Have I mentioned how much I love these boys!? Because if I haven't, let
me tell you, I am head over heels, crazy in love with them! Today was a
very busy day. We were up at 6am and out the door for medical
appointments by 7:20. I was a little nervous about how the boys would
fare since they have all been through so much medically, but they all
did just fine with only a few tears during blood draws and mandatory
(yes, mandatory. . .don't get me started) immunizations. After the
medicals, we returned to the hotel to relax for about an hour before
meeting Manuela Maleeva (founder of SwissClinical that has provided
medical care and prosthetics, orthotics, love and friendship, for Jesse
and Eli for many years) for lunch. We had a wonderful time with her and
Jesse and Eli were sad to see her go (but relieved to know that she is
only a skype call away). We spent another hour or two relaxing and
resting in our room and then took a walk to the store to stock up on
water, juice and junk food (of course). I have never seen three kids
more excited to go to the store! It had been such an exhausting day that
we decided to eat in and ordered sandwiches from the hotel restaurant
for dinner, after which we enjoyed another round of showers (did I
mention how much they love to shower!? If only I could convince all of
my others kids of the joy a simple shower brings)! After begging all day
to sleep with his brothers, we moved Gabe's bed in with Jesse and Eli.
He was beyond thrilled. After everyone was settled in bed we watched
Bulgarian X Factor together. While we were watching, Jesse laid his head
in my lap and promptly fell asleep while Eli and Gabe snuggled up
beside me and did the same. Yes, this mama was in heaven! Tomorrow is a
"down day." We have no official adoption business so we will sleep in,
eat a late breakfast, go for a walk in Sofia (weather permitting. . .and
it hasn't been for the past few days) and have a late lunch with
Alayna's birth mother tomorrow afternoon. While everyone is doing
relatively well, all three boys still experience moments (and will for a
long time) where the reality of all that they are leaving behind and
fear of the unknown hits them squarely in the face. They are all dealing
with their grief fairly well at the moment, but we still covet your
prayers. Also, if you could pray for the boy's health. Jesse seems to
have a lower respiratory infection and is running a low grade fever. An
outbreak of the flu started making its way through Stara Zagora a few
weeks ago and it is bad enough that they have shut down the schools.
There is a good chance that Jesse and Eli were exposed. Please pray that
is not what this is. I cannot imagine how miserable it would be for him
to travel halfway around the world with the flu!*** Richard Here: Back at home things are plugging along nicely. Benjamin and Thomas were back in school today so I put in a full day of work from home catching up on a number of overdue tasks for the office. The kids did art projects today and continued working on their typing, math and reading. We enjoyed a couple rounds of Uno before bed and now everyone is settling into their beds for the night.
3 comments:
I'd really like to hear more about the mandatory vaccinations. Is this a new law or just newly enforced? We came home with a daughter from EE three months ago who was/is missing many vaccinations and we did not have to have them administered in her birth country. Thanks.
This is a US Embassy requirement for all children over the age of 11. There are vaccinations (like meningitis) that are not routinely given in Bulgaria and because those vaccinations are not generally given to children over the age of 11 in the US this is the government's way of ensuring that they get them. They will not issue the visa without them. My 7 year-old hasn't had a single vaccination due to his medical condition and most of my other kids have been missing many vaccinations prior to coming home, but simply due to their age, for Jesse and Eli, it was mandatory in order to be issued visas. I think it is ridiculous. To further traumatize a child who is already traumatized is cruel. Why adoptive parents can't just sign the form stating that they will immunize in the US (like we do for children under 11) is a mystery. In addition, it would have been nice to have the choice to wait since Jesse is sick and his immune system isn't operating on all cylinders but. . .not an option if we want to go home.
I hope you have a good day, and thet the boys are fine
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