What A Year!

It’s been three months since our return to a family of six. It is really hard to believe that Jenna and Eddie have only been here for that short of a period of time in our lives. It feels like it has been forever.

I remember making lunch for Jacob the first Monday as he was getting ready for school – the shift of Jeff and Justin had just left – the kids were crying and wanting to eat, the dog was going crazy, Jacob was taking his sweet and precious time as he does in the morning. I just felt as if any minute I was going to turn into a sobbing mass of helpless goo. Well, since then things have taken a remarkable turn, albeit we have a regime now, too. Mornings can be a bit crazy, but nothing like that anymore.

Christmas morning was truly a magical morning for Janna and Eddie. The boys got up a few times before 4am and 6am (they may have never even went to sleep for all we know). We got up with them, then, I went back to bed and heard them stirring on the monitor. When we brought them down and they saw the gifts and music and all the look of pure joy – not just, “OOOHHH presents” but joy was priceless. They were so sweet. They were even visited by Santa Claus two nights before (thank you Danny for such an awesome and thoughtful thing). He came right up to their bedroom as we were tucking them in. They had met him at the mall a few days before and I think that Jenna was not completely convinced. However, when he actually came over to see them it was definitely the clincher. Also, luck would have it that when Jeff and I had to use the “Santa is watching card” for various reasons it was certainly taken to heart over the following days. Friday they had Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Andy, Corinne and Christopher over night which they loved and then Christmas Eve at my moms with Uncle Rob, Aunt Olga and Nichole and a very special surprise of my brother Dave, Cathy and Janel. Sunday it was off to Nanny’s with all of the Brooks clan. They did not know what to do with themselves on Monday! But, all in all, it was a very blessed time for us.

Justin and Jacob are continuing to show their commitment and love and just genuine sweet love for these two. Jacob is always playing and laughing with them while Justin is shooting pictures or movies of the silly things they do. They have wiped their faces, taken them to the bathroom, and gotten up with them in the wee hours if they cried out – I could literally go on and on. Our two older boys are the two most courageous and committed boys I have ever known. If it was not for their love and support and constant stepping up to help I know this would be a difficult time. But the fact is, it really isn’t. It’s true we don’t have a lot of adult conversations. We are limited to our coming and going and some shopping but besides that, life at the Brooks house is pretty much the same. Yes we have lots of plastic toys and sippy cups and a few incredibly stinky diapers. But we also have four of the greatest most incredible kids to love and share our life with. What could be better than that?!

Jenna has just about mastered the English language. Her favorite words are “please”, “no” and “Jenna Leeza do it”! (Does she sound three or what?) She kisses a lot and loves to be kissed and hugged all day. She loves to swing and play with her baby. She laughs a lot and squeals and screams (I had to verify with my sister that this was completely normal for girls) and squeals and screams some more. She sits forever and paints her nails and everyone who has any in the house (Lilly, watch out, you’re next). A very independent girl – she wants to do EVERYTHING on her own and EVERYTHING for anyone else who will let her. Eddie is not too fond of this character trait but sometimes he knows if he just lets her have her way it will be over quick. She really is beginning to show her personality and we can see that she is comfortable with being herself. That has been a really cool metamorphosis. She can walk around and giggle to herself and talk to her dolls or pretend without looking around to see who is watching her. I guess she is learning to be the little girl that God intended her to be.

Eddie is a little love. Shy and quiet and sweet at least for the first few minutes. He loves to play with his cars and his tools and wants to hold your hand or be picked up a lot. This is a very cool thing as he was not so easy to pick up a month or so ago. When he wakes up and you go to get him, he is always smiling and laughing. He has a big stuffed brown bear that he is convinced is really alive. He wrestles with him like he’s on WWF. He is making lots of attempts to catch up in the language department. He has not met a dog he hasn’t liked – at least the ones he has caught up with. He loves to chase his sister around the house with a toy (like a horse that barks like a dog) while she runs from him screaming in my shoes. When he looks up at you with those big brown eyes with three inch lashes and smiles, or a tear falls, it makes your heart melt. I am glad no one else had a chance or he would have been swooped up long ago.

Both of them are really just fitting in like they have been here all along. That is the only way I know how to say it. They have come so far in so many ways that when Jeff and I have a minute to catch up and go back in time it is incredible to compare them to the time when they first became our children. We have four children. I still can hardly believe it. I hope that all of you know what a blessing you have been to us. A comment was left on this site a few days before Christmas from someone who had actually considered adopting Eddie and Jenna. I have since written back to her and was so amazed at God’s planning and timing. I was in such awe by that knowledge. And the fact that God gave us the gift of knowing and confirming that we were meant for them and they were meant for us. I cannot tell you how much that touched my heart and Jeff’s. God bless you all. May 2006 be full of God’s peace and many, many blessings.