Tate has been home four months!
I know!! Where has the time gone?
When I look back at where we were and where we are now, I have a hard time wrapping my mind around it all.
The Lord has blessed these last four months in ways that are hard to fathom.
Tate was the little boy sleeping in a crib in our room, where he slept all night but was usually up around 5:30 a.m.
He was the little boy that moved happily to his room and big boy bed, but soon after, for weeks, was up over and over all night long just checking to make sure we were still here.
He is now the little boy who is sleeping all night again, and has been trained to sleep until the sunshine is awake – which is somewhere between 7 and 7:30 a.m.
Tate was the little boy who was constantly doing a little dance and charming moves to show us he was worthy of our love and attention.
He was the little boy who showed indiscriminate affection to anyone and everyone, trying to charm them this same way.
He is now the little boy who has appropriate interaction with others.
He is now the little boy who will climb into my lap, cuddle with me and say “I luv you-uh, Mommy.”
He is now the little boy who knows our love is unconditional.
Tate was the little boy who used sign language to ask to eat about every 10 minutes.
He then would just make a pile of the things he chose.
He would check on his pile over and over and over again, sometimes taking a bite, but usually not.
He is now the little boy who rarely asks to eat, but is secure in knowing that his meals and snacks will be provided for him every single day whether he asks or not.
Tate was the little boy who had no fear, boundaries, or knowledge of danger.
He is now the little boy who is learning boundaries, and has appropriate fear for his age.
Tate was the little boy who would grieve, running out the door, through the yard and toward the fields.
This is heart breaking to remember, but such an important part of Tate’s transition.
He is now the little boy who grieves by running into our arms, letting us hold him, kiss him, and reassure him.
Tate was the little boy who could not have me out of his sight – at all, ever.
He is now the little boy who knows if I am going to leave our home, he will be told, it will be an event, and my return will be celebrated.
He is now the little boy who is not calling my name constantly all day long, nor crying if I leave the room.
He is now the little boy who still gets insecure sometimes, and resorts back to his sign language that is asking to eat, while the tears fall.
Tate is the little boy who used charades when he first arrived home, and we communicated this way.
He is now the little boy who has endless English words, and rarely needs charades.
He is now the little boy who looked at our Christmas tree after it was decorated and said “Wow! Beautiful!”
Tate was fearfully and wonderfully made by our Lord, our Creator.
He is now the little boy who will have more than one major surgery, probably sooner than we hope.
He is now the little boy who will have so much to endure medically.
But he is still the little boy who smiles an endless dimply smile, and fills our hearts and home with more joy than we could ever imagine.
I wonder how we ever lived without you, our sweet boy!
We feel so unworthy of the precious gift from the Lord that you are.
Praise the Lord that you are home!
Four months….just the beginning of our forever.
