Hope Update

So we have been home just over two months now.  The transformation has been amazing and we have one very special girl.  When we met her in the civil affairs office in November she was scared and traumatized.  They had just removed her from her foster care family that morning and she didn't understand what was going on.  She cried and cried, nothing helped until we were back in the hotel room later.  She opened up immediately to the kids and started playing.  In China she was quite quiet and really didn't talk much.  Now she is a little chatter box and today I wrote down the words she can say on her own and she has over 30 words and now is putting together two words at a time.  She repeats everything and is very clear when she does.  Her appetite has slowed down and she doesn't eat as much at meal times and is not asking for snacks in between as often.  She's still taking the bottle and we will probably keep it that way for awhile.  Her sleeping has been the main issue.  When we were in China she slept fine all night.  Once home however she started having night terrors and wakes up at least once a night crying from them.  Some nights are worse than others.  Nights started getting better and then she got sick last week and we are back to where we were.  Tomorrow I start back to work.  It is really bittersweet.  I really have enjoyed my time home with her but also love what I do.  She will go to daycare three days a week.  She's been a few times already and has seemed to like it. So overall her transition into our family has been amazing and I stand in awe each day of what God has done for our family.  I still look at her and can't believe she is here but then on the other hand feel like she has been here forever.

Faith's Adoption timeline

Faith's Adoption Timeline:

1/6/15 Inquired about reusing dossier

1/8/15 Seen Faith's picture listed as Amaris on Holt's website

1/9/15 Inquired about getting her file

1/15/15 Received file and review it

1/16/15 Learned that we were the only one's reviewing file

1/19/15 Decided to pursue adoption of Faith and reuse dossier

1/21/15 Selected as family for Faith

1/22/15 Started compiling paperwork

1/23/15 Jennifer blood work done and spoke with specialist

2/2/15 LOI uploaded

2/6/15 1st Homestudy visit

2/9/15 2nd Homestudy visit

2/20/15 3rd Homestudy visit

2/23/15 Finished adoption classes

2/25/15 4th Homestudy visit

3/13/15 Homestudy approved

3/ 19 /15  Received homestudy in mail

3/ 20  /15 Sent off I-800A

5/8/15  I-800a approval

5/ 9 /15 Approved I-800a received

5/ 12/ 15  Papers sent to be authenticated

5/29 /15  DTC

6/ 3/15  LID
7/ 15  /15  LOA
7/17/15 Mail off I-800
8/3/15 I-800 approved
8/7/15 GUZ,NVC, DS-260
8/10/15 Article 5 dropped off
8/24/15 Article 5 picked up
8/27/15 Travel Approval
10/13/15 Leave for China
10/15/15 Arrive in Xian
10/18/15 Fly to Wuhan
10/19/15 Faith Gotcha Day
10/27/15 Consulate apt
10/30/15 Fly home!

Chase qualifier Wrestling meet Grants pass

So I haven't been very good about taking pictures in the last few weeks.  We had a great New Year's with friends.  We started the New years with decluttering goals.  We want to simplify this year and get rid of a bunch of stuff.

This weekend we took Hope on her first road trip and went down to Grants pass so that Chase could wrestle in the qualifier.   We let Conor bring his friend Caleb and Chase had a friend that rode down with us.  We stayed an Steve's parents house and had a great time.

Chase did really well even though he didn't qualify.  He lost the very first match by points.  His weight was 56 lbs so he was the bottom of that weight group with kids up to 60lbs.  He won the next two rounds and then had two left.  The fourth match he lost by points at the very end when the kids made a move and flipped him.  Chase was upset but he was over it soon and realized how close it really was.

We were so very proud of him and how hard he worked.

Chase wrestling meet

Chase got a chance to wrestle during the middle of the highschool tournament.  The match was tough but Chase ended up winning by points and really looked good out there.

Booth Family visit

We had a nice visit with the rest of our family today.  Hope got to meet even more of her extended family.  She is really shy when she first meets someone and it takes a bit to open up.  She seems to have a harder time with men and doesn't really want them to hold her.

Zoe, Dylan and Hope

Zoe, Dylan, Chase & Hope

Grandma and Hope

My Uncle Charlie, My dad, His cousin Ray

Darlene, Dylan and Ray

My dad Steve, Mom Shirley, Darleen, Ray, Uncle Charles, Aunt Geneva

Christmas

The kids were up early this morning and ready to head downstairs.  We had to wait for my mom and dad to head over so the kids were having a hard time being patient.  We finally let them come downstairs and have a look while we were waiting for them.  The kids were so excited to see what Santa had left.  The boys got an xbox to share and the girls got a kitchen!  Hope sat in Steve's lap and he helped her open her presents.  We had each of the kids take turns and they were really excited about their new gifts.

Catching up! Christmas Eve

Wow I'm having a hard time keeping up with the blog.  I think now that facebook is so easy and accessible on my phone most things get published on there and therefore I don't feel the need to post it again on here.  I've also contemplating stopping the blog because I don't think anyone really reads it but really it's more for my children and me.  I love looking back over the years and seeing the changes in the children and reliving their accomplishments.  Also I would hate to stop and for Hope to not have any memories on the blog.

So here I am catching up from where I left off.  Christmas Eve and Christmas.  We had a great quiet Christmas Eve.  My inlaws, My parents, My brother and his wife, and a friend came over that night.  We had a roast for dinner and Conor helped make some pies.  Steve had to work Christmas Eve so his mom helped me get things ready.

Hope really enjoyed all the food and getting to know all the family.  Her and Landon tried playing with each other a few times.  It was fun watching them open presents and Hope got a hang of opening presents pretty fast.

Landon and Hope playing

Hope in her Christmas PJ's

Zoe opening her Christmas Pj's

Sean (brother) & Anna (sister in law)

Hope opening her present

Parker got a chess set

Hope wearing my new scarf

All the cousins together

Landon is ready to open his present

Zoe loves her present

Hope helping Conor