in Nepal he has many, MANY ear infections.  They tried their best to help him, but the cold and conditions would not allow the infections to stay away for long,  if at all.  Because of these infections his eardrums tore.  He only has 10% of his eardrums in each ear.  Despite his injury, he is still able to hear and learn languages...as been proven by the two languages that he can fluently speak. 

Samuel has been wearing hearing aides since he was three years old, but it is now time to try to fix one of his eardrums.  Tomorrow we will be going to Borås where Samuel will have surgery to build one of his eardrums (we are not sure which side just yet).  They will go through the bone in the back of his ear and take skin from the top of his ear to build the new drum.  The surgery should take about 2 hours.  He is sooooooooooo excited.  He keeps saying it will be his best day.  I love the enthusiasm that he has.  To be very honest he simply would like to get rid of the hearing aides and be like the other children.  

We would appreciate everyones prayers as this takes place.  He will have to go back in a week and take the stitches out and the gauze in his ear and there is a 10% chance that it will not take.  Please pray that it does and we can move on to the next ear soon.

In all of this God gets the glory and praise.  He has placed Samuel in this family and Samuel loves Jesus with all his heart.  So we will keep our eyes on Him and Him alone.  

Blessings,

Laurie

Where Were You?

A year ago today my family, along with Andreas' parents, loaded a van with lots of suitcases, hopes, dreams and excitement.  We then borded a plane on its way to Ch*na.  This was the end of a 3 1/2 year journey and the beginning of a new lifetime journey.  

For all of you that are waiting, and waiting, and waiting... for that precious child to be in your arms the day will come.  God loves the orphan and raises up families to place the lonely in.  Are you suppose to be one of those families?  Is God putting this on your heart?  Listen, Respond, Love.   

Blessings,

Laurie

P.S.  This is a double post day, so don't miss the video below.

Boys Being Boys

Yes, they are covered in mud!

Enjoy,
Laurie

Little Moments

Every mother has her doubts and wonders if she is doing a good job.  As an adoptive mom of a toddler there seems to be many more things to consider.  Is he bonding?  Is he happy?  Does he understand our love?  Does he know he can come to me in time of need?  Does he feel secure?

Now, in our daily lives there are little moments that I know we have solidified as a family. I absolutely know that he is becoming a ''normal'' little boy (if any of them are truly ''normal'').  Today I had one of those moments.  Samuel and David were playing with their stuffed animals and David's teddy got ''hurt''.  Immediately David brought his crying teddy (imagine the sound effects) to me for reassurance and a kiss that seemed to solve the whole problem.  To David it was fun and normal kid play.  To me it meant that he simply knows that mommy will soothe him and kiss his hurts away.

Thank you Jesus for helping me realize these precious moments!

Laurie

His 4th Birthday, but 1st at Home

On April 14th, my beautiful David turned 4 years old.  It was his first birthday home with us.  On his 3rd birthday we were getting ready to go pick him up in May 2010.  

I started the morning of David's birthday by laying in my bed and thinking of his birth mommy.  I know that she is thinking of him around this time of year...  wondering where he is, if he is okay or happy or if someone was able to help him.  I know that her heart is grieving and missing him. I know she probably thinks and rethinks her decision, or grieves because the decision was forced by circumstance.  So now it is also I that grieve for her.  

I watch this precious child grow and learn.  I have the privilege of kissing and hugging him goodnight.  I am the blessed one that gets to hear him call me mommy.  Don't get me wrong I am truly thankful for all of that, but I hurt for her.  She carried him in her belly for 9 months.  She was delighted to give birth to a son (the gender so desired in Ch*na).  Then, to her grief (I am sure) she saw that he had cleft lip/palate.  This amazing, strong, beautiful woman raised her son for a whole year.  I cannot imaging the pain as she could not find a way to help him and as he got weaker because he could not feed.  Oh how I wish I could let her know that he is beautiful, wonderful and thriving.  That her sacrifice and pain has allowed him this.  How I wish I could hug her and hold her as she cries and grieves.  

All these feelings and thoughts bring me to this...that I (we) as adoptive mommies have the responsibility to honor her.  We must remember her and pray for her and share her love and sacrifice with our children.  OUR child...her's and mine...there would be no him without her and I will remember and honor that.  

I am so thankful for David. He is gorgeous, happy, stubborn, and mischievous.  He is a blessing from God.  He is a reflection of his birth mommy...so as I love him, I love her.  

