2 years ago today........

It was such a surprise 2 years ago to receive a phone call from our social worker with a referral! We had been waiting for over 2 years but had last been told we would be waiting for a while longer. You can read the post about "referral day" back on the April 2009 postings. Here is the little face that I saw looking at me from a computer screen:

I know I haven't updated in a long, long time. Life with 4 active children has kept me super busy and blogging has fallen down the priority list. But I do want to keep some type of record of our journey and today is one of those special days we'll never forget.

An update on Elizabeth: She is doing well attending preschool. Her language skills are improving daily and she is very active! She has been doing therapy for her hand but we have stopped for a while b/c she and John are traveling to Philadelphia to see Dr. Kozin in a few weeks. We wanted Dr Kozin to assess her for surgery and determine a timeline. We had thought surgery would wait until she is about 5 or 6 but now we are rethinking that and waiting to see what Dr. Kozin thinks. When we first met Elizabeth she completely ignored her arm/hand but now she very much uses it as a "helper" and we've even seen some new movements....very slight but still its movement! Elizabeth is fearless and will try most anything. We went to Disney World and she loved the rides and thrills. She does NOT like people dressed up however. So we skipped meeting the characters. She is a girly girl and loves dressing up, playing with her dolls and driving her siblings crazy.

We have been attending a new Sunday School class at church and we are using a book called The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis. She is at Texas Christian and has groundbreaking work with attachment and children who are "from hard places"....ie kids who are adopted. This class has been a HUGE help for us and has redesigned how we approach parenting for Elizabeth and all our kids. I STRONGLY encourage anyone who has adopted, has an adopted family member, works with orphans/foster kids, teachers, social works, therapist, ministers......pretty much anyone who reads this blog I'm guessing has an interest in adoption/orphan ministry. PLEASE read this book. You could be a great help to a child and or parents.

Here are some updated photos.....finally : )

First Day of School

Fall Break in St Louis

Halloween

Elizabeth's 3rd Birthday

Christmas

Christmas Pageant with cousins

Sledding

Disney World