One Year Ago!

Bryson has been forever in our arms since November 24th 2008. We are celebrating his "Gotcha Day" tomorrow. There has just been too much going on with other family commitments and doctor appts to celebrate on the actual day. His "Gotcha Day" deserves the time we want to invest, not just throwing something together to be able to call it a gotcha day.

I will post pictures tomorrow, but first here is a little video that I have been working on celebrating his first year home!!! Boy, has this sweet child had quite the year. I think he has had more happen in one year than most do in a lifetime!!!

We love you Bryson!!!

You have rocked our world!!!

Good News Dr. Appt!!

Cousin on left is 2 years 8 months younger than Bryson.

Cousin on right is 4 months older than Bryson.

Great things come in small packages.

Bryson had his appointment with the specialist today and all went well. The doctor had to be one of the nicest we have ever met. He was fascinated with how Bryson could walk with his hips out of the sockets. This is not a common thing doctors other than orthos encounter.

Bryson is now at 30 pounds and 37 inches. He has gained 2 pounds in two months and has grown one inch. (All since I did the elimination diet, but don't tell the doctors that!) Anyhooooo, the specialist believes that Bryson's Failure to Thrive is GONE. Yes out of here!!!!!!

He does not believe that Bryson has anything else wrong with him except that he spent almost 5 years of his life in an orphanage with untreated arthrogryposis and other issues that caused his skeletal system to shut down. He believes the snake worm was an infection ravaging his body.

He believes now that he is getting proper medical care and nutrition he is going to be just FINE!!!!! No speculation at this point regarding his potential size. Dr. does feel like Bryson will catch up to his chronological age within two years. We will follow up in four months.

Nicest part of the day was when we went to leave, the doctor commented on how well Bryson is loved and attached to us. Our response, "He may be a little guy, but he has a mighty ways to make you fall in love!"

Bryson Update

• Yes, that is Bryson's 21 year old brother playing in the play house with he and Marissa. The two littles were cracking up laughing. Kevin is not going to be so happy if he finds out I posted these.
• First parent teacher conference - Bryson is performing at grade level in all areas, but most importantly he is obviously loved by all who work with him at school. We are so blessed to have the teachers, aides, OT's, PTs, speech, principal and student care providers that work with him.
• Bryson has his appt with the endocrinologist this next Tuesday morning. Lots of talk about arthrogryposis and short stature going hand and hand. I have put my worries aside until we know a definitive on his diagnosis.
• Bryson's right leg has been out of the cast for two weeks now. His heel is not in the correct position. It is causing him intermittent pain and inability to wear his night time braces. He is not using his right foot like his left and walks on his heel rather than flat to the ground. We are seeing the orthotist on Tuesday to see about modifying his AFO's, but honestly casting is looking inevitable at this point as is perhaps another surgery. Another wait and see.
• Tuesday, Bryson will have been in our arms forever for one year. I hope to have a reflective post prepared for Tuesday.
• Prophetic Bryson is walking through the living room, I say "Hey Bryson" and give him a smile. He says, "I know, I know what you going to say. You say, 'I love you' " Now how did he know?

Oldest Son with Youngest Son!

Might be hard to tell who's the oldest in these pictures, by the way they are acting!!!

Sent one back to Afghanistan on this Veteran's Day and the other to our local parade to support our military....the ironies of this life!

Before and After!

This is Bryson before cast came off in his size 2T pajamas, see how tiny he is?

This is Bryson after his cast is off and after a two hour luxury bath that was 7 weeks past due!!

Here are the numbers!

343 days that we have had Bryson in our arms

253 of those have been in casts

90 of them have been out of casts

but not consecutive days.

Longest stretch cast free 59 days.

Who's guessing on how long we can stay cast free???????

There will be a giveaway for the person who guess correctly over

365 days!! :)

My Mom is Back!!!

Love this girl!!! Isn't she the sweetest and cutest ever, Justin, Joe or Kevin???

Yes, I met Jean and Katie in Napa! We had the best time ever!! Jean and I talked for three hours straight when it only seemed like 30 minutes! We could have gone on and on! It would be so nice to have another large adoptive family that lived closer than Minnesota and California!!

But hey, we have made the best of it as this is our third meeting in one year and we are already scheming planning our adoption cesareans (planned travel dates)! China baby, here we come again!

Jean and I started emailing several months prior to our trips to China last year. Then we ended up in China at the same exact time. Just by chance, we met up with one another on the Great Wall.

Then last summer when Bryson and I were traveling back and forth to St Louis we had a layover in Minnesota. Jean and her family came to the airport for our three hour layover.

Now tonight, I got to drive to Napa and have a scrumptious dinner with Jean, Katie and Katie's friend, Abby. Thanks Jean for the invite, delicious dinner and wonderful conversation.

You truly are one of my favorite people!!! Now would you consider becoming a Bear fan and moving to California??

Hee-hee! I Know a Secret!

My mama is going somewhere special as soon as she gets off work tomorrow. She is so excited, she is going to have a hard time sleeping tonight and an even harder time working tomorrow!!

Any guesses???

11 Months Ago Today

You were placed into our arms forever! We love you so much Bryson Samuel Yangfan Reed!