I cannot believe we are here already.... yet I cannot remember a time when she wasn't with us.
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| Christmas 2014- still working on looking at the camera AND smiling nicely :) |
As part of our adoption agreement with Russia, we were required to complete four post-adoption reports to show their officials that Lina is being well cared for here at home- one at the six month home mark as well as one year home, two years home, and three years home. Since our adoption was finalized before we even made it home from Russia, the reports served the purpose of ensuring these officials that Americans are good parents and to keep adoptions open to future families. Sadly, politics got in the way and Russian adoptions have been closed to most all foreign countries, yet we still send our reports. Why?? I have one word: HOPE.
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| Little Natasha meeting her parents July 2012 |
Yes, we made an agreement, and we are following through on our word clinging to faith that one day the doors will open again. Thousands of children wait behind closed doors, and we cannot give up hope that one day they will find their forever families, some of whom already met their potential families but have been denied the ability to go home.
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| Sadly, sweet Natasha was caught in the ban and still waits in Russia |
To follow along and support the parents still fighting to get their children home please go HERE and "like" their Facebook page.
To view a trailer for a powerful documentary featuring Natasha and her parents go HERE.
So I got the call. Our fourth and final post-adoption visit has been scheduled with our social worker. Part of me is so sad this will be our last one, since these really are big brag fests!! We discuss any medical appointments or concerns we've had as well as all the progress Lina has made in the last year, and I share a slew of photos to be submitted with our report.
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| Lina started ballet this year- cannot get over how tall she has gotten! |
The older kids love sharing their stories involving Lina as well, and brag on her just as much! I will miss this, but will have to take the time to continue bragging right here on my blog. :)
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| Halloween 2014 |
We will talk about the convulsive episodes Lina had this past year, and let them know we followed up with her pediatrician as well as neurology and cardiology. All came back clear, and we were given some instructions to help prevent these from happening again. We believe they were caused by a drop in blood pressure when she got up combined with slight dehydration since she had been fighting off some germs. Knock on wood, she has been fine since my last blog post in November.
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| Lina at the orthodontist getting her palate expander removed- she was soooo happy to be rid of it! |
We will discuss Lina's orthodontia she has been going through from top and bottom palate expanders to braces. Her mouth had absolutely no room for her adult teeth coming in, and her two top front teeth were erupting way too far back in her mouth. The expander helped tremendously- as soon as room was created they began moving forward on their own. We just got word yesterday that the braces will be coming off next month!! Lina is so excited!! Going to the orthodontist is not one of her favorite things. The orthodontist also mentioned that she may not need a Phase 2 regarding braces since she is missing several adult teeth- something that is common for folks with Down syndrome. That was definitely music to our ears!
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| Lina with her new braces! |
I started going through old photos and videos from when Lina first came home and cannot believe how much she has grown!! I try to remind myself that she was smaller than Evan is right now, but my brain just can't wrap itself around that idea. Check out this little peanut!!
(need to add video again- stay tuned!)
Just as I struggle to remember holding my biological children as tiny babies, I truly struggle to remember holding and carrying Lina so small just three years ago. She has grown SO much in every way imaginable.
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| Just a couple days home- note the bandages on her hands while we were treating the horrible fungus on her hands and feet |
It still amazes me to this day how she just walked through our front door and carried on as if she had always been here. That just doesn't happen when you adopt an *older* child who has suffered trauma. She truly is the bravest person I have ever known.
The smiles we were seeing..... Mike and I never saw her smile like this until a day or two after we took custody of her in Russia. Not a one while we visited her in the orphanage.
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| Blowing kisses <3 Oh that sweet face!! |
Lina my darling, we are so very, very proud of you and all that you have overcome in your first five years of life. You are so incredibly smart and have a great desire to learn more and more. I have never met a child with such great determination and perseverance as you. You will go to great places and I am so honored to be a part of your journey. We are so SO blessed to have you in our family and I cannot imagine life without you.
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| Lina learned how to swing all by herself this past summer :) |
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| Our little Russian loves the snow! |
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