Lots of firsts-3 weeks home

I wasn't planning on writing a post, but it is really important to keep people updated with how we're doing and share all of the beautiful photos we have.

Maria is doing great! During her first 3 weeks home, we have had doctors visits and are working on getting her in-home therapies.  She is learning so many new words and signs daily.  She has been adapting very well to her new life and seems very flexible to all the change.

She sleeps well at night and daily naps for 2 hours.  The only difficult behaviors we have been experiencing have been when she rocks herself very violently when she is between sleep cycles or is waking from her nap or in the morning.  It is so loud it wakes us up and sounds like she is going to break the bed! We are hoping and praying that in time, she will be able to let us comfort her and not have to self-soothe so much.

MARIA'S FIRST THANKSGIVING

Maria's hand print turkey

Thank you Lord for bringing home Maria

Thank you Lord for our children

Thank you Lord for Pumpkin Pie

She is very independent and is used to doing what she wants. Sounds like typical four year old behavior, right?  So we are reteaching a lot of behaviors to help her adjust to family life.  She can get frustrated, but she is very easily redirected (much, much more easily than a 3 year old I know :)

MARIA'S FIRST TRIP TO THE ZOO

MARIA'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

First time putting ornaments on a tree

Merry Christmas!

Loving on my siblings

Look who has their first stocking!

All 7 stockings hung-  The middle one is for Jesus- we write down our prayers/thanksgiving and put them in His stocking

I am pretty tired every day from the constant training and monitoring and care Maria requires right now.  However, the other day I was rocking her before bedtime and my heart just overflowed with joy and I couldn't hold back the tears! I was singing "Jesus loves me" and when I sang the line "little ones to Him belong" the reality just hit! She is finally home! It was such a long, hard year, but I am so hopeful about what this next year holds for Maria.  I can't imagine what this year would have done to her spirit if she had been transferred to the mental asylum, instead of coming home with us. I am in awe of the timing of this all- we made it to her, right before she would have been transferred.  This fact is so present in my mind lately.  And because Jesus loves her and she belongs to Him, He made a way for us to get to her so she could know Him and His love for her.  This is what He has done for all of us, really!

 By this we know LOVE, because He laid down His life for us. 1 John 3:16

Playing dress-up: Incredible Maria-Hulk

Maria in all her cuteness

Times 2!

Times 3!