UPDATE ON OLIVIA AND LUKE

I am aware that I have not kept up with blogging.  In my defense it has been so busy here with two new little ones joining the family.  However, I know that it is not fair to keep everyone waiting for an update so long.  I know how I feel when I follow families adoption journeys.  It becomes so personal to me and I always look forward to checking in on the blogs and seeing how everyone is doing.  So here we go:
I will start with Olivia.  She came home ready, willing and able to bond with all of us.  She was thin and frail and at age 4 she was wearing a size 3 in clothes.  She has a wonderful appetite and likes most foods.  She did come home with giardia but that was quickly cleared up with meds.  In these past two months she has opened her heart and jumped into family life as if she had been here forever.  If you remember, her referral stated that she had cerebral palsy, mental retardation and an umbilical hernia.  Well, the only thing that was correct was the umbilical hernia which will be repaired next summer as per her doctor.  She does not have cerebral palsy and she does not have mental retardation.  In fact, she is a very bright little girl.  She is already able to recite her ABC's, she has memorized several songs, she is completely potty trained even at night. She knows her colors, shapes and is eager to learn everything.  She even remembers to say her blessing before she eats. She is adorable to say the least and we love her so much.  Olivia is also learning to share. Her first  few weeks home she thought she should be able to snatch toys away from her siblings even those that did not belong to her.  She has learned to chew with her mouth closed, (something I am still working on with an older brother of hers; LOL)  She no longer hits the other kids, (she learned they would hit back and she did not like that at all)  She no longer puts her hands on her hips and goes HHMMMMM when she does not get her way, she quickly learned that the only thing that earns you at our home is your nose in the corner while mommy watches to make sure you feel safe yet learn your lesson.  Olivia has come far in a short time and I know she will continue to thrive within the safety and love of our family.
Now to update on Luke-Thomas. When Luke arrived and his daddy placed him in my arms for the first time, I knew he was where God intended him to be.  I do not even know how to explain how this little boy filled a place in my heart that was reserved just for him.  Luke was so tiny that it scared me.  At 4 years old, he was in size 18 month clothes.  He weighed in at 20 pounds and was just the cutest little boy I had ever seen.  We immediately started him on pediasure with all the food he wanted to eat.  I am thrilled to say that Luke now weighs 28 pounds.  Yep, he gained 8 pounds in two months and he feels so much better and has lots more energy than when he arrived.  He has spent the past two months going to Doctors and Specialists and lots of testing.  So far I only have great news to report.  His urologist cleared him and never needs to see him again.  He was seen by one of the best Orthopedic Surgeons who said that his skeletal structure was completely normal, just tiny, and that he did not need to wear bracing on his feet any longer and that he did not need to be seen by him for a year and he will reevaluate him then but he did not expect for anything to change between now and then.  YAY!!!  He was also seen be a Gastroenterologist and had upper and lower GI testing and other than having a redundant colon, (which means he has a loopy colon) no treatment needed, he had perfectly normal results. Then he was seen by ENT and no problems there.  We have appts set with the geneticist and Neurologist and figure they will be able to give us some answers as to why Luke is so tiny and cannot walk.  Until then, we have gotten Luke a pediatric walker and that kid can get anywhere he wants to go with this thing.  He loves having the freedom to move about like his siblings.  He also has learned to walk around the couch and tables holding on.  He is such a trooper.  He is constantly smiling and singing, laughing, smiling, smiling, smiling!!!!  He is such a happy boy and we just love him so much.  He is eating great, (loves yogurt) he also can recite his ABC's, sing twinkle twinkle little star, say his blessing before his meals, put a small puzzle together, brush his teeth, play and share with siblings, and loves his Toy Story Car that was sent to him by a very special couple who reviewed his file and allowed his file to go back so that we could pursue his adoption.  He is cognitively just fine.  He has some delays but is catching up quickly and will be on target very soon.  He understands what is being said to him and is speaking English and Chinese.  He is willing to learn and is patient while being taught.  He loves cars and trucks also enjoys playing outside.  We have an area set up with mats so that he can crawl without skinning his knees if he does not want to use his walker outside.  He loves bath time, playtime, nap time, anytime!  He just loves life!!!  He goes to bed with a smile on his face and says "I wu you" every night to me.  He is happy to be home.    
Both kiddos had their baptism last Saturday and it was a special moment for all of us.  We have been blessed by all of our children and are thankful and appreciative that we are allowed to parent these precious kids of ours.