Build a little fence of trust
Around today.
Fill the space with loving deeds,
And therein stay.
(Mary Francis Butts, from Gary Henry's daily devotionals)
We have found one thing that little Paul can hardly stomach - Poly-Vi-Sol - the liquid vitamin his pediatrician recommended that we give him. He tries, he really tries. But every time he takes a spoonful, he shudders. It's sad, sweet and funny at the same time.
Paul and I are starting to understand each other. I don't know how to explain it, but this week has been the best week thus far. I'm trying to tie strings with him at every turn. We chase his big bouncy ball all over the house. We play hide-and-seek. We do eskimo kisses and butterfly kisses. We are learning "eyes, nose, mouth, ears." Carl has been bonding with Paul especially well, too. Paul now lays his head on daddy's shoulder. For the first time, Paul fell asleep as Daddy rocked him in the rocking chair.
Well, I would write more, but my little guy just woke from his nap! Time for the great outdoors! :)
---Ooops. False alarm. He's still asleep. Where was I? Oh yes. Well, bottom line...we're making strides. I can see we are all bonding and it's very encouraging...especially as surgery approaches.
Our most exciting news is that Helen Marshall arrives tomorrow! She is my friend from Tennessee, the sweet lady I lived with with for 3 years before Carl and I got married. She is now family. And she is flying in to see Paul Daniel, as well as cook, clean and generally take care of all our needs while she is town. Ha! Just kidding, Helen! :) Anyway, we are excited she's coming. The house isn't spotless, but it's in decent order and the sheets on HER bed are clean. :)
Today is the best day of 2010! It's cool outside!!! We might be wearing long-sleeves soon! :)
Thank you, God, for all the blessings we see and help us see the ones we've failed to notice.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
We're all sick and all getting better...
As everyone else in the state of Texas, Carl and I have had a cold this week. I started the week with it...fortunately I had a doctor's appt already scheduled so my doctor gave me a prescription for an antibiotic. Carl now has it and has been treating his with over-the-counter medicine. He stayed home from work for a couple of days - I was only able to convince him to stay home so he wouldn't spread it around.
Paul and I have been doing a lot of wagon rides this week, a lot of acorn-collecting, a lot of play-dohing. He has learned how to blow a kiss, he has learned the sign for "all done" and "more please" and he has learned that "we don't hit or throw toys in the face."
We had wonderful meals brought to us from our Christian sisters...thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who took the time to prepare us meals. We enjoyed EVERYTHING!!! You all took a good bit of stress off of me as I have adjusted to being a mommy. Thank you so, so much.
We are still working on having some medical records translated for Paul Daniel. Our Russian friend, Alexandra, is not comfortable translating medical info, so we think we may have found a company online that will do it for $70. We need these medicals translated so we will know what vaccinations he has had.
At the beginning of the week Paul Daniel had the unfortunate experience of having blood drawn. Oh me, oh my. I should have asked Carl to come with me for this appt. Paul was good right up until he saw the needle come out and then... it got ugly. I thought I was holding him pretty good but the nurse had to pull the needle out of his arm, show me a better way to hold him and then go do the other arm. They needed seven vials of blood for all the tests he is having run - I'm sure it only took 5 minutes but of course it felt like an hour. The nurses couldn't believe how strong he was. He was screaming at the top of his lungs - sweating so bad that I could hardly hold his head. He was drenched. Anyway, every mommy has one of these stories...so I'll quit going on about it. This was just my first experience with it...I'll do better next go around.
As I've mentioned before, Paul Daniel will eat ANYTHING I put in front of him!!! We are so thankful for this. Last night I thought I would really test him - I gave him white beans, collard greens and cornbread. He begged for more! We had it again for lunch today. I am going to milk this for all it's worth! :)
Paul and I have been doing a lot of wagon rides this week, a lot of acorn-collecting, a lot of play-dohing. He has learned how to blow a kiss, he has learned the sign for "all done" and "more please" and he has learned that "we don't hit or throw toys in the face."
We had wonderful meals brought to us from our Christian sisters...thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who took the time to prepare us meals. We enjoyed EVERYTHING!!! You all took a good bit of stress off of me as I have adjusted to being a mommy. Thank you so, so much.
We are still working on having some medical records translated for Paul Daniel. Our Russian friend, Alexandra, is not comfortable translating medical info, so we think we may have found a company online that will do it for $70. We need these medicals translated so we will know what vaccinations he has had.
