The Zoo Kids

The Zoo Kids
Finally Together

Monday, December 24, 2012

Two weeks home with Eli and Zoe

We have been home now a little over two weeks and I just wanted to update on how things are going. We have definitely seen our share of blessings and challenges.

We had our first medical appointment with Zoe this week. I think we have shared before that she has a blood disorder and we have to regularly monitor her blood and organs to be sure all is working as it should. We also have to have her blood checked regularly. The doctor did a very intensive exam on Zoe and did confirm that she did indeed have mild cerebral palsy caused by her blood disorder going untreated for her first 2 years. The doctor did say that God obviously had his hand all over Zoe's little life, that she was a walking miracle and shouldn't have lived past her second birthday. We aren't sure yet what direction to go with the cerebral palsy as this is a knew road for us but we know physical therapy and maybe some corrective shoes could help some? Thankfully, only her lower limbs are affected and cognitively she is perfectly normal. They did a tremendous amount of blood work while we were there to give the doctor a good baseline as to where to start with Zoe's care. We were thankful to learn that Zoe's medicine that we were told could cost us up to $300 a month after insurance will only be $45. We do know that this first doctor visit/blood work will be quite costly for us but after this first time, it will get better.

I had a sweet momma moment with Zoe yesterday...Saturday night, Briena and Zoe were playing rough on the bed and Briena got hit on the face. I sat down with Zoe and explained that when someone gets hurt, you must say ,"Im sorry". Zoe got really quite and it was bedtime so I told Zoe, "I love you but you must say sorry when someone gets hurt, go to sleep and maybe tomorrow you can tell Briena sorry." When Zoe and Briena came in for breakfast, the first thing Zoe said to me was, "I tell Briena sorry." So glad to see her understanding and responding well to discipline. Wish it was that easy with my biological kids some days!

Eli got to spend the day on Saturday with his buddy from his orphanage. From what I understand, they were together from the age of 5 for Eli and roomed together until Luke was adopted last January. He was so excited and so much fun playing with his friend. It was obvious that Eli took on a big brother roll at the orphanage. Luke's family lives in Birmingham so we will be able to reunite the boys often. They are only about 45 minutes away from Nana and Papas house.

WE are still working through some of the annoying or orphanage or cultural behaviors with Eli and it will be a work in progress for awhile but it has definitely gotten better! He still struggles to sit still for more than a few minutes unless he is building Legos and especially when he is excited! We are teaching him and redirecting him daily on what is culturally acceptable.

WE have had some really sweet moments with Eli as well. Yesterday while opening presents, he opened his gift from Aunt Nae and it was just pure innocent joy! I am sure he has never experienced gift giving or Christmas. After he opened his gift, he ran around the room to everyone else to see what everyone had in their packages. We in our desire to have him just sit still and be quiet and watch everyone open their presents kept telling him to "sit down." It makes me a little sad to look back and realize that his excitement and joy should be what overflows from us as well rather than the attitude of entitlement that is so evident when we open our gift, use our manners to say thank you, and then either wait for the next gift or quietly watch others open theirs. I don't know how to put it in words but I wish we all had a little bit of his childlike innocence and excitement!

As we celebrate Christmas this year, for the first time with Eli and Zoe, we so want them to see the real meaning of the season. That the birth of Jesus is what we are celebrating.... I really feel like Eli is the one teaching us a little bit about the season. I wish we had the same wonder and joy over the birth of Jesus....that we showed that exuberance and excitement and it overflowed from us. My prayer this holiday season for our family is that we would be unified, that we wouldn't allow Eli's nuances to annoy us but that we would be able to point out his positives (he really has so many).....and that Eli's joy would be contagious and spread to all of us.


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