Garrett had his first basketball game today. With his myriad of surgeries, he's had less opportunity to play sports than his sisters. For being a generally clueless 8yo in his first time on the court, he did remarkably well, including a couple of nifty steals and and drives to the basket for a lay-up.
After the game, his coach asked me if he'd been playing for a while, and I started apologizing for his rookie skills. Coach immediately interrupted, "I am amazed at his coordination. Very quick. It's like he doesn't think, he just does," (his mother will attest to that last part).
At which point, in a vain attempt at political correctness, I mutter, "It's genetics. He gets if from me."
Showing posts with label Adoption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adoption. Show all posts
12.14.2013
7.10.2010
Very Vaccinated
According to the documents received upon arrival, Garrett had been thoroughly shot up prior to the exchange.
BUT, once setting foot on his new native soil, those who we turn to for such guidance determined that it was best to assume he was not infected with small amounts of TB, Pox, Hep, MMR and the dreaded Tetanus (I know a guy who knew a guy whose mother told him about a boy that she knew when she was a kid who knew someone who had lock-jaw), and to pump his 21 lb soaking wet 2 1/2 year old body with infectious diseases once again. It only cost us a $25 co-pay, so the more shots you got, the better the deal.
And now, 2+ years later, in preparation for K5 this fall, Garrett once again has been pricked. He has been harried since then by a small fever while hobbling all over the house. Early assumptions that he was just milking the situation, but from all attempts to trick him into not limping have failed. I think he is sore. If I was one who gave pity to others, I might call him "pitiful". Fortunately, such considerations are not available in the Bowling house.
11.26.2009
A Rose by any other Name
Upon his arrival in our home, Garrett was force to learn his new name (as were we), as well as learn the various secondary names that may be used at any given time. Early nominated contenders (grouped by theme) included:
- Alabama - Forrest
- BBQ Cook – Leroy
- CCM Artist – Beebo
- China - Hao Ge
- Eliza - Errand Boy
- Emily & Louise - Short Round
- England – Dudley
- France – Pierre
- Grimm's – Tweedle
- Hollywood – McFly
- Italy – Vinny
- Legal – Garrett
- Mexico - Pedro
1.01.2009
Year in Review - 2008
January: Hanging out in the crib.
February: I take a nap in the back of the van, no seatbelts in sight, and then get dumped in the lap of two whities. Sorry, that is insensitive. Strike that last comment. Then, off for a two-week jaunt through the motherland, constantly cold (I only had 3 layers on instead of the time-honored tradition of 4). Mostly good, except for a tomato incidence (don't ask).
March: First Day of the Rest of My Life
Arrive in another orphanage after a long flight with lots of sleep. 3 other kids, all girls. one keeps hugging me, the other doesn't notice me, and the 3rd pushes me around. I meet some older folks, who keep hugging me.
April-May: Get my bearings, meet more older folks, and try and avoid frustrating my parents, which is harder than it seems. Spend a lot of time getting sent to my room and standing against the wall until I stop crying. I don't remember why I was crying, but it seemed a recurring theme. First trip to the beach, which was a great experience. I got a tan, played in a cold hot tub, and sat in the sand for as long as mommy would allow. AND, while everyone else had to share a room with others, I got to sleep by myself in my very own CLOSET. The McKinney clan proves themselves a loving bunch. Still a bit put off that I didn't get a new pillow-case dress.
June-August: One-Two-Three-JUMP!!! The pool is COOL. There was a week or so that I got rather tired of bed-time obedience. I mean, c'mon, I've got my own room, light, toys, and I'm my own man. Well, that is, until the WE ARE MARSHALL night, where I started going to bed at 7:30 in my room, but ended up sleeping in the front foyer on the floor with no blanket and no pillow at 11:00. You know, after that night, I decided bedtime wasn't such a bad idea afterall.
September: Surgery #1 - Goldenhar Syndrome - Trick me, Drug me, Break my jaw, Clamp it back, Run a screw up the side of my face, and keep me tube-tied for three days. All so my smile straightens out a bit - ever heard of braces.
October: Surgery #2 - so the side of my face starts expanding, and keeps expanding, and I find myself on my back, sucking down the Happy Juice, and then I go blank. Then I find myself missing some teeth, with a red finger, and on my back for another couple of days the the Rite.
