Update

I don't know that there will ever, ever be adequate words that describe my heart these days.  Two long years, excruciatingly painful tears, prayers, intense fear that drove me to the floor, face down, speechless, desperately dependant on God....the verses that meant one thing to me then...a hopeful longing...they've now been fulfilled on the other side...a joyous answer. 

Joshua is doing really marvelous.  We couldn't possibly ask for better.  He's really attached well. We took him out today to show him off to a few people, and he clings to me.  He's a mama's boy.  Though it may appear awkward to others, this is a wonderful sign of attachment to the right person! If he sees that I plan to stick around wherever we are, then he will loosen up and go play, or interact with the stranger a bit more. 

He's VERY comfortable at home.  He is crazy!!!  Totally typical two year old.  Loves his toys, an avid button pusher, and loves to be in his brother and sister's business!  He melted Daddy's heart this morning...he totally went crazy over Daddy when Steve got out of bed this morning and wouldn't let him go for hugs and kisses.  Very sweet.  That same sweet little boy can get into Desitin cream quicker than any kid I've ever seen.  This morning he found it and had diaper ointment breath.  YUCK!!

He mimics us quite a bit, calls us by our names (Mama, Daddy, Sissy, Bubby, Nanny, Paw), has short english words he uses (mine, no, yay, hello, bye-bye, and our fav:  I wub you), and the rest he tries to teach us in creole.  He has been grabbing me, and pointing to whatever he wants.  We're just doing a lot of talking, repetitive speech at this point.  He's a smart little dude, so we're not concerned. 

Eating has been going fairly well.  I do like for him to try things, but often that results in whatever it is being spit out.  So far, he enjoys various forms of chicken, pasta, beans and rice, green beans, fast food, pizza with cheese, sausage, fancy southern breakfasts, eggs, bananas, grapes, mangoes, and cheerios with milk.  He doesn't seem to like beef in roast form or mashed potatoes or oatmeal.  Funny fella.  We are giving him pediasure and liquid vitamins to build his system up as well.  He drinks orange juice, diluted apple juice, skim milk, and water.  If we're out, we normally get him lemonade.  I do believe he would eat a lemon whole!  I'm happy to see that he was well fed in the creche.  We haven't had any issues of him looking for food in the trashcan, or overeating.  When he's full, he's full.  He is a typical two year old that wants to do it himself!  He can get quite a stubborn streak going!

Bedtime has become fairly easy.  He seems to thrive on a routine, so we jammy up, brush teeth, have stories, kiss bubby and sissy, and then I rock and sing him for a bit, and he lays down in his crib.  Naptimes are a bit more dramatic.  I think he's afraid he'll miss something.  I would hold and rock him to sleep for naps, too, but he wants to be goofy and pick at my face and jerk and get slap happy, so I just lay him down, tickle his face a bit, and off I go.  He'll cry some, but it's a very tired cry.  I'm really hoping to establish a decent 2-3 hour afternoon nap. 

So far, the only news we got back from the Dr. office is that his hemoglobin will be taken again in 6 months after a more healthy diet is established.  So no concerns so far.  No TB, no other bloodwork issues (and they tested for EVERYTHING possible)  Still wondering about his fun diaper sample, but I'm assuming that if we don't hear anything, then that will be good, too. 

We will start school again next week, so I will be one busy mama! Steve will be here in the mornings, so that will be helpful.  We will tag team it all and hopefully find a rythym that works for us. The older two kiddos are doing great!  Sis is a little Mama and makes sure I have everything I need, lugging around my little diaper bag and talking to him sweetly.  She'll happily push him around the house in his dumptruck forever!  Daniel thinks he's "awesome."  He likes to get on the floor and go crazy with him.  Which makes for a loud house.  But that's ok.  We're making sure to dialogue with the older two and keep communication open.  I mean, this was all so sudden, and traumatic for everyone.  When Joshua is having a moment, he just becomes more clingy and whines a lot.  I'd whine, too, if noone understood what I was saying!  So, we are practicing patience.  It's hard sometimes, to tell the difference between typical two year old behavior and "I've just been through trauma" behavior.  As we get to know him better, we're more able to decipher these things.  May God give us wisdom.

As for official stuff:  We are awaiting his paperwork to be delivered, and we may have a slight snafu on his visa...he should have come home on an IR3 visa, but his visa reads IR4.  When things settle down, our agency will address this and have it corrected if possible.  If not, then we will readopt him here.    Joshua did NOT come home on humanitarian parole.  We would have taken that (and actually got word from our senator yesterday that he had been approved), but we're thankful he came home on an approved visa because we were far enough along in the process, not to mention it happened more quickly the visa route.  We did receive a social security card in the mail today.  Didn't know that was coming.  Strange.  Anyone else get one?  Not complaining!  One less thing for me to do!

Our prayers and thoughts are still very much with Haiti and the children left behind.  Haitians are strong, resilient, resourceful, beautiful people.  I pray that God will show Himself strong to this people and draw them to Himself in these days, making Haiti a nation that sings forth HIS praises.