Home One Week!

Well, we have officially been home for one week and I wanted to post to let you all know that we are alive and all is going as good as we could have ever hoped for!  The one great difference that is making all the difference between Jax's coming home and Jaida's coming home, is that HE SLEEPS!  And I am talking he sleeps for about 12 hours a night and we were able to quickly get him adjusted to our time zone and SLEEP makes all the difference in the world.  We can operate on a daily basis and not feel like zombies in the morning due to a screaming child every two hours at night.  We have gotten him moved from the air matress in our room to his room to getting him moved into the bottom bunk of his bed and Jaida moved to the top bunk in their bed.  Everyone is sleeping perfectly and all is good in that regards and that is so important.  We are actually quite shocked as to how well this transition went for him and for Jaida.

Of course, other transitions are going to take time and patience on everyone's part but all in all we couldn't ask for anything more.  Mikayla, Ty and Josh are being awesome big siblings and are beginning to adjust to our "new normal."  Shon and I are beginning to have flashbacks of raising twins, although we are much older and we think "wiser" this time around.  I feel bad for Mikayla and Ty being the oldest because they unfortunately were raised by the "trial and error" parents.  Over the course of the past 16 years we have learned what works and what doesn't work in the world of parenting--isn't that the way it always works?!

Jax is adjusting well in the Gerber household.  We, of course, have challenges with the language barrier and his many dislikes of American food but all of this will be overcome with time.  He is quickly beginning to understand what we are saying and is starting to express some English words on his own.  He is affectionate to all of his siblings and enjoys their company.  He is also enjoying playing with the next door neighbor kids.  He loves to play soccer and is a great kicker!  We are also beginning to witness more frustration in the form of meltdowns and we are glad for this.  We want him to express himself and not leave it in.  This is an expected expression of all he has been through in the past three weeks and the more he begins to understand our language, the fewer these will become.  We would actually be worried if he was quiet, held in his frustration, or withdrew from us during these times so we are glad the his early silent tears have become more outspoken. 

Our little Jaida, on the other hand, is having quite the time with this new adjustment of not being the center of attention all the time and feelings of being replaced, much like Josh felt when we brought Jaida home.  We know over time she will come to love her brother and they will be the best of friends, but in the meantime we are giving her lots of extra love and understanding.  She feels that she is in a competition with him in all things, so whatever Jax does, she tries to "make it bigger and better" than he did.  Her behavior has reverted a little bit which we expected and with time all things will heal.

We are glad to be home together as a complete family and can't tell you all how much we appreciate all your caring words and prayers throughout our entire year on this...our final adoption journey.  Your prayers were felt and we knew God was in control the entire time.  Xia Xia Ni!  Thank you very much!  Enjoy a few photos of our first week home!  Gotta love the last picture with Babba (Daddy) and all his kiddos!