Home 3 months!

Hard to believe, but it's been 3 months to the day since we stepped off that plane, coming all the way from China, and bringing our little boy to his forever home. I look at him today and he is so amazingly different from the little guy we first met and spent two weeks with in China. He's changed so very much. His personality is stronger and he's such a gleeful, fun person. If I had to peg his personality temperament, he seems like he will be a leader. He is strong willed, and probably the most stubborn child I've ever met (although I'm sure any parent reading this is saying, "uh....you haven't met my child!"). I really think the strong will is to his benefit: he is adaptable and resilient.

So, we're spending the summer together, and it's great. I've been trying to take him (and sometimes Owen) to a different place to explore or see every few days. Not big events or anything, just some stuff to do this summer, which he's happy to do, but also just as content to be in our baby pool in the backyard. Easy to please, apparently. So far, we have been to the Roca Berry Farm, Morrill Hall, Aksarben aquarium, and Lee Simmons safari. (Safari? I question that a little. Safari implies, in my head, zebras, tigers, and elephants. This was more the Nebraska safari of a wild turkey, bison, and cranes. Oh, and we did see a wolf in a caged-off area.) Anyway, we've come away with new things to see, 10 lbs of strawberries, and time spent together and with friends. It's been a great summer so far--a true blessing of a way to spend our first 3 months home together, especially since things are about to change.

We met with the craniofacial team 3 weeks ago, in Omaha. It was a morning of meeting different specialists in the areas of hearing, speech, ENT, genetics, orthodontics, and plastic surgery. It was so great to be able to talk with so many people who were knowledgeable, could answer our questions, and come up with a plan. They did several tests and explained alot about future procedures and therapies. His hearing is diminished, which I had noticed some (OK, I thought it was just selective hearing!)but they determined he may just need tubes placed. So, the plan is to do his palate repair and place tubes at that time. This all goes down on Wednesday, July 16th, so, if you think of it, please pray for Caleb on that day. It would mean a lot.

He has also qualified for speech therapy through early intervention. We have a meeting about that next week. He really has been trying to use more words, and is getting the "ar" sound of "star" or "car". He has some stars on the wall of his room, which he frequently points to and tries to say "ar...." which ends up sometimes coming across a little more like a pirate sound, but, whatever. Otherwise, there aren't a lot of clear words coming from him, but we get his meaning most of the time. I'm sure he believes he's making sense because he babbles and gestures as if he is holding our rapt attention in conversation. One day, the words will start flowing and we won't be able to stop it!

Finally, our full time together this summer is limited, as I will be going back to work in August. The question I've been asked by many is, where? Good question. I'm still working out details, so I actually don't have an answer yet. I remember last year, happily gushing about my job interview for a school nurse position. Well, let's just say I hope to be telling all what I'm doing soon. I'll leave it at that for now.

I'll post some pics of our summer activities. Here's to many more summers ahead of us as a family!!!