Lalli has been home almost 4 months already and we thought it's good to share an update on several issues....
First, Ethiopia and its adoption situation. As you know, we were very anxious about getting Lalli home before the end of the year, because of his age. But, there was also a lot of complications with the future of Ethiopian Adoptions. As of right now, there continues to be complications with the future of Ethiopian Adoptions. Here is a recent update https://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/country-information/alerts-and-notices/EthiopiaUpdateonSuspensionofAdoptions.html It does seem to be changing from week to week and no one seems to know what the future will hold for sure. We would ask for your prayers - there are some wonderful people who are ready to bring home children from Ethiopia - some of them who have been in process for years - and they may not be able to bring their children home. It is heartbreaking - so many true orphans who need and deserve a family. Pray for the country of Ethiopia to make decisions that are based on what is best for the children.
Second, an update on Lalli~
What's been good....
He's had a lot of "new" thrown at him and overall, he has handled it very well. He has hearing aids now and is still getting used to having them. He is attending Speech Therapy twice a month. This speech therapy is currently more about helping him listen and learn and not necessarily for him to learn how to speak. We are still considering a cochlear implant in at least one ear in the future...we'd appreciate your prayers for wisdom on that decision. He's been assessed and tested in all sorts of ways in order for his IEP (Individualized Education Plan) to be done so he could start school. He started attending school at The Ohio School for the Deaf in October. He was able to play in a few of their soccer games before the season came to an end. (This boy LOVES soccer and watches soccer any time he can on TV or on the Computer). All of these things are good but have taken a lot of time and coordination - especially on Dave's part (He rocks!). We are extremely grateful for Nationwide Children's Hospital, Olentangy Local School District and The Ohio School for the Deaf and all the ways they are partnering with us as parents. Indeed, it does take a Village!!
What's been rough.....
Lalli's homecoming has made Martha ask a lot more questions about adoption and why she was adopted, etc. It has reminded us again that adoption is beautiful and yet so hard. There are questions that can't always be answered and pieces of the puzzle that may never be put together. Adoption is a journey....never really an end point.
Lalli had been in orphanages for many years. Possibly since he was 4 or 5. That's a very long, long time. Life in an orphanage is much different than life in a family unit. He was used to living in a room full of boys and be under the direction of nannies. How has that translated to being home? First - delight at having a Father. He adores Dave and has quickly connected to him. Second, he and Josh have meshed very well. They enjoy video games, throwing a football or playing soccer together, and messing around together. It has been beautiful to watch. But, because he was used to being with boys and nannies, it's been much harder to bond with his sisters and Mom. He isn't quite sure what to do with Ellie and Martha and that transition has been a little difficult on both sides. And, he has seemed to have an even harder time with Vicki as a Mom. He has, in many ways, treated her as a nanny. And, since Vicki is home the most with him, that has been hard on Vicki. We have tried to do some role playing, some discussions, etc with him about family relationships, respect, etc. But, it is going to be a process ....family relationships are foreign to him in so many ways. Vicki's trying to fully envelop him as her son, but he is cautious and unsure and that comes out in different ways, not always good ways. It's hard some days to not take that personally. Thankfully God has provided other adoptive Momma's who are walking the same roads.....we remind each other of our kids past lives and the "stuff" they've brought home with them, we remind each other that we were called to this, we check in with each other and give lots of "you got this" to each other.
Why do we share this? Because we decided a long time ago in this blog, that we're gonna be real and honest. We've had some hard days on this adoption journey. Momma tears have been shed. We've had to really dig deep and keep going some days. Adoption is not for the faint of heart.....it is hard and beautiful and exhausting and complicated and worth it. Always worth it.
And again, it reminds us of God's love for us. We know He'd always say that we're worth it. We're worth it for Him to pursue us again and again. We're worth it in that He'd send His only son as a baby at Christmas to have his life sacrificed for us. Even when we thwart God's attempts at loving us or push Him away or don't accept His love, it's still there. The Heavenly Father that is the perfect parent.....Oh How He Loves Us....and because of that, we continue loving too.
