Isaac!!!

Today we were the last family to receive our child.  We were getting a little anxious so Danielle called after Veldon mentioned we still didn’t have a little boy.  I guess she hadn’t noticed… Vans kept rolling up and pulling children out, sometimes carrying them under their arms like a bundle of paper…it was sad, and none were Isaac. The big room at the Civil Affairs office was crowded and growing louder by the minute with very unhappy babies and young children while there we stood waiting and waiting.  After about 20 minutes of noise and frustration we went outside for the some quiet and to watch the driveway. 

When the last van pulled in and a sweet little boy in pink shoes and denim overalls walked around the edge holding the hand of his nanny there was no doubt who he was. Not only because we were last, but also because he looked exactly like his pictures.  You know when you see a child or a person and you look and talk to yourself…”Is that so and so? Is that the person I know?” and then you see the person and there’s no wondering you just know it?  That’s what it was like. We kept seeing boys and I would think, “Is that him, it kind of looks like him. He’s not a cute as I thought he would be.” (Because, yes I’m that shallow) and it wasn’t, but when he stepped out from around the van there was no doubt.  It was Isaac. 

While holding his nanny’s hand he kind of smiled up the stairs at us and kind of didn’t.  We knelt down and he would have walked right on by but I scooped him up.  He was not thrilled with that.  We talked to him and held him and he cried.  Veldon pulled a Chinese cookie out, that we had saved from the train ride, and handed it to Isaac.  He was very interested in the food and proceeded to eat, and then he shared with me.  We walked around the little yard when we would put him down he would head back to where he left his nanny so we would scoop him up again.  He settled down while eating the cookie (and M&Ms) and was doing great, but we had to go back into the big, noisy room and fill out and sign paperwork. 

While were doing the paperwork the nanny held Isaac so when it was time to take him back and return to the hotel he was not having any of it.  He cried and cried. All the way back to the hotel, or almost, he fell asleep about a block from the Holiday Inn.  We came in and immediately commenced with a bath. He was very unpleasant smelling.  We peeled 3 layers of cloths off and stuck him in the warm water.  He was not impressed and held on to the sides of the tub, but he did allow me to wash him.  We then wrapped him in a towel and he was quite happy. I remembered I brought him a Mickey Mouse towel and grabbed it and switched.  He caught his reflection in the mirror and almost grinned, then he remembered he was unhappy and stopped grinning.  I showed him the clothes in his suitcase and then the smiles began. As I dressed him and smiled and touched his clothes and laughed.  It was so sweet!

The clothes I brought him are all too big, the pants and shoes are seriously too big.  He needs at least a size smaller maybe two.  His foot is about half the size of the size 9 shoes I brought and his little tiny butt can’t hold up his 2T pants.  So we will need to buy some clothes.  We walked to Wal-Mart today and go shoes, but no clothes they’re next on the list. 

We had concerns about spina bifida and I would say he has something, whether it will affect him or not remains to be seen.  He walks really well, runs and seems to have no leg or feet issues.  He’s not potty trained and we aren’t sure if there’s a reason for that.  He has a couple of spots on his back, but no lumps and no hairy patches.  He’ll need to be checked, but at this point I think whatever it is will not play a huge part in his life unless he is incontinent which if he is you just deal with it.  He doesn’t seem to leak any so that’s really good.  I think he’s not potty trained because the orphanage didn’t bother…just like with Max. Of course, time will tell.

He is so skinny.  His arms and legs are just flesh and bone.  He’s eaten nonstop since we got him and shows no sign of slowing down.  He is drinking water constantly and loves his little thermos that matches Max’s.

Max and Katie are great.  Of course Katie is that wasn’t a concern.  LOL  Max is doing his best.  He’s jealous and is constantly reminding us he is here.  When Isaac does something cute Max has to do it too, it just doesn’t translate as cute when a 7 year old does it.  Sweet boy…he’ll figure it out and he’ll figure out his place. That we still love him just as much and he is secure, but there are going to be some bumps. 

For now we are checking into changing rooms.  It will cost more, but these stupid, oversized twin beds that are supposed to sleep two are the worst and I don’t think I can take another night on them with my XL, adorable as he might be, husband.  Plus there’s no real place for Isaac.  We might switch to a King room and pay for the roll away for Katie.  I’m just exhausted and done!  There may not be a room to switch to and if not we’ll make it. 

We are so grateful to have this sweet, beautiful, hungry boy! God has great big plans for him and we are glad to be a part of them.