Hearing Loss and Speech Therapy

Well our prayer for Melanie to stay in the nursery was quickly answered.  On Wednesday, August 21st, going to iMom....Melanie literally leaped out of my arms to go play with the others kids in her nursery class.  I was shocked!!  She had a blast.  What a blessing it has been this past week to go into worship and fully hear the message.  It is awesome for Melanie that she can learn how to play with kiddos her age!

This week has brought some answers to the question about Melanie's lack of hearing.  She had failed her hearing test with the TN Early Intervention group a few weeks ago.  Yesterday, we went to Vanderbilt to have a more intensive hearing screening done and visit an ENT that works with Melanie's plastic surgeon.  Unfortunately, they were unable to complete the test because she was unresponsive to so much of the test.  We found out that there is so much fluid in her ear that her ear drum cannot function.  There is no way to tell how much hearing loss, if any, that she has until the fluid is removed.  So....Melanie will be having tubes put in her ear at the same time she has her palate repaired this Fall.  What a blessing!!!  We now know why Melanie cannot communicate with words and why the words she tries to say sound like they are underwater.  I am so excited for Melanie to be able to hear!!! 

This week I have brought out the sign language videos that I did with Cohen.  Melanie has been an expert at "please" since China.  As of Monday, she has mastered "more", "eat", and "drink".  Tuesday she was putting her sign language together to create sentences.  My smart girl!!!

In two weeks, we start communication therapy with Rainbow through TN Early Intervention Services.  In four weeks, she starts speech therapy.   

It is unbelievable to think that Melanie turns 2 on September 2nd!!!  Friday, September 6th, we will be having a celebration for Melanie.  It will be an evening of cake and drinks as we thank those that have stood by us with fundraisers, donations, volunteering and prayers for the past two years of our adoption process.

Melanie has a babysitter for the first time!

Well tonight was the first time we left Melanie with a babysitter.  Of course they had the best babysitter in the world...my mom...or as the kids call her "G". 

Melanie and Cohen enjoyed a hour and forty-five minutes of "G" time tonight without me or Jason.  SHE DID GREAT!!!    This is a true success!  We had her watch the kids while we went to an open house at Cohen's school.  Mom said that she fed her almost the entire time.  We had her watch them at our house so that she would be in familiar surroundings.  This is one big thing to check off the "adoption adjustments" checklist!  Thank you Jesus.

The next thing on the "adoption adjustments" checklist is having Melanie stay in the church nursery during Worship service.  This is probably going to be a little more difficult that the normal adjustment period since we are vising different churches at this time.  It will be hard to build up some consistency with familiar surroundings, people, and kids.  We pray that this process does not take too long.  It is all in HIS timing.  Let's just pray that her adjustment period for staying in the church nursery is just as smooth as the bonding stage and staying with a babysitter! 

We have been home six weeks!

We have now been home from China for six week and have had Melanie for eight weeks!!!

As of August 8, 2013...Melanie is now officially bonded/attached with me and Jason!!!  Praises for the answered prayer!!!  It only took seven weeks (from the day we got her).  Yes, the separation anxiety has begun.  I know that it seems REALLY strange why I would be happy for Melanie to have separation anxiety when away from either me or Jason...but trust me this is a good thing!  It is one of those "adoption" things.  So now we just have to work on her feeling safe with those who will be babysitting from time to time...like "G".  I have to say, "G" is taking this separation anxiety thing hard.  She just wants Melanie to love her...like Cohen loves her so much!  It is getting better every time we go to G's house. 

Over the last two weeks we have found out a few things about our little Melanie.  Her palate repair has been scheduled for this Fall!  We really like her plastic surgeon.  He has a great reputation and is a perfectionist.  Love it!  We also found out that Melanie failed her hearing test.  This makes so much sense as to why she says words the way she does.  The theory is that she has fluid build up in her ears, which is normal for a cleft palate child.  So when she hears words, they sound like they are under water.  When she tries to says words, in English, they sound like they are underwater.  Another praise...I emailed Melanie's plastic surgeon about a referral for an ENT and one that could do tubes in the ears at the same time as the palate repair.  So we love our plastic surgeon!  Not only are they going to do the tubes in the ear and palate repair at the same time, they set up our appointment with the ENT.  Can I just say great customer service?  Love that office!

So Melanie is now liking cold items like ice cream/frozen yogurt.  We have tried to give Melanie ice cream a few times.  She cannot stand the coldness on the roof of her mouth.  Today, we went to Sweet Ce Ce's and she loved it! 

