the other two....

Remember how we now have THREE boys?
In case you thought we forgot the two big boys in all the Solomon-celebrating, here are Ethan (7) and Josiah's (3) birthday portraits for this September:

*one month HOME*

This post has everything you want:
loads of pictures
bullet point updates
a little boy home with his forever family

This format may be because i finally heard your requests for "short and sweet"....or it may be because we now have three boys that may light themselves on fire if our attention is diverted for more than 30 seconds.
(Dear social worker potentially reading this: we really do have all the flammable items locked up.  our boys super powers just include spontaneous combustion.)
*grin*

Within the first week home, we had ben's sister (check her out!) take some family portraits for us:

And now a month later, here how we've changed from a timid, skinny baby to a laughing, smiling, chubby toddler:

Gotta love that RED hair!

*Solomon as packed on about a pound and grown almost half an inch taller!  can you say CATCH-UP GROWTH?!  We actually got a high-five from the nutritionist because Solomon's rate of growth is currently 38 g/day (normal catch-up rate is 15-30 g/day!).

*Cardiologist is very happy with how Solomon's heart is looking.  Yes, the hole is still there and is still rather large, but his pulmonary system is strong and the heart is no longer enlarged.  We are still taking heart medication and going in for check-ups every 2 months, but she does not anticipate the need for surgery!

*Bonding and attachment is amazing.  Seriously.  We were prepared for so much worse and while not "easy," everything has been on the "manageably normal" side!  Originally, Solomon would only wander a foot or two away from Ashley at any given time.  Now that he's feeling more secure, Solomon's "tether" is significantly longer at home and in public.

*No more intestinal parasites!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thank you, modern medicine, for making diaper changing survivable.

*Vomiting has lessened considerably.  Rather than a "my tummy is too small to eat more than 6 ounces at a time" issue, its a food control issue.  "I don't want to eat peaches and just to show you how much I don't want to eat peaches, I shall now empty my entire stomach contents."  Fun times.  But we're making progress and the weight gain proves it.

*Sleeping through the night is a far away dream....yes, one day he'll be 16 and we won't be able to wake him up.  But right now?  A full, uninterrupted 6 or 7 hours sounds like heaven.  One thing that is really super fantastic about night feedings is the bonding time.  We're making up for all the night feedings we never had with teeny, tiny, newborn Solomon.  Sleep-training will come...in the meantime, be patient with us as we wander around in a stupor for awhile longer.  *grin*

It is still surreal to have Solomon home.  We are exhausted and thrilled and thankful and overwhelmed and SO SO SO JOYFUL.  As Josiah said this morning: Count your blessings...and your chocolate chips.