First, Ethiopia and its adoption situation. As you know, we were very anxious about getting Lalli home before the end of the year, because of his age. But, there was also a lot of complications with the future of Ethiopian Adoptions. As of right now, there continues to be complications with the future of Ethiopian Adoptions. Here is a recent update https://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/country-information/alerts-and-notices/EthiopiaUpdateonSuspensionofAdoptions.html It does seem to be changing from week to week and no one seems to know what the future will hold for sure. We would ask for your prayers - there are some wonderful people who are ready to bring home children from Ethiopia - some of them who have been in process for years - and they may not be able to bring their children home. It is heartbreaking - so many true orphans who need and deserve a family. Pray for the country of Ethiopia to make decisions that are based on what is best for the children.
Second, an update on Lalli~
What's been good....
He's had a lot of "new" thrown at him and overall, he has handled it very well. He has hearing aids now and is still getting used to having them. He is attending Speech Therapy twice a month. This speech therapy is currently more about helping him listen and learn and not necessarily for him to learn how to speak. We are still considering a cochlear implant in at least one ear in the future...we'd appreciate your prayers for wisdom on that decision. He's been assessed and tested in all sorts of ways in order for his IEP (Individualized Education Plan) to be done so he could start school. He started attending school at The Ohio School for the Deaf in October. He was able to play in a few of their soccer games before the season came to an end. (This boy LOVES soccer and watches soccer any time he can on TV or on the Computer). All of these things are good but have taken a lot of time and coordination - especially on Dave's part (He rocks!). We are extremely grateful for Nationwide Children's Hospital, Olentangy Local School District and The Ohio School for the Deaf and all the ways they are partnering with us as parents. Indeed, it does take a Village!!
What's been rough.....
Lalli's homecoming has made Martha ask a lot more questions about adoption and why she was adopted, etc. It has reminded us again that adoption is beautiful and yet so hard. There are questions that can't always be answered and pieces of the puzzle that may never be put together. Adoption is a journey....never really an end point.
Lalli had been in orphanages for many years. Possibly since he was 4 or 5. That's a very long, long time. Life in an orphanage is much different than life in a family unit. He was used to living in a room full of boys and be under the direction of nannies. How has that translated to being home? First - delight at having a Father. He adores Dave and has quickly connected to him. Second, he and Josh have meshed very well. They enjoy video games, throwing a football or playing soccer together, and messing around together. It has been beautiful to watch. But, because he was used to being with boys and nannies, it's been much harder to bond with his sisters and Mom. He isn't quite sure what to do with Ellie and Martha and that transition has been a little difficult on both sides. And, he has seemed to have an even harder time with Vicki as a Mom. He has, in many ways, treated her as a nanny. And, since Vicki is home the most with him, that has been hard on Vicki. We have tried to do some role playing, some discussions, etc with him about family relationships, respect, etc. But, it is going to be a process ....family relationships are foreign to him in so many ways. Vicki's trying to fully envelop him as her son, but he is cautious and unsure and that comes out in different ways, not always good ways. It's hard some days to not take that personally. Thankfully God has provided other adoptive Momma's who are walking the same roads.....we remind each other of our kids past lives and the "stuff" they've brought home with them, we remind each other that we were called to this, we check in with each other and give lots of "you got this" to each other.
Why do we share this? Because we decided a long time ago in this blog, that we're gonna be real and honest. We've had some hard days on this adoption journey. Momma tears have been shed. We've had to really dig deep and keep going some days. Adoption is not for the faint of heart.....it is hard and beautiful and exhausting and complicated and worth it. Always worth it.
And again, it reminds us of God's love for us. We know He'd always say that we're worth it. We're worth it for Him to pursue us again and again. We're worth it in that He'd send His only son as a baby at Christmas to have his life sacrificed for us. Even when we thwart God's attempts at loving us or push Him away or don't accept His love, it's still there. The Heavenly Father that is the perfect parent.....Oh How He Loves Us....and because of that, we continue loving too.
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