Friday, April 20, 2012

Day 4 Part 2: We met a special someone today

My cup runneth over!!!!  We are madly in love with our boy and words just cannot describe.  I have been trying to figure out how to put into words the emotions we have about today.  Non can express it.

Our facilitator and driver took us to the regional sw office and we picked a gentleman who came with us to the orphanage.  I wish I could tell you who he was or why he was there but we were so focused we didn't pay much attention to it.  For some reason he had to witness our first meeting with Valentin and will also be at court.

The drive to the orphanage was very interesting, a lot of muddy narrow dirt roads, old houses and structures, lots of stray dogs, and then his orphanage tucked away in all that.  It was a smaller complex then I had imagined.  His orphanage is specifically for special needs kids and there were different "houses" for the different special needs and levels of need.  Valentin of course is in the house with the most severe special needs.  We did not get to see his room but we assume he is still in the "laying room".  The orphanage doctor came out with a huge file and started going over it with us.  Our poor little boy's body is just riddled with issues, honestly guys it's amazing he has made it this far.  According to what they told us he has far more than just Cerebral Palsy and the prognosis is bleak.  However, nothing is ever certain and God can do whatever He wants in Valentin's life.  We have been sitting here researching all the CT and ultrasound results and diagnoses as well as the medicines he is on and it's a bit scary.  We will explain more later, but we are just amazed at how God has protected him especially in the circumstances he is in.

Anyway, we were talking to the doctor when all of a sudden I looked over and here came our beautiful son.  We both cried instantly as Valentin smiled at us.  I was trying so hard to pay attention to what the doctor was saying but my heart was taken immediately.  It all happened so fast we really did not get pictures or video of meeting him.  When the doctor was finished we were told we had a few minutes with him because it was past lunch time.  Unfortunately we did not get to spend much time with him but we enjoyed every second we got.

Because of his prolonged institutionalization and being confined to the crib we did not want to overwhelm him and are taking baby steps with him so he can become comfortable with us.  We wanted him to make the first contact so Tyler reached out his hand and instantly Valentin smiled and place his hand in Tyler's. Yes, we cried!


I made the mistake of turning on the flash and it bothered him, he was not a fan of the camera after that.


Tyler showed him how to 'high-5' just one time and Valentin picked it right up.  Once I got the video camera out he was mesmerized with it as you will see.  Isn't he amazing?



And then it was my turn to play with him!!!  I wanted so badly to pick him up out of that stroller and hug him as tight as I could...but baby steps.  We want him to learn to trust us and I did not want to take it too far on the first day.  But man, was it hard not to!





He was so smiley, happy, and playful it was so exciting to see.  With all the things wrong in his little body and the environment he has to live in, it truly is amazing he smiles at all.  I felt his little arms and legs and they are so incurably stiff, his feet are pointed and when I tried to stretch them they would not budge at all.  My heart is broken but also rejoicing at the same time if that makes sense.

We will be able to see him again tomorrow from 9:30-11:30.  Every day after that we will only be able to visit from 4-6 in the afternoon.  They tell us we cannot visit in the morning because he receives therapeutic massages, please Lord let that be the truth!!!!

After we left the orphanage we went to the notary office and officially committed to adopt him!!!  Lord willing he will soon legally be our son.  However in our hearts he has always been!

36 comments:

  1. praying for you and your sweet son! just wanted to encourage you as you face his many diagnoses...we dealt with a lot of that with our daughter, but it is SO worth it!!! the rewards and joys will far outweigh the challenges! we will be thinking of you guys

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh he looks so much better than I thought he would! I am so happy for you and look forward to seeing your upcoming visits. Thank you for sharing so many pictures. This little boy has captured so many hearts and is going to know such love from you. Bless you.

    Sue H.

    ReplyDelete
  3. God bless you all. So glad you had a good first meeting. May blessings shower you as you navigate how to get close to Valentin and address his physical issues. Really, I am SO SO SO happy for you all. Thank you for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow ... look at your beautiful son! He tracks everything around hism so well and does not miss a THING! And bless this boy, despite his isolation he knows how to COMMUNICATE! He lets you know when he is happy or frustrated. We too faced MANY unexpected diagnosis with very a very scary prognosis when my daughter was adopted. You can and ARE doing this :) Bless you all.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh he is soooo adorable and sweet.Not half as bad as I thought.Seems he really enjoyed the visit and interacted well with you both.So enjoyed the video really lets his personality shine through.Keeping you and your family in prayer.Warm Blessings!~Amy

    ReplyDelete
  6. Loving reading and following along on your journey. It is AMAZING what God can and will do through you family. Hard to believe it was only six months ago that we were together in China for adoption trips. God is SO GOOD and you are going to be an amazing support for Valentin. Prayers and love to you all!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. My goodness, Jamie, how I love your family. I'm sobbing. He will do so much more than his file ever says. Ignore the file. He has so much spirit in that little body just busting to get out. Seth was so tight. So incredibly tight. PT, stretching and AFO's will do so much good for him.

