Another great day

Monday July 30, 2012

We had a great day. Taevon is doing better than we ever could have imagined.  He is adjusting to the time change with no problems. He and Aaron are so cute together. They are really enjoying one anothers company. Nicholas is all about his G tube. He wants to help feed Taevon so bad. He keeps telling me that he needs to practice becuase he is going to be a research dr. He also said that he will have his Spiderman outfit in the closet just in case someone needs help. Too cute!! I can't believe that in a few short weeks school will start and I will be home without my boys. That is so sad to me.l I love being at home with them and watching them play. I don't know what I am going to do during my mornings alone.

Meeting family

Sunday July 29, 2012

Today Taevon got to meet some more family. He is really jumpy and startles easily so we are going  so slow with the visits. He met Uncle Chris, Aunt Rachel and his cousins Ashley and Colton. They came over  and we had a cookout and the kids got to play in the bounce house. They all had a great time. Taevon is doing great and is adjusting really well. He and Aaron are enjoying each others company and "talk" all the time. It is so cute!! I am so glad that he is finally home!

A special little boy

Taevon is such a special little boy. He has endured more than anyone I know and has come through it all full of smiles.

Here is a little bit about his past. He was brought into the ER at 2 months old due to seizures. Upon examination these seizures were found to be secondary to a closed head injury that was found to be consistent with non accidental trauma. This sweet little boy was diagnosed with bilateral subdural hematomas, seizures, bilateral rib fractures, left femoral and tibial fractures, multiple skull fractures, closed head injury,and bilateral retinal hemorrhages. He was placed on life support and the family was told that he would need a lot of care. They asked that he be removed from life support. The Dr told them he would not live and the family still wished he be taken off. Once extubated this little miracle began to breathe on his own! He spent a long time in the hospital and was placed with a foster family. He was later diagnosed as legally blind, as having spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, microcephaly and had to have a feeding tube placed due to aspiration. We were lucky enough to have an adoption recruiter ask us to adopt this amazing little boy. He is an angel! 

I can't wait to see what I will learn from this adorable little boy!

smiles and giggles

Saturday July 28, 2012

We had a great day! The boys were all in good moods and Taevon is getting used to everyone. I loved seeing his face light up when I got him up this morning. Feeling his arms around my neck and his head on my shouder was pure heaven. He was full of smiles and giggles. He loves to drop his toys and have everyone pick them up for him. He starts to giggle at the end of his tube feeding when his belly is getting full :) When he hears certain sounds he will start kicking his legs and giggling. He is such a sweet little boy.

Our first day

Saturday July 28, 2012

My boys are so cute. Aaron and Taevon were so cute last night. I put Aaron in Taevon's bed and grabbed each others hands and started "talking" to each other. LOVED it!! Even after I tucked them both into their own beds they kept "talking" and giggling. It took them awhile to calm down but they slept really well. Aaron was up early as usual, but Taevon was able to sleep through it all. Can't wait for him to wake up so I can love on him!!

                                                        

Our newest miracle

Friday July 27, 2012

We picked Taevon up from the airport tonight!! After his flight was delayed he finally arrived at 11pm. We are so in love. His smile melts my heart.

Day two and discharge

Friday July 27, 2012

Aaron finished his testing this morning. They used a strobe light to see if it would cause any changes, but he was unaware of the light. I spoke with the Neurologist who said Aaron was a complicated little boy and he would decide what course of action he wanted to take within the next week. Aaron was very excited to get home and play on the floor.

Day one of our hospital stay

Thursday July 26, 2012

Today Aaron starts his 23 hour EEG. We arrived at Lutheran Hospital a little before 9am and were sent to Primary Life Services. We checked in and were taken to room 340 on the peds floor. The tech attached all of the electrodes to Aaron and he fell asleep during the process. He slept for most of the day. He was so good only getting restless around bedtime. Hopefully we will be able to get out of here in the morning and get home and get some sleep because right now at 11:45 pm Aaron is singing and still going strong :)

Tin caps game

Wednesday July 25, 2012

The boys got to go to the Tin Caps game again. They love going to the games (Nicholas a little more than Keagan ) They love the pretzels and the ice cream. Tonight was a Webkins night and they each got a chimpanzee. They had fun with their cousin Ashley and got their pictures taken with Johnny.

Final touches

Monday July 23, 2012

Taevon's room is finished. It looks great. We bought a Toy Story lamp, rug and curtains. I finished putting pictures in the frames and organized the closet. I can't wait until Friday!

Jump

Sunday July 22, 2012

The boys had so much fun in their new bounce house. They jumped and jumped and jumped some more. Keagan is fearless and would just dive down the slide head first. I am so afraid he is going to get hurt..it makes me so nervous. Nicholas is always careful and aware of his surroundings. They are so different but both so sweet. Aaron loves to bounce. Nicholas jumped in the corner so Aaron would bounce, and he loved it!!

family fun

Saturday July 21, 2012

Today we were finally able to get out and go to the zoo. The boys had the best time. The weather was nice and even Aaron enjoyed being outside. He loved the sounds of the token machine and start giggling as soon as he heard the coins hit the bottom. He also thought the sound of the broom was very funny.  His favorite part of the zoo was the drums.

Nicholas loved riding the pony. He is getting so big and really needs to ride the horses, his feet look like they are almost touching the ground.