At the beginning of the week Paul Daniel had the unfortunate experience of having blood drawn. Oh me, oh my. I should have asked Carl to come with me for this appt. Paul was good right up until he saw the needle come out and then... it got ugly. I thought I was holding him pretty good but the nurse had to pull the needle out of his arm, show me a better way to hold him and then go do the other arm. They needed seven vials of blood for all the tests he is having run - I'm sure it only took 5 minutes but of course it felt like an hour. The nurses couldn't believe how strong he was. He was screaming at the top of his lungs - sweating so bad that I could hardly hold his head. He was drenched. Anyway, every mommy has one of these stories...so I'll quit going on about it. This was just my first experience with it...I'll do better next go around.
As I've mentioned before, Paul Daniel will eat ANYTHING I put in front of him!!! We are so thankful for this. Last night I thought I would really test him - I gave him white beans, collard greens and cornbread. He begged for more! We had it again for lunch today. I am going to milk this for all it's worth! :)
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Trying to figure out how to get a routine.
My biggest challenge at the moment is one thing - well, two. First, how to get a routine going with Paul. Second, how to get things done - laundry, dishes, general cleaning. I'm now starting to analyze those mommies nearest to me to see how they do it. Carl has been W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L!! Let me repeat, WONDERFUL!! He just goes about doing laundry, picking up, doing dishes, helping me get supper ready, helping me clean up...just so light-hearted about it all. Just gets it done. He's my inspiration. Maybe I just need to watch him and see how he does it!
Today must be the most beautiful day in Texas for 2010, thus far. Paul played outside with Daddy while Daddy replaced the brake light on his truck. Then I took Paul for a wagon ride. He loves the red Radio Flyer wagon I bought on clearance a good 8 years ago...fifteen buckaroos at Cracker Barrel! He sits in it on a little towel with all 6 acorns he collected. I say, put the acorns down and hold on! He puts the acorns down and holds on. A few minutes later I look back, he's got the acorns back in his hands and is not holding on. We go over this and over this. Finally he leaves the acorns alone and holds on. He could ride for hours.
The little folding table and chairs I ordered for him arrived today. We sat outside and got out the play-doh. We did that for an hour. Carl brought back some Lenny's subs and I fixed Paul a plate of peas, macaroni, apple sauce and chicken sticks...we had a little picnic outside. Then it was nap time. The little guy fell asleep after only a 10 minute rock in the rocking chair. Now it's time for me to race around here and see how much I can get done before he wakes up.
Everything is going just fine. He's still sleeping through the night. Still eating good.
Oh yeah, mom, Carl just hung the blue swing in the oak tree. We'll try it out as soon as Paul wakes up.
Today must be the most beautiful day in Texas for 2010, thus far. Paul played outside with Daddy while Daddy replaced the brake light on his truck. Then I took Paul for a wagon ride. He loves the red Radio Flyer wagon I bought on clearance a good 8 years ago...fifteen buckaroos at Cracker Barrel! He sits in it on a little towel with all 6 acorns he collected. I say, put the acorns down and hold on! He puts the acorns down and holds on. A few minutes later I look back, he's got the acorns back in his hands and is not holding on. We go over this and over this. Finally he leaves the acorns alone and holds on. He could ride for hours.
The little folding table and chairs I ordered for him arrived today. We sat outside and got out the play-doh. We did that for an hour. Carl brought back some Lenny's subs and I fixed Paul a plate of peas, macaroni, apple sauce and chicken sticks...we had a little picnic outside. Then it was nap time. The little guy fell asleep after only a 10 minute rock in the rocking chair. Now it's time for me to race around here and see how much I can get done before he wakes up.
Everything is going just fine. He's still sleeping through the night. Still eating good.
Oh yeah, mom, Carl just hung the blue swing in the oak tree. We'll try it out as soon as Paul wakes up.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Back to Once/Wk Posts until Surgery
The problem with starting a blog for me was/is...when do I bring it to an end? It's not in me to be a perpetual blogger! I've thought about this and decided that I will continue the blog until the completion of Paul Daniel's surgery in November. I'll do my traditional once/wk posts until his surgery - and the week of surgery I'll do my best to blog once a day.
Paul Daniel is scheduled for surgery in Columbus, OH on November 17.
