This is one tired family, but finally all together! Tiff... thank you for her outfit and hair clippies! They are her favorite. She wore this on the plane home and as she walked through immigration. Nika really enjoys her silly sister. These two are extremely busy... this shot took about 7 tries! This was the last one. Milana kept running for the camera to see the shot before we even took it. Screaming YAAAAHHH was the only way we could get her to sit still. The kids thought it was so funny. By the end of the shots, they were all giggling on the floor. Grandma took this before we left for Taiwan... Donnie told Kole to make a silly face. This is what he came up with. I actually have 5 minutes to blog! Today is two weeks since we met Milana and just over a week since the children and all of us have been together. Funny thing is, I forgot I was bringing home a two year old. Silly me, how can I forget the super independent little 2 year olds going on 30! It's been a big adventure the last two weeks. Very emotional too as we found a few medical needs that we didn't know about that we taking care of. I was not expecting some of them so I had to adjust my mental mind-set and find specialists, take care of all 4 children and their adjustments to each other... Mind you Milana is two, teething and independent... all the while trying to connect with her and have her trust us by doing something that ticked her off greatly.... take away her freedom. Not so much take it away, but help her choose wisely with the freedoms she has and help her trust that we can care for all her needs. She wants to feed herself... sounds great right. but not when your other children believe it is a gift to be fed by mom, and Milana thinks it is torture. I mean, how can she trust us when she is a teenager and we ask her not to go to a certain party because of drugs, etc. if she can't even trust us to feed her?
Today... it is a great day! Today, something happened, clicked, fell into place, a small miracle. Today, the kids are not attacking each other, they are all wanting to share, saying please and thank you (that took a long time every minute of the day to teach to Milana and long hours of role play), and the other children are asking to sit by Milana instead of "MOM! Can you please move Milana?" or "Milana's being mean!" And here is my standard starting answer, I have found, "She doesn't understand. We have to help her." Milana is a joy... she is very sweet especially when she has learned our home manners. She wants so badly to be obedient and she is really starting to trust us.... thank heavens.
She has so many great talents that I know come from her foster family and some from her birth family. I love that she shares them with us. She also loves to teach us Mandarin and Taiwanese. Day-day is drink like milk, juice, water, etc. Bong is potty... she's knows both now. She also calls Hello Kitty: Goo Goo Miao. Feet are Wo-chi... we now use Chinglish and say, "I'm going to get your wo-chi's and she starts giggling! She says it in this deep growly voice.... wooooo-chiiiiii's. That's mostly her and her Dad's game. Oh and speaking of growling... she got tired of yelling at me in Chinese, so she resorted to growling at me like a Tasmanian Devil... she sounds exactly like a baby one... no joke. It's so funny and I feel badly laughing when she is mad at me.... but hey, she can't run in the street so growl all you want baby... but you just can't run free!
Adoption has to be the hardest thing in the world for children and this little one has strength that is so inspirational. I know she misses so many things from Taiwan, but I see her trying and wanting to be apart of all our lives. I can now say not only do I love you, but I am in love with you. So yes, we love having her here and excited to have her grow to love us as we love her. Has it been super duper fun the whole time, not exactly. But it has been life-enriching, eye-opening and a strength builder to grow our family. I haven't posted also because I was neck high in the thick of it... monitoring every moment to ensure all feel right as rain. Now, it's my turn! I get to go put on make-up! Yeah! Here's some adventures from the week.... yes, one day I will start to read others blogs and I'm sorry, I just can't right now. If you would like to leave a comment about any life adventures of your own, please feel free as I would like to know. I miss you all greatly. I'm sure you all understand though.
This is what you get when you have four:
Merry Christmas 2019
5 years ago
12 comments:
It is hard work, but you make it look so easy Sara... Applauding you for not giving in or up and sticking to your guns! Much easier to back up and teach a frustrated 2 year old to trust now, rather than when trying to reach her when she's a teen.
You are one wise woman!!!
