Language: Pretty amazing progress- this morning he opened the refrigerator and said, "refrigerator broken? No light. I'm thirsty." It's very rare that he gets frustrated with not being able to get his thoughts/needs across to us. He helped me unload the groceries last week and named the items he was taking out of the bag, one by one. If he didn't know he'd ask and then repeat the word I'd tell him. So glad the kid is smart. Wouldn't love him any less if he weren't but it sure is wonderful when they learn fast.
Eating: Not quite all American yet - still won't try a cheeseburger or a piece of birthday cake. He now likes pizza so that helps. Actually eating isn't much of an issue now. His love for ice cream is what I use to get him to eat just about everything I put on his plate. "No dinner, no ice cream."
Sleeping: Brush teeth, drink of water, go potty, P.J.'s on, read 2 books, say prayers, lights out - and John's and my work is done (usually). I enjoy hearing Scott and Cooper talk to each other while they're in bed and I'm so enjoying NOT hearing Cooper crying, "I can't take it anymore!" when Scott wouldn't let her go to sleep. We're getting ready to move into our new house in September and not so sure the sleeping in different bedrooms (and all alone) is going to fly for Scott.
Health: Poor kid endured much to "catch up" on his immunizations. Rather than running titers to see if he has been sufficiently vaccinated up to this point - all shots are being redone. So, Monday he had 4 tubes of blood drawn, PPD skin test, a shot in each arm, and 2 in each thigh. Welcome to America, Scott! Fortunately, no more shots for another 6 months.
Bonding: Something "magic" happened on July 20th (7 1/2 week mark of us being home). The resentment I'd held toward Scott was replaced by feelings of love and acceptance. John and I were given the opportunity to share at our church on the 21st about our adoption journey and what God has taught us about faith over these past 3 years. In preparation to share, I read back over much of my prayer journals since beginning this adoption as well as our blog entries. Wow, how could we not be anything but blown away by God's amazing power and his provisions? We had lost 2 referrals from Guatemala in '07 before that country closed it's doors to adoptions, endured 20 months with a horrible adoption agency and a "false alarm" to travel back in '08, hit all kinds of obstacles and struggles while in Kazakhstan last March and April- yet by God's grace, we were able to see His hand in so much of it. Scott Kirill King, a precious 5 yo boy from the other side of this world, is who God has chosen to bless our family with. God never promised us an easy ride, but in preparing to talk about "faith" we can see some purpose for our trials. I pray we are stronger in our faith because of it. Toward the end of our talk on Wednesday night at church, Cooper and Scott entered from the back of the church and ran up on stage with me and John (they'd just finished with a little soccer "camp"). John returned to his seat down below, I sat on the steps leading to the stage, and our 2 adopted children, whom we believe God led us to adopt, stood (and jumped off and on the stage) under the lights while a song our oldest son wrote about Scott's adoption was being played.
The coolest thing about adopting a child, about being obedient to something you feel like God has asked you to do, is that you get to put your arms around the results of that act of obedience (and they can put their little arms around you). As difficult as our ride has been, these past 2 weeks have served as confirmation that we have done the right thing.
For whomever is still following along, please pray for Brady; that his heart and mind would be softened toward Scott, and that God would give us wisdom to know how to help Brady work through this.
