What's The Scoop?

Okay, I'm sure you're all wondering what's going on with us;)! So here goes!


Doctor visit went well, but we are having a full bloodwork done, just in case..as well as a...well..."poop" screening too. She is constantly having this NASTY poopy, yucky stuff...so I want to be sure there's not some underlying issue there. We expected her to be a little "off" when we got home, but it's been 7 weeks, so just wondering.

I do question some other things..such as, when I speak to her, she repeats what I say(whether in Bulgarian or English), and doesn't really answer my questions..just repeats what I say. I seriously wonder if she knows any more Bulgarian than she does English at this point, other than the basic words. She still gets the boys names confused..maybe that's to be expected. There are times when I see a typical three year old, but mostly I wonder if she is beyond about an 18 month level...especially in the areas of language, etc. It does make communication VERY difficult, as well as setting any expectations of her. Maybe others can shed some light on the whole repeating issue.

She is still doing VERY well in every other area! She is going to Daddy most times he asks while we are at home, but when out and about she prefers me. In fact, when he comes home from work, she runs screaming for him along with the other kids:)! Very cute! She is also singing a Bulgarian/English version of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star..very cute as well!

She's still terrified of the mower, the hair dryer, the vacuum...but the car is much better. This is all too funny since we took her to the fair(ours is pretty big), and all the noises there didn't bother her at all!!

Umm, what else...fine motor skills are pretty good. She can cut, scribbles some, and with BOTH hands! We have no idea if she is left or right-handed at this point.
She continues to play well with the other kids, and is giving us lots of kisses and hugs, so she is certainly attaching well!:)

She is eating a little more variety..but loves any kind of potato! I'm sure this was a staple in Bulgaria, so this is not surprising. LOVES french fries!

Okay, I'm finished boring you! I'm looking forward to seeing more kiddos being referred from Bulgaria SOON! HOPEFULLY!:)

Now to the pics!

Confessions of a MOM

This is an article the LORD brought to my attention via another bloggy friend a couple of days ago and let me tell you, it was absolutely what I needed to read!

And, it's written by a girl I went to high school with!!! I actually graduated with her sister and followed her somewhat horrendous journey to her daughter in Guatemala, right as it closed down. Anyway...read it! Ponder it! Pray over it! Be prepared!

http://www.rainbowkids.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=536

Bonding and Sunflowers

Where do I start???

Let me start with a story.... While we were in Bulgaria, on our way to Sliven to pick up Ava, we passed fields and fields of the most beautiful SUNFLOWERS! And as each field passed, I noticed that ALL the sunflowers in each field were facing the direction of the sun... As we returned that afternoon, they had "turned" and were still following the sun!....and I wondered if this was just a coincidence(after all who can be sure what anything looks like at 90 MPH!!)...

When we returned home my hubby did some searching, and sure enough, there is a chemical in the sunflower(or something...my mind tends to wander when exposed to all things scientific;)) that makes them turn to face the morning sun and the same in the afternoon(I think..). I can't help but think of the body of Christ as that field of beautiful sunflowers...stretching and looking up to THE SON for our daily nourishment and provision...totally in sync...totally dependent on the SON!

That's where I am today folks....stretching and yearning and looking to the SON for my daily provision...this bonding stuff is NOT coming easy for me, and I am struggling immensly! It's like a switch has been turned off in me...that's the only way I can describe it...where once there was compassion and love, there is emptiness and numbness...this totally STINKS!!!

So, I keep leaning and stretching toward the one who can fill me..day by day by day...

All this to say, please keep us in your prayers...the enemy seems to be winning(and yes, I believe it is a spiritual attack of massive proportions!)...but my GOD is bigger...so I'm leaning hard!

NEW BLOG ADDRESS!!!

Okay, for NOW I'm finished setting up the new blog..it's awfully green..so that may change;).

It's no longer adoptingava.blogspot.com.

It is now intothefieldsofthefatherless.blogspot.com

What Now?

First of all, let me start by saying, Ava is still doing well! She is letting Daddy hold her more(I'm leaving them together tomorrow for a couple of hours..hope this goes well), she is swinging and playing outside more..before she just stood there and watched.. She is laying down for naps and bedtime without crying(I still rock for a few minutes and I lay there long enough for her to settle), she is not crying in the car anymore...until we stop and she sees the other kids getting..I make her stop crying before she gets out(I know, MEAN MOMMY!)..but usually just telling her "Ne Plachi"(no crying) once works:). She is throwing a few little fits here and there...but if I ignore her..she stops... Really that's about all..our lives seem extremely "normal" right now... The language barrier is driving ME bonkers, but she doesn't seem to mind...she just goes about her business:). Last night we had Daddy's birthday dinner at his mom's house and Ava did really well. I held her for a bit, then she got down and played with all the kids/cousins and had a blast..only checking in with me every now and then;)...she did MUCH better than I expected. We are also taking her to church with us on Sundays, and she sits with us(no nursery for a long time, till she understands we're not going to leave her forever, and she is SECURELY attached to us. Also, no one else holds her but me or Ben..which is fine, because she won't go to anyone else...sorry folks, she needs to know who the PRIMARY people are in her life..no "shallow" attachements right now). She has been to Wal-Mart, and restaurants and is fine(no anxiety) anywhere we go.

In the last post I left a link to a website that has GREAT lists of signs of healthy attachment, RAD, etc... I was so excited to find it! I'm even more excited that Ava actually is doing ALL the things listed on the "healthy attachment" list...for now...they say problems can still come later...hence the need for this great link;)!

Now...what's next for us? After 18 months of "adoption" planning and paperwork and advocating and crying with other families...what now? Do we just leave it all behind? I can't!!! I will continue to blog about our adoption and other related stuff....we still have a great responsibility to advocate for these children, even though our daughter is home.

I will still be praying for all of you and watching to see your journeys unfold, and I will continue to pray for direction as to what the next step is for our family... I have a strong desire to adopt again...and have a tremendous burden for HIV+ children and Ethiopia...but we just found out we have to put in a new septic system....yeah, that could/will cost THOUSANDS of dollars! I'm so bummed! So, if you know anyone in Northwest Ohio who installs septic systems CHEAP, let me know! But we are just praying...letting the Lord lead...and surrendering to whatever he calls us to do.

Adopting Ava was never about me having another child, or another daughter(have FOUR boys already...DUH!!:))...it has always been about following Jesus into the fields of fatherless children and bringing them into a family...or advocating for them in other ways... And I will continue to do just that..it is my PASSION..and the calling I believe the Lord has placed on my life. I can't wait to see what He does next in our lives:)! Surrendered! Wholly devoted! And may our prayer always be "Here am I, LORD send ME!"

I covet your prayers and friendship more than you know bloggy friends! So stay tuned, it's far from OVER:)!

By the way...I'm thinking of changing our blog title to "Into The Fields"...I think I like it:)!

Just Sharin':)

Here's a couple of blogs to check out... Watch out..the first one's a DOOZY!;)

http://www.allarepreciousinhissight.blogspot.com (Go to Sunday, Aug.1st post)

http://www.A4everFamily.org (This one has GREAT articles on healthy attachment etc.)

I'll update you on Ava soon, I promise:).