Where it hurts

I went to wake Ezra up from his nap today.  I rubbed his back, as usual, until he opened his eyes.  Rather than stretch his arms up for me to pick him up, he turns onto his belly and looks past me out of the playpen mesh.  I got down on my belly like him and touched my forehead to his.  He sat up, turned around and put his back towards me. 

Message received. 

Do you ever wonder how on earth children know what gets us the most?  It’s almost funny… but it’s not.

Learning

Since we've been home, I've been trying to find where Ezra's at (learning) so that I could properly teach & play to his level.  He's very smart--the nuns were right, but on many things he's very behind.  I think I've finally got a clue as to where things are at for him.  Anything where he would have needed to see or read about or be taught, he is very far behind (colours, shapes, names of animals) because he had never seen a cow, dog or duck before.  However, with the tactile practical skills, he is right on (eating with a fork without spilling).  I tested this theory with some dollar store stuff and it was so much fun to see him do well.  He did the best with this cardboard shoelace sewing thing (who knows the right name for it... but I remember these from when I was little).

It's so excited to have an idea now of where he's at.   I feel like I can provide appropriate options for him to enjoy and learn. 

This past week-end, our church hosted a family fun day at the local park (with a bouncy castle, dunk tank, face painting etc.).  It was so much fun!

This is Ezra with my best friend Katherine.

Liam was so excited to go in the dunk tank--he got dunked a ton of times and came back up every time :)

Over and over I am so thankful that God placed us here, in this church and with these people whom I have come to absolutely love. 

Just taking a swing at our friend's farm.

Hair Cuts, Door Climbing, Tea Towels

It's been a good few days.  Lots of outside time and hair cuts for both the boys (way to go Shawn!)
I had to distract Ezra while Shawn was cutting Liam's hair, so the little pool toys + the camera did the trick.  He LOVES posing for the camera.

And finally a half decent picture of the two of us.

And as for Liam, he's just climbing the walls.... I know, it corny, but I couldn't resist.

Ezra, on the other hand, likes wearing tea towels and jogging pants on his head... some days, he'll wear them all morning (I can understand wearing underwear on your, head... but a tea towel???!!)

The Specialist.. arg!

I took Ezra to a urologist yesterday and OH MY, the doctor was so frustrating.  When the doctor came into the room he started talking to Ezra and of course Ezra responded with English, because he’s used to answering all the same generic questions.  After the simple questions, I told the doctor that he only spoke Kinyarwanda and not English.  But of course, what do I know… I’m just his mom.  So the doctor asked Ezra “do you understand me?” and Ezra said yes.  Mind you, if he had asked Ezra if he wanted his arm cut off Ezra probably would have said yes that that too.  

So the doctor started asking Ezra how old he was and Ezra just repeated the doctor’s words.  This happened twice so I finally told the doctor that Ezra was three and the doctor looked at me like I was an idiot and said “I know that!”.  *sigh*  Then he kept going, asking Ezra how many birthday’s he’s had—Serisouly???? They don’t do that in orphanages!!!  If the doctor had given me the chance to talk, we could have avoided such frustration.  The entire appointment had one ignorant frustration after another—the doctor decided that it was his job to start teaching Ezra how old he was, how to count and how to hold up 3 fingers (I’m so glad, because I’ve never thought of that).  The entire appointment felt like the doctor knew more about all kids, my kids, and that it was his job to communicate Ezra and that I was a nuisance.  Don’t get me wrong, I love people taking time with my children, teaching them, loving on them… but this just felt different.. condescending.

This all made me REALLY appreciate our family doctor!

And now, on a lighter note, some starwars battle photos--staring: my children

Let's use some of that energy

I figure if he's got so much energy, he might as well put it to good use.  He loves helping out!

It's Official...

I have no idea what I'm doing!

Great day filled with friends and water and hot dogs AND the biggest meltdown yet (Ezra).  I've never seen his temper this fierce or his scream this high and loud.  And I have no idea what to do. 

I'm a bit nervous now about what tomorrow will bring.  Is the honeymoon over?

I wish he had the words...

Tonight after supper, Liam was picked up to go to his friend Karina's baseball game.  When Karina's mom came to the door, we all said bye to Liam and went back to the dinner table... well, Shawn and I did.  Ezra stood at the back door until we called him to come to the dining room.  Then he just stood in the dining room and got all quiet and sad.  We asked him if he wanted to colour, wanted a hug, wanted to play or wanted to snuggle.  A quiet "no" was all he would give.  So we cleared the dinner table and cleaned up.  Not too long after that, Shawn went into the living room and found Ezra quietly looking out the window with tear streaming down his face.  He doesn't have the words to tell us what was wrong, nor did he try.  Shawn picked him up and Ezra just clung to his daddy and sobbed.

Ezra's been separated from Liam before, but now that we think of it, it's never been Liam leaving and all three of us at home.  He normally leaves with one of us.  We kept telling Ezra that Liam was coming home soon... who knows if Liam's leaving is even what upset him (was he worried that Liam's new mommy was taking him home?  Who knows.)

It just took Ezra way longer to recover from this than it normally takes him to recover from crying.  Shawn and Ezra and I just spent a long time snuggled on the couch.   Finally the only think that could get a response from Ezra (other than a "no") was Liam's teddy.  Ezra hates all stuffed toys--he tolerates their existence day to day and will occasionally hug one, but at nap and bed time they get thrown from the bed with a very serious NO--mixed with the waging 'no' finger.  All except white bear.  He loves white bear.  White bear belongs to Liam.
So white bear started talking to daddy and then to Ezra.  And eventually Ezra started talking back to white bear and all of a sudden Ezra sat straight up with a happy look on his face and said e-i-e-i-o (the term he uses when he wants to watch the Baby Einstein farm video.)

So who know what that was all about.  So strange and so hard to see such sadness in our son and have no ability to discern why.  We are so grateful that we can snuggle and reassure him just by holding him close, rubbing his back, and telling him how much we love him.