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
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