Disappointment

I will start by acknowledging that many people are facing much more difficult situations than I am.

My Aunt Donna continues to battle for her life.  Her surgery this week was compounded by a heart attack.  Thanks to everyone who is praying for her.

I know that there are many more painful things happening among us.

But tonight I'll share my disappointment.

Today, my letter finally arrived from USC!S.  They have decided that I did not have a "full and final adoption" completed in Haiti.

I did.

I really did.  I don't have the energy to look back at my records now, but I think I had my "full and final adoption decree" last October.

Of course, it was destroyed in the earthquake.  I have plenty of "secondary evidence," but apparently that's not what they wanted.

This means that G will continue to live with me, but he will not legally be "my son" for...

years.

My next step is to maintain custody of him for two full years.  After that time, I can begin to submit miscellaneous government forms (I-130, I-485, and N-600 if you care) and pay lots more fees to our government ($2,375 just for the forms I've listed), and then I can apply for "evidence of his U.S. citizenship."

It is completely unfair.

Since early 2007 I have filed every form and paid every fee.  It should be impossible for our govt not to recognize this.  Yet here I am.

I know this is not the worst thing that could happen.  But I'm sad.

Explosion

That word - "explosion" - still makes me think of the days when I was cleaning sheets twice a day due to crazy diaper blow-outs.  But I'm not here now to talk about that.

We're seeing a language explosion.

Every day G is adding new words to his vocab! 

Now, you, the casual listener, might not recognize that "poo" refers to a "spoon" (or a fork, if we're being honest).  But I know - and I'm finding it very fun.

The only part that is not as fun is when the classic questions come at me for the quabillionth time.  This includes:
Wuz-za? (What's that?)  and  Ha Happen? (What happened?)

I'll illustrate with a popular discussion from my house:
G: Wuz-za?
Me: A wall.
G: Wuz-za?
Me: Wall.
G: Wuz-za?
Me: That is a wall.
G: Wuz-za?

No joke.  That discussion can last for hours (or so it seems).

But beyond that frustration it's pure fun around here.  Some language examples:

- G's word for "elbow" sounds identical to his word for "apple."  That one was figured out after he got very frustrated with me for repeatedly asking if he was hungry.
- I clapped for G the other night, and he insisted: "Bubble.  Bubble Mama."  I kept asking if he was ready for his bath, then finally realized he wanted me to add "Bravo" to my clapping.
- Yesterday he covered his eyes with his hands and announced: "Ideeg.  Ideeg Mama."  Because when your hands are over your eyes you're obviously "hiding."
- My most favorite G-ism is "Wat-ow!"  How often do you suppose I've warned him "Watch out!"

Really fun.

----------------------------------------------

And in other explosion news, I measured G tonight.  I think he's up to 35" and 31#.  If I'm right, that's an inch & a pound since my last check.  Onward!

July 7th

Two years ago today I met G for the first time.

I had gone to Haiti to meet my almost-two-year-old son.

The van pulled up with the visiting parents' children inside.  No car seats.  No seatbelts.  Just children.

Before I got to see G, one of the orphanage volunteers met me and warned, "He's small.  He's very small."

I've always been grateful that she eased my shock.

I'd never before met a two-year-old who couldn't support their weight on their little stick legs.

G was very small, but he still had spirit.  Gobs of spirit.  Even at that first visit, he was FUNNY. 

That hasn't changed.

Have I mentioned how exceedingly grateful I am to have him home?

Fourth of July

Every year we get a photo of Bapi & Joseph by the flag.  Only, Joseph is gone, and G is here!

Clarification: No people were harmed during the taking of that photo.
Thought I'd better make sure you knew that since the total lack of smiles might cause one to think otherwise.

G's new tradition of "Depressing Flag Photo" was followed up by the new tradition of "ohmygoodness-whatisgoingoninthesky and whyaminotinbed?" (aka fireworks)

Although there's no photographic evidence, G really did enjoy his first Fourth.

Loving the Arboretum

Missing Joe

G has seemed to do surprisingly fine with Joseph being gone.  He hasn't been crying or asking for him or anything.

Until this morning, when - out of the blue - G went over to the window and started yelling: "Doh! (Joe) Doh! Doooooooh!!!"

Ownership

I've been meaning to post that G has been into Identification.  Multiple times a day he thumps his chest and asserts "G!" (his version of his name).  Apparently, this is so I remember who he is.  He often follows that up by poking at me and asserting: "Mama!" 


We've recently made a transition from the great Identification game to the even better Ownership game.  It's a very similar game.  Both of the words are said exactly the same way.  But now, instead of thumping or poking us, G sticks his finger at whatever item requires clarification of possession.  Examples include my chicken dinner... (finger inserted) "Mama!"...  and my old tshirt (clutched to him) "G!"


Hours of fun, I'm telling you.