This past week, the Hendersonville Life magazine released my adoption article.  It was a VERY short version of the two separate articles I wrote for Gallatin Life.  The follow-up to the Gallatin Life article should be out in September.  It has been so exciting to have the opportunity to share our adoption stories and hopefully encourage other families pursing adoption.

Melanie is doing really well in her transition.  I am learning how different boys and girls are in regards their emotions and the approach to instruction.  Cohen has started 1st grade.  He loves his teacher, and thinks she is cute.  Eventhough he asks to be homeschooled again and that he does not like the rule at school where they cannot talk....he tells me everyday that his day was awesome!  Our family is doing really well in the adjustments of our life right now....searching for a new church home, having a new addition to the family, and no longer homeschooling.  We truly feel blessed by God and are very thankful for our adoption experience.  He has been our rock and strength to get us through it all!!!

We have been home four weeks today!

Well today marks the fourth week since we returned home from China!  Time has totally flown by.  I feel like we have only been home maybe two weeks.  It is crazy to think Cohen starts school next Monday!

Considering the big changes our family has gone through in the past two months, we are all adapting very well!!! 

Cohen is still the best big brother in the world.  He just loves his sister so much and teaches her every chance he gets!  Many times during our day, I will find Cohen pointing to things and telling Melanie what they are...just like we did for him when he was an infant and toddler.  It is a big adjustment for someone going from an only child to having a little sister and also starting a new school.  He is doing fabulous with the transition!!!  Melanie is so blessed to have Cohen as her big brother.  She tries to do everything her big brother does by mimicking him and following him around everywhere.

I am officially over my jet lag!  Thank God.  That was terrible.  I think my body finally just gave in to the different time zone.  Through the transition I have learned the true concept of having eyes in the back of your head....so I can keep up with two! 

Jason has adjusted very well and quickly!  Melanie is truly a "daddy's girl".  She screams with delight when daddy walks in the door after being at work all day.  It makes Jason grin ear to ear!  He is a GREAT daddy of two! 

Melanie has done so well over the past month.  All of her labs and medical tests came back great!  She already has surgery scheduled to repair her cleft palate this Fall.  Her appetite is GREAT!  The only thing she does not like to eat is refried beans.  At first she did not like ice cream because of the coldness.  However, after last nights celebration for Cohen going to school, she LOVES ice cream!  She has now said a total of six English words:  Momma, Amen, ball, no, owl, and YaYa.  Her fear of baths has stopped!  She loves to take a bath and she loves to play in the pool.  These are HUGE changes from the first two weeks being home.  We are still working on attachment and bonding.  She has started to cry if we are not in the room or where she cannot see us.  This is a huge step!  Melanie now loves Dakota, our chocolate lab mix.  At first she was cautious and yelled at him.   Now, she tries to kiss him on the noes and pet his back. 

It is hard to believe that in just a little over a month she will turn 2! 

Our First Week Home

 What a blessing this past week has been!

Jason has been home this week for our "bonding" time with Melanie and Cohen.  He has to return to work on Friday.  We have had meals provided by sweet friends each night this week...and more to come the rest of the month. 

Jason was able to get over his Jet Lag at the first of the week.  Melanie started sleeping through the night on Tuesday night.  We added her nap back in on Thursday.  100% success rate...she is officially on TN time!!!  As of Thursday, she totally stopped crying when we put her down for a nap or bedtime.  We feel she is learning that we are not leaving her when we lay her down and that we will come back when she wakes up. 

I am still totally Jet Lagged!  It is getting better...but I am still pretty tired.

This past April, I was asked to write an article about adoption for the local Gallatin magazine called Gallatin Life.  The article came out two days before we went to China.  There was a lot of great feedback. This week, the owner contacted me and requested that I write a follow-up on the article.  So tomorrow night I will be writing to make my deadline.  How exciting!!! 

Melanie is now to the point where she eats everything...but ice cream.  Yeah!  She does not like whole milk very much.  She is playing with her toys and even shares things with Cohen.  At first, when Cohen would attempt to play with her, she would scream thinking he was taking her toys.  Now, we hands things to him and wants to play with his toys.  They are so cute together!!!  She does not like her feet to be touched...so no painting toes anytime soon.  She loves music and dancing!  I was going through the radio stations Friday night and there was a very upbeat dance song on...she started putting her hands in the air, moving her head, and trying to sing the words of the song.  Very cute!!  I think we have a future dancer...she takes after her momma! 

