1 week home

I'm not sure why the last post didn't publish last week.  Sorry for anyone waiting for an update that didn't get one.

Ella has been home a week.  She is currently wearing size 12 month clothing, most recent weight 19 pound and 31.5 inches tall.  Ella is doing awesome!  She pretty much eats anything put in front of her.  She is eating solid foods (which she wasn't doing in February).  She engages in pretend play and prefers playing with her toy dishes the most.  She likes coloring (mostly scribbles, but is using the proper pinch and pocket hold).  Ella does a lot of imitating too.  She talks all the time too, some is easily understood, other words are very much little kid speak.  She has shown an interest in the toilet, much to my surprise.  She is sleeping well and taking a nap daily.  We are working on Ella knowing boundaries within the home and complying when told no/nay and other simple directions.  She is catching on quickly.  She tests her limits frequently, but is learning mom isn't going to let her get away with things that are not appropriate.  

Maria is handling things so well!  She is amazing.  I truly have worried at times about how she is dealing with certain things, but she and I have our talks.  At first Maria was sad that Ella didn't want much to do with her, now Ella has decided that Maria is a lot of fun and should be followed and copied all the time (I think there is a little bit of big sister hero worship going on).  Maria has expressed annoyance when Ella plays specific games like take her shoes off and have Maria put them back on several times in a row.  Maria also has a big first next week....first day of 8th grade!  She is growing up so quickly!

As for me....well, I can say Ella's adjustment is different than Maria's was.  I feel like I am adjusting to having a little one always under foot.  I am figuring out my limits and ways to help Ella learn specific concepts that will make a huge difference.  

Ella

Ella is officially home!  After much consideration I decided it was best to have Ella escorted from Bulgaria to me.  I was lucky that a friend from Bulgaria was willing to escort her and honestly it was the perfect solution for us.  

Ella left the orphanage on August 3 and spent 10 days with my friend in Sofia.  She transitioned very well and quickly showed off how smart she is.

Yesterday she traveled on her first airplane and did very well

We met my friend Maria at the airport and we were finally reunited with Ella.  Ella wasn't really sure about yet another transition and leaving Maria (escort).  The car ride back to the hotel and first hour at the hotel involved a lot of crying and being upset.  She was also very tired since she didn't sleep on the airplane.  After a while she started warming up to us well and all we saw was smiles and giggles.  She does cry if anyone picks her up except me.  

Maria is thrilled to be a sister and Ella is very interested in her too.

And she finally fell asleep

Court

On Tuesday I learned that we passed court!  I'm officially a momma to two girls now!  Maria is excited about becoming a big sister and we are both anxious to go get Ella (little sis).  Now we are just waiting for the court decree to be signed (by law they must wait 7 days) and then for a new birth certificate.  I'm hoping pick up will be sometime at the end of July, but it will most likely be at the beginning of August.  

We also have a matching grant through our RR account, which will hopefully be met before we go to pick Ella up.

Also looking at one last fundraiser to do, to help with any additional travel expenses that might arise.  Recently there have been some issues with the system printing visas being down and delaying flights home.

June

Somehow I missed doing a post for June!  Not sure how that happened.  June brought summer vacation finally (we both needed it).  We also found out Maria will be needing a new AFO and a new KAFO.  Right now her current KAFO isn't bracing her leg well enough to give her the support she needs when walking and her AFO is at the age where it simply needs to be replaced.  So we are in the process (now longer due to the changes in healthcare) to get new braces.

June also brought an adaptive sports camp.  Maria had tried most of the sports before, but this was a new situation where she only knew one of the kids....sadly that child didn't really want to interact with Maria.  She did end up meeting a couple nice girls and they had a lot of fun together.  Camp also brought a few frustrations.....for Maria some of the games she didn't understand the rules or concepts of.  Sadly the concept of tag was one that needed to be explained to her.  It was frustrating for me to see and hear adults talking about my child, but not even attempt to help her gain the skills she wants to have.  Overall it was a good experience, but it also showed me that if Maria wants real coaching in specific sports we will need to go to the Chicago area and work with GLASA.  Thankfully that group has been amazing in the past and extremely friendly.  Last year when we went to the NJDC we saw their group and the surrounded us to make us feel welcomed.  Several of the adults, including the woman who started the group asked why they hadn't heard from us in a while.  When they heard about Maria's surgery they were very understanding and kind.  I know that doing this will mean cutting back in other areas, but I also know Maria needs a chance to see if track is something she really wants to pursue.

June also brought more waiting.  Waiting to hear about a court date.  I finally heard that we had a court date about the middle of the month.  

