Ryan's Gait Lab Appointment

It was rough watching Ryan walk back and forth, up and down the, "Yellow Brick Road", (literally-that is what the dr.'s at DuPont refer to the Gait Lab as, b/c two artist were chosen to sketch/draw and then paint the "Yellow Brick Road") at his Gait Lab appointment on Thursday, September 16th.  I believe it hits home... maybe a bit too close.  With each turn that decided what pressure points he was or was not using correctly, or whether or not he was "hunched" over (for lack of better terminology) it was all too "REAL"! 


Lately, I've been thinking about Ryan and his special needs.  I realize its probably tougher for me b/c I KNOW what he will face by not being "typical" and it wakes me from a deep sleep some nights :/  Scary nightmares at what my baby will be and probably already has been presented with by those who feel superior to him or are just insecure in who they are at that time in their lives.  But, then I think to myself I can't even imagine our lives without Ryan in it, the notion is preposterous!  I can't even imagine saying NO to his referral, we won't accept the responsibility of raising a special needs child, lets face it Ron and I knew there were risks-as there are in any adoption.  There are risks when having a biological child too.  We held on to hope and took that leap of faith.  All this was swirling around in my brain as I'm sitting there watching Ryan walk up and down the yellow brick road...literally!  What gets me is that NEVER has he ever complained or whimpered or cried at what he has to go through...he just smiles at me and gives me the thumbs up that everything is good :)  Talk about admiring someone who is so young yet has all the wisdom as if he were an 80 year old man, what an inspiration!

Can you imagine when we get the Gait Lab Analysis, how distraught I'll be when that happens?!

Love & HUGS,
Jenny, Ron, Ryan, & Lukey :)

A 2nd Grader and a Preschooler...1st Day of School

On Tuesday, August 31st, Lukey was invited to view where he would be going to Preschool.  He loved it and thought that day he was actually going to Preschool b/c he said to me, "Bye-bye Mommy I'll see you later"!  To which I responded with a whimper and a cry, I managed to get out but your not leaving me...yet :)  He was extremely upset that I was not leaving his new classroom.

Then switch gears to Ryan, where on the first day of school, Tuesday, September 7th, he wanted nothing to do with school!  Didn't want to be a 2nd Grader, didn't want to get on the bus, didn't want to go to school, and most of all he didn't want any homework :/  I simply told him that it was ok to be scared about going back to school, he assured me he wasn't-he just didn't want to go!  Then, I asked him, "How can you be a big 2nd Grader if you don't want to go"?  He said, "BUT I DO WANT TO BE A BIG 2ND GRADER"!  And quickly stepped up onto the bus!

Now, Lukey was a totally different story...night and day between our boys!  He bounced out of bed and was dressed and seated at the breakfast table, in his school clothes no less (he has afternoon preschool), all by 7 AM!  That day was SO rough b/c he just wanted to go to preschool!  Poor kiddo!  Finally, the time had arrived for me to drop him off at preschool...I started bawling before we even entered the school's parking lot...not a good sign!  Lukey on the other hand told me, "Mommy don't worry you be ok without me for a little bit, I be back"!  With that he jumped out of my arms and lined up as if he has been doing this for months!  He is such an independent little man.  It was heart wrenching watching him march into his new preschool classroom :(  I've told everyone, who'll listen to me, I don't know what I'm going to do without my Lukey?  But, you know what I made it through those two and a half hours just fine and I realize Lukey needs this, he was ready for some type of preschool and we are extremely lucky that he won Voorhees School District's lottery.  According, to the paperwork sent home there were 47 applicants and only 7 boys and 7 girls chosen to go to Voorhees Preschool Program and we count our blessings b/c Lukey was one of those 7 boys!  It truly is for the best!  He needs a challenge and in fact, he told me one day, that I was boring and we need to do more stuff :/

When I picked Lukey up on his 1st Day of School, he came running over to me and gave me the biggest hug ever!  And, then asked me, Mommy you ok, did you do ok without me"?  "See, I told you I be back and here I am"!  Which, of course, made me cry even more!!!  He really adores preschool!!!

Ryan is doing better each and every day...its still a struggle but its getting better.  Hey, he'll have this down come June...LOL!!!

Love & HUGS,
Jenny, Ron, Ryan, & Lukey :)

What happened to Summer???

Is Summer really over?!  Truly, it can't be?!!!?  It seems as if it were yesterday that I was getting Ryan off the bus and we were beginning our Summer adventure!  I will state that this Summer was a BLAST!!!  And, boy did we do A LOT :)  We enjoyed our new pool, Stratford Swim Club-Thank-You Grandma Joyce for the recommendation :)  Ryan enjoyed Summer Camp and is getting ready to be a big 2nd grader!  Lukey was accepted into Voorhees District's Preschool Program-WOOHOOO for both Lukey and Mommy!  So, he is preparing for his first experience with preschool :)  Also, we enjoyed the library so much this Summer, we literally were there, whether it was for Ryan or Lukey or even the both of them together, every other day.  The reason we were at the library so much is b/c Ryan and Lukey really enjoyed the theme, which was the "Ocean" :)  When we didn't spend our time at the library we could be found at the "FREE MOVIES", we saw movies, such as "Surf's Up" or "Tale of Desperaux" but my all time favorite was "ET".  The boys enjoyed this experience, Mommy liked it too b/c it was "FREE" :)  We experienced our first FRUA (Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption) Picnic.  The boys had a great time at this.  It was wonderful to get together with other adoptive parents who have adopted from Eastern Europe and share your story.  It reminded me of Ryan's Azerbaijani Reunion we go to but without the travel involved b/c it was right here in South Jersey.  Ryan participated in a horse show, he received a trophy and a ribbon :)  A family favorite is wrestling up the boys and going to Burlington County Farm Fair, as you will take notice-one of the chickens had the same exact hair cut that Lukey was sporting-LOL!  Our family was invited to a bday party at Holiday Roller Rink, which is amazing b/c Ron and I can remember roller skating there as children...ahhhhh memories :)  The boys rejoiced every time they were taken bowling this Summer.  I joined kids bowl free, and we used it pretty regularly but after the 5th time bowling I was done BUT not the boys :)

We spent time in Jersey City/NYC for Ryan's 9th Annual Azerbaijani Reunion, you can find all about that in my last post.  And who can forget our time this Summer spent standing in line waiting to be let in to Carlo's Bake Shop...that was two posts ago.  This Summer we spent time at the Jersey Shore, whether it was in LBI with friends, at Margate with CK and the Kennedy's (BTW, Thank-You Kennedy's) and Aunt Woo, or as a family in Ocean City, we had FUN!  Over all this Summer ranks up there...I can't believe the boys are going to be a 2nd Grader and a Preschooler?!  Where did that time go?!

Love & HUGS,
Jenny, Ron, Ryan, & Lukey :)