The Knox Family Journey: April 2012

Wow!
It's been one month since Annabelle Hope and Timothy Justice were placed into our arms. The month has been FULL!
Full of prayers, tears, smiles, sleepless nights (and days), uncertainty, hope, struggles, growth, provision, hugs, new faces, learning, joy, wonder, new places, beauty, challenges, kisses, testing, development...
.... full of LOVE.

Two miraculous ways God has provided for us that we must share with you:
First- when we got back from China we had more donations into our Lifesong/Both Hands account. What a huge surprise and blessing to receive that news after arriving home. By God's grace, the adoptions of Annabelle and Timothy are debt free!
Amazing!
Thank you for helping us bring them home!!!! You are forever written into their rescue story and have played a role in God's plan.

Second- Before leaving China, the US requires adopted children age 2 and up to receive a TB skin test to enter the US. The skin test must be negative. If it is not, your departure from China is delayed, x-rays and other precautions must be taken. Timothy is 3, so he had a test which, thankfully, had a negative result. :) Annabelle was not quite 2 yet... her birthday was the day after our scheduled medical visit. Only by God's grace and His timing was it scheduled then.
Only after visiting the International Adoption Clinic at Vanderbilt this past Monday where they administered the skin test and then had it read at our pediatrician's office Thursday, did we know that we escaped being detained in China. Sweet Girlie's skin test was positive. So, off to Children's Hospital we went to get her lungs x-rayed. Which, THANK YOU LORD, was negative. Yes, a million questions filled my mind. Oh how many people we've come in contact with while coming home and since we've been home. What would it mean for them, for us? Well, nothing. Her positive skin test and negative x-ray means that at some point she could have been exposed to someone with TB but her body has taken care of it, or the positive result has come from a BCG vaccine that she most likely had. She does have a scar on her left arm where the vaccine is usually given (in other countries- not the US). We are getting her vaccination report translated so we will have more info. We think she may have to go through a round of treatment according to the Health Department but will know for sure after translating her vaccination records and speaking with Vanderbilt and the Health Department next week.

THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who brought meals to us since we've been home. You just don't know what a true blessing you were. Thank you for providing for us. Everything was wonderful!

THANK YOU!
Thank you to my sweet friend, Jean, who was rather sneaky and came to my house (I should say frat house by the looks of things before) and cleaned while I was in Nashville at Vanderbilt with the Littles. Hope you wore a HAZMAT suit! ;)

Bonding:
Both kiddos seem to be doing pretty well. Getting lots of eye contact. Testing us. Seeking out Chris or me in the house if we're not within sight. Beginning to trust. However, we still have a long way to go. People don't see it though, especially not with Timothy because he is quick to shake hands or say hello. He might even let you pick him up. That's really not a great thing. We don't want him to just go to anyone (not safe), and we want him to know that he can depend on us not just whoever is in the room like when he was in the orphanage.
So, please still refrain from picking them up, hugging/kissing them, and feeding or giving them anything to drink. This is still a time of bonding for us. Time for our relationship to develop.
Thank you for complying with our request!

*Blessed: divinely or supremely favored; fortunate

I don't use that word lightly.

Our family is so blessed to have these two little ones.
Yes, it's hard. Yes, it's tiring. Yes, sometimes I think, "Can I just have 10 minutes to sit and read THE WORD and drink a cup of coffee?"
But...
I also gaze in amazement as I see two precious ones the Lord has given us (the four of us) the honor of being their family and watching them learn and grow before our very eyes. Oh, there are meltdowns over such simple things. I get the blank stare and the cold shoulder and even a gruff little "humph" sometimes with a quick little slap. On the other hand... It's a good thing I have two arms because I can rarely hold one without the other wanting to be held also. I get beautiful smiles, slobbery kisses and big bear hugs. (I get more hugs from my Bigs now, too.)
Love- there is enough. It flows down from above.

I must say that I am so proud of Alexandra and Hunter!
I have loved watching them be big sis and big brother. (tear in my eye) They are awesome! They were both so concerned before going to China if they would be good enough big siblings. I don't think they could be any better! Annabelle and Timothy adore them, and I am amazed at how they have stepped up and into their new roles so superbly.
It's not been easy. It's been downright hard at times, and they will tell you that. But, I think they will say that it's been good and they like their new positions in the Knox Family. Alexandra even said that it seems almost as if the Littles have always been with us.
God did that... knit us together. We know they are ours.... hoping they are beginning to know that, too. We are trusting God to complete the work He has started. Not just in our family, but in their hearts to be HIS.

Happy One Month Gotcha Day, Annabelle and Timothy!
Your Forever Family Loves You!

Because this post has taken me so long to write.... it is now Easter. So.....
Happy Easter!This year we are celebrating adoption in a whole new way-
Thanking the Father for raising the Son so we could be adopted into the Family of God and that He called us to go to China and bring home Annabelle and Timothy.

Now, this is what you really wanted- pictures. :)
Enjoy!

March 5, 2012
Gotcha Day
Two scared Littles