August 2008

Two months ago!

We can hardly believe that two months have passed since we first met our precious little son. Kevin and I just finished watching the closing ceremonies to the Beijing Olympics tonight, but it seems like only a few days ago we were heading out of Beijing by highway on our way to receive our Philip. The 2008 Olympics were spectacular from start to finish, no doubt about it. But I would have to say that these past two months with Philip home have been far more spectacular - at least to us!

That first week or so home was pretty rough though. Philip showed his grief at leaving China and all he had known and loved by acting out in anger and rage with several meltdowns daily. After his tantrums, he would simply turn away from us. It was heartbreaking to watch him go through and very difficult on all of us as well. He would also prefer other people to us in public and when family came to visit. After talking with our agency and others from our China group, we were advised to restrict visits and concentrate on gaining Philip’s trust. We can never thank our family and friends enough for allowing us the time to do that. They will never know how much they helped us build the bond with our new little boy, and we love them so for unselfishly putting aside their bonding to Philip for a time in order that his mom, dad, and brother could first build those bonds. Gradually, Philip has come to recognize us as his mom, dad, and brother. Now we are feeling more secure in his attachment to us and are able to expand his world to include all of his family and friends. What a treasure they all are in his life!

Life has been quite amazing since we have returned from China. Certainly we are more tired than before with all of us forgetting just how energetic and inquisitive a three-year-old can be! But we are so deeply happy now that we finally have our long-awaited son and brother home! We simply cannot find the words to explain how right it feels that Philip is part of our family now. We love him with an intensity that takes our breath away! It is a miracle bigger than we can fathom how God brought Philip into this life halfway around the world to a birthmother who could not take care of him and had no choice but to leave him where he would be found and how he was the child we had longed for over so many years. We daily stand in awe of Philip’s path to us and our path to him .

Our days with Philip have been filled with beautifully simple things like playing in the sprinkler, building towers with blocks, and taking long walks in the park. We have shared days at the zoo and the Children’s Museum, too! We have had welcome home parties and visits with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins (even great aunts and uncles and second cousins)! There have been trips to Ball State with Ted, hours spent getting Kevin’s classroom ready for his students, and learning about Jesus in Sunday school. We have introduced Philip to many old friends and new along the way. Life is beautiful!

Philip is growing and changing each day. He has had some struggles along the way such as having difficulty with English sounds and words, but he is improving daily and will be receiving speech therapy in the near future. It seems like days and days have been taken up with doctors’ appointments. They are each so necessary, but we are sure that Philip thinks hanging out in doctors’ waiting rooms is part of life! Poor little guy! Hopefully the appointments will slow down soon. All of the doctors’ visits have turned up good things with only a few surprises. Philip is extremely healthy and strong. He does have a slight hearing loss and may have to have tubes put into his ears soon. That will help improve his hearing and speech. Also, a blood test showed a slight elevation in a thyroid level. The doctor is not worried and will monitor it as time goes on.

Kevin, Ted, and I cannot imagine life without our Philip. What a gift he is to us. He is such a wonderful mixture of so many things. He is sweet, kind, helpful, inquisitive, bright, and adorable with a strong will and determination thrown in for good measure! We thank God for giving us Philip. His very being brings joy to our hearts.

Psalm 126:3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.