Tuesday morning, 3/6/07 - OH WOW!

I never thought in my wildest dreams that having children, this way (by adoption), would be such a unique and heartwrenching journey! Matthew from about the time we got him until about 5pm last night was so in his own little world. Wouldn't budge, wouldn't talk, wouldn't smile, nothing...OH WOW is God great!!! All it took was some food and his baba (daddy) to feed him and mommy sat back and watched this beautiful boy just open up uncontrollably! What a metamorphisis. He not only smiled at us, but called me momma. He's making small, high pitched noises on his own. Once I got some of the layers off of him, OH MY GOSH is he small!! His jacket says 24 months old, but I have news for you! The smallest I brought with us was 18 months and I think those will be huge on him.


He's taken to his daddy since being fed. I purposely let Roy feed him because he was afraid of Roy. (just like Becca was) Men just aren't in the orphanage much. Just the women. He gave Roy many smiles while eating rice. Oh, he loves ORANGE JUICE! He just learned how to drink through one of our bigger bottles we brought with us. (no stopper in the cup though. He has no clue how to work a straw yet.

He hasn't allowed us to see his cleft palate but I know it's there. I can hear it. He breathes with alot of noise. He sleeps with alot of noise also. It's ok though, we have his first consultation with Children's Hospital in Washington, DC March 28th. PRAISE GOD!!

**** For those of you considering a cleft child please let me tell you now, this is a VERY managable special need for a child (and a parent) to deal with. Please don't let the pictures or other people scare you about this. Yes there are a few things to deal with like the constant druel (that's why God made tissues), the cleaning on his own of his cleft palate (which he has learned to deal with outside of us), the softer foods for a menu, at the moment (won't stay like this once it's fixed). Please, please.....talk to some BEEN THERE, DONE IT parents! (including ourselves) I can't imagine being without my son, Matthew!!! I thank God for him!! *****

Ok, stepping off the soapbox now. Back to Matthew. He loves rice! Sticky, glued together, no nothing in it rice. AND BOY DOES THIS LITTLE BOY EAT! (BJ's here we come!!!) Once he figured out the cup we had brought, he tasted Orange Juice for the first time and gave the BIGGEST smile you've ever seen!!! PTL! It's little things like that, that make you just want to love on him even more. His cleft lip has been fixed but I can see that the cranialfacial team may want to realign it with the rest of his lip (with a closed mouth, his mouth is still kinda open) and he has built up some scar tissue (it looks like). I LOVE HIM! He just melts yer heart! I'm telling ya! I wish I could just take my family and live in a remote place and just take care of everyone and play with the kids all day long.

Um, let's see, REBECCA. Oh goodness. No longer the center of attention anymore, she is really pouring it on for attention. I know what this is, and we are handling it as best we can, but GOOD GRIEF! She reminds me of a ping-pong table. Bouncing back and forth, here and there, up and down for attention. It's different, that's for sure. But I will say this, she is MISS MOTHER HEN over Matthew. Don't you dare touch him without consenting her! Matthew is ok with this most of the time, but once he's reached his "enough" stage, he let's her know it. (kinda funny to see)

He's slept through the whole night. He's still sleeping as I write to you all. He clears his palate every once in a while, but other than that, he just sleeps away. In the eyes of some, this child would be a "throw away" child because of his imperfections, but in our eyes? He is a precious gift from God in which we love dearly and will NEVER let him go! Thank you Lord! We feel so honored for being able to adopt this beautiful boy. Deeply honored! Thank you Lord!

Well, I would write more, but we need to get ready for breakfast and get ourselves ready for another round of PAPERWORK in Chengdu (by 9am).