Fast Friends!

These two are great friends!  Tikvah begged and begged us for a little sister.  Who knew it would be the brother who would be her closest sibling?  Here they are walking the bike trail and discussing - what else?- the next Hobbit movie and how they (and the older siblings) will dress up to go see it.

Swinging Royalty!

Having a swinging good time in the back yard!

Our Ramp - painted, trimmed and complete!

I just realized that a couple of months ago I'd updated you about the ramp being completed, and some landscaping going back into the area, but I never showed it as finished.  Since adding the ramp extended the planting area a few feet further into the yard, I ended up having to move all the hostas to the backyard.  They were getting scorched in front.  So, no WOW plants, but after painting and adding trim the ramp looks great!    Isaac zooms right up in his chair, and Jen has a much easier time getting her walker into the house.  Come on up!

Looking down the ramp onto the porch from the front door.

Looking up the ramp from the porch swing towards the front door.

So thankful to the crew who volunteered their time and made this happen!

Jenisms

Our middle girl has been amusing today.  This morning began with some funny Jenisms!  It started at breakfast.  We've been teaching the girls how to make requests politely. You know... "May I...... please?" So this morning Jen asked, "May I have more cereal?"

And I replied, "What do you say?" 

Her answer - "Yeah!" Guess I need to work a little more on the please thing....

 BUT, she is catching on to something I'm telling her, even if she isn't actually doing it.  Jen frequently grasps the front bar on her walker which of course causes it to fall over. This morning as she crashed onto the floor again, and I looked to see if she was ok she said, "Hold the handles." Sigh.

Jennifer has been our child that was the most affected by institutional care.  While the other two royalty had the benefit of spending some time with a foster family, Jen never did.  Seven years of being basically invisible (as near as I can tell she wasn't special to anyone) left her with little trust in people, and really having no idea of how to function in a family.  She also doesn't know how to cope with changes in her schedule or routine.

Another BIG problem has been receiving medical care.  She has been so terrified that even seeing a sign to any of the doctor offices we go to has often resulted in screaming and big crocodile tears.  She has told me on numerous occasions, "Doctor hurt me."  There was some kind of bad experience in her past, for sure.

Jen has made great strides as she has begun to trust us.  After delaying some appointments and tests for several months to give her the time she needed to adjust, we are at last able to go to a doctor without her going into a panic.  Yesterday she had a renal scan (kidneys) and did SUPER!  I'm a huge believer in reinforcing and rewarding good behavior, so she  got to choose what we had for lunch. She chose a hamburger and fries in case you are curious, and also got a chocolate Frosty.  We followed this kid approved lunch with an afternoon at the park.  Yay for progress!

Meeting Isaac's Foster Family!

Thursday evening had to have been one of the highlights in this entire adoption adventure.  Our Prince had the unique situation of being fostered by a Canadian family who works in China.  They returned to their home country a couple of weeks ago, and are currently traveling a bit.  We heard from them early this week that they were within a couple hours of our home, and would be able to stop for a visit.  What an amazing thing it was to spend time with the family who was such a big part of Isaac's story!

After a simple dinner they all checked out Isaac's new bike.  Most of them even took it out for a spin!

Back inside the kids decided to go play on the Wii while the adults visited, then we all ended up in the back yard making everyone's favorite - s'mores.

I didn't say a whole lot on my blog about the meeting of and those first couple of days with Isaac. While I can't begin to equate my experience with that of Mary, I do believe that there are some instances where a mother can only ponder.  I still don't have adequate words to express it.

Meeting the foster family was another one of those experiences where my words just can't do justice to how special this night was to me.  How perfect their family was for our boy astounds me, and lining up their behind-the-scenes story with ours that was occurring at the same time is amazing.  That our two families were destined to be a part of this boy's story is so obvious (now).  I am forever in their debt for their loving on our boy!

A Miraculous Find at Goodwill!

I stop in at the local Goodwill store every now and then if I happen to drive by it and have a  few extra minutes.  This happens perhaps (at most) once a month.  Earlier this week I returned some library books and took the "back way" home which took me by the store.  So I wandered in to see what I could see.  The first thing I saw was a big sign that said "50% off on everything".  The next thing I saw was an odd looking wheelchair parked near the sign.

I took a few steps, then suddenly stopped.  What WAS that?  I went back to the odd looking wheelchair and inspected it further.  It had a long section with a third wheel and lots of gears and things.  Hmmmmmm.... very interesting.  I checked the sign again.  Sure enough it said that everything was 50% off.

I quickly walked the rest of the store just in case something else jumped out at me then got out of there in record time.  When I arrived home I told my husband about what I had just seen, and asked him to quick go back and look at it.  I told him the price that I *thought* I saw listed on the thing.

Ethan arrived back home just as I was getting dinner on the table, so I quick stepped out to ask what he thought about this unusual wheelchair thingy.  The first thing he told me was, "You missed a zero on the price."  Oh dear.  That kind of makes a difference.  I commented back, "Well, that still isn't awful, perhaps we should get it anyway."  What I didn't realize was that he was a step ahead of me and had already researched these unusual wheelchairs and knew their (very hefty) pricetag.  He said, "It was actually a VERY good deal and I bought it!"

