El Salvador Update – Month 3
Posted November 16th, 2009
Hola, it’s been a while …
Frankly, we’ve been busy… and, in all honesty… we’ve had our hands full.
For what it’s worth, we’re learning that parenting an adopted child–especially one who is 8-years old–is so much different than parenting your biological kid. I won’t say 180-degrees-different, more like 180,000 degrees different. (Is their such a thing Math Teachers?)
No dig on the social workers or psychs reading (Sidebar: I remember when we first got home one telling us, “You parent the same way you’d parent Matthew”).
Uh-huh.
El Salvador Adoption – Home 1 Month
Posted September 14th, 2009
Yes, this past weekend marked one month we’ve been home as a new family.
Hard to believe.
I pause and reflect on just how far Nestor has come in the past month…. another one of those ‘I still can’t quite get my head around it’ moments.
So I thought I’d share 20 facts about Nino Escogido you may not have known about him.
- Nestor sleeps a solid 10-12 hours every night, in his own room, and rarely ever wakes up. In his former home, he shared a three- bedroom house with 8 other kids and slept with 2 other boys in one room.
- He never knew what grilled-cheese sandwich was. He’s hooked now.
- He doesn’t know how to ride a bicycle… but he’s learning.
- He loves horses and dogs.
- He loves to swim in the pool… but he doesn’t know how.
- After only a month in Estados Unidos, he automatically puts on his seat belt without being told. The use of seatsbelts in ES was non-existent.
- He is intrigued by a flashlight… I don’t think he had ever seen one before. He especially enjoyed shining it Mateo’s eyes at 7am.
- He’s really good about trying different foods. Rarely will he say he doesn’t like something without trying it.
- He’s in second grade with about 20 kids in his class… 4 are fluent Spanish speakers, like him. All his studies are in English. He has an ESOL teacher who checks on him and works with him, daily.
- He’s phenomenal at Soccer and really good at baseball.
- Favorite time of the day: (tie) When Papi gets home so they can play baseball; reading together in bed.
- Favorite characters: Spiderman, Batman, Superman
- Favorite fruit: Watermelon, Pineapple, Cantelope, Apples, Grapes.
- Favorite movie: Lion King, Spirit
- He doesn’t fully understand the concept of school shoes/ play shoes; school clothes/play clothes. But he’s getting it.
- He calls cereal “Corn Flakes” regardless of the type, or flavor.
- He knows how to work. He works a mean broom and knows how to work in the yard and sweat. He dislikes hot water and hot showers. All cold for him!
- He has already learned his alphabet in English, and can count to 20.
And the final two, (for now)…
19. He was abandoned around 18 months old. When they found his biological mother, she didn’t want him. They never found his biological dad, but found his dad’s mother: She said she couldn’t afford him.
Until now, he has had no relatives or family for his entire life.
And last but not least…
20. Si! Si!. Te gusto hueves verdes con hamon, Juan Ramon!
Yes, Yes. I do like green eggs and ham, Sam I am.
Green Eggs and Ham, a favorita! Thanks Mami!
El Salvador Adoption – Home – Week 1
Posted August 20th, 2009
Hard to believe that we’ve been home a week. Still seems so surreal.
I’d be lying if I said everything’s going smoothly. We’ve certainly been faced with a few challenges this past week. But we’ve managed to hang… and live to tell about it.
I’ve always kept this journal honest… a gut-check to ourselves and to others who want to blaze down the international adoption trail.
What advice would I offer to others?
What would I change for ourselves, if only one thing??
El Salvador Adoption – Home – Day 1
Posted August 13th, 2009
We’re home, and what a great feeling it is!
The trip home went well, although we had to get up VERY earlier Wednesday morning, leaving at 5:30 am to get to the airport.
We got our bags checked relatively quickly and then went through El Salvador security checkpoints at Comalapa Internatioal Airport. All was going well until… they did a hand search of our bags.
El Salvador Update – Day 13
Posted August 8th, 2009
Great day on Saturday! Well, at least it turned out that way…
Matt wants to share his comments with you.
Part of the genuiness of this journey–and writing them in diary form–is that our thoughts and comments are captured in real and raw form. One day, it will be pretty cool for Nestor to be able to read through how much his family loved him, and what we all went through
That said, I have no idea what Matt wants to write. I think he just needs to express himself to y’all. He hasn’t adjusted yet, and he’s been bugging me about it today. So take it away numero uno son, and I’ll be back shortly.
