A New Normal

Airport photo









A new normal-that's what we are calling our life now! It's great, it's hard, it's tiring, it's rewarding, it's fun, it's crazy, it's messy, it's unorganized, it's loud and it's home! God blessed our home this fall! He's continuing to bless us everyday. We just need to stop and soak that in sometimes. Thank you for all the prayers, emails, letters, meals, words of encouragement and sometimes being just an ear!

This past year and a half has been a whirlwind. We've been home with Sophie now for 46 days and it seems like a lifetime ago we were in Siberia for our 1st of 3 trips! This time has really flown by and I sometimes need to remind myself that it's only been 46 days! Meaning, Sophie has been in America for only 46 days! See where I'm going here? I'm pumping myself up and willing myself to take it easy on her and myself if things don't go according to MY plan! Ha! That's where I get tangled up in this web...it's not MY plan at all!! Although, I need a lot of reminders that God's plan is to prosper us and give us a hope and a future and not that we are stuck in toddler you-know-what! Seriously, this little spitfire is full of energy and she's going to tell us who's the boss!

In Russia, and even on our first few days at home, Sophie was this sweet little cuddle bug that was showing NO signs of the fact that she is 1) a toddler 2)a girl (I've heard about how little girls show some attitude early...but this early?) and 3) an orphan. Wow! We hit the jackpot, other than a few sleeping issues, we had it made. Then, life happened! I think she realized we weren't going anywhere and she didn't have to put on a show for us to keep her around! I am glad her true personality finally arose! She is so full of energy that Scott and I just get tired watching her. She doesn't sit still for a second...not even in the grocery cart (how many positions can a 20 month old sit in in the cart?) She has personality that makes her cheeks glow, her nose crinkle and her eyes squint and she uses it to her advantage....and it totally works (for her Daddy that is!).

Yes, speaking of Scott, you would think Santa Claus and every famous cartoon character walked in the door when Sophie sees him! It's so cute it's nauseating! Sorry, Bud, but really, how in love can one small person be with someone she's only known for a short period of time? He says it's his turn for the spotlight since all of our boys are momma's boys (I don't think so, but, ok!). Well, he's got it! To the point that when he is home, she is attached at the hip with him. If I'm in the same vicinity of him with her, she completely ignores me and almost gives me this look like, "ha ha, he's mine!" So funny! I can't wait for those teenage years! I tend to be more of the disciplinarian with Sophie since I am with her all day. At first, when I would tell her no, she would put her hands over her face and cry like she was embarrassed. Now, it doesn't phase her when I say no. She does mind me though when I say no, so that's huge! But I told Scott the other day he needs to be more stern with her or she will walk all over us. So after dinner one night, Sophie proceeds to stand on the side table in the living room. I told Bud to tell her no. So he says, "no, no". OH, WHATEVER! Say it like you mean it! So she does it again and he sternly said, "no!" Oh, the flood gates opened and Miss Hollywood made her appearance! The next part is the funniest! So what does Scott say," I'm not doing that again, " and grabbed her and said, "come here baby girl." Oh, ooh, ugh! Yes, he is getting a little more stern with her but in her eyes, Daddy can do no wrong! Me, she's a fair weathered fan (kind of like me and Baylor).

So since we've been home, we've had to test her for EVERYTHING under the sun. So far, every test has come back great except for her TB test. It came back positive which means she's been exposed to it. She had a chest X-ray and it was clear which means she'll have to take this antibiotic everyday for 9 months! Yikes, that's a long time! She'll also most likely have positive TB tests for the rest of her life, poor thing. Not that she has it, but will have to get chest x-rays ever time she gets a TB test just to prove she doesn't have it. Or, it will be negative. The docs are still unsure about this one. All of the rest of her blood work looks good. Poor child, I don't think she has any blood left in her little body. The worst part is collecting the poo! Yep, poo! I have had to do it 4 times now! The last 2 times, the lab did something wrong and not all the tests were run so we had to do it again! I just turned in our last sample yesterday. So help me, if they call and say they messed it up again, I am taking her to the lab and making them do it! I had a tough time not tossing my cookies last time! The more "people" food she eats, the more....well, enough said!

We are taking her for her well check next week and I'm so anxious to see how she's grown. She had gained 5 lbs as of two weeks ago which is great! However, she's still below the 10th percentile in everything!

I do get a lot of people in the grocery store and Target ( our favorite outing...we go at least twice a week just to get out of the house) tell me how much she looks like her mommy! So funny, I'd love to tell them but just laugh! I love taking Sophie new places because every where we go is a first for her. Again, I'm not too sure how much outside time they had in the orphanage, but every time we are out and see a bird or dog, she goes crazy! The other day we all went to YoWay and outside were two dogs. She got so excited she started crying and went a little crazy. It's like one of those Funniest Home Videos when the parents tell the kids they are going to Disney World and they get so excited they start crying! It was hilarious! Some dog show was on TV the other day and she did the same thing. It's so cute!

All in all, Sophie is adjusting beautifully and probably better than we expected. OK,way more than we expected! She sleeps 12 hours or more at night and takes a great 2 hour nap during the day...with hardly any trouble. She finally allowed me to cuddle and rock her to sleep yesterday which is a HUGE praise! She's not big on cuddling but I've read that will come in time. One of the hardest things is when she gets hurt, she won't allow us to hold her and calm her down. She's learned that in the past no one came to her when she cried and got hurt so this is new to her. It's so hard not being able to console her. Believe me though, I try. I squeeze her and just listen to her scream. Sorry baby girl, but momma's gonna hold you!! She has her moments where I'll try and analyze why she is doing this type of behavior. Is it again, 1)she's a toddler 2) she's a girl, or 3) she's an orphan. Sadly to say, a lot of what we see is probably because of #3 but we'll get through it! I need to remember that in her short 20 month span of life, she has gone through more pain and hardship than I can ever imagine!

God gave us this beautiful, I mean, BEAUTIFUL (see, I can say that and not sound conceited because she's not biologically mine) baby girl. How did we get so lucky and blessed! What makes us so special that He gave us this gift? It sometimes baffles me. I am not a Sally-homemaker type of mom. I'm just an average mom with 3 wonderful boys, a wonderful husband and family. God must think we're something because, man, we are so blessed!