    ReplyDelete
  8. He is so precious!!! I cried so many tears of JOY through this post...praise God for leading you to this little treasure!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a beautiful little boy your son is! Sobbing with absolute JOY!!!!
    I am so happy you have finally met Valentine! Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us, Valentine captured my heart many months ago and I am so thrilled for him he has a wonderful new family! Praying for you all!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Amazing. This boy seems transformed from the little man pictured in January. FYI - the man was the regional social worker - required by law to observe your first visit - he will also likely be at court - our regional SW was - to testify that he supports your adoption. So very glad to see this update. (Oh - "theraputic massages" must be very cultural there - Joshua received one every day as far as we know - many of our morning visits started late as we had to wait for his massage to be completed.)

    ReplyDelete
  11. TEARS ARE FLOWING. He is beautiful and he is going to blossom. The spirit in his eyes....That video is your starting place. From now on... It will be what you will use to see just how far he has come. PRAISING GOD THAT YOU CROSSED THAT OCEAN.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wonderful! I am so glad you are there with him now!! Praise the Lord!!! Can't wait to follow your journey!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have been following your blog for awhile now. What an amazing moment! I'm so happy for Valentin & for your family. I know it will be a difficult journey but so worth it. I look forward to reading your blog. Your family will be in my heart & prayers as you begin this new phase of your lives. What a beautiful blessing!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh how wonderful!!! So glad you are finally able to tell that sweet boy how much you love him! Praising God for your faith and your LOVE! Janice

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thank you so much for the video! Despite all he has been through, Valentine has a joy and delight in life! Valentin's joy will blossom even more through your family's great love. There's a richly nuanced person in there who will bless you beyond your wildest dreams.
    Stacy

    ReplyDelete
  16. Rejoicing with you guys! It is great to see Valentin with you both. That is the same exact location that we met our Julia. This brings back so many memories. I'm feeling a little "home" sick. Please tell the "team" that we say "hello".

    Can't wait to see your upcoming visits. I know Valentin will blossom each day.

    Patty

    ReplyDelete
  17. So excited for you and him! He is a keeper!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh man! Just checking in and got the surprise of this awesome post!! He looks incredibly good, I think. How great that you will get to visit daily so he will begin to "know" you, trust you and feel who you are. Take care of yourselves and keep the posts coming...lovin' it here on this side of the ocean :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. thrilled for you!! heart swells over here :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I cannot wait to see this wonderful little boy blossom and flourish as he enters your family. It's clear he has already entered your hearts, along with the hearts of many who have followed his story, and your story, and who are now thrilled to see your stories become one.

    That does look like a great apartment! It's so helpful to have a confortable place as a home-away-from-home while you're visiting "Valentin".

    Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and adventures. I hope the remainder of your adoption journey continues to go easily and swiftly.

    Best wishes,
    Susan in Ky
    Cousin to 2 from EE

    ReplyDelete
  21. tears of JOY, my friends!! We are excited and thinking of you and praying for you all so much! One day...give that sweet boy a HUG for US!

    ReplyDelete
  22. So thankful for your family's obedience! What a precious boy and a blessing for your family :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. SO happy for you and for your SON!!! He has been through a lot in his short life, and it's such a blessing that he is finally going to come home with his Mama & Papa!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Praising GOD!!!! Absolutely Beautiful!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is so awesome! What a great boy! I posted it on my site, except the video wouldn't copy. If you have it on YouTube, I may be able to get it.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh, that smile is one of the best things I've seen!! Beautiful!! So very very happy!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I wanted to ask--may I share a picture or two of him smiling, on my blog? Because it was for him I started it. (You don't have to publish this...)

    And--thank you for going to get him. I am so very, very glad. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow! This is not the condition I expected to see him it, for what he has been through he is doing so well. I am so inspired at your love and commitment to this precious little boy! You both are amazing and he is so lucky to have you on his side.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Look at him! This is such an answer to prayer! Now let's pray that the process goes smoothly and you can all come home soon.

    ReplyDelete
  30. wow, God is Great!!! Reading your blog just made me literally cry, May God bless you for adopting Valentin. He seems so precious. Am speechless I am so amazed (yes that never happens lol). Praying for your whole family!!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh my goodness!!! I'm a complete teary mess! He looks amazing! I am sooo incredibly happy for him right now. He has two wonderful parents who are going to allow him to be all that he can be. Priceless photos! And the love you have for him is apparent in your writing <3 <3 Congratulations!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Yay!!! So exciting, he is so precious and so blessed. You both are an inspiration to many and certainly fulfill James 1:27. Can't wait to meet him in person, enjoy the rest of your trip!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Yes, he is amazing. Beautiful boy. Praising God with you that you are FINALLY there. 6 months from now things will be very different, I have no doubt. He is clearly a clever boy just waiting to show the world who he is!

    Judee in Iowa

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'm so glad to hear you've met him now! Praise God! He truly is a very good looking young guy & there's so much inside him that will be free to show itself & grow with the love of his family. Many blessings on all of you.

    ReplyDelete
  35. You don't know me, I just found your blog. I just wanted to tell you how much your beautiful little V has touched my heart :) I just know that once you have him at home that he will be just fine. All he needs is your love and support...along with some real medical care and therapy! He will have a wonderful life with you and your beautiful family!!! I look forward to following the remainder of your journey...seeing this little angel come out of that room and live the life he was meant to live will be a distinct pleasure! Sending much love and prayers your way!!

    ReplyDelete