Thursday, September 30, 2010

Thought for Thursday

From Richard Stearns' book, The Hole in Our Gospel:


"If you read in the newspaper about hundreds of children dying of malnutrition in a famine in Africa, you might pause for a moment of genuine sadness - but wouldn't you finally turn the page, read the sports section, check the TV listings, and go about your daily routine? 

But imagine for a moment that you somehow discovered one of these starving African children dying on your front doorstep the very next morning as you left for church.  Would you not stop everything, pick up the child, and rush her to the emergency room, offering to pay whatever it might cost to save her life?  You would almost certainly respond with urgency as one human being to another, and that faraway famine you had read about the night before would very suddenly become intensely personal.  You see, our problem is that the plight of suffering children in a far-off land simply hasn't gotten personal for us.  We may hear about them with sorrow, but we haven't really been able to look at them as if they were our own children.  If we could, then we would surely grieve more deeply in our spirits.  We would weep for their parents, and we would respond with far greater urgency."


(Photo by J. Visser, taken in Haiti)

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Awkward

Joseph had an interesting experience last week. 

He was called into the principal's office.  There, he was faced with a stammering school official.  Apparently, the conversation went something like this:

"Well, uh, Joseph.  We.. congratulations.  I mean, your nomination for National Achievement Scholarship, well, that's.. It's just that.. Well, your records.. Because it's significant.. If you just.. I mean, right here (turning his computer to face Joseph).. You know, the qualifications for that scholarship include.. And you see.. You'd need to be of African descent.. So, it's just that, uh.. You're records show.. If you see here.. It says that, uh.. You're White."

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

A Birthday Novel (with story components helpfully identified for you)


The Setting - A HUGE birthday present arrives in the mail from Aunt Kirsti, Uncle Mark, and cousins!

Character #1 / G -
"Can't wait!"

Character #2 / Mom -
"Exactly how many pieces are in that box?"

The Conflict -
Lots & lots of pieces.  Mom wonders aloud if Uncle Mark is going to pop out of the box to put everything together.

Rising Action -
After a valiant attempt, Mom announces that the assembly will need to wait for a more skilled assembler.

The Climax -
Our hero, G, disolves in waves of anguish.

The Resolution -
In a surprise twist, super-friend-Pam stops by, inquires about the pieces strewn about the floor, and immediately sets about assembling the gift. 

Doncha love a happy ending.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Dinner Conversation

Joseph: "The Heart of Darkness is the worst novel ever written.  I mean, the author blathers on for 5 pages about - what are those things called - like bolts, only it starts with an R..."

G in the background: "Mama. Mama. Mama. Mama. Mama..."

Joseph: "Whatever.  Bolts.  So he rambles about bolts.  And then, in the middle of that, there's this 2 page rant about hippopotamuses..."

G in the background: "MAMA. MAMA. MAMA. MAMA. MAMA..."

Joseph: "I mean, right on the first page, I found myself falling asleep, and..."

G in the background: "MMMMMAAAAMMMMAAA!"

Me: "Excuse me, Joseph.  G, is this important for interrupting?"

G: "Ya.  I wanna bath."

Me: "I hear that you want a bath.  Could you eat some more chicken first?"

G: "Ya."

Joseph: "There hasn't been a page yet that wasn't awful."

-----------

Sometimes it strikes me as especially humorous- navigating the range of interests that flow along my dinner table.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

More Fends

One nice thing about this weekend was seeing some of our favorite girls.


Happy Birthday, Sweet Meredith!


We'd just seen baby Emily a few weeks ago, but she's grown!





The weather was nice enough for a wagon ride.
And sliding with Aunt Kirsti:

Comparison time.  Six months ago vs. Yesterday.  I think he's gaining on her!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Star Babysitter

I wanted to attend Joseph's school Open House, so he agreed to watch G for me.  I came home to this:

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Laundry

Today G came home with grass stains on the knees of his new jeans.


Do you know that I loved scrubbing those stains?  I have waited YEARS for grass-stained knees.


How cool is that?

Friday, September 17, 2010

Culinary Progress


Ok.  This might not technically count as "progress" but it does make me happy.

This week I served a lovely dinner of chicken nuggets, with sides of honey & bbq sauce.  Not only did G eat the nuggets, but he tried both of the dips too.  His willingness to eat different foods has exploded.  It removes so much stress when the underweight toddler will actually consume food.  My days of blending pureed veggies into mac & cheese are over!

And - just for the record - in addition to the junk food, G also ate an apple AND an orange. 
Or, an "oh-jin," if you know what I mean.  It's all good.


 
p.s. In my previous post, I mentioned "two weeks."  It's actually more like six weeks.  Wishful thinking.


Thursday, September 16, 2010

Legal Progress


We were able to go to court this week!

The judge issued me "temporary custody of G, the minor sought to be adopted."

And - in two weeks - it seems likely that custody will be finalized.

The issue with citizenship remains (can't apply for 2 more years) but...

G will finally - legally - be my son!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Da Buhz

The emotional build-up has lasted months.

Every. single. time. we have seen a bus, G has exclaimed: "Da Buhz!  Das my buhz?"  Or the always-popular claiming statement: "Das MY buhz!"

We have discussed over & over & over again how Joseph takes his bus to school.  Over & over & over.

