Silas Update

After 2 weeks of Silas being on and off sick, with panic attacks, feeling very anxious, irratable and angry at the world...not happy at all about the growth of his new family...intense headaches, throwing up...

...we have turned a corner...an antibiotic...a trip to the mall to purchase a Christmas gift with Grandpa and Grandma Van's gift $$$, a lunch stop at Mc Donalds, extra time with Mommy..."building" time with his new toys and daddy...

...emails and words of encouragement just for him from friends and cousins, skyping his St. Louis cousins and hearing how hard it was when their family grew through adoption, saying hello to Grandpa and Grandma...thanks for your help and prayers family and friends! We have our Silas back!!! Thank you Jesus!

But, don't expect to see him, and little sis, Caroline, in any photos together anytime soon!

Colombiano Abuelitos

We were privileged today to spend a few hours with Isabel and Silas', amigo, Santi's Grandparents! (Santiago is a fellow adoptee, who's mom, Adrianna, grew up in Bogota, and now lives in Ada, MI with husband Jeff)! Abuelo Julio and Abuela Margarita must be the most precious Grandparents in all of Colombia! We had the most amazing lunch and such sweet fellowship!

It was very precious to see little Caroline in a real home (the Paris is wonderful, but it's still a hotel)...it was a nice quiet break from the Bogota traffic and children running through the hotel...

We were blessed to meet Santi's Aunt Margarita, also! She is a beautiful person!

And Abuelo Julio...absolutely precious!!!

We could have stayed all day, but, at 3pm Silas hit bottom again. We felt so bad... we had to leave (Adrianna-so glad you called before we left)! His fever came back, and so did his headache. Silas has been a total train wreck right up to 8:30 tonight. We are beginning to see that this on and off sickness is more him dealing with "Culture shock" and the shock of 2 new sisters. Tonight he has worked himself into a panic attack, extremely irratable towards everyone, wouldn't eat, and very out of sorts! Poor little man...he constantly needs assurance from me...he is homesick. We try to encourage him to skype his grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins thinking that seeing them would make him feel better, but, he refuses. He is searching for his place in our family, testing, pushing everyone away right now...he needs constant assurance that he is loved and very special! Please keep our little Si guy in your prayers!! May our loving God bring shalom to his wrestless heart!

On a brighter note...another victory today! Caroline let her daddy tuck her in bed tonight! This is huge!!! Isabel, Caroline, and Marta had a wonderful day today! And John and I are doing well, tired, but, well! Silas is just heavy on our hearts tonight!

2 Weeks Already!?

It is hard to believe that we have been in Bogota for 2 weeks. It has flown by for me, but, no surprise to those that know me. I love Colombia, in many ways it has become my home away from home. So much has taken place in the last 2 weeks...

Marta, our little 18 month old baby girl, who came to us much like a 6 month old, unable to roll over, barely sit up, no desire to crawl, often would just throw herself back or forward and just lay on the ground, now is crawling all over the place (today for the first time-up a flight of stairs with daddy close by), strolling along furniture, sitting up in the bathtub by herself, waving to everyone that says hola to her...amazing! God is so good! She still has a long ways to go, as eating is a huge challenge. We've had some intense meltdowns as she get's very frustrated. But, even with our challenges, she has become a roly poly little bundle of love in the last 2 weeks. Our focus now continues to try and get her to babble, it is as if she wants to so bad, but, is locked in herself a little bit...she giggles like crazy, has a very strong will, and loves mostly being with her mommy and daddy!

2 weeks with Caroline...coming to us a shy little girl, trying to impress, fearful of her daddy, always wanting to be with mommy, watching her big sis and brother from a distance, smiling and laughing at them often...now, our most extraverted (I know, this is hard to believe if you know big brother Silas), most silly, loves to tease, giggle, full of hugs, kisses, and "I love you's!" An unbelievably dynamic little girl. She has come a long ways in a short time...still learning to trust, testing us daily, working very hard to get all of our attention, still finding her place in our family... She is a delight. She needs constant hugs and affection, but, has become more free to play with her siblings-ok mostly Isabel and Marta, and friends at the hotel. Our most diffiuclt time with her is bed time...she still has some fears she is working through. I don't think I've ever in one day been hugged, kissed, or needed in my entire life that I have in the last 2 weeks by this precious little girl!

