Progress

It is fascinating for me to look back at pictures and video of the boys from just a month or two ago and see how much they have changed and grown. They have made so much progress since they have been home and they never cease to amaze me!

When Joshua first came home he had just started rolling over. He quickly learned how to do his own version of an army crawl and is now completely up on his hands and feet crawling all over the house. It really is a sight to be seen! Not only is he crawling all over the place, he has also learned how to sit completely unsupported. Because his left leg is so short, he has a difficult time keeping his balance and, in the beginning, had to keep one hand on the ground to keep himself from falling over. He is now sitting by himself without the support of his hands. It is the cutest thing to see him sitting there holding onto his toes! And on top of all that, just last week he started pulling himself up to a standing position (given, standing for Joshua is just a few inches off the ground, but he is standing)! He is doing so well in fact, that his weekly physical therapy visits have been scaled back to monthly "checkups." Needless to say, I am constantly in awe of my sweet little man.

Evan has also made huge progress in the short time that he has been home. His language skills are incredible. Within a week of being home he could already count to ten and sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" in English. He is now using more English than Russian and is speaking in full sentences and, when he does use his Russian, he always repeats what he is saying in English. He is a very, very smart little boy! He has also made great progress physically. He is sitting unsupported and rolls or does what we like to call the "inch worm" (sticks his bottom in the air and scoots on his belly across the floor) to get wherever he wants to go. He loves to read books (he turns the pages using his mouth and his chin) and play with cars (he lays on the floor and uses his head to push the cars around). He has also learned how to pick up small pieces of food off of his high chair tray using only his mouth. He has his physical and occupational therapy evaluations in the morning and I am excited to get him started with therapies that I have no doubt will change his life. We are also hoping to get him into a wheelchair in the near future so that he is able to get around a little better before we start working on getting him up on his feet. We have also scheduled the surgery for his feet for the beginning of April. It will be a long road, but I cannot wait to watch him soar.

I have always marveled at the accomplishments of each and every one of my children, but I have to tell you, there is something about watching children who have the odds stacked against them overcome and achieve that is simply awe-inspiring. Having these sweet boys in my life has really been a life changing experience for me and my family! We have definitely had our challenges and I know that they will continue (because it is the challenges that make us stronger), but those challenges make the triumphs so much sweeter! We could not be more blessed for having these little ones in our lives!

Balloons

I was in the kitchen getting dinner ready this evening when I hear Joshua start cracking up. I turned around to see him laying on his back in the living room smacking himself in the face with a balloon! He thought it was hilarious! Who knew a balloon could provide so much entertainment! This kid keeps me laughing! (PS- please excuse the croak in my voice and the fact that my kids are still in their pajamas at 5:00 in the evening. . .we have had the flu. . for two weeks. . .it is the pits.)