El Salvador Update – Day 11
Posted August 6th, 2009
A quiet day today. Kinda nice. There is another woman staying here at Casa Mia who is fluent in Spanish and English. It has been great getting to know her, and she has been most helpful, especially with translations.
You know, real important phrases like… “Don’t do that…” “Don’t hit your brother…” “Can you say excuse me?…” “Use your fork, please…”
Today while swimming in the pool, Nestor cut his foot on the sharp stone that surrounds the pool. Big tears and a little worry on our part, but I think he’ll be okay. As my daddy says, he “skinned the bark” pretty deeply, and a decent amount of blood.
El Salvador Update – Weekend Days 6 & 7
Posted August 3rd, 2009
I’m writing Sunday and the boys are still sleeping. The birds are chirping like mad, and it’s nice and cool after a BIG tropical rain storm last night. This is the “winter” season here, aka: rainy season. Big thunderstorms with magnificent thunder and sideways lightning, typically during the early evening hours… and worse than at home! Weather is a mild mid-80s, with very little humidity and cool breezes.
We’ll be walking 2 blocks this morning to the Union Church for worship. There are many U.S. Embassy families here that attend this un-airconditioned church (windows are open, and there’s a gentle breeze), and the services are in English. (I visited when I was here last August.)
Check out the view from inside the church. There’s a bit of a glare in my photo, but look close behind the altar and you’ll see a large, lush volcano through the glass. It’s amazing to worship God and see this beauty.
We offered praise and thanksgiving to God for all He has done in our adoption. Just one year ago, I sat in this same church, with the same view, wondering if our adoption would EVER happen.
El Salvador Adoption – Day 3
Posted July 29th, 2009
Okay, it’s official. We are officially overwhelmed.!
Whew! Everyday when we come back to this small outdoor, tropical hotel/motel our heads spend. We don’t really care about things like what’s for dinner, the hassles of our day at work, the 20 things we have to do this week, schedules to keep, activities we’re commited to, paying our bills… and all the other basura that occupies our lives (and yours!) back in the U.S.
Today was no different.
El Salvador Update – Adoption Day 2
Posted July 28th, 2009
Today’s post is from Matthew (scripture verse and all) who is with us on the trip. Since today’s my birthday, I’ve got the day off from posting. Nos vemos mañana! –BBL
Feliz Cumpleanos a Mis Dos Hijos!
Posted July 15th, 2009
Translation: “Happy Birthday my two sons!” or… Feliz Cumpleanos Hijos (Happy Birthday sons!)
Wow, it feels surreal saying that.
Today is July 15th, and Matthew’s 12th birthday!
We have a fun evening planned, and more fun coming up this weekend to celebrate before he and I head off together for our last summer camp in Leesburg, and then the big trip to El Salvador.
- Today is also the birthday of our new son, who is waiting in El Salvador. I told you before, they BOTH have the same birthday! How cool is that?!
El Salvador Travel Set
Posted July 9th, 2009
We’ve waited a long, long time… and we’re getting closer and closer.
We’ve confirmed the majority of our travel to El Salvador for the adoption.
Joy! We Have Received a Referral
Posted June 10th, 2009
We have received a referral! I’m so excited, I can hardly write.
We have been referred to a young Salvadoran boy, 7 years old.
(Truth be told, we’ve known of this referral since January but only now are sharing it after official paperwork approval.)
Let me tell you more, beginning with a story.
Beautiful Children of El Salvador
Posted June 4th, 2009
Found these wonderful photos of beautiful Salvadoran children (and other nationalities) which says they’re from the Orphanage of SOS Children’s Village in El Salvador.
I’m guessing the photos are from multiple SOS orphanages.
(Click photo to watch filmstrip).
El Salvador: The Beginning of a New Era?
Posted June 1st, 2009
I ran across the article (below) on the new President and government coming into power in El Salvador this week. Thought you’d find it interesting.
While I have no idea on the political bias of The Monthly Review, reading between the lines gave me further insight as to the current plight of this beautiful country I have visited.
I read it thinking of the estimated 150,000 children who (in my opinion) have been trapped in an El Salvador adoption “system.”
Video: Inside of El Salvador
Posted April 20th, 2009
Imagine: You have to send 20 percent of your income each month to your parents to support them.
Or, $250 of your $1,250 monthly paycheck is sent to your kids… who are far away from home.
Or every month, your bank statement shows a $600 ding against $3,000 in deposits you just made.
Month after month, after month.