May

Life has been so crazy busy!  I'm ready for summer and some time to actually get a few things done.

Maria update

Maria has officially finished her first track season!  There were ups and downs.  Maria is becoming very aware and angry about not being treated the same as her able bodied peers.  She is starting to become quite demanding for things to be equal.  It isn't always easy since many changes in track would need to happen at a state or federal level to be perceived as more equal to Maria.  Sadly those kind of changes take time, energy and money.  For me the thing that is the most frustrating is that many of the adults don't see how those inequalities feel to Maria.  An example would be Maria participated and technically won 6 races, however she was only awarded with two ribbons because the other schools didn't recognize her races.  So, on the day awards were handed out, I had an upset kid who didn't understand why she only got two ribbons when she was expecting six.  I was torn on this one to be honest.....Maria needs to learn she might not always get the recognition she deserves and needs to find validation from within, but I also understood why she was upset she put in a lot of work and was the only one in her specific race.  

Other than that Maria is finishing up the school year.  There seems to be a lot of work this last month, but she is getting through it.

Adoption update

Waiting.  I got word at the beginning of the month that I got my Article 5 letter.  It has been translated and I'm waiting for my file to be signed off on and to be assigned a court date.  So, right now the word is wait.  I'm also waiting to hear on something regarding Maria.....not sure when that answer will come. Waiting isn't always easy or fun, but it is part of the process.  I do have a $1000 matching grant right now through our RR fundraising site.  I'm thinking about putting a fundraiser together to help with the final fees and meet this matching grant.  

April

Well, the month is half over!  Hard to believe.  My life has actually been very busy between work and Maria participating in track.  So, here is a brief update for everyone....

Maria: has had her first track meet!  She raced in the 100 meter by herself.  This is due to the state regulations saying that wheelchair racers are not to race with able bodied racers (something my child wants changed).  It has been a learning opportunity for us and for the school.  We don't always agree, but everyone wants what is best for Maria....we just view it differently.  With April also brought a big milestone.....Maria has been surgery free for one year!  I'm really hoping we don't have any more surgeries for a long, long time!  Maria also graduated from her PT outside of school.  She is at the point where she can safely walk and can do steps too.  The issue is more of her wanting to do the walking, which a lot is due to been a typical teenager.  Overall she is doing well....a little tired and moody after long track practices.  Also her arm strength and muscles are really getting strong and hard!  Here is Maria racing at her first meet!

http://youtu.be/7wNnjFxq9AM

Adoption:  Not much to report.  I filled out the next round of paper work after returning from our visit trip.  At the end of our spring break I got notice from USCIS that they didn't get one of the forms needed to send our file to the U.S. Embassy.  So, I filled the form out again and sent it in.  Yesterday, I got the notice of approval for the next step in the adoption process.  Hopefully before the end of the month we will have an article 5 for Little Sister and will be awaiting the MOJ signature.  I haven't heard any news on how Little Sister is doing.  I know she is well loved and cared for where she is and I just keep hoping that they do not shut her orphanage down prior to our pick up trip.  I know she is very attached to her caretakers and do not want her to have to go through an additional separation and placement if it can be prevented.  While we wait we have been getting some outfits and items for her.  I have been talking with a PT and OT that I know about things to do that will help her once she is home.

Maria update

Not long after coming home from visiting little sister, we had an exciting day at Maria's school.  Our state adaptive sports guy (Mike) brought Maria's new racing chair for track to her school.  He met with her coaches and went over the chair with them. Maria got to learn how to transfer into it.  It is a beautiful chair and we are so excited to have it.  Mike taught Maria how to turn it, which she got down very quickly.  He suggested she focus on the 100 meter race this year since the middle school only has a dirt track, which she cannot use.  Maria has been going to practices for a week and a half now.  She is really enjoying it and getting really fast in her racing chair and her everyday chair!  She has also been extra tired and grumpy as a result (which seems to be typical for a lot of kids involved in after school activities).  So far things are going well....not perfect.  I'm deciding which battles need fighting and which don't....not sure how the season will end up at this point.

Maria also has been told by her PT that she needs to be walking more than in her chair.  This is wonderful news, but she wasn't overly thrilled about it because she knows it means more work for her. It is hard to believe that yesterday marked one year since her 15 hour surgery where her cord was untethered and repaired and tomorrow will mark one year from her 13 hour spinal fusion surgery.  We were in a completely different place last year....I'm glad that we are through that time and Maria is regaining skills....although she still has several more to gain before she is as independent as she once was.  I know we will get there....until that happens I get to be a track mom and cheer her on.