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Can you believe that September is nearly over?  I am in a bit of shock that October is only 2 days away!  Jack announced today that summer is over, and it is officially autumn — and I started to correct him before I realized that he was right!  This morning the dentist asked the big kids what they are going to be for halloween & they nearly panicked!  (I’m personally hoping they’ll just wear their sports uniforms — maybe I’ll bribe them to.)  So even though we were in the pool yesterday & the water was 89 degrees, the kids are wearing light jackets in the AM, and the pumpkin patch across town is officially set up & ready for business. 

We had a great visit with my mom this weekend.  She flew in Thursday night & just went home today.  We were able to plan Will’s dedication at church for this weekend (the 10 month anniversary of his gotcha day), and this was the first time she has gotten to see Jack play football.  It was her first visit back to our house since she spent 3 weeks here when Brad & I were in China.  I think she was a little traumatized by that experience, and just needed a little time to recover before coming back time.  We’re glad she finally worked up the courage to come back   Margaret was so cuddly with her grandma & could hardly keep her hands off of her.  She was constantly leaving little notes under Grandma’s door & being sweet to her (or picking on her, depending on the day).  Will really warmed up to her right away & got in lots of good Grandma time in just a few short days. 

I am really getting frustrated about Will’s speech therapy — or lack of it.  We are having such a hard time getting him in with the school district for an intake evaluation.  Of course, he had one last spring, which was a complete waste of time.  I’m not even going to go there.  So I’ve been trying since the beginning of August to get him in for a new evaluation, but they still can’t even see him for several more weeks.  A friend recommended a private speech and language pathologist to us — I’m so anxious to get started with her — but the insurance company is (predictably) giving us the run around as well.  We are prepared to pay out of pocket for the speech therapy.  He HAS to have it, so we’ll do whatever necessary, but the SLP is telling me that Will should be getting therapy AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK!  That is a lot of $$ out of pocket!  Unfortunately, he is not getting ANY speech right now, though.  I feel like I am spinning my wheels here! 

Here’s a photo of us on stage for Will’s dedication.  There were several other families having children dedicated, so it was a little crowded up on the stage.  Will decided he would not be held.  Nor would he stand still.  He spent most of the time trying to escape back into the stage area with the band’s drums, guitars, and microphones.  The rest of the time he spent creeping farther & farther to the edge of the stage.  What a stinker!  Margaret looks like she is presenting him to the audience here, but she’s trying to coax him into coming back to me.  She’s such an excellent big sister!!! 

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Will was able to attend his first “friend” birthday party this weekend.  He’s been to Jack’s and Margaret’s birthday parties, but on Saturday he went to a party for a little girl in his class.  I was struck with an “aha” moment during the party.  As we sat singing birthday songs with the rest of the party guests, I realized that Will is just a normal kid.  He is not the special needs kid.  He is not the adopted kid.  He is not the speech delayed kid.  He is just a normal, regular old, run-of-the-mill kid who goes to preschool, bugs his big siblings when he messes with their stuff, gives mommy awesomely slobbery kisses, and gets band-aids on his knees when he falls down.  As we recognize the 10 month anniversary of our first meeting in China, I see God’s hand on this jigsaw puzzle that is our family and thank Him for filling in the piece with Will on it. 

By the way, here’s some proof that Will is all boy and 100% “normal” kid:

Making “see-food” faces at Mommy with a mouthful of noodles . . . . Chilling out with his sippy cup during a Signing Time dvd

Birthday Party Animal!

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Our life has gone from totally laid-back with lots of free time to insanely busy without a moment spare in just one month’s time.  I miss the lazy summer days when we would finally change out of our pajamas around 10 am, and I could keep up with the laundry by doing a load or two every day.  You know me, I’m such a home-body.  This busyness is hard for me to get used to.  But in any case, we are doing well.  Everyone seems happy, we are more-or-less healthy, and we’re really looking forward to a visit from my mom next week.

Will is finally settling in at school.  He goes either Mon – Thurs or Tues – Thurs, depending on the week.  He’s had a lot of 4-day weeks lately, and it has been hard for him.  But the good news is that finally on Wednesday of this week, he didn’t cry one tear either before school, when I dropped him off, or during school.  Thankfully that continued on Thursday, so I’m thinking maybe he is getting used to his surroundings & learning to trust his incredible teachers, Von & Elisabeth.  I LOVE them both and am so comfortable leaving him with these wonderful ladies.  They are both Godly women, beautiful inside & out.  Will’s speech is coming along great, his signing is incredible (better than mine, unfortunately), and I know he is growing, because he is starting to get too heavy for me to carry around all the time like I have been. 

Margaret has been absolutely wonderful lately.  She is literally kicking butt in Tae Kwon Do and should be getting her yellow belt sometime in late October.  Her sign language skills are also unbelievable, and I often have to ask her to translate what Will is saying.  I really do try, but you know how language acquisition is so much easier for little ones.  Margaret has also expressed an interest in learning Mandarin Chinese.  She is starting lessons next month with some girls from our Chinese playgroup.  I am excited so excited for her!  She is doing great in school.  She seems so happy every day when I pick her up – and I thank God for her sweet, sweet teacher.

Jack is doing great at school, too.  He says that everything is soooo much harder in 3rd grade, but he is hanging in there and doing very well.  He, too, has such an amazingly wonderful teacher this year.  (We have been so blessed with all of the kids’ teachers!)  He is making lots of new friends at school and never complains about having to get up early on school days — he honestly seems to love it!  He is doing so great in football.  His coaches are great — Coach Deion quoted the Bible at practice last week, and Jack knocked my socks off by repeating & applying the quote at home yesterday.  Thank you Lord!  That is the most interest Jack has ever shown in anything even remotely related to Christianity.  I  need to ask Coach to do that a little more often, please! 

I don’t have many new photos.  Here are a few of Jack & Margaret playing in the rain that passed through from the hurricane last week.  We had some moderately strong winds & about 1.5 inches of rain, and that was it.  How crazy that Brad’s dad lost power for days & experienced 60 mph winds in Ohio, while we just had some nice, soaking rain to water the grass. 

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Check out Jack running in the extra point for his team!  His daddy has never been more proud!!!

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I’m having a TGIF moment.  My first week back to school was GREAT!!! I have the most wonderful class this year, and I am working with some absolutely wonderful ladies – Diane, Susan, and Yvonne – who make my days so enjoyable.  It was nice to have such a long maternity leave, but it’s great to be back now.  I find that being a mom makes me a better teacher . . . and being a teacher makes me a better mom.  It’s evidence to me that I am operating in God’s will for my life, using the gifts and talents he has given me.  I feel happier, am less overwhelmed, and much more efficient with my time.  Oh, but in any case, I am happy for today off, a chance to stock up on groceries, and a day to fold laundry.  The pile of socks waiting to be folded is about to take over my kitchen!  Thanks for being patient with me for not updating the blog all week.  Life is busy, but good.

Will is tolerating his new class pretty well.  He is crying some every day.  He is not inconsolable.  He’s just showing his frustration in pretty much the only means available to him.  His teachers are great — absolutely loving, peaceful, and brilliant.  We are so blessed to have Will in this class, where there are only 7 children & 2 teachers.  He gets a lot of attention & all of his needs are definitely met.  Will is , by far, the oldest in the class (it’s a 2-year-old class), but is right where he should be developmentally.  He has suddenly started using 2-word phrases.  Last week he said “more school” using sign language.  Yesterday he said “more umbrella” with spoken words.  (It was the 3rd day in a row we needed an umbrella to pick up the big kids at school.) It seems small, but it’s a huge step in his language development and something to celebrate.

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