We have had Rocky home now for 3 months. I can't believe it has been 3 months already. At times it seems like it has flown by and other times it seemed like the days would never end.
When we first brought Rocky home he had these fits that we could not control. He would cry and cry and never stop. I am sure it was so difficult on him to be here in America with all white people, no one that spoke his language, all these different rules (like seat belts, schedules etc) and all the sensory overload for him. I remember one Sunday outside in winter (warmer day) and rocking him back and forth on the front porch because he would not stop crying. We would go into a store and he would want something and scream if he could not have it. We were afraid to take him places because of these fits he would have. I knew it would get better but at the time it was so hard. much harder on Dan than myself. He was also a runner and would run from us and laugh. He had no clue what he was doing. he would run in parking lots and during hockey games with 100's of people. I seemed like this terrible parent. I felt like I had no control over my child. I remember the first time taking him swimming and how much he loved it but then leaving the pool he would scream for an hour or so after. He had no understanding that we would return again some day. We just could not communicate this to him. Also when our daughter Sommer would leave for work or just to go out he would scream. So she started sneaking out so he wouldn't see her. He would still cry when he knew she wasn't there but it wasn't as bad.
Now these past few weeks have been wonderful. Dan and I talk every day how much he has changed. He has grown so much and his English is amazing. God has really chosen him for us. He fits right into our family. We were at a soccer camp today and a boy was kicking Rocky's ball when they should have been listening. Rocky kept looking at him telling him no. Then the little boy started pushing him. Dan and I sat and watched rocky (we also were thinking were is the mom to this other boy). Rocky 2 months ago probably would have pushed him back but this time Rocky picked up his ball and moved to another spot. We were such proud parents.
Sommer my daughter left the house the other day and Rocky looked at me and said mama look Rocky not crying. He doesn't cry any more about this. We also can go shopping in peace. If he wants something we say no and he doesn't even whine. I am shocked about this.
We go swimming and he never cries any more leaving the pool. He goes to sleep on his own and never cries. He even takes naps without crying. All these things might seem so small but they are huge steps for Rocky. We are so proud to be his parents.
In church today they talked about trust and how we have to trust in God. I look at how Rocky has grown to trust us. One example is when he first came home my husband would try to throw him in the air and Rocky would resist. He was scared. Today Dan can't throw him high enough. He loves it. How his trust has grown in both of us. He loves holding out hands more.
He has really grown and wants to keep trying to please us all the time. He knows now what is right and wrong. His English is amazing. He talks in long sentences.
Of course we still have many things to work on. Social skills is one. At times people can say hi to him and he will totally ignore them. Other times he is so sweet and says hi. Some times he will run up to a total stranger and hug them. He likes to give lots of kisses. We are trying to stop this.
We are so blessed with our family. Hunter and Sommer are doing wonderful with him. I am such a proud mom and wife. I watch my husband with him and think how lucky we both are.
I am the happiest mom in the world. My life is wonderful. It would be better if we could adopt more but right now Rocky is keeping us plenty busy.
Thanks for reading
Heidi
