Eight Months, Four Siblings, Unlimited Love- Q's and A's

Gabe and Levi are about to hit the 8 month mark. And I can just say, they are blossoming amazingly! In that time, they have grown, began therapy, stopped most orphanage behaviors/habits, learned sign language, and learned what it's like to live in a family full of love!

Q- How much weight has each boy gained?
A- Gabe has gained 10 pounds (from 22lbs. to 32 lbs.). and Levi now weighs 3 more pounds (from 28lbs. to 31lbs.) then he did in UA.

Q- How and what do they eat?
A- Gabe is still bottle fed, but has learned to swallow (pureed or soft) food, taken by spoon. In Ukraine, we gave him PediaSure in a bottle. Now, we puree whatever our meal is. Like mashed potatoes, green beans and chicken. That gets pureed and put in his bottles along with PediaSure. Levi eats with a spoon or fork, and can chew pretty much anything. To keep him from choking though, we cut up his meal. If he was to eat vegitables, we would have to cut them up and 'hide' them or mix them in with other foods. He will basically eat everything, but not vegitables if he can see it. He can feed himself. But we only allow him if we want to be cleaning up a mess ;)

Q- What habits or behaviors have come or gone since home?
A- Levi used to bang his head on the hardest thing he could find, when angry, or head-butt people and items, for fun. He has stopped that completely. He would chew on his thumb and moan and sometimes rock himself. He rarley does that. He used to suck on his arm while moanig or yelling, which we don't find him doing much anymore. Gabe would always have his fingers in his mouth, or push them into his temples/next to his eyes. Now, the only thing he does, as far as stemming, is fold his hands (as if he were praying), stick his fingers in his mouth, which he rarley ever does, and sometimes puts his finger tips next to his eye lids. He also freaked out when going to a new invirment, or outdoors. He still will cry if shooken or moved around in a place he is not fimiliar with, but he does SO much better with transtitions like that.

Q- What new personality traits have come about them?
A- Both boys, especially Gabster, have really developed a new personality! Gabe didn't like to be held or touched, moved/played with. Now, he would lie in your arms all day if you let him. He absolutely LOVES to be held, kissed, hugged, cuddled. And he will sometimes giggle or smile at sudden movements, as long as he feels sicure. He barley ever smiled, none the less laughed. Now he is the happiest kid! He will get in certain moods where he will just laugh for no reason. Levi hasn't changed much, he loves to play with toys, and by 'play' I mean swing. He will look for anything with a string or possibility to swing on his thumb. His favorite thing is food, and he is very active! He loves to be cuddled and held, and will give kisses and hugs.

Q- What are the boys capible of doing right now?
A- Gabe can sign "eat" and will do so, when he sees his bottle. When we first met him, he could hardly sit up on his own and now he crawls all over the place, pulls up on stuff like his play-pin, walks with assistance and can climb on the couch, chair, and pretty much anything he wants to sit on. Levi knows at least 15 different signs. He will come to us with a toy or something and sign "help". He will sign "eat" and "more" when it comes to food, or something he likes. When we come inside it has become a reutine, that he takes his shoes and socks off and puts them away in their cubby. He will also sign whatever he wants/needs  (drink, eat, more, etc) if we say "What do you want?". If we mention the word "shoes", he will automatically brighten up and sit down by the shoe cubby, with his shoes or bring them to you.

Q- What are the boys favorite things to do and eat?
A- I would say Gabe's favorite thing to do, is climb in our rocking chair (he loves those now) and watch tv. Seriously, he would sit and rock himself, or lean on the edge to see the tv screen. His favorite food is hard to tell, since he will eat pretty much anything and everything as long as it's in a bottle and has Pedisure with it. Levi likes to, as I said 'swing' stuff, and he looooves car rides and the outdoors. He gets so excited when he hears the words "bye, bye" and will wave and yell out of excitment. His favorite food is spaghitti and yogurt. Oh, and oatmeal! The only time we really give him sugar, chocolate, sweets, etc. is on special occastions. And of course, he loves that!

Q- How are they adjusting?
A- Both boys are adjusting VERY well. Even to the time difference. They fit into our family perfectly, and everyone that meets them instantly falls in love with them. We go to a homeschool co-Op, in which everyone wants to hold and play with them. They're very obedient, and only every now and then does Levi get a time- out. Gabe is just a cuddler and his brothers are often holding or carrying him. Levi is the one to go up to anyone and each his arms up, asking to be held. We do have to watch and make sure he doesn't get wound up though, he can become over-stimulated easily. I would say he interacts more with adults, then kids. He doesn't usually hug, or play with other children, but likes to be held and sit on people or older children's laps. The only kid we've seen him take interest in is his 2 year cousin Noah. He's tries following and playing with him, and has hugged him once or twice. He does like to wrestle, which he has taken on from his brothers. He is also a copy-cat, and will mimic anything you do.

Q- What do Jude and Zane think of Gabe and Levi?
A- Jude is the oldest boy, and is very tender-hearted and gentle. He likes to carry Gabe around and hold him. He is very patient with Levi. Zane on the other hand, is a 4 year old. He has a big imagination, and just likes a quiet little one that won't bother him or his toys ;) So Levi sometimes "gets on his nerves" or annoys him. Just because he will take his toys at times (not that he knows any better) or will yell out loud, which he doesn't like. Zane enjoys playing, talking or sitting with Gabe, and plays the older brother role with him. When we first got home, Zane and Jude didn't act any different then before G and L got home, and never interacted with them. But that has obviously changed. Both of them are open to having more siblings, as well, and from time-to-time will say they want a little sister.

Q- What type of therapies are Gabe and Levi in?
A- A couple weeks after getting home, we got both boys up to date on Dr. appointments. Their doctor gave us phone numbers for therapy centers and such. Gabe and Levi began OT (occupational therapy) and speech (for Levi) and feeding therapy (for Gabe). It was going well, but after a while Levi started getting upset during therapy and we didn't feel it was helping much if he just got over stimulated like that. So we took some time off, and have just got them back into it. Gabe and Levi are in physical therapy and will soon be starting feeding, speech, and occupational therapy. Right now, we take them to Kids First Therapy Services. They are great, sweet, and awesome with the boys.



Well I hoped you enjoyed my (rather long) answers to some frequent questions we get, and hopefully if you have a new little one with special needs, these Q's and A's have helped some.



Love,
Genesis