We are having an excellent week with Paul Daniel. Still eating and sleeping normally. Still taking 2 naps a day...still happy, happy, happy! Paul has had tons of firsts this week. First appt with his pediatrician. First tooth brushing. First bath. First chocolate chip cookie (in a moment of weakness I gave it to him. It was soft enough)
Carl is doing a WONDERFUL job bonding with Paul Daniel. I love it when Carl gets home and gets to play with him. Carl is a great teacher. At the end of the evening, Carl has something to show Mommy that Danil has learned. Night before last - Paul learned the word "gentle." He now knows how to shut doors "gentle." Last night he learned that the motion detector light comes on - not by sound, not with a button - but through moving! He thought that was very cool.
Well, I wish I could come up with a good ending, but Paul Daniel is now awake and nothing will do until he has food in his belly.
Paul Daniel is scheduled for surgery in Columbus, OH on November 17.
We are having an excellent week with Paul Daniel. Still eating and sleeping normally. Still taking 2 naps a day...still happy, happy, happy! Paul has had tons of firsts this week. First appt with his pediatrician. First tooth brushing. First bath. First chocolate chip cookie (in a moment of weakness I gave it to him. It was soft enough)
Carl is doing a WONDERFUL job bonding with Paul Daniel. I love it when Carl gets home and gets to play with him. Carl is a great teacher. At the end of the evening, Carl has something to show Mommy that Danil has learned. Night before last - Paul learned the word "gentle." He now knows how to shut doors "gentle." Last night he learned that the motion detector light comes on - not by sound, not with a button - but through moving! He thought that was very cool.
Well, I wish I could come up with a good ending, but Paul Daniel is now awake and nothing will do until he has food in his belly.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
We're alive and all is well!
This will be my fastest post ever! Carl has been entertaining Paul Daniel for the last 45 minutes as I quickly tried to get through all my emails. He's doing great and I LOVE hearing all that laughter downstairs. Paul Daniel has the cutest laughter I have EVER heard and every time I hear it I think it adds a day to my lifespan! Well, the quick update is that our first night back home we only got 4 hours sleep. The next night we got almost a whole night. And the last two nights we have been able to sleep ALL night! I've learned how to get Paul to sleep. He's really not that difficult to comfort. We have discovered the quickest way to sleepland is a stroller or car ride. Works like magic. Today we had Paul's first doctor's appt. We did not do bloodwork today, but did get one really good report. His ears are FINE! No problems!! That's big news!!! We were so worried because his ears have been virtually untreated at the orphanage. It is truly amazing that they are fine! Paul Daniel's doctor is wonderful and he was very complimentary of Paul Daniel. He said that Paul Daniel was remarkably social. He has great fine motor skills. He said he has treated many children who have spent the first years of their life in an orphanage...he said we should be very pleased with how our little boy is doing. We will have to do breathing treatments over the next week to help Paul with the congestion in his chest.
Nationwide Children't Hospital called today (that's where we are having Paul's surgery). They asked if they could feature Paul Daniel and us in a televison commercial. They will interview us and Paul Daniel's surgeon - it will run on the local stations in Columbus. We said, of course!!! How fun!
Paul is doing just great. He plays. He sleeps. He eats and eats and eats. He is sooooo happy. He hates to have his diaper changed, but we are working on that. He loves outdoors. He learned about acorns and squirrels and bubbles today.
Our church family is bringing us food every other day for the next 3 weeks. This is a tremendous blessing. Thank you sooooo much! I know there is going to come a time when I have to learn how to cook and watch a 20 month old at the same time. I'm just glad I have a little time to work up to this. Thank you so, so much. It is such a load off of me right now.
Nationwide Children't Hospital called today (that's where we are having Paul's surgery). They asked if they could feature Paul Daniel and us in a televison commercial. They will interview us and Paul Daniel's surgeon - it will run on the local stations in Columbus. We said, of course!!! How fun!
Paul is doing just great. He plays. He sleeps. He eats and eats and eats. He is sooooo happy. He hates to have his diaper changed, but we are working on that. He loves outdoors. He learned about acorns and squirrels and bubbles today.
Our church family is bringing us food every other day for the next 3 weeks. This is a tremendous blessing. Thank you sooooo much! I know there is going to come a time when I have to learn how to cook and watch a 20 month old at the same time. I'm just glad I have a little time to work up to this. Thank you so, so much. It is such a load off of me right now.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Pictures
Here are a few pictures from our trip to pick up Danil. I will add comments a bit later, but wanted to at least get some pictures up today....(I've added comments at the bottom!)
Picture 1 - First day back to the orphanage on our 2nd trip! It takes a minute - but he remembers us!
Picture 2 - Carl and I stand in front of the building where our court took place! Our 10 day waiting period was waived. We are literally walking on air.
Picture 3 - Paul Daniel and Wendi, about to leave the orphanage.
