Day 30: Missing Joey, Celebrating Valentin

It was another wonderful visit with Valentin again!  He amazes us more each day!  I was not let into his room again but I stood outside the door and they brought him in the stroller to me. The first thing we did was get him out of the stroller, he did not like it and started moaning and crying but with a little sternness and us not giving into it we got him on the couch. Once there he realized 'oh, this isn't so bad'. We just keep thinking of how incredibly stressful and crazy it is going to be for him when we take him out of the orphanage. The orphanage, and to be honest really only his crib and room, are the only things that are familiar to him. He is going to be so freaked out and traumatized by all the changes that we are trying to get him a little more out of his comfort zone every day. Today he tolerated a lot as we both sat close to him and he would lean on one of us and then the other. We tried to make a lot of touch contact with him so that he learns we are safe.

It was amazing to watch him sitting up a lot. Previously when I would put him on the couch he would slowly sink down until he was just about laying down. He did not show a lot of interest in using his muscles. Today though he made his way to the edge of the couch so he could hang his legs over the edge and he sat up for a long time. It was so wonderful to see that he was building some core strength!!!  It's like he is a new kid everyday. If you would have asked me in those first few days of meeting him if I though he would do some of the things he is doing even now I would have said it will take a lot of time. And some things may take a lot of time. But he is really surprising me already with the gains he has made!  I can't wait to watch him once we get home and he can explore on nice soft carpeting and have freedom outside a crib. We will get therapy of course but I think he will make great strides all on his own just given the independence and opportunity to do so!!!  He mimicked the ASL sign for 'ball' as well as attempts to say it. He also clapped when he saw us clapping.  We have only had 45 minutes (an hour now) of time with him daily and already he is doing things he was TERRIFIED of just weeks ago. Imagine what he can do given more time out of the crib and in a loving home!  

Today he was not a big fan of the 'paparazzi'

Tomorrow May 18th, we have court at 2:00pm (that's 5:00 am MST for those of you at home). Please join us in praying that the judge will rule in favor of the boys joining our family. Really it all comes down to this. 

Hopefully we will learn more about Joey and his condition after court when our facilitator (who is back in town) meets with the orphanage director to find out details and especially when we can get him out of the hospital. Right now it does not look like he will get out before June 4th. That is not a problem and does not delay our process too much as long as we can find a way to get his passport picture taken in the hospital. Not sure if that is possible. If we have to wait until the 4th to get his passport picture the that will delay us at least another week and would put us here into the Euro soccer games...yikes...that would mean more expensive airfare, expensive lodging, and crazy traffic!  Hopefully our facilitator can help clarify what our options are tomorrow.

One thing is for sure...okay two things...one, Valentin is one amazing kid and two, we sure do miss Joey!  I mean terribly miss him!!!!