Since we left China

Well, we made it.  We prepared for 21 hours of horrific travel but we were both pleasantly surprised.

First our van ride to the Hong Kong airport only took 2.5 hours. After we found out Evan gets carsick, we tried to find airline tickets but had no luck.  Sure enough, he was sick about 30 minutes in, and spent about 1.5 hours slumped in Tom's lap.  It was really heartbreaking because he looked EXACTLY the same as he did the day he was put in my arms.  I realized at that moment that on that special day for us, Evan had been woken up early, dressed, hugged and kissed goodbye by a million people, probably tearfully, then driven probably 4-5 hours, gotten car sick and been handed over to "Mama" a total stranger who did not speak his language.  I did not mention it before, but he was sick all over him and myself on our way back to the hotel that day.  What a miserable, horrific, terrible day it must have been for him.

And all this for a 2 year old.  I remember Ben at his second birthday so clearly.  He knew the names of 30+ Thomas trains, he had friends, he was putting together small jigsaw puzzles.  He had foods liked and did not, he had songs he loved and things that made him laugh. He loved us, he loved his grandparents, he had an entire life

All that Evan lost in 1 day.  And yet, somehow, he has survived.  It is hard to believe we have been together less than a month, home less than a week. He understands so much of what we say.  He is quick to smile at all of us.  He is started to walk around the house like it is his.  He is changing every day and every day we are coming to know him more. Yesterday he stated washing himself with a washcloth in the tub and it took my breath away.  It was something he always was able to do but I just never knew.  He knows Tom and I and trusts us.  He will never wander more than 10 feet from us without holding out his hand for us to come with.  And finally, he wants to do EVERYTHING his big brother does.

We are struggling with sleep a bit but it is getting better every day.  We originally had the boys in the same room but had to make an emergency change, moving Evan to the playroom borrowing a gliding chair from my mom and converting the crib into a toddler bed so we could lay his sleeping body down without disturbing him too much.

We have plans ahead, visiting the pediatrician next week for a full check up bloodwork etc followed by an appointment with out plastic surgeon to talk about cleft palate surgery and visit to the ENT to see if he needs tubes as well.  We also have plans for birthday parties, a wedding, family pictures and play dates.  Just like in China, when he bored, he brings us our shoes, ready for a walk outside or something more.

We are also struggling with sibling rivalry, mommy exhaustion and overall frustration when we cannot communicate more than our limited English and the new signs Evan knows. We still have surgery and a lot of speech therapy ahead before those issues will be resolved. Our organized life routine has been upset and we are working to build a new one.  The nights are hard, but when it it is 10:00am and I am pushing that double stroller to the park, life feels so very RIGHT.  囍  Double Happiness.