Our Theo has been home almost 9 months now...so hard to believe, yet at the same time I was telling Matt just last night that China felt like a lifetime ago. I feel like my life will always be before China and after China. We have had our moments of struggle and frustration and unknowns. Lots of time spent wondering when this will feel normal and if I'm honest it still doesn't feel normal most days but we are getting there in our own time. God is doing a mighty work in my heart, this process has revealed my weaknesses and my strengths unlike any other experience in my lifetime. I feel like God is totally refining me in this time making me more compassionate, more sympathetic, more open minded and definitely revealing my selfish tendencies and telling me to leave them at the door...please and thank you.
The kiddos have adjusted in their own ways as well, some struggling more than others, time spent with school social workers (hey hey it's ok to admit and ask for help, sometimes they just need to hear something coming from a mouth other than mom or dad's) The "frienemies" also known as Colbie and Theo will forever and always have each others back...what a bond that I did not anticipate when we started this journey. Garrett is already asking for more kids and holy moly brother slow your roll, mommy is not there yet... maybe ever. I will say I believe our journey in orphan care and prevention is not over...we are taking our time adjusting to this new life but we are not done yet (now kids that will carry our last name, pretty sure that is behind us).
Theo is LOVING school and we have had our bumps in how he treats his classmates and follows instruction, the language barrier causes most of this but he recently got a note from school saying he was caught being kind and sharing...I might have cried tears of joy over that little note. I will say he is the most joyful kid and wants to be everyone's friend, I can't wait to watch how this kid makes friends once he is more on their level with the language. I think he might be that boy that everyone knows, all the parents all the kids even if they aren't the best of friends they will know...Theo Heinekamp.
We found a tube in his ear over fall break, as in the little green tubes they put in little kids ears who have lots of fluid and infection issues...we didn't know he had them, they were not in his file. So off to the ENT we went and we have tube surgery on Thursday morning. We are hopeful this will help his hearing issues and in turn his speech and behavior. However, the Dr. said there is always a chance that this has been done too many times and it might not work...but for now we are hopeful!
He is now over 30 lbs (he weighed 23.5 when we picked him up in China) he still wears 3T clothes and is a little peanut but he is growing daily and we are so thankful to watch him learn what he likes and doesn't like and for him to actually leave food at the table (anyone who has a child from trauma knows food is a HUGE trigger to overcome)
I will say one of the biggest joys in this whole last year has been watching my husband since we have been home... he simply put ADORES this kid, he loves Theo unconditionally and is one of his biggest cheerleaders. God put these two together for a reason!
I am so looking forward to this holiday season with all 4 kiddos under our roof, our whole family home and to see it all through Theo's eyes will be a blessing I hope I don't take for granted this season.
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