Top of a Roller Coaster

That's what it feels like right now.  Top of a roller coaster.  We've been planning for the past months, packing and getting everything ready for the past 4 weeks.  Emerson's room painted, check. Dentist appointments for 4 of us, check.  Abram's follow up cardiologist appointment, check....Chase's school project, check.  Aubrey's Valentine box, check. Juice boxes for Abram's Valentine party, check. Meals in my freezer, check(thanks to some friends!). Packing...um...almost check.


We've been so busy getting ready, physically and mentally.  I've been preparing myself for the worse.  Some say I'm pessimistic...I say I'm realistic.  Nearly every adoption has it's hard times, some more than others.  I'm not looking at this adoption through "rose colored glass".  Oh, I hope for the best...but I'm expecting it to be down right hard.  AND maybe, just maybe in some areas I might be pleasantly surprised. Oh, I sure hope so.


So here we are, almost ready to begin our adventures.  Life has been routine, predictable and I like it that way, but I know there's something greater around the bend.  Many times we have to go through the hard things to see the gems in life.  Abram was that way.  He was up MULTIPLE times a night the first few months at home, he DEMANDED my attention(and still does), he pooped though his pants 2-4 times a day for the first 4 months or so, he wasn't potty trained until he was over 4 years old(much to my frustration)....and though he's grown out of some of these things, there are aspects of him, that I just have to accept, that's Abram.  We've been through some of the tough adjustments with him(at this stage of life)...and on the other side, there is laughter...LOTS of laughter.  Abram makes us all laugh every day.  He makes life interesting, that's for sure.  Aubrey and him are the best of playmates(usually) and him and Chase are good buddies.  Every morning, Abram snuggles up onto my lap(and usually begs to sip my coffee) and sits there for several minutes.  He adores Daddy.  And, well...life is a party in Abram's eyes.  And just to think....if we hadn't gone through the hard stuff(adoption, adjustments, surgeries....) we would be missing this precious gem in life.


So as we travel this road again, I know it won't look exactly the same.  But I pray that I won't get "bogged" down with the hard, tough adjustments.  I pray that we can enjoy our time in China, despite being away from our 2 youngest for 2 weeks and despite being in a Hotel room for 2 weeks. I pray that I can lower my expectations for myself in the weeks and months that will follow and that I can "roll with the punches".


Thanks for joining us in our adventures for the next 2 weeks.  Post a comment if you want, we love to read them and to know that we aren't alone in this, even though we are half way around the world!