Somewhere around here, I decide its time to start learning a few words and communicating with what I believe they call "consonants". I get to come home in time for Trick-r-Trea, Candi Plea, which I do believe is the year's highlight.
November:
December: Lights! Look! Lights! More Presents! Presents Please! Lights! Ckismas Tree! I banked on the Grandparents - doubled the room loot.
February: I take a nap in the back of the van, no seatbelts in sight, and then get dumped in the lap of two whities. Sorry, that is insensitive. Strike that last comment. Then, off for a two-week jaunt through the motherland, constantly cold (I only had 3 layers on instead of the time-honored tradition of 4). Mostly good, except for a tomato incidence (don't ask).
March: First Day of the Rest of My Life
Arrive in another orphanage after a long flight with lots of sleep. 3 other kids, all girls. one keeps hugging me, the other doesn't notice me, and the 3rd pushes me around. I meet some older folks, who keep hugging me.
April-May: Get my bearings, meet more older folks, and try and avoid frustrating my parents, which is harder than it seems. Spend a lot of time getting sent to my room and standing against the wall until I stop crying. I don't remember why I was crying, but it seemed a recurring theme. First trip to the beach, which was a great experience. I got a tan, played in a cold hot tub, and sat in the sand for as long as mommy would allow. AND, while everyone else had to share a room with others, I got to sleep by myself in my very own CLOSET. The McKinney clan proves themselves a loving bunch. Still a bit put off that I didn't get a new pillow-case dress.
June-August: One-Two-Three-JUMP!!! The pool is COOL. There was a week or so that I got rather tired of bed-time obedience. I mean, c'mon, I've got my own room, light, toys, and I'm my own man. Well, that is, until the WE ARE MARSHALL night, where I started going to bed at 7:30 in my room, but ended up sleeping in the front foyer on the floor with no blanket and no pillow at 11:00. You know, after that night, I decided bedtime wasn't such a bad idea afterall.
September: Surgery #1 - Goldenhar Syndrome - Trick me, Drug me, Break my jaw, Clamp it back, Run a screw up the side of my face, and keep me tube-tied for three days. All so my smile straightens out a bit - ever heard of braces.
October: Surgery #2 - so the side of my face starts expanding, and keeps expanding, and I find myself on my back, sucking down the Happy Juice, and then I go blank. Then I find myself missing some teeth, with a red finger, and on my back for another couple of days the the Rite.
Somewhere around here, I decide its time to start learning a few words and communicating with what I believe they call "consonants". I get to come home in time for Trick-r-Trea, Candi Plea, which I do believe is the year's highlight.
November:
December: Lights! Look! Lights! More Presents! Presents Please! Lights! Ckismas Tree! I banked on the Grandparents - doubled the room loot.
2.19.2008
Almost Ready
February 19, 2008
It is Tuesday morning, and I should be packing. Two days from now we'll be standing in line at the airport. I am cautiously excited- that's the best way to put it. I am excited, but I am worried deep down that he will have a hard time adjusting. And it's also like my parenting skills have disappeared, which is funny, because I DO have 3 kids downstairs watching "The Sound of Music". But I'm thinking, "what will he eat?" "how can I get him to sleep?" "what will we do with him all those hours in the hotel in Nanjing?".... I know that these questions will present answers in due time, but I have to have SOMETHING to worry about.
I know that we are walking a path that God has emphatically laid out for us, and while that doesn't promise smooth sailing, I do have the comfort of knowing that I am being obedient. He will take care of us like he always does.
My next post will probably be from Hong Kong!!
It is Tuesday morning, and I should be packing. Two days from now we'll be standing in line at the airport. I am cautiously excited- that's the best way to put it. I am excited, but I am worried deep down that he will have a hard time adjusting. And it's also like my parenting skills have disappeared, which is funny, because I DO have 3 kids downstairs watching "The Sound of Music". But I'm thinking, "what will he eat?" "how can I get him to sleep?" "what will we do with him all those hours in the hotel in Nanjing?".... I know that these questions will present answers in due time, but I have to have SOMETHING to worry about.