Picture 4 - Paul Daniel saying goodbye to the Director of the orphanage.
Picture 5 - Carl and Paul Daniel on a walk.
Picture 6 - The amazing toy store we told you about.
Picture 7 - Paul and Wendi in Val's car on shopping day (the day before we leave Moscow)
Picture 8 - Paul in the lobby of our Moscow hotel - in the ever-so-loved stroller
Picture 9 - Paul happily eating his breakfast in the hotel room.
Picture 10 - Paul puts our neck cushion on his head.
Picture 11 - Paul puts on my boots
Picture 12 - Paul, Carl and Wendi at the highest point in Moscow
We're HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOME!!!!!!
I know I keep saying this - but it just all seems so unreal. We're finally home. Carl and I are so, so thankful that our 10 day waiting period was waived...neither of us could imagine spending another 2 weeks in a hotel room. One more day would have been one too many!!
Our trip home started at 6:30am (Moscow time). I was very proud of us - we were up, packed and waiting with Danil when Val arrived to the hotel lobby. We made it to the airport at ....I don't know what time. We had bulkhead seats!!! Yea!!!! But there was an issue with Danil's ticket. So Carl stood at the ticket counter with Val for an entire hour while the issue got worked out. And I attempted to entertain Danil for an hour. We walked back and forth, back and forth, around in circles, in and out of the mobs of people in the airport. Danil was not a bit afraid of all the hustle and bustle...he watched everything intently. He got tired of walking (actually tired of holding my hand) so I got a luggage cart and sat him on it and wheeled him around for a while. Finally, it was time to go through security and customs...the good thing in Russia is that if you are traveling with a child you can go directly to the front of the line...no matter how short or long. Val taught us this unwritten rule and we took full advantage! We were on the plane in no time and off we went.
The short version of the plane ride is this...Danil was PERFECT for the first 8 hours. He ate, he played, he took his nap on schedule. He didn't try to escape our row of seats...he didn't whine, he didn't cry. Carl and I were high-fiving each other already celebrating our BIG WIN when we entered the ninth hour. And that, of course, is when Danil came unglued. He was done. He was tired to the point of delirium. He couldn't be consoled. There was nothing we could do - no amount of food, holding, playing, talking, singing, stroking, running up and down the aisles...nothing could make it better. The other element to this equation is that neither Carl nor I had had a wink of sleep the entire trip so we were on the edge of a breakdown ourselves. When I literally had no ounce of energy left, one of the airline attendants came over and talked to Danil. She did this impromptu comedy routine that was hilarious. I was laughing almost to the point of tears. Danil had stopped crying and was completely enthralled with her. She gave us two rolls for him to eat and play with. He was content the last hour of our plane ride to Houston...and fell asleeep for the last 30 minutes!!!!! What an ending!!!! Singapore Airlines is G-R-E-A-T!!!!! They were so wonderful to us the entire trip and we appreciated it sooooo much!
With all that said, please don't ask me about our experience at the Houston airport. Do not ask, do not ask! My blood pressure will skyrocket and I may have to be put in the hospital!!!! One word will sum it up - RUDE!!!! (COLD, HEARTLESS and EGOTISTICAL also come to mind...) Carl said he was treated better at LaGuardia than he was at Houston! Just don't ask.
Okay, I promise I'm bringing this story to an end. So in our last 3 hours on the plane from Moscow I looked at Carl and said, "I don't think I can handle a 4 hour layover in Houston and another hour plane ride to Dallas. Can we please just rent a car and drive the rest of the way?" Carl didn't even blink at the request. "Yes."
So we drove the rest of the way to Dallas. Carl was exhausted. I was exhausted. At one point I panicked because Danil was so hot. He was dripping with sweat...I thought he was running a fever. I took him out of his carseat. He didn't act sick but he was so hot. After about 30 mins he cooled down...I decided just being in the carseat had made him so hot. Poor Carl could harldly keep his eyes open. He stopped at a convenient store for a cup of coffee and a Red Bull. I don't know how he did it, but he did. We were home and Danil was in his own bed at 9pm. He slept until 1:30am. Then he was wide awake the rest of the night. Carl and I just decided to get up with him. We played, unpacked, did laundry and played some more. Danil ran from room to room checking the place out. I'm sure he was thinking, "Wow! I really like this hotel room!" At about 9am, the little dude once again ran out of fuel. It was back to bed for Paul Daniel. I got an hour and a half nap while Carl took our rental car back to the airport with Patrick. Then Carl came home and now he is sleeping. It's almost Noon and our little guy is out cold. Hoping to take him for a stroller ride this afternoon.