So then we had to get through dinner with me so excited I could hardly swallow.  As soon as we were finished eating we told Isaac he should go outside to see a surprise.  Now our boy's English is coming along nicely, but that was one word he didn't seem to know.  After explaining the word surprise we got him out of the house and onto the porch where he saw this...

It has hand pedals and brakes.

After we explained how to use it we got out the bike helmets.  Our Prince did not like the helmet, and that is one of the few complaints we have heard from him since he's been home!  Still, like it or not, this family wears helmets when we bike. (NOTE: As I say that I have to giggle to myself, because generally this family also wears SHOES when we bike.  I TOLD you I was excited!  I see photographic evidence that I neglected to tell him he should put his shoes on!)

Our Prince is quite athletic and I've been praying for something he can do to satisfy that "need for speed" in him.  In fact one of the first things he asked was, "Maybe I can race?"  LOL!  I cannot express how excited I was to see Isaac out biking with his sister!  One thing our family has loved to do in the not so distant past is bike on the trails close to our home.  We recently got notice that it is nearly Jen's turn for a modified tricycle sponsored by a local group (very similar to the bike she rides while at therapy - see a few posts back).  So I'm looking forward to lots of fun family times biking this summer! 

Kings Island Access - SCORE!

Each summer my husband's employer has a company picnic at a nearby amusement park; and this year it was at King's Island.   This is the first time we have braved an amusement park with the Little Princesses, let alone with the Prince!  I was concerned about how we would handle the walker plus a wheelchair, and if our kids would be allowed on the rides.

Since Jen would just be on the kiddy rides I figured she was fine, but would the Prince be allowed to ride the bigger ones?  A call to the Spina bifida clinic gave us word from his doctor that there were no restrictions.  She said, "Go, and just have a good time!"

We decided to take Jen's wheelchair rather than wear her out with the tremendous amount of walking that would be done that day.  Very. Smart.  Our second Very. Smart. move was to take two vehicles.  Ethan took the big kids when the park opened, and I left with the little girls around noon.  It was the basic "divide and conquer" approach. 

Our first stop once inside the park was at the "Guest Services" building where a very friendly employee asked a few basic questions - things such as if our child could sit up without support, if they could brace themselves with their arms, if they had orthodics, etc.  This formulated the list of things that would be safe for them to ride.  We were then given the list along with a paper for check in.  This is how it works:

1.  Enter the ride from the EXIT (some of the ques for the rides don't play well with wheelchairs)
2.  Present the paper to the ride employee who checks current line wait time.
3.  Employee assigns a time to return to the ride for your turn.
4.  When it is time, the entire party returns to the EXIT where the employee will board you first.

You may have only one spot in line at a time - in other words, you can't go around and get numerous times assigned.  You really do have to wait for each ride, well except for the ones with REALLY LONG exits.  After navigating up a couple of really long exit areas they boarded us for the next ride instead of having us return later.  We felt just a wee bit guilty for cutting the line, but appreciated the little perk!  I felt that the employees did a good job of working with us and making it a pleasant experience for the kids.

Now - being the sensible parent (aka: chicken) I was to spend my day with the two younger royalty in the area known as "Planet Snoopy"

 Early in the day all four kids rode the small coaster in Snoopy Planet together.  I'm really glad they did since it is pretty much the only photographic evidence that all four kids actually went that day!

 

You see, I had both cameras in my backpack since Ethan couldn't take one with him on the crazy rides.

 

I have to say, (at least from my viewpoint) it was the best day this family has ever had to an amusement park!   The girls were patient in line, and not the least demanding.  They seemed amazed that they got to ride these things AT ALL, so each one was a special treat to them.

 

They rode happily for a few hours then we met up with the rest of the family for a lunch break.  From there we walked quite a distance to ride the big train.  NOTE:  If you go with access needs, go to the very FRONT of the train.  There is a ramp up to the front car.  I didn't realize that, so after I got the girls on I struggled a bit to lift Jen's wheelchair into the stroller area.  Thankfully a kind man helped me both loading and unloading.

It was at this point that I had spent as many hours in this place as my feet and back could stand. I informed the Little Princesses that they could each pick one more ride and then we would have to go home.

 

Abigail chose to "drive" little cars, and Jen chose the airplanes again.

They were such good girls!  I EXPECTED there to be some meltdowns and crying that the day was over, but they accepted the news so well.  So well in fact, that we stopped on the way out and bought some cotton candy.  Smart girls.

We arrived home around 7:30 pm but Ethan and the big kids didn't get home until close to eleven!  They stayed clear through until the park closed.  One of the highlights of their day was being able to watch the closing fireworks show from one of the rides!  

I've had a few questions about how Isaac handled the day.  When I asked Tikvah to sum it up for me it went something like this.  She said he scrunched all up going uphill on the rides then squealed on the way back down.  When they got off he claimed, "I don't like that!  It scares me!"  Then nearly immediately asked to go on again.  ROFL!  

Isaac told me, "It felt like I was flying!"  His favorite ride?  The new Banshee Roller coaster.

Since I didn't even go over to the adult side of the park, I had NO IDEA what this thing did.  So I looked up a You tube video of it and am pretty much sick to my stomach just from watching it! Banshee Video  But, everyone made it home - alive, and with some good family memories.  I've declared the day a success!