9 months a Serna

This Monday marked 9 months since Faith was placed in our arms! Crazy how fast 9 months can go! 

Last week we went to Scottish Rite Hospital for another visit - the last appointment there was a little disappointing. Her right foot had started curving again and she was walking with it twisted in. We were given physical therapy exercises to do with her 3 times a day, we had to keep her in the braces and she was given braces with a bar attached to sleep in at night. THIS appointment was good!! Her foot still has a slight curve (but it is getting better) and she is walking with her toes pointed to the front! Their main concern now is that her lower leg muscles are very under-developed from being in casts and braces for so many months. 

SOOOO......

No more braces during the day!! (Insert happy dance here.)

So, to celebrate, I thought I would post the pictures of her journey through the casts and braces!

Before casts:

Her first set of casts:

The second set:

The third set:

After surgery:

AFO braces:

Night braces (don't the look comfy? NOT!):

Faith was so happy to get to go to the shoe store and buy new "princess" shoes! Here are her feet now:

What a journey! She has come so far in just 9 months and she is a CHAMP!! 

I am working on a video showing her progression in walking....it will amaze you!!

Faith and Daddy

Faith had a very hard time attaching and bonding with Daddy. In fact, it wouldn't be stretching it to say that she completely rejected him at first. While we were in China she would not let him hold her at all. If he was anywhere near me while I was holding her she would start to cry and scream. It was heart breaking and so, so hard on Byron. We knew many adopted children will bond more easily with one parent, preferring that parent over the other, but we were not really prepared for an all out rejection. 

 Byron was incredibly patient, he did not force her to let him hold her. He waited until she was ready. It took a full month, but the day came when she held out her arms to her Daddy. 

What a difference 8 months makes. Now she gives Daddy hugs and kisses all of the time. She still prefers to be held by me, for me to give her a bath and put her to bed, but she now obviously loves and trusts her daddy, too. 

And it is beautiful! 

Mig wanted a picture with Daddy, too. He obviously loves Daddy as well! 

“Father to the fatherless defender of widows – this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God sets the lonely in families.” – Psalms 68:5-6

First Day of School 2015-2016

Monday was our first day of homeschool for the 2015-2016 school year!!

This year we have a new kid in our class!!

Faith started Preschool!!

 Mig started Kindergarten this year!!

Selah is now a 3rd Grader!

And Gabe is in 5th Grade!!

It was a crazy first day back - adding a potty training toddler and a 4 month old lab puppy really made for an interesting school day. Tuesday and Wednesday were MUCH, MUCH better, though. 

I am so happy to be able to homeschool these little guys! Thank you, Byron, for making this a possibility for our family! 

Here's to a happy 2015 -2016 school year!! 

A Rock Solid Performance!

We spent the last week of July at our church's Kids Praise Choir Camp. Each year the kids choirs learn and perform a musical in one week. It is amazing. This year I co-directed the Mini-Camper - 3 to 6 year olds. They were so precious!!

My Mig was part of my choir! I love how he is focused and singing here!

He also was part of an ensemble.

After the Mini-Camp performance, the big kids performed their musical - Rock Solid.

Gabe was part of the drama as a joke-telling hiker.

Selah was a dancer.

Both big kids also sang in the choir. The following pictures were taken by the fabulous Cynthia Burtch.

Mig was in the big kid musical as the skunk who scared the hikers! This was the most precious part of the play!!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!! 

Celebrating that they made it to the top of the mountain:

Both choirs did an outstanding job!! It was a week full of Gospel learning, Praise raising and mostly, FUN!!!

8 months a Serna!

8 months ago, on the 25th, this precious girl officially became a Serna! 

She is growing so, so quickly. It is much like watching an infant grow in fast forward. And OH BOY, is her personality growing, too!

When she smiles so hard her eyes disappear, it completely melts me!

The big milestone this month has been potty training!! 

Faith's GI doctor told us that she may not be able to be potty trained. Because of her Hirschsprung's Disease, he thought she may not be able to control her bowels. 

We have found out that Faith likes to prove doctors wrong! By the second day of potty training, she was using the big girl potty like a pro. She still has the occasional accident, but she is doing AWESOME!!! 

This little dynamite of a girl has completely and totally turned our world upside down and inside out in just 8 short months - and we love every minute of her!!