Our Beginning of Wisdom....: Friends

I don't know if I have mentioned it, assuming you would infer it from the copious photos of my boys playing with the same three girls, but just in case you are unaware....my boys are enthralled by all things "Moba-lee". (Names have been left in Jude's accent to protect the innocent.)
We are working on getting the boys to address adults by Mr. and Mrs. Jude's rookie attempts had him calling both the parents and grandparents of this brood by his version of the parents last name..."Hey, Moba-lee, drrrrrink???" It didn't come across quite as respectful as we had hoped.
So, anywhooooo, all the kiddos really like playing together, but Jude is OBSESSED. When he sees a car, any make or model, that is in the same color family as the "Moba-lee's" vehicle, he starts yelling "Moba-lee!!! Moba-lee!!!" No, Jude. That's an emerald green Fiat. It in no way resembles a vehicle that can hall a large crew like theirs. But he persists.
Owen's second first-week-of-school went pretty well, in spite of a 5am panic attack by me, induced by a FB post from a friend who has WAY more energy and imagination than me regarding making the first day of Kindergarten special. ( You know who you are, Gina!) Owen managed to get to school on time, in a uniform that had been WASHED before the first wearing (that is as fancy as I got, folks, to mark this occasion. I am normally a rip-the-tags-off-in-the-car kinda gal), with a lunch packed that did not put any one with a peanut allergy at risk of anaphylaxis, and I called it a day. Whew.
Jude and I spent the time that Owen was at school playing catch-up. Jude is learning to write his full name, say his address, dial Jim's number in case of emergency, identify body parts, colors, numbers to 100, alphabet, right hand from left, and direction (in front of, above, below, beside, near, far), patterns, shapes, rhyming, etc etc. He is doing well, and Rome wasn't built in a day. Personal mantra.
We got a call from the audiologist, canceling our appointment for Jude to receive his hearing aids. Rescheduled for next month. Yes, a month later. But hey! What are 30 DAYS to a kiddo who can't hear consonants, especially when he is trying to learn a NEW language? Pfffft.
Lastly, we went to Cincinnatti Children's to see one of the premier orthopedic spine guys in the country, because three other physicians saw a C2-C3 fusion on an MRI. Two of those three physicians were worried about it. This guy said there is no fusion. What's more, there is no scoliosis either! ( I not only have three physicians saying it IS scoliosis, but the docs in China thought it was too.)
So, the upshot is Jude is fine. NATURALLY, he wants to see us back in 6 months, but Jude is fine. On that note, one of the nurses was very interested in us, picking our collective consciousness (Jim and I only have one brain shared between us anymore. He kindly shares his with me) about adoption. She walked away seeing Jude, the kid, not the diagnosis (whatever the heck that turns out to be.) Which makes me want to include a disclaimer here. Yes, adoption is hard. It's hard getting used to a whole 'nother full-blown personality in the house. It's hard spending all.this.time. at the doctors making absolutely no progress. It's hard not speaking the same language. (I am saying that from MY standpoint, not even going down the road of how hard this is for Jude.) but you know what else it is? WORTH IT. Owen has a brother, that he shares with, fights with, pees with, and laughs with...usually one of those causes one of the other ones of those. Jim and I have another child. We are now the parents of two kids, and that is WILDLY different from being the parents of one. :) And Jude has a Mom and Dad. He doesn't really know what that means yet, partially because he was cared for very well at Yuhang, so his basic needs being met, here or there, isn't that different. But he will. Jim and I have a VERY noisy house, a much smaller retirement, a lot more gray hair, but also a whole different perspective on things. Do you ever stop and think of how your life would be different if you had had NO family? Jude was taken care of very well, for which we are grateful, but he didn't have someone vested in his outcome, his future, his eternal future.

All that being said, I have struggled with the situation. I have made it about me. I have not shown grace. I have been immersed in the crisis, or to-do list of the moment, and lose sight of the forest for the trees. I sincerely hope I haven't discouraged someone on their journey by my failings, and want to take a minute to point out a few things:

- we weren't looking for Jude. We were Systematically Redirected, one small degree at a time, until our hearts were pointed in the "right" direction.

- Jude's file said he had scoliosis. A few docs here said he had scoliosis. But THE doc who is a premier spine doc in the country says he doesn't have scoliosis, his joint issues just are keeping him from lying in such a way that an XRay looks normal. Catch that? NO scoliosis.

- when we were in China, they told us his vision in his left eye was iffy, and we should have it checked. So we did, when we got home. Guess what? 20/25 in left eye, 20/20 in right.

.....those are just a few of things this journey has revealed. Maybe you have to be in the middle of it to see the Hand behind it, but I doubt it. I'm not that observant, and I can see it. Despite my failings and short comings, I fully expect to be able to continue to enumerate all the surprises and Good Things in store for us, as this journey progresses. I don't always have it in the forefront of my mind, when in the midst of wiping water off my bathroom CEILING, or cleaning gum off the inside of my dryer (because our resident bubble-blower left the ENTIRE pack of gum in his pocket, then threw the shorts in the laundry), but in calmer moments I am able to remember that He works ALL THINGS together for my good. It's hard for me to remember that in the heat of a moment. Maybe it's hard for you to, too. So let this serve as a reminder to us both. ALL THINGS.

And now on to the day-to-day,,,,