Keagan loved the Rainforest. He likes wearing the hats and "taking a rest"

We are so glad the the weather was so much better today. After what seems like weeks of 90+ degree days 87 didn't feel to bad. The boys are hoping the weather is good tomorrow so they can get in their new bounce house. Aaron loves the trampoline so hopefully he will also enjoy the bounce house.

Finally..

Finally....We just found out Taevon will be here this Friday!! I am so excited for him to come home. His foster mom will be bringing him to us and we will pick him up from the airport Friday! I can't believe that it has been an entire year since we have seen him and 16 months since we started the adoption process for him. I think the process should go a little quicker and papers should be signed faster but I am so happy that he will finally be coming home. I can't wait to wrap my arms around him and give him lots of hugs and kisses.

Still waiting

We are still waiting to find out when Taevon will be home. The request for his travel was made. Once his caseworker gets the approval she will make the travel arrangements. She said she hopes to have him home next week. I hope so! I can't stop thinking about him. His smile lights up a room and he has the sweetest giggle. I can't help but wonder if he is being held, kissed and loved on. If he is being played with and encouraged in his daily therapy. It has been an entire year since we were chosen to be his forever family and traveled to see him.  I wonder how much he has changed I am sure he is so much bigger now. We haven't been given any pictures or video this whole time, only an occasional update now and then. I am looking forward to scooping him up at the airport and holding him for a very long time. I am sure I will take 100's of pictures that first day and probably every day after that. I can't seem to take enough pictures. I want to remember every little moment with all of my boys. I am looking forward to his arrival.

such a sweet little boy

Neuro appointment

Tuesday July 17, 2012

Today was Aaron's appointment with the Neurologist. His EEG was very abnormal and they are not sure what is going on. He will be admitted to the hospital next Thursday for some more tests. He will need to stay overnight and will have many tests and a few procedures done. Aaron is the sweetest little boy. He has continued to smile through everything. I love him more than anything. He is my little miracle.

our weekend

My boys are not feeling well at all. Keagan has a bad cough and is running a fever. Nicholas is complaining of a sore throat, headache, has a fever and has been throwing up. He said he didn't want to get his bed dirty so he threw up off then end of his bed onto the floor..not once but twice. Aaron has been sleeping a lot and is not quite himnself. He goes to the Neurologist Tuesday. I am thinking that they are going to want to put in a shunt. I am hoping that they will able to get his meds adjusted quickly and he will start feeling better. He has lost some of what he has learned simply because he is sleeping so much and not doing as well in therapy. Poor baby has no energy at all.

I am still waiting for a date for Taevon. I can't believe that they are allowing a few hundred dollars hold up this adoption. I don't know why she can't bring him on her own..does she really need a traveling companion??? Hopefully we will hear something this week. His room is finished and looks great. I have his borthday party all planned and can't wait to send out the invitations. I also have his announcements picked out and am just waiting for the call.

I can't believe that summer vacation is almost over. School starts august 14th for Nicholas, August 20th for Aaron and September 10th for Keagan. I am not sure when Taevon will go to school. He needs to get familiar with everything here and there is a 3 hour time difference he will need to get adjusted too. I can't wait to hold him and give him lots of kisses.

We are planning our next Disney trip and we are so excited. We will be going Feb 2013!!!

The boys

Friday July 13, 2012

Keagan got to go to the Tin Caps game tonight. He was so excited. He has had a cold and hasn't been feeling well, but once he heard about the game he perked up a little. He loves going to the games. Tonight he got his appetite back and ate everything in sight. He had popcorn, a pretzel, tried some sunflower seeds and had Dippin Dots ice cream. It was Cartoon Night and he got to get his picture taken with Tyrone from . He is so cute and was so good at the game. He is already asking to go to another game soon!


Nicholas decided to go to church and spend the night with grandma and grandpa. They are watching the Narnia movies and he is really enjoying them.

Aaron is still not doing well in this heat. After being outside for 10 minutes he is miserable. His cheeks turn bright red and his body temp increases a lot. It takes him a hour or two to cool down and to start feeling better. He goes to the Neuro Tuesday and I am hoping that it goes well.

Taevon is still not home. We still do not have a date for his arrival. It is frustrating. We are waiting on Washingtonto decide if they are going to pay for his foster mom to have a traveling companion. A few hundred dollars is the hold up. It is hard to believe that this is the hold up. Hopefully next week they will have decided what they are going to do and then we will know when he will be coming home. I can't wait to hold him, and to hug and kiss him!!

Lightsabers and Darth Vader

Wednesday July 11, 2012

Tonight was Star Wars night at the library. The boys are obsessed with Darth Vader since they got a private Meet and Greet with him at Disney World in February. They were so excited and talked about it all day.

Here they are all ready to go..

They had a great time and got to battle other Jedis!

They also got to see Darth Vader again and were VERY excited!

Prepare to meet Mr Angry Eyes...

Wednesday July 11, 2012

I LOVE the mural. It looks great!!! I can't wait to get the room finished this weekend.

Tying his shoes

Tuesday July 10, 2012

Nicholas finally learned to tie his own shoes! He is is such a perfectionist that since he could not do it perfect the first time he had no interest. It took him less than 5 minutes to learn once he decided he was ready.!!

I love this little boy so much! He is the sweetest boy and is so good to his brothers. I am the luckiest mom ever to be blessed with the sweetest little boys in the entire world!!