Ahh...big brother, Silas! He is such a good one! This journey has been the most difficult on him. I can't help but have tears when I type thinking about this wonderful little guy! Being sick has made it harder, and his asthma is triggered with the high altitude...so, he has not had a chance to really be himself yet. He seems to be turning a corner, we'll wait and see! Silas, too, is trying to find his place with his new sisters. He has some really great moments, and lots of laughs with all his sisters every day...but, there are several moments he ends up frustrated, telling me that he does not feel special, and that nobody likes him. You have to understand, he, too, is a teaser, and now he has a sister that dishes it back to him, he is not liking it one bit. If Caroline is talking during a meal, he will get louder and louder and say "Nobody is listening to me...mom LOOK at me, I'M TALKING TO YOU" So, you can see, we have 2 very charismatic little ones, 9 months a part, both used to getting a lot of attention...now having to come together and share it...he will be ok, I am so proud of how far he has come, but, I'd be lying if I said he wasn't struggling with it...even in the picture below, he is so trying hard to make himself smile. We know God chose him to be big brother, and I have no doubts that He is going to use Silas to play a very important role in all of his sister's lives!



Our first born, Isabel...we had no idea how she would handle her new role as big sis, to 2 new sisters...she has had some rough moments, but, I am blown away by how kind and gentle she is with both of them. She is a "mother hen" with Marta, and her and Caroline are more and more enjoying eachother. Their little rhymes and songs are a huge in their bonding, and can bring on lots of giggles. She still needs her space and quiet moments, as, she too, like John and I, are intraverted...so, as long as she get's that and special time with her friend, Camilla, I think she has handled all of this with grace and ease! She, like myself, loves adventures, and going out each day, and seeing more of her birth land. We've had some sweet talks, and she has a very mature look at being adopted, thinking about her birth mom, and is grasping the realities of what all had to take place to bring her into our home. She is seeing how very Big, and very loving our God is!

A side note...we found out we are in court 6, this is a "fast" court! The courts do shut down Friday for the next 3 weeks, so, nothing can happen on our case, but, our Representative thinks it very likely that we will be home by the end of January (she never gives this kind of info out-so it could be sooner than that). We'll wait and see. You never know, but, it looks good! My prayer is that God brings us home when each of our kids is ready! This is a sweet time for our family!

Also, to fellow Colombian Adoptive Parents:

1. If you would like your child's file (highly recommend requesting this as we received more pictures of Silas, more info about Isabel's birth mom, and more pics/info about Caroline and Marta), you need to write a letter to your Adoption House or ICBF, give it to your Adoption Agency, and they will give it to your Colombian Representative!

2. We just found out that we were totally not to tell anyone that we were loaned our Representatives car...after I blogged it of course...so to future Colombian adoptive parents, please do not request to drive her car or say anything to her about us driving it...thanks!

Amiga Bueno de Isabel

Meet Camilla. She has been at the hotel since Isabel was a baby. Then she was a precious little one year old, sticking close to her Mom, Valeria, while she worked. Isabel did not know Camilla then, as she was only 8 weeks old...but, everyone who stays at the Paris becomes very fond of this sweet girl. They played together a little when we adopted Silas, but, Isabel was only 2 1/2 then, so, they did not remember eachother.

Now...they have become very special friends. Running around the hotel with their dolls, playing hide and go seek, drawing, dancing... (Isabel and I think she is a Colombiana version of her cousin Cate)! Camilla's Christmas Vacation from school has started this week, so, she is at the hotel every day. Because Isabel has been immersed in Spanish at school, it has allowed this friendship to take off very quickly and easily!

God's gift to Isabel to have yet another Colombiana Amiga, and a little rest from her hermanitos when she needs a break!

Feliz Cumpleanos, Caroline!!

Our day was kicked off bright and early with Silas sick again, high fever, shortness of breath...but, he had to push himself, as we had our ICBF interview! The whole family has to go to this, and this is what begins our court process! Yes, we finally entered into the courts!! It was a long hot car ride to the other side of Bogota (as all 6 of us need to fit in the back seat of Johnny's taxi)...Silas was burning up on me, Papa had sweat dripping-due to his adventure out in the strong Bogota sun yesterday, Marta was a bit agitated, and Isabel and Caroline were singing(very loudly) and doing Spanish rhymes for all of us in the car...