Not to mention, she is still young enough that by backing her up just a bit, even though she is fiesty and reluctant to do so, you will get some of the sweetest toddler rewards ever. Those quiet rocks in the rocker and the sweet sing/song moments that only you get to share...and lots more! You'll see. I know you don't need to hear this, but I'm going to tell you anyway. I'm proud of you!
You are one solid rock of a mom.
Watching those videos it would seem like your 4 kids have been together forever. I know that you're in the thick of building the post-adoptive relationship right now and that things aren't necessarily easy right. Still, I know that if any mom can build trust in the most loving environment possible, I know you can.
I've missed you...but I'm happy to hear things are starting to fall into place and settle down a bit. I figured you have been busy!
Cindy
http://adopttaiwan.wordpress.com
Ahhhh... the videos are precious. I see your kids getting to know their newest family member, I see the sillies that will be so perfect for building comradarie (and a safe place to heal), and I see laughter and smiles! So, even on the tiring, hard, rough, "why-did-I-do-this?!" days- you can watch this and see that it is all going to be alright.
And I'll echo what the others have said- you're a fabulous, in-tune mamma and I know that you'll help your sweet milana trust, and blossom, and grow into all that God has for her. It was meant to be.
Tisra
PS. No Dorothy news here. I'd call you if anything had happened.
I have been waiting for your post. To read about how inspirational Milana made me smile! And to hear the laughter and excitement in your house is CRAZY, I mean GREAT!!! I love how you can even hear the door stopper springing back when J ran out from her hiding spot! Too, too cute.
Love those butterflies in her hair. (Wink, Wink) I feel honored she wore them straight onto US Soil.
Nothing going on here, but lots of GROWING in the mid-section. I keep reminding myself of your encouragement to show it off.
So good to read that while the journey hasn't been easy, that it's been such a blessing to your family. Milana looks SO HAPPY to be HOME FOREVER! And the new house looks great too!
Lots of learning. Lots of growing. Lots of laughing. Lots of SCREAMING! Heehee. So nice to hear from you that you guys are hanging in there. Thinking of you, chica!
Sara,
This was just wonderful!! You said it all and all of with joy, hope, faith & lotsa love!! Course there is going to be hiccups and I guess they will make for great stories one day!! :) Really great stories!!
Your family is beautiful and I was sooooooo excited to see a pic. of you all together!!
I cannot beleive how much Milana has learned in just these short weeks....and I LOVE the Chinglish!! You should coin that phrase my friend! :)
Don't worry about dropping in....we all understand! I felt like I was running batty the first few weeks and I only have 2 monkeys(o.k. yeah, somedays still feel like that..LOL...!! :) Keeping you all in our thoughts.....keep up the laughter and fun!! The rest will sort itself out with the tremendous love you all have & share!
Lisa
Yay for FAMILY!!! So glad you are all home and all together. Love the pics! God makes perfect matches, doesn't He? What blessings!!
Jennifer
www.johnsonfamilyadoption2.blogspot.com
Our Claire C.Y. is waiting for us in Taiwan!!! :)
I love those videos! What a crazy house-- too fun!!
I also want to let you know, though, that I am praying for you through this adjustment time. I know it can't be easy and we will have our fill here in a few weeks too, but we're all cheering for you. And I'm hanging on every word you say right now because I know I'll be in the same boat. God bless your beautiful children.
Courtney
God bless 'ya! Wow-4 little ones-i have 3 kids 6 and under and boy can it be SO hard and exhausting-so i really commend you! :)
Keep up the awesome mommy work and please take time for yourself-you deserve it-all us mommy and daddy's do!
nicole
oh Sara,
I so enjoyed reading and seeing this post. You are a true mom girl. Momma's have to do the hard stuff cuz they love their babies and know what is best. It will so be worth it in the end when she trusts you and like you said much easier now than as a teen. I can't wait to hear more and more about your trip and your sweet baby girl :) Keep us posted as you feel able friend.
hugs
Tami
www.tillGodbringsthemhome.blogspot.com
Sara,
I've been too ill to go online but been thinking of you every day. I am so happy to see your videos and photos and to hear about your trip and early days. I hope things continue to go well and I must say I am amazed at how extremely well you are all doing! Much better than we were!
Lori
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