Settling In:)

Well, this is our second day home and we have witnessed a miracle over the past week and a half. Yun Wei is very relaxed at home and we are seeing less and less stubborn and more happy! We took him to the pediatric nephrologist yesterday and he was very brave. They took about five vials of blood (a lot for such a little guy) and he didn't even flinch. I have a feeling, with his condition he is quite used to this kind of stuff:( As soon as he saw the blood pressure cuff he was rolling up his sleeve! We used the translator app on my Iphone to tell him we would go to Toy's R Us and buy him a Nerf Dart gun after the appt. That probably helped too;)

The nephrologist basically did not have enough info from the medical records we have to really know how to continue his treatment and medication, so that is why he requested the bloodwork. We will also have to give him a 24-hour urine collection and next week he will have to do an ultrasound as well. At that point, he will have a base line for Yun Wei's condition and we can make sure that he is not taking unnecessary medication. At least six of the pills he takes each day were in question.

So after the doc office, we went and got some dart guns. We got one for each of the big kids and of course--one for Don. Yun Wei was very proud--on the ride home we let him take his out of the bag and hold it. When we got out of the car he ran to the front door to show everyone. They have spent several hours in the basement playing with the Nerf guns. The kids team up against Don and I need to video it because Yun Wei giggles the whole time.

He is very sweet to the babies, but they aren't really sure about him yet;) They kind of frown at him a little, but he just smiles and seems patient. Ansley has opened up a little with him---she gave him a hug good night and says his name.

He really likes Bartley (our family dog), which is good because when we were in China he said he did not like dogs. In retrospect, I think he had just not had a chance to be around many. Today, Bartley was curled up on his lap watching a movie.

I slept on the floor of Donovan and Yun Wei's room the first night, because I was a little nervous about being all the way upstairs. But he seemed fine last night and every day seems to be more normal. Also, now that there aren't options for food--he is beginning to try something beyond noodles-which is good because right now I could never see another noodle in my life and be okay with that;)

Please continue to pray for his adjustment---God has brought him so far in just a week! We are soooo happy to be home and he seems so much happier as well. He is still very strong-willed, but he letting go of his anger so much faster now! Also he had been calling Don, "Poppa"--which is what the orphanage teaches them to say I guess. We did not correct it, but just figured with time he would realize his brother and sisters were saying "Daddy". Today, he started saying "Daddy"!

It will be lots harder to blog now because with six kids, there is always one that is getting into something lol-I probably will try once a week just so everyone that is praying will know how to continue.

Again, thank you for all for your encouragement and prayer---they have and DO mean so much to Don and I.

God Bless all of you!
Nat