Caroline and Isabel pretty much answered all the questions during our interview, Caroline telling the Defender of Minors how much she liked her new brother and sister, and Mama and Papa! They performed many songs and rhymes for the Defender...cute how they are teaching each other different Spanish rhymnes and songs! We survived...it took forever for our paperwork to be processed, as their copy machine was down, and they spelled John's name wrong...John and Silas were ready to pass out (Silas' fever spiked an all time high)...but, after an hour in a hot tiny room, we made it...all 6 of us, along with our Representative, Isabel...and the funny thing is, the Defender wondered when were coming back for #5 (so did Los Pisingos)...ok, totally not on the radar!!!

...When we returned to the hotel we had Dr. Clementcia take a look at Silas. Even at his worst, he still had energy to make conversation with the Senora! He is a good one!

At 4pm, it was time for Caroline's Fiesta! Boy, does the Paris love to party! Again, we were all spoiled with more fun, dancing, pinata, cake, gifts (from every family and worker at the hotel)...even Tia's Isabel and Carmen came for the special occassion! Caroline told us that she never had presents or a party on her birthday, so, it was rather overwhelming to watch our little one take it all in. She was a bit overwhelmed at first, too...but, once the regalos (gifts) were brought to her, she began having the time of her life!

Yes, Isabel enoyed the fiesta as much as anyone...more music...meant more dancing!!

The pinata a big hit with all the kids!

Even Silas came alive (for a few minutes) to join in this happy occassion!

All the children of the Paris participated! You can see they are all older...older means more difficult life circumstances experienced...it was so beautiful to see each one of these precious children, full of joy, celebrating together, with their new families, in Caroline's very first birthday celebration!! Happy 4th Birthday, Caroline!!

A Weekend of Adventures and Bonding!

We have decided our days go best when we play hard in the morning and take it easy by 2pm! So, we kicked the weekend off on Friday at Jeno's Pizza and Playland. Good pizza, lots of activities for the kids! Marta really enjoyed watching everyone go down the big slide!

Caroline is a little dare devil, like Isabel. She went down the really big slide with me first, didn't like it at all. Got right back up, grabbed John's hand and said "Oltra vez, Papa!" (Again Daddy!) Lots of giggles and laughter...

Saturday was our big adventure out of Bogota. You have to understand, when we adopted Isabel, they didn't even allow us to flag a taxi down or take one of their drivers to the coffee plantation, just out of the city...now our Representative loans us her car, and says, "Go, have fun, don't get nervous...it's a long ways out!" The owner of our hotel and our Representative have gone above and beyond anything we have experienced...I guess that's what you get when you come back for a 3rd time!


"Ay...watch the road, John!"

...parts of the road were very tight...here we just got out of the big city and passing through a "barrio " or village...

...grafitti EVERYWHERE in the city and especially in the more poverished areas!


...Ahh..we made it safe and sound to El Correl! Whew! A Resturaunt and grande parque! (very big playground for the kids)!



...Isabel and I enjoyed relaxing and giving Marta her bottle in the beautiful country side...

Silas' favorite...

...Isabel and Caroline's favorite...

...Lunch time!! We had grande hamburguesas! I think I may become vegetarian the rest of the
trip in Colombia!

...not just sisters...slowly becoming friends...

...Marta is getting rounder and rounder each day...full of mischeif as her personality is coming out...

...Silas is feeling better, and slowly accepting that he has not just one, but, 2 new sisters...

...back on the road...ay!!!
The country side is beautiful and lush...

...a view from the road down into another barrio...

...passed Los Pisingos...

"Daddy, WATCH THE ROAD!"

All the excitement tired all the girls out! And you can see, no car seats in Colombia! Don't even need to wear seat belts...the kids find this rather amusing...a bit crazy when John slammed on the brakes in the above picture, they all almost ended up on the floor!

We arrived back to the Paris safe and sound! Whew!

Although at times Isabel needs her space (ok, most of the time)...she is beginning to engage in her little sister, Caroline! It's so fun to watch. She loves reading books to her, and is the only one to get her to repeat an English word.