So today was a huge day.  This was the start of his new schedule - special preschool in the morning, followed by a BUS taking him to his regular day care, where I would later pick him up.  We reviewed this huge change in routine many times so G would be as prepared as possible.  I made him pictures that showed each step in order.  My concern was that - given the huge focus on the *bus* part of the day, that G would be unpleasantly surprised by the other parts of the day, like the *Mama leaves* part.  No matter how many times we reviewed the different parts, the only part that got any attention was, yes, the bus.


We've been doing a countdown of days until "New school AND you ride the bus."

This morning when G woke up and asked for "my buhz?" I finally got to say: "Yes!  Today you will go to your new school and ride your bus!"

Drop-off at the new school went ok.  G was definitely hesitant, watching everything.  I took a photo with the drop-off buses since I wouldn't get a photo with the Real Event.


You can tell he was nervous.  He held tight to my hand.  But when the teacher told him to "hold hands with Caden," he did - even though I had just seen Caden picking his nose moments earlier.  ugh.


Then, as I turned to leave, the teacher mentioned: "Oh.  The bus company said that instead of sending a bus for G, they might send a Suburban."



Oh my stinkin word.



I warned her that would be an issue, but... the school bell was about to ring, the kids were marching in, and... I left him.

Apparently, it did not go well.  G was VERY upset.  The teachers harnessed him in to keep him in the vehicle.  Poor little dude.  He didn't understand.  His mama had promised him a bus.  He'd been looking forward to a bus.  And - I found out later - not only was it not a bus, but it was not a Suburban - it was a white van.  As in - the same kind of vehicle that always used to take him back to the orphanage after our visits together.  Can you imagine?  I feel sick thinking about it.

The teachers did send him home with picture:


Little late with that one.

He was clingy tonight, but still isn't communicative enough for us to discuss what happened.  I talked to him, but don't know how much he comprehended.  I do know he was exhausted and fell asleep right away.

So that was our disaster for today.  I do feel bad just posting that much when I have huge praises I could be posting....  G was accepted into special preschool!  He'll get speech therapy, occupational therapy, and more!  We have transportation to get him to day care!  He's safe & growing!  We'll survive the Bus Incident.  Good things are happening.  God is good.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Counting

First I'll review how your average child counts:


one
two
three
four
five
six
seven
eight


You're welcome.


Now G.  Picture this with a bit of a French Caribbean spin:


juan
too
thethen (seven)
aye-t (eight)
thethen
aye-t
thethen
aye-t


I really love when he counts.


And - as a bonus - I'll also share with you that I love the color orange.  Or "oh-jin" as G would say.  A sample conversation:
"G, say 'orange'."
"oh-jin."
"orange."
"oh-jin."


Hours of fun, guaranteed.

Friday, September 10, 2010

New Sporting Event

The boys & I participated in quite an exciting event the other day...

Synchronized Gawking

It was amazing to behold.

The event started by me, then Joseph, then G exiting our car at the pizza place.  On the patio, a Little League team was gathered - along with coaches, parents, and sundry little siblings.  As my family exited our car, a hush fell over the performers - absolutely all conversation stopped.  One by one their heads swiveled over to watch us, like dominoes falling in a line - every single head ended up facing us.  And as we walked past them into the restaurant, they all - in perfect unison - did a complete synchronized swivel so that their eyes remained perfectly fixed on us the entire time. 

We're talking at least 30 people - completely silent and totally focused on us.  It was eerie to me, although Joseph didn't seem to notice.

Until we got inside & he exclaimed: "WHAT was THAT?!"

We had a good laugh at the freaky people.  I figured they just couldn't determine if I was Angelina Jolie or Sandra Bullock.  So it provided some amusement.

Somehow I doubt that I'll be as amused when G is old enough to notice and be hurt by stuff like this.

Any thoughts on how you would have handled the situation?

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Birthday

We've been celebrating G's 4th.

For G's last birthdays, Joseph & I have "celebrated" like this:



How grateful we were this year to have G home!

First, we celebrated when our fends were visiting.  The kids knew it was a party because there were balloons and Caribbean music and dancing with ribbons.  4 is so easy to please.


And then Grammy & Bapi came over for another party.  Pin the Tail on the Donkey.  Hello P.A.R.T.Y!

Plus cake & ice cream, of course.

Eaten with his hands?  Because I'm good at teaching etiquette like that. 

When you've waited as long as we have, silverware is optional.  Party on.


Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Repeating What I Hear

my my my my my my my my MINE! my my my my MINE MINE MINE!

Tonight's example:  We were climbing the front steps to our house when G noticed a spider web near the door.  He immediately asserted his rights to it: "Das MY spider!"  Sure, kid, that's your spider.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Friends!

Prepare for a major photo dump.

Our friends flew in to see us!  My girlfriend took a flight - not a nonstop - with her two small children, car seats & luggage - alone through the airports & car rental.  So impressive. 
Thank goodness she had a good stroller!

Swimming

Drumming

Playing



Oh - and tormenting a small fluffy dog. 
Just the usual - running up to it with enthusiasm, then screaming in terror.

A lovely walk.
Until I BROKE OFF THE HANDLE OF THEIR STROLLER!
Yes - their stroller that allowed my friend to navigate the airport.
Little R was NOT happy about the situation.
Thankfully, my friend was a good sport.
And we still had fun at the fountain.
All in all - a great visit with fends (friends)!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

First Day of School

My first "First Day of School" with G.




















(Preschool.  Because - you know - he "graduated" from the 2-year-old room in May.)



And my last "First" with Joseph.


















(He was delighted to pose for me while the neighbors looked on.)