David,
You are a precious son,  loved for who you are and what you are becoming.  Daddy and I could not be prouder of you.  We have spent this last year in wonder as you have infiltrated our hearts.  You have learned to be a son, a brother, a grandson, a cousin, a playmate and a stinker.  Your smile can brighten any day and your laugh is infectious.  You have opened up and started to become social.  You try your hardest to talk, and even continue to talk when we don't understand, but I love that.  All of this shows us your tenacity for life.  I think my favorite is when you sing.  You love to make noise and in the car you sing to yourself.  I have no idea what you are singing and you may not either, but continue my precious boy.

You are dearly loved by many and have been since your conception.  I am looking forward to another amazing year as you head towards 5.  Happy Birthday love.

love,
mommy

First try on blowing the candles.  David still has two holes in the roof of his mouth, so it is hard to get the air to flow properly.  However, he is doing a great job, you can see one of the flames bending...that is progress. 

After a few tries of mommy plugging his nose so he could blow, I helped him so he wouldn't get frustrated. I am not sure he knew I was helping him because he seemed pretty excited that they were out.  

Happy Birthday Baby!

laurie

Guest Post from Cydil Waggoner...Advocating For Joel

ad·vo·cate  (dv-kt)

tr.v. ad·vo·cat·ed, ad·vo·cat·ing, ad·vo·cates

To speak, plead, or argue in favor of

Orphan advocacy is something I approach with a feeling of great responsibility.  To be a voice for 

one who can't speak for himself means that if I don't speak, that individual essentially doesn't get heard by those within hearing distance of me.  Rather than trusting in God's plan, I'm tempted to worry that if nothing comes from my sharing about a need, what does that say about me? Did I 

share this information too late?  In the wrong way? Will I disappoint those who have placed their 

trust in me to be an advocate on their behalf?

I know that after coming home from our adoption trips we would share how much we wished we could find homes for all the kids in Ellie's and Reni's orphanages. While we would still love to do that, but I've only been given permission to share about one particular child (actually, I've been implored by Sister R for nearly a year -- though not released to officially do so until February) and the responsibility feels heavy.  I know there are numerous websites that advocate for specific, adoptable children.  It's honestly difficult for me to see those photos and read about those kids.  Now that I've joined a Y*hoo group for families of children with limb differences, I DAILY receive e-mails of adoptable children with a variety of limb issues, many a lot less significant than Reni's, and my 

heart hurts.  What is my responsibility to do with that information?  For now, we do what we can 

to live out a testimony of the beautiful picture of adoption and pray that it touches others' lives to consider the need and open their hearts to that possibility.

Today, though, I'm going to share about one little one who I don't believe is being advocated for anywhere else.  Would you join me in sharing about this little guy and praying that his family 

finds him?  You can e-mail me at the address listed on the sidebar of this blog for more information about him and the Albanian adoption process. cydilwaggoner@gmail.com

This little boy, Joel, turns 2 this month.  He is being cared for by the Sisters of Charity in Elbasan, Albania.  We met Joel the summer we adopted Reni, when Joel was just a few months old.

After bringing Reni home, Reni's sweet godmother and primary caregiver, Duzi (photographed 

above in the pink scarf),  'adopted' Joel as her next 'project child' after Reni.  Together, with the 

special love of Duzi and Sister R (who was his primary caregiver during his first few months), Joel has made strides developmentally, though he still lags behind his peers.

Here is a list of some of his milestones (sent to me by the Sisters on March 15, photos captured on February 11):

• He can walk around the wall of a room without help
• He has started to take two steps alone.
• He is excellent at climbing up and on a chair (we witnessed this in February, can attest to his agility, and have video)
• He climbs out of his bed
• He can hold things in both hands
• He can hold a spoon, trying to feed others (but not himself)
• He can hold a crumb of bread with 2 fingers
• He points to things which interest him

 

• He presses music toys with his fingers
• He understands 'goodbye' and waves
• He calls 'come' with his hand
• He claps with hands when he is happy
• He is starting to speak 'ga-ga'
• He is looking for the companionship of bigger children
• Most of the time he eats only mashed food, and small pasta soup (not able yet to swallow harder food)

This is how they fed Reni because he wouldn't sit still in his high chair! ;-)

• He is a very joyful child, loved by others
• He likes to play hide and seek
• He can hold a pen in the hand
• He can pass things from one hand to the other
• He likes to play with other children and is a very sociable child
• He likes to move around a lot
• He likes to go out and see new things
• He is capable to learn new things
• Shows with finger 'okay'

At the end of their last correspondence with me they wrote:
"It is a miracle [he] is alive. [He] gives much joy and love to others...