We have found out that she is not the biggest fan of dogs.  She was introduced to Dakota, our 9 year old Chocolate Lap Mix, earlier in the week...she cried and screamed.  Honestly, she climbed up Jason's shirt.  Today, my parents brought Dakota home for the first time.  Surprisingly, Melanie did pretty good.  She stares at him and can be in the same room.  However, she did not like him licking her hand...he was just giving her kisses.  We went on a walk tonight...Dakota's favorite thing in the world.  Melanie tried to pet Dakota and never got upset.  So...I think she is over her dislike of dogs!!! 

I have been reading Melanie books, especially this one that is letters and animals.  You know the teacher in me I am already going over phonic sounds while going over the letters of the alphabet.  She has tried to repeat some sounds.  Well today, Jason was reading the book and she said the word "owl".  We all stopped and turned to look at her in shock.  How exciting! 

This week we did go to the zoo.  Cohen of course loved it...that is one of his favorite places in the world.  Melanie did not have much of a reaction except when she saw the elephants.  She loves elephants.  So we allowed Cohen and Melanie to pick out one stuffed animal in the gift store.  Cohen picked up an owl he has been wanting for months called Spells and Melanie walked directly over to a hot pink elephant, kissed it and would not let go. 

So after our first week, we are adjusting VERY well.  Cohen is the best big brother in the world.  Dakota is back home and happy.  We started our regular routine again on Friday when Jason went back to work.  My first day solo with two kiddos was great!  Melanie is adjusting very well.  We were also blessed when G brought over more groceries.  I have the best mom ever!!! 

We praise God for our simple yet very blessed life! 

Finally Home Sweet Home

As we pulled into our home around 11ish I think, we were blessed by a very clean, decorated home full of balloons and signs greeting our arrival.  We also had a full fridge of food provided by my mom, Kathy, and dear friends.  Oh what a blessing!!!

We all made our beds in Melanie's room for the night.  She slept in her bed, Cohen on his little fold out couch, and me and Jason on the air mattress.  We did find Cohen sitting on the steps with his ears covered while Melanie expressed not being happy about sleeping in her new crib.  Oh what adjustments both kiddos are having to make.  Cohen is not use to a crying baby.  Melanie is not use to hearing this new language, with these new looking people, without the 19 other crib mates she was use to, and in the third new crib within the last ten days.  So our bonding and attachment is truly beginning. 

Melanie has done great.  She is more interested in playing with boxes and Wii remotes than her toys.  She loves to try on her new clothes...she even helps you get her dressed.  She loves to help me sort laundry and pick up items.  Melanie likes to be neat.  She hates to have food on her hands or face.  I think we go through at least five napkins each meal.  She is not a picky eater.  So far she has liked everything we have fed her here at home...except for hamburger.  She loves her brother...a little jealous when daddy gives big brother Cohen attention.  She does not like to swing and will not put her feet in grass.  She loves to ride in the stroller on our walks each day.  She like fireworks.  She loves people to tickle her and make her laugh.  I think her favorite thing to do is touch your nose and you make a honking noise.  She hums to the beat when you sing a song or when Cohen plays the violin.  She is very good at repeating what you do when you do hand motions to a song...then she hums along.  The most difficult thing she is dealing with right now is sleeping.  Melanie is still on China time.  She will sleep from 9 - 1:30am, thinking that is nap time and will be wide awake.  So we have adjustments to getting her on TN time. 

Cohen is the BEST big brother ever.  He is patient, kind, protective, and loving to his sister.  He wants to teach her English.  There are many hugs and kisses given during the day.  He is so proud of her.  Everywhere we go he tell everyone about her.  He has been waiting to be a big brother for two years.  I still say that out of everyone, Cohen was the MOST excited about getting Melanie as a sister.  I am a proud momma.  I cannot wait to see the bond they will develop over the years. 

Thursday, July 4 - We had an indoor picnic with my parents and Jason's parents.  It was pouring outside so we grilled hamburgers and had ribs with all the traditional Fourth of July fixings.  Jason and I have serious Jet Lag.  The evening was eventful.  Melanie cried most of the night and Cohen woke up unable to breath (croupy cough).  After Benedryl and a sitting in a steamy bathroom to clear his airway, he was doing great and able to sleep.

