"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break." -Chinese Proverb



21.3.11

still on vacation






for two 2 more days....... here are some pictures.....

9.3.11

Swimming

I enrolled the boy into swimming lessons after we went to our local public pool due to his sheer joy of being in the water.....this would be our second round of swimming lessons, though the first one was just he and I in the water, with his getting used to it.....but this session.....this session was Sea Turtles 1 where parents go in with the child and slowly get out of the water, leaving the child with the instructor......the first night there, all 5 of the other classmates were crying, clinging to their parent and overall upset, not wanting to try new things, like putting faces in water, going down the water slide and jumping in...but not my kid....my kid was demanding I let go of him....that he swim by himself.... he was the poster child for a water baby.....and then something happened....I don't know what...I can't put my finger on it but as soon as I got out of the water, he would cry.....and call for me....(the first four lessons he was fine when I got out) until the last two lessons where parents weren't expected (but could go) to go in with their child. I chose not to....not because I was being mean but because I wanted him to feel a sense of accomplishment and independence.....we would talk about him going in on his own, how proud he and I would be, how I would clap for him....and he would do well....for about 5 minutes....then he would bawl the remainder of the class....and of I course, I insisted that he follow through, with me there supporting him from the deck....so he would have to listen to his teacher, once he did it, he could sit with me on the edge of the pool....and he did fine like that....Here is the proof that he did swimming classes....and if you look closely of him in the water, you can see the confusion between love and hate of water!

so excited to have his duck towel on telling me that I was going to clap for him.
in the water with his awesome instructor
after his loved shower
eating his snack of peppers
ready to go home.....running up the ramp......

7.3.11

PRIDE


So we are excited about getting started on adoption number 2...... We want to have another child and we want to give Adrien a sibling relatively close in age but getting into a PRIDE training that works for us is getting challenging. First we were offered a four weekend intensive training but because hubby was working weekends at the time, it didn't work for us, now the trainings will be on Monday nights......and again, hubby is working and though he had arranged to have flex hours, Monday nights he works with an outside agency.....which would mean that we have to wait (again) until the fall! You know, we did a training course and were able to adopt Adrien with it but because it was prior to 2006, the government will not approve us as an adoptive family for another adoption. TOTALLY SUCKS.....now we have to wait and find out from supervisors and child care if the new night will work for us.....arghhhhh.....


(PRIDE training is part of a larger process for assessing, preparing and supporting adoptive families. The 27-hour training program is facilitated by two trainers who co-lead the PRIDE sessions: one an adoption professional and one an adoptive or foster parent. The training complements the homestudy process necessary for all international adoptions as well as both public and private domestic adoptions

Through the use of videos, exercises, discussions and real examples, prospective adoptive parents learn how to understand the unique issues experienced by adopted children and how to help them manage their adoption status throughout life. In the PRIDE sessions adoptive parents will learn:

  • The basics of child growth and development, specifically regarding attachment
  • How to help adopted children through their losses
  • The importance of maintaining contact with birthfamilies
  • How to support adopted kids through issues such as abuse and delays in emotional, physical and mental health
  • The necessity of preserving the heritage and culture of adopted children
  • Appropriate ways of disciplining
  • Changes the adoptive family will undergo as a result of adopting a child

The PRIDE training emphasizes that adoptive parents are part of team of professionals working together to ensure the adopted child’s needs are met both in the short and long term.



3.3.11

Sick

We've had a bug pass through our house......first it hit the boy.....and now me.....but we've been able to keep it real!

Grocery shopping with his friends
Watching TV like a big kid

His own personal grovery store.....caught you!