I know that we are walking a path that God has emphatically laid out for us, and while that doesn't promise smooth sailing, I do have the comfort of knowing that I am being obedient. He will take care of us like he always does.
My next post will probably be from Hong Kong!!
2.12.2008
Final Travel Packet
February 12, 2008
Just 9 days to go! I am watching the 20-ish pages of my Final Travel Packet print out here next to me. This is the last thing to do except wait and pack! Our Travel person at our agency emailed this morning and said the YMCA in Hong Kong (where we had chosen to stay our first 2 nights) went up in price to $115 a night- for the YMCA!!! And breakfast is NOT included- in fact, it's $18 PER PERSON!! What do they eat for breakfast in Hong Kong??? So we switched to some other fancy hotel where breakfast is included.... I do love a good breakfast bar. Who knows if I'll like it in Hong Kong. I tried a salad bar once in Moscow and was treated to cabbage strips and Russian dressing... for about $8 a plate.
It has been a slow week, considering we only had 3 weeks to wait after we got our Travel Approval. Once we bought plane tickets and arranged for someone to watch our kids, there is nothing much left to do but hurry up and wait. I'll admit... I have a suitcase out already with some of Garrett's new clothes in it... Alan laughed at that.
I'm packing about a dozen books to read- hey, 14+ hours is a long time on a plane.
Oooh, my packet is finished printing. Time to read it all!
Just 9 days to go! I am watching the 20-ish pages of my Final Travel Packet print out here next to me. This is the last thing to do except wait and pack! Our Travel person at our agency emailed this morning and said the YMCA in Hong Kong (where we had chosen to stay our first 2 nights) went up in price to $115 a night- for the YMCA!!! And breakfast is NOT included- in fact, it's $18 PER PERSON!! What do they eat for breakfast in Hong Kong??? So we switched to some other fancy hotel where breakfast is included.... I do love a good breakfast bar. Who knows if I'll like it in Hong Kong. I tried a salad bar once in Moscow and was treated to cabbage strips and Russian dressing... for about $8 a plate.
It has been a slow week, considering we only had 3 weeks to wait after we got our Travel Approval. Once we bought plane tickets and arranged for someone to watch our kids, there is nothing much left to do but hurry up and wait. I'll admit... I have a suitcase out already with some of Garrett's new clothes in it... Alan laughed at that.
I'm packing about a dozen books to read- hey, 14+ hours is a long time on a plane.
Oooh, my packet is finished printing. Time to read it all!
2.01.2008
February 1, 2008
My 32nd birthday. I had hoped to have all children born at 30, but since Garrett Hao Ge Bowling is already 2+, I am still on track.
Last night Alan and I made the big leap and bought our plane tickets. It was a long process to find just the right fit. The prices were all similar, but we had to find longer layovers, nicer layover cities, had to leave Hong Kong late enough, arrive in Atlanta early enough... as it is, we are leaving February 21st at 9:52am on Continental- don't know that I've ever flown Continental, being more of a Delta girl myself. The longest flight I've been on was when I went to Russia 10 years ago, so this 16+hour business from Newark to Hong Kong is going to be difficult. Despite the fact that the "mom of 3 kids at home"side of me will be thrilled at the quiet, the ability to read, watch movies, not smell diapers... that novelty will wear off about 4 hours in, and that's only 1/3 of the way.
Anyway, we're supposed to be home on Wednesday, March 5. It's daunting. It's still not exactly real.
Last night Alan and I made the big leap and bought our plane tickets. It was a long process to find just the right fit. The prices were all similar, but we had to find longer layovers, nicer layover cities, had to leave Hong Kong late enough, arrive in Atlanta early enough... as it is, we are leaving February 21st at 9:52am on Continental- don't know that I've ever flown Continental, being more of a Delta girl myself. The longest flight I've been on was when I went to Russia 10 years ago, so this 16+hour business from Newark to Hong Kong is going to be difficult. Despite the fact that the "mom of 3 kids at home"side of me will be thrilled at the quiet, the ability to read, watch movies, not smell diapers... that novelty will wear off about 4 hours in, and that's only 1/3 of the way.
Anyway, we're supposed to be home on Wednesday, March 5. It's daunting. It's still not exactly real.
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