Friday, July 5 - Jason's parents left a day early due to Ed getting a very bad sinus infection.  Cohen and Melanie both had Dr.'s appointments.  Cohen for his croupy cough and Melanie for her adoption exam with Dr. Ervin.  Cohen got meds and Melanie had a great check-up.  We return on Monday for her labs. 

Monday, July 8 - Melanie had her labs.  It took about four nurses and thirty minutes for them to find a vein.  Poor thing had a rough time.  The labs we got back immediately looked good.  We return in a week for the remaining results.

We feel so blessed.  Each day this week we have a friend bringing a meal to us.  This is such a blessing while we adjust to new sleeping patterns and have a new little one in the home. 

So now the real life journey begins.  We are thankful to those that have been our support through prayer, finances, and words and actions of encouragement.  We are thankful to Jehovah Jirah for his providing our needs along the way.  We pray for guidance and protection from our Jehovah Jirah for our household that He has created will glorify Him in everything we do.  Praise God!

Wed. - July 3 - Our journey home and my heart change

Today we leave China for the USA! 

At 4:40 am we met Lily and our driver for our trip to the airport to catch our 7:30 am flight from Guangzhou to Shanghai on China Eastern Airlines.  The flight was 2 1/2 hours.  Lily was amazing...she even arranged for the hotel to prepare an early breakfast to eat on the way.  We had difficulty finding Delta airlines in Shanghai...actually we had difficulty finding someone to speak English in Shanghai.  Thank goodness for our 2 1/2 hour layover. 

We flew from Shanghai to Seattle on Delta on a ten and an half hour flight.  Melanie did pretty good...she slept half the trip.  Food seemed to be her comfort on the flight.  It was impossible for me and Jason to sleep on the flight.  Delta was great on this flight...we were treated great!

Once we arrived in Seattle, there was a very long line to clear customs. We then had to wait for a health officer to clear Melanie to enter the US and then an officer approved her paperwork and cleared her as a US citizen at approximately 10 am today.  After she was cleared, we grabbed our luggage and had to wait in a very long line to clear security to catch our next flight.  We made our flight just in time for MN.   During this leg of the flight we were able to sit in Economy Comfort with Delta, which was nice to have the extra legroom.  Jason and Melanie were able to sleep during this 3 hour flight.  Unfortunately, I was not able to sleep due to the two rather energetic toddlers sitting behind us.  I think my seat was their punching bag.  I was not upset because I know how challenging it is to travel with little ones.  This poor dad had four kids by himself. 

We landed in MN on time.  This airport was amazing!!  The eating places were great!  The shops were nice.  We REALLY love this airport!!!  It was nice to eat a sub sandwich from the states with lettuce.  Funny how those little things you appreciate when they are not available around the corner for ten days.  We met some very sweet people while waiting for our flight.  At this point, we have been traveling for 22 hours.  We were able to change clothes and brush our teeth before our last leg of our journey home.  We left on time for TN on our Delta flight.  Melanie was a little more fussy for this flight...but she has done AMAZING for how long she has had to sit on our laps on this journey.

The last thirty minutes of the flight were very anxious for me.  I could not wait to see Cohen!!!  This entire time I had mentally prepared myself for being away from my Cohen.  I know he was in good hands with my parents and Jason's parents.  Up to this point, the longest I had been away from my Cohen was three days.  I thought that was too long.  So this eleventh day seemed like the longest day in the world.  I desired so badly to be home...to be somewhere familiar...to see  my Cohen...to see my family...to officially have Melanie join our life and family...to worship freely without fear of persecution. 

