One Year!!!

AMAZING!!!!!  Thats all I can say.  One Year ago today we were just meeting our two youngest children!! I cannot believe how far they have come!!!

All three in November.

This is Today!!

3/13/13

The three kids goofing around.

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3/36/12

One year ago we first met Aaliyah she run out and was very candid and snuggled up to mostly Daddy we were amazed how open she was to us and mostly him. She had the most wonderful foster parents who welcomed us into their home. They had meals with us and made even NeVaeh welcome. It was our home away from home while we were in Oregon.

3/15/12

 After she was brought home we encountered a few weeks of crying and not wanting us to do anything for her..especially me. She went from completely independent to totally dependent then suddenly after about 6 months a very sparky non-compliant fire cracker. As time has gone on we finally are coming to terms and she is now bonded with both of us and we feel like with her a lot of the trials and tests are hopefully coming to an end. Don't get me wrong...She's beautiful and very smart and great young lady She was always in her best behavior around others. We love her very much and are very grateful for having the been chose for being her parents. This has been a very Challenging year and I'm sure we have many more ahead of us.

Now after we met Aaliyah we got to meet Andres. We were scared after we met him as he was scared of us. We literally had to lure him away from the door with a Chicken nugget and French Fries as I sat on the floor lower than him like a puppy not to frighten him. He threatened to break the door down to leave, then threatened to throw us in hot lava. We did not get a good welcome or good vibe from his foster parents. Unfortunately they were of no assistance. We ended up without much 

bonding or contact with him in Oregon so had to start from scratch when we got home.

3/14/12

Once he got home it was a surprise. Though he was reserved he actually opened up quite quickly..yes we went through a lot of explosive behaviors this last year with him as we expected but they have so much improved and we have been able to slowly wean him down from his extremely high doses of medications he was on in Oregon. His worst time were in the first 6 months. Then they started to calm down. He is extremely bonded with us. Especially me. He very freely says "I love you" He is our little teddy bear!!! He is a completely different boy now than he was one year ago!!

3/26/12

NeVaeh through all of this has been wonderful! We wondered how she would manage turning into big sister after being the only child for over 5 years but she takes it in stride. She is a happy big sister...She is proud of her little brother and sister and when the going gets rough....she goes to her room...LOL. We worried as she is non-verbal and has some difficulties communicating but she doesn't seem to care. Andres will go out of his way to entertain her. He has from the time he came home ...and he was the one we were worried about...He even has learned some sign language to better understand her. It took a little while longer for Aaliyah to understand NeVaeh. She was pretty indifferent to her and even antagonized NeVaeh but we had to be firm with her and watch her closely around NeVaeh since NeVaeh can't Tell on her. They seem to have bonded some now. NeVaeh will be 9 on the 18th. She turned 8 the day we left Oregon last year. Aaliyah's foster parents were great and had a birthday party for her :)

3/18/12
NeVaeh got a nice jewlery box from Aaliyahs former foster parents when we were in Oregon.

Well our hair is a little more grey, and on a good day it gets combed. Sanity is sometimes optional...Would we do it over if we had a chance to go back?...Why of course!! Do it again?...Really thinking 3 is enough right now!!

April 16th is supposed to be the magic day that the adoption is actually finalized...yes we are still waiting !  We will believe it when we see it!!