So that's the story. Now for the moment all have been waiting for....PICTURES! TODAY is the DAY! I vow to have photos up on our blog before the day is over ...maybe even video. We would have liked to put them up sooner but our agency asked us to wait about putting photos on our blog until we get home. So today is the BIG DAY! Can't wait for you to see our little guy!!!!!!!
Our trip home started at 6:30am (Moscow time). I was very proud of us - we were up, packed and waiting with Danil when Val arrived to the hotel lobby. We made it to the airport at ....I don't know what time. We had bulkhead seats!!! Yea!!!! But there was an issue with Danil's ticket. So Carl stood at the ticket counter with Val for an entire hour while the issue got worked out. And I attempted to entertain Danil for an hour. We walked back and forth, back and forth, around in circles, in and out of the mobs of people in the airport. Danil was not a bit afraid of all the hustle and bustle...he watched everything intently. He got tired of walking (actually tired of holding my hand) so I got a luggage cart and sat him on it and wheeled him around for a while. Finally, it was time to go through security and customs...the good thing in Russia is that if you are traveling with a child you can go directly to the front of the line...no matter how short or long. Val taught us this unwritten rule and we took full advantage! We were on the plane in no time and off we went.
The short version of the plane ride is this...Danil was PERFECT for the first 8 hours. He ate, he played, he took his nap on schedule. He didn't try to escape our row of seats...he didn't whine, he didn't cry. Carl and I were high-fiving each other already celebrating our BIG WIN when we entered the ninth hour. And that, of course, is when Danil came unglued. He was done. He was tired to the point of delirium. He couldn't be consoled. There was nothing we could do - no amount of food, holding, playing, talking, singing, stroking, running up and down the aisles...nothing could make it better. The other element to this equation is that neither Carl nor I had had a wink of sleep the entire trip so we were on the edge of a breakdown ourselves. When I literally had no ounce of energy left, one of the airline attendants came over and talked to Danil. She did this impromptu comedy routine that was hilarious. I was laughing almost to the point of tears. Danil had stopped crying and was completely enthralled with her. She gave us two rolls for him to eat and play with. He was content the last hour of our plane ride to Houston...and fell asleeep for the last 30 minutes!!!!! What an ending!!!! Singapore Airlines is G-R-E-A-T!!!!! They were so wonderful to us the entire trip and we appreciated it sooooo much!
With all that said, please don't ask me about our experience at the Houston airport. Do not ask, do not ask! My blood pressure will skyrocket and I may have to be put in the hospital!!!! One word will sum it up - RUDE!!!! (COLD, HEARTLESS and EGOTISTICAL also come to mind...) Carl said he was treated better at LaGuardia than he was at Houston! Just don't ask.
Okay, I promise I'm bringing this story to an end. So in our last 3 hours on the plane from Moscow I looked at Carl and said, "I don't think I can handle a 4 hour layover in Houston and another hour plane ride to Dallas. Can we please just rent a car and drive the rest of the way?" Carl didn't even blink at the request. "Yes."
So we drove the rest of the way to Dallas. Carl was exhausted. I was exhausted. At one point I panicked because Danil was so hot. He was dripping with sweat...I thought he was running a fever. I took him out of his carseat. He didn't act sick but he was so hot. After about 30 mins he cooled down...I decided just being in the carseat had made him so hot. Poor Carl could harldly keep his eyes open. He stopped at a convenient store for a cup of coffee and a Red Bull. I don't know how he did it, but he did. We were home and Danil was in his own bed at 9pm. He slept until 1:30am. Then he was wide awake the rest of the night. Carl and I just decided to get up with him. We played, unpacked, did laundry and played some more. Danil ran from room to room checking the place out. I'm sure he was thinking, "Wow! I really like this hotel room!" At about 9am, the little dude once again ran out of fuel. It was back to bed for Paul Daniel. I got an hour and a half nap while Carl took our rental car back to the airport with Patrick. Then Carl came home and now he is sleeping. It's almost Noon and our little guy is out cold. Hoping to take him for a stroller ride this afternoon.
So that's the story. Now for the moment all have been waiting for....PICTURES! TODAY is the DAY! I vow to have photos up on our blog before the day is over ...maybe even video. We would have liked to put them up sooner but our agency asked us to wait about putting photos on our blog until we get home. So today is the BIG DAY! Can't wait for you to see our little guy!!!!!!!
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