Just a few moments of reflection...
Two months ago, to the day - as you can read in this very blog - we were blessed with Kyle.
We thought we were prepared, but deep down it was really difficult to watch Kyle that day.
He got up that morning just like every other day in his life, up to that point. He must have though something was a little off, since he probably didn't ride in cars much - and here he was taking an hour ride into the city. And he was dressed in an outfit that was probably a little odd for him.
Then he rode in the elevator, which was probably something new for him. But something just wasn't right.
Then in the Gotcha Room, things got very stressful very quickly. For some reason, his caretaker kept pointing to 2 people he had never seen before and saying Mama & Dada. Then, just like that, it was over. What the heck just happened???
He was in the now arms of these 2 people - "Who are they and what are they going to do to me?" Why can't I just get back into the car and go back to my crib, and my walker and all of my little friends?
Everything he ever knew was gone.
We felt so bad for him as he frantically searched over our shoulders for the familiar faces of the caretaker that rode in the car with him and also for the Assistant Director, who drove them from the Fengcheng SWI to Nanchang. They were not there. He was utterly inconsolable.
We forced a lot of pictures and videos that day - and Kyle wanted no parts of us or these pictures.
In fact, it was about a week before he laughed for the first time (I'll remember that moment always.) It was about 8 days before he even began to bond with Lisa - the picture we have of this is priceless.
I've tried to tell his story here in words...how he's been getting better every single day, all the things he's accomplished, and all the good times we've shared as a family already. Today we went to the Chinese New Year celebration at the Philadelphia Seaport Museum. Kyle had another great day, he participated in some dancing activities, and he made a Dragon mask.
Today is exactly the sort of day that we are so happy and thankful to have these Gotcha Day photos, as stressful as they were to take.
Only because we can so easily see the transformation that Kyle has made.
The words in this story try to paint a picture...but I won't even clutter the (2) pictures below with words, because I'm not that good of a writer. The one on the left is Gotcha Day; the one on the right is today.
What a difference two months makes!
Gotcha Indeed!!!
More soon...
C
1 comment:
Hi Charlie, Lisa and Kyle,
The difference between the two pictures is wonderful. He just seems so at ease. I am so happy for you both. We are here if FL with Meg and family. You just have to get Kyle down here. He will just love the dolphins and manatees swimming in the canal behind Meg's home. Love to you all and we will talk to you soon.
Mom and Dad
Post a Comment