So, how's it going?!

One thing I've learned through all of this:  ask specific questions.

When someone asks, "So!  How's it goin'?!"  There really isn't a good answer.
Ask me, "Are the tantrums getting less?"  or "How is Josie's English coming along?" or
"What did the doctor have to say?"  or "How did she do at the dentist?".

The question "How's it going?" is too big.  Too complicated.  Too impossible to answer.

So I will take this opportunity to answer some of the specific questions we've gotten.

"Are the tantrums less?":
No.

"How is her English coming along?":
Slowly.  She is definitely understanding more and more but she is not really speaking much English.  She is naturally a quiet, shy, non-talkative child so she doesn't say much anyway.  We're trying to encourage her to say something/anything when she wants something instead of just looking at us with big eyes hoping that we will be able to eye-read and mind-read what she's trying to tell us.

"What did the doctor say?":
She's basically healthy.  She's very underweight and not really gaining any pounds even though I'm force feeding her donuts, cookies and ice cream.  We have to see a pediatric geneticist about her TAR syndrome but the first available appointment at Childrens Hospital is July 17.

"How did she do at the dentist?":
At her initial dental checkup a couple of weeks ago, we discovered that she had 6 cavities.  We went last Friday for the first of three appointments to get them filled.  She did well under the circumstances.  Not knowing anything about what was going to happen, and me not really being able to tell her, definitely helped that situation.  The next two times might be a little trickier as she will recognize where she is and what happened last time.  (Shout out to the pediatric dentist here in town---amazing!)

And we've gotten a few other specific questions:

"How are the boys doing with all of this?":
Our boys are normal boys.  They love Legos, Wii and Nerf guns.  They "occasionally" fight with each other over stupid things and they eat too much junk food and beg to play on the iPad too much....BUT....they are such good boys.  They have had to deal with a lot of crying and screaming around here (mostly by their new sister).  They've gotten woken up many mornings by a certain screaming girl (who shall remain nameless)  and they've had to help out with things that most 2nd and 3rd grade boys don't have to (practice counting to 10, help with learning colors).  They are kind to me when I've had a rough day (which is most days) and are unconditionally loving to both of their sisters even when they're ornery (which is most days).  They are cheerful, funny and super, duper cute.  And they let me hug them extra long when I just need a "normal" child to hold.

Another question:
"What do you DO all day?!":

We paint,

we make cookies,

we do puzzles,

we build with blocks,

 we practice "patterns"...

and sorting,

we learn common words from flash cards,

we watch brothers play iPad games,

we have "resting" time (a.k.a. stand-outside-Megan's-room-and-make-sure-she-stays-in-her-bed time),

we have "photo-opportunity" time,

 we have lots and lots of coloring time,

we have play-doh time,

                                          

we have "reminisce about the olden days" times...(oh, wait, maybe that's just me...).

                                                       

and we have singing time.

I forcibly drag my exhausted body out of bed each morning dreading the demanding day ahead.  It feels like combination nursery school/day care all day long.   
I try to make up for the lack of care and education that Josie has had while still trying to keep the counters wiped down, the boy's homework done, the dinner on the table, the laundry folded and the home fires burning.  Oh, and I try to figure out why God thought WE, messed up and sinful as we are, were the right family for Josie...that's what I do all day.

Learn from me.  Ask specific questions.  Not just to me.  To anyone.  Especially people with huge, life-changing situations going on.  We want to share.  We want someone to listen.  But it's hard to answer, "How's it going?".