June Updates

I came to realize managing a household of 8 with small children is very different from a household of 4 or 5.   Honestly, besides the absolute basics like food, school, and church, we really can't do much now.   It's been 3 weeks into the summer, and we have mostly spent our time at home.    On one hand, it is such a blessing that the kids have each other to talk and play with.      On the other hand, there is a constant guilt that our kids are missing out on things.      There is also a constant tiredness that just won't go away.   
Eating out is a luxury for us now.     Most days we cook at home.  Sometimes when the schedule is tight, we get food from drive-through or carry-out.     It's been hard to cater to everyone's schedule, so breakfast and lunch are in self-serve buffet style.    I usually just lay the food out on our kitchen island, and they grab their food whenever works for them.     We try to insist on sitting down to eat dinner together, but that's getting harder too.      

Grocery - We buy milk by 3 gallons and eggs by 3 dozens now.    One quick trip to Safeway just to pick up a few things ended up 7 bags full.    We shop at Costco almost every week.   I don't know how much cereal we eat everyday, but they run out so quickly.  I buy at least 5 boxes at a time.    And, yes, endless laundry....

For his graduation gift, he chose to go on a mission trip to Mexico.
He went to Mexico for a week in May to help with the construction
of a school for an orphanage.  We love him so much.

 Sometimes I feel like having twins!   They are friends and rivals!  Sometimes they play so well together, but sometimes they eye on each other and want everything to be even.    The toy in the other's hand always looks more fun......  As cute as they are... I am constantly pulling my hair trying to resolve their kiddo-version dispute.    The noise level at our house is always on "high"..   LOL...  Still not quite the best friends I was hoping for....   Let's keep working on that..

Ben opened a bag of chips, and instantly attracted "followers" (as he referred his sisters!)

A bowl of chips in their hands. Look at their mischievous smile!  

Playing school....

Playing school again...

Learning to walk with her cane at school- I love seeing Bethany with the cane.   She loves to use her cane.   I am constantly surprised by how much information she can get from her cane.   Just yesterday we were playing in the frontyard, she was walking toward me.  I told her to stay on the grass and stay out of the flower beds.     Using her cane, she did just that. 

Eating banana for snack - Part of it is to learn to peel her banana; not an easy thing to do if you have never seen a banana.
  
The Braille label on her table space is for her to practice tracking.    She moves her fingers across everytime she say grace for a meal.   She is tracking quite well now.  I love to watch her run her fingers across it, because it gives me a small glimpse of my hope and dream, that one day Bethany will learn to read and write.

Putting the peel into the trash can, all by herself, without our help!  She does it so well.

For months, Bethany was not able to tell us anything about school. Nothing at all.   Up until recently, her conversation with us has mainly been requests or yes or no answer. We haven't seen any form of description in her conversation nor the ability to answer why and how questions.

During the last week of school, one day I noticed a different shirt on her when she got off the school bus.    So I asked her why she had a different shirt on, not expecting her to be able to explain.    She surprised me with three words - "Bethany, juice, wet".    I can't tell you how happy I was to hear those three words - the first time she answered our "why" question.

Bethany has come a long way getting familiar with her new world. She is now able to navigate around the house independently.     She can perform simple tasks like putting trash in the trash can, getting a napkin or tissue.    She can use the bathroom independently. She can dress herself (we just need to lay out her clothes for her), put on her socks and shoes all by herself.   She can pump herself on the swing and ride a tricycle(I steer for her with an extension handle).  She can sing the entire alphabet song (and a few other nursery rhymes).   

Emotionally, she has been more predictable and stable. Bethany is beginning to trust us more and open to us more, which really makes things easier. But on the other side of this wonderful progress, there is a new challenge - Bethany is saying "no" to us a lot recently, sometimes with an attitude!     ( It is completely normal for adopted children to test their boundaries once they feel secure and loved) We are still learning to find a balance and set a reasonable boundary.

Academically, she is progressing very slowly that we honestly began to worry. When I expressed my concern to Bethany's teacher recently, once again, she assured me that Bethany will be fine. She also explained that getting information from the hands and then interpret that information in the brain is very hard.   Bethany doesn't has that connection yet.    Abstract concepts (like counting) is very hard for blind kids.     It will take some time, but she will eventually get it.    Then she gave me a pat on my back and told me to call her whenever I become worry!    I just love her teachers.   They care so much.

During summer, Bethany will attend summer school for 4 weeks, again with door-to-door bus service.   She is also receiving in-home one-on-one Braille lesson twice a week, and in-home one-on-one mobility lesson twice a week, all through the public school system, completely free of charge to us!    The common grace we are receiving is totally beyond amazing.   We feel so so blessed. 

It is always so hard for us to see how and when Bethany will master the next skill, or reach the next milestone. In general, it takes her a long time and a lot of practice to learn a new skill. Because of her unique background, there is really no comparison or benchmark of what is a "normal" pace for her. Most days, we worry.   But time and time again, God has used different people or different ways to bring us encouragement and give us a lift when we needed most.    And many times just when we fell into the temptation into despair, Bethany surprises us.   It is very scary(and lonely sometimes) not knowing where we are heading, but His faithfulness is keeping us walking, one day at a time.  Again and again, we were reminded the reason we are called to adopt - not to make a difference, but just to love.

Our Ruthie!      She is still reluctant to talk, for reasons we don't understand.   We know she can talk, because sometimes she would imitate our sounds on our requests.    Sign language helps, but sometimes she still decided to scream or cry when she wants something.     We are still working on that........
We recently noticed that she sings!    She likes to sing along the nursery rhymes with her sisters!   She can't talk, but she can sing...    Very strange, but so delightful!    

Our precious Pearl!    I always feel like she is the perfect gymnast.  She has very chubby hands and feet.  And from when she was very little, she has very good balance.  She loves to jump and dance.   I mentioned to her one day that I will put her in gymnastic lesson when she is older.   Since then, she kept asking about it, and telling me that "I am doing gymnastic when I am older". 

By the way, up until Pearl was two and a half, she had only one word, "Ma, Ma".   In just one year, she is now exploded with words that her brothers couldn't stop her from talking!    Ha,Ha.....  She gives us so much joy.

At a lunch with one of his coworkers that he had recently met, San told his coworker that he has six kids.   His coworker stared straight at San, "YOU WHAT?"     LOL.....