We landed on time at the Nashville airport.  We were blessed to be at terminal one so that when we got off the plane we could see the crowd of friends and family waiting to see this precious child they have been waiting to meet.  These people have been the pray warriors and our adoption cheerleaders over the past two years.  I remember waving my hands and hearing the cheers.  All I could think about was hugging and kissing my Cohen...with tears pouring down my cheeks (yes ugly cry)...I ran with my ten thousand pound bags and weak body that has not slept for 26 hours into the arms of my blonde little boy as his arms were stretched out to hug his momma.  Oh I will never forget that moment as I held him in my arms crying tears of joy and relief.  As I turned...my Melanie and Jason were approaching the crowd.  There were cheers and tears.  Oh what emotions to finally put your eyes on this child we hoped for this many years.  The crowd was overwhelmed....I cannot express the faces and emotions that I saw.  It was like time stood still.  I hugged everyone in appreciation and gratitude for them traveling out late at 9:30 pm to greet us on our long journey home.  Those that were present were:  mom and dad aka G and Papa (Charles and Velda Beams), Cohen, Jason parents aka YaYa and Papa (Ed and Kathy Taylor), Lisa and Danica Herman, Rebecca Bowles, Jennifer Miller, Heath Nichols, David and Linda Stacy (Melanie Stacy's parents), Kay, Kyle and Micah DeGrood, Pastor George Austin, Craig, Gina, Ashton and Nathan Wright, and Kirk, Annah, and Ryan Hopkins.  Melanie hugged everyone and clapped and smiled once she started feeling comfortable.  We feel so very blessed.  Our journey home was wonderful as I sat in between Cohen and Melanie's car seats.  Reality set in that I now had two precious little ones.  Cohen instantly showed his awesome big brother skills and was probably the most excited to get his sister home.  He has prayed for her so many times the past two years...for her safety...that she would have food...that she would not be sick.  He loves her so much!!!

What things we so take for granted when they are not at your fingertips for a short eleven days.  My perspective has been changed.  I am so VERY thankful for the simple yet important freedoms and luxuries we have here in the states.  Family seems more precious.  Time seems more precious.  I feel guilty for taking for granted my religious freedom.  How precious and blessed our life really is...oh how humbling.  How thankful I am for being born as a US citizen.  How thankful I am for being born into a Christian family.  This trip not only added a precious member to our family...it was a spiritual wake-up call for the blessings I have in my life.  I pray I do not get wrapped up in the petty things when I return to the states.  I love my country for its freedoms.  I love and respect my husband for so many reasons that would take ten pages to explain.  He has been so patient and loving on this trip.  I love and appreciate the plan that God has set for my life.  I love and am so thankful for the precious gift of my Cohen. What a privilege  to be given the responsibility to raise him to be the godly man he is to be in this world.  Oh what joy to see him grow and change and see God's plan for his life.  Why have I been blessed so much?  I love my family and appreciate them for the path they have directed me on in my life and the sacrifices they have made for me...oh there are so many.  I am thankful for my inlaws for raising my husband to be the godly and God fearing man that he is in this world.  I am thankful that they love me as their own.  I am thankful for friends that I have prayed for so many years ago.  Friendship is a special thing...to trust people...to believe in people.  We are blessed by our true friends.  The list can go on and on for those things that I have realized I have taken for granted and I am so thankful to have in my life.  I have received more than a daughter on this trip.  No words can express my gratitude for God being my Jehovah Jirah during this amazing journey.

This journey has not just been twenty two months.  I sit back and see how God has unfolded this plan minute by minute throughout the past years.  It started exactly four years ago when I miscarried on July 7, 2009...then exactly two years ago I had my hysterectomy...then this week two years later as we pick up our daughter in China.  There are so many details along the way how God has molded each moment, the neon signs to show his plan.  We never thought during those times how these horribly challenging times would be molded into a blessing.  We now hold the blessing in our arms.  This child...our Melanie...God choose her specifically for our family.  Oh how humbling...oh what a blessing.  How her abandonment in the lawn of a Honda dealership in China would turn into a blessing for our lives.  How God picked her to be ours over the days when we had lost our patience during the adoption process...God knew the entire time.  What challenge we have now to find the plan and direction God has for our little girl.  We cannot wait to see how God will use us to help shape her life, to encourage, to mold, to guide her into the godly woman she has been planned to be in this world.  We are the blessed ones...me and Jason...to witness two precious children (Cohen and Melanie) grow and become children of God and fulfill God's purpose in this world.  (Psalm 139)  Each day that I have with these precious ones will be cherished.  I will pray for these children.  I will seek God's guidance for His plan for our family and my role he would have me to possess.  I will pray for Jason to be the spiritual leader of our home...for the decisions he will make...for him to seek God and His plan.  This experience in China has given me a whole new perspective on my life.  There is so much that is new...seeking a new place of worship...seeking God's plan for our family...raising two children to seek God's plan for their life and desire Him above this world...to be the godly wife God would want me to be for Jason...to be the godly woman He would have me to be in our community...to show Christ to others.  Oh there is so much more I want to say and are blank on how to express it with my words.  I pray that my actions will praise God and will express the gratitude and appreciation for this experience and growth.  Jason and I will never be the same from this eleven day journey that was more than an adoption trip.