Caroline is also beginning to feel secure enough to be away from me for short periods and play with her toys. She loves her muneacas (dolls)!

With our family beginning to grow together, feeling safe and secure with each other, John and I decided to take a few hours just the 2 of us. We really needed it, and it was wonderful. Caroline had a rough time when we left, but, we thought it would be good for her to see that we can go away, but, will always return (I am always telling her "Siempre para Siempre..." - always and forever we will be your family! The kids were well cared for by Juanita and Nancy back at the hotel, and we ventured up to Usaquen Markets. Such a beautiful day! Ciclovia Sundays are our favorites in Bogota!

This is one of my favorite markets, and we had fun finding a few treasures for the kids, enjoyed a good long power walk, got totally fried from the sun, and had a very quiet lunch together!

Now, back at it...refreshed and ready for a new week! Praise God for this beautiful day! When we returned our kids very happy to see us, and Caroline, full of hugs and kisses. As I'm typing, John is at the park with Isabel and Silas, Marta is sleeping, and Caroline and I are tracing hands, and every 5 minutes she says, "Te Amo, Mama! Te Amo!" And for the first time in English, "I love you, Mama!" I have tears coming down my face!

No pictures to post today (to tired)...but I will say it was our best day yet!! Praise God!! We made it through the day without a major tantrum from Caroline (kicking, hitting, spitting, throwing things, cussing-she has picked up some "barnyard" language from the adoption house-it's the only time I'm glad my espanol is not very good)! In fact, she for most of the day preferred being with her Papa! This was huge for me, as I have been struggling with not giving Isabel and Silas enough time...I could do that today! A gift! And John was able to prove himself trustworthy to his little nina! It still comes and goes with him (like he could help her with her bath, but, not kiss her goodnight). But, she has come so far. I am so proud of how brave she is! I'd have a temper too, if I had to endure what that precious one has endured!

Marta continued to push herself today. We have given up trying solid foods (except things like pancakes, french toast, and brownies-the little one has a sweet tooth), and went back to the basics with her...soft baby foods/baby rice. It is working...she may have to see a food therapist when we get home. She is precious. It will be difficult to see how delayed she because she is progressing each day. We are really working hard at getting her to babble...she giggles and grunts, but, does not babble at all. The kids can not get enough of her, all 3 of them, and either can we. Her sweetness has captured all of us!

I've had a few questions via email....wanted to answer them. We are not the only ones at the hotel. There is a family from Spain and Italy. They both have Sentencia and will be leaving next week. We really enjoy the Italian family! We will be the only ones at the hotel through the court shut down (Dec. 17th-January 8). Several of the staff is on vacation, too. So, the owner of the Hotel has graciously offered us her "vacation house" about 3 hour taxi ride up in the mountains where it will be extremely warm, has a pool, and a maid. We will be going there on Christmas Day -the 30th. It will be a nice change of pace for a few days. And yes, yes, yes...Caroline sleeps through the night, Marta wakes up periodically, but, nothing unusual for a little one...no night terrors, no endless screaming...we both are very surprised by this. They are great sleepers...the owner of the hotel tells us it's because they feel safe and secure with us! It seems to be that way! (knock on wood...) How's my Spanish?! Well, let's see...it's improving...it probably sounds like this to the girls "Yes, potatoes good!" or "Please listen mom!" They know exactly what I mean...John is much more clearer than myself! I get by...most challenging during a tantrum...but, if we have another, I think I'm going to let John take it! I have to say the computer is my life savor when I am stuck...and so is big sis, Isabel!

Another victory today...Caroline finally rode in the stroller! Woo Hoo! We can walk a little further, which has been good for Isabel and Silas to see more of their birth land, too!

Tomorrow we are planning on taking Isabel R.'s car out of the city! She said John passed the test! Please keep Silas in your prayers. He is quite sick tonight with a high fever and bad head ache. We think the high altitude is bothering him a little bit! That' s it for now...we'll post pics of our wild driving adventure this weekend!

Your prayers have meant everthing to us! I said to John at breakfast, "I have never felt so peaceful with life, even though it has never been harder!" He said, "I know!" Love to you all!