With love, Sisters from Elbasan"

Thank you for praying with us that Joel's family finds him! For more information about Joel, 

e-mail me at cydilwaggoner@gmail.com or you can link to her at http://waggoner.blogspot.se/

Easter Times, Family Times, Happy Times

There has been a definite lack of posting for a while.  I am still alive, but my mother came for a visit!  By the time I hit the bed every night there was no energy left for a post.

I am doing well.  My scars are healing and I am feeling stronger.  I am starting to lift my children again and thinking of starting to exercise again...amazingly enough, I miss it.

The kids really (REALLY) enjoyed the visit from their Nonna (my mom).  She stayed for about 11 days and they milked every minute they could with her.  Samuel keeps trying to think of ways to move her house over to Sweden.  This was the first time that she was able to meet David and he took to her pretty quickly.  He called her Yoda or Yoga...that was the best he could do for Nonna, but it was sooooooo cute.  I know that she really enjoyed being with her grandsons also.  It is a reminder how hard it is to be an international family...there are always family members that miss out.  However, we know that we are suppose to be here, so we will be faithful to our calling and remain in Scandinavia.  Not that it is a hard life (we quite like it here), but there are times that we do miss Wilmore greatly.

The was David's first Easter with us.  He did not quite understand what was going on, but he played along and I enjoyed watching him mimic Sam's excitement and wonder. This Easter was a bit different for me.  I really like the preparation for Easter.  I have a special devotional, we have certain traditions to help us remember how dark Friday was and the despair that was felt on Saturday by the disciples and then the glorious Sunday when Mary came running to tell the news.  However, since I had the interruption of my surgery, I felt like I lost a lot in my own preparations, so instead I am a little off kilter, but eternally grateful that He is no longer in the grave.  Where would we be without our hope in Christ, without the knowledge that we can be his children, without his guidance and love. I would be in udder dispair....you may think that is a bit harsh, but it is perfectly true without any dramatics.  I am here because my Savior picked me up and has brought me thus far.  PRAISE be to HIM and HIM ALONE.

Enjoy the pics.
Laurie

Mom and David having a jam session

We always dress in our international duds for Easter and Pentecost.  I was pretty impressed that I still fit in that sari.

just precious

Nonna's glasses were always a fun item to play with.

He loves his Nonna

Family pic in the church

Just too good looking...watch out girls.

My little ninja...he was so cute!!!

I took my mom and the kids to Grebbestad and this was one of the sunsets...stunning.

More of the same sunset.

We also got the chance to pop up to Mysen, Norway (where we are moving to), so my mom could see the church.  This is the cross on top.

My husbands new charge as of August.  

I couldn't help sharing this pic, my mom gave me these microfiber turbans to put on wet hair and he looked so adorable.   

End of March...Start of Spring

This post will mainly be pics because those have been lacking for a while.  I just downloaded my card with 600 photos on it.  They went all the way back to before Christmas.  Guess life has been busy. 

I will say that in the past month or so we have really seen David blossom.  He is definitely feeling more comfortable here and learning the boundaries.  It is not all rosy, but he is doing really well.  I love that he really wants to pray with us, he loves to read books with us and in general horse around.  I have seen him get a lot closer with Andreas since I have been incapacitated for a little while and he is generally a joy.  

I have also noticed that my two wonderful boys are now truly brothers, PRAISE JESUS!!!! I am not sure when it changed from butting heads to brotherhood, but it is wonderful to see.  I will try to do a whole post on that soon.  We are about to come to our 1 year mark of being home and next month will be celebrating David's fourth birthday (first one at home).  

In other news my mother arrives here tomorrow.  It will be her first visit here and her first time to meet David.  We are really excited to have her (well David has no idea, but the rest of us are excited for him).  

Enjoy the pics,

Laurie

He is such a character.

I am amazed I actually caught him looking at me, it is not so easy.  He thinks it is fun to look away when I am trying to take a pic.  

Brothers, doing what boys do well.... playing in dirt and rocks.  I love the sherpa hat that David is sporting.

Don't these parents teach their kids not to open their mouths with food inside....sheeesh.  

Typical!

Blurry signs of spring...snowdrop flowers.

Actual greenage...it is pretty amazing to have this so early this year.  

David looks a little distressed, but he must do what his brother does....so arms up!  They had torn up their beds behind them and made a fort.  YEAH...they are playing together!

This is so typical David he is such a jokester. Is think this one is going to pull the pranks in the house.

Why is it that I cannot get a normal pic of my 7 year old?

Such a cool cat!

Do you think we wore them out or something...classic!

Another goofy face!

These two are such a blessing...what amazing gifts from God.