One Month Home as a Family of Five

WOW!


It's hard to believe that we have been home for one month already. Dubale is adjusting beautifully. Besides sleeping and eating well, he also cleans up his toys and plate after each meal. God has been so gracious in allowing us to bond. Initially Dubale only wanted Tim when he was home. Understandable since Tim works/stays away Monday to Thursday, but Dubale has adjusted well. He no longer yells/screams when I come near him if Pappa is home. Tim has been so good to reinforce Dubale's bonding to me. For this I am so thankful. He loves his sisters so much. Each day when Casey comes home from school he runs to her and snuggles with her for at least an hour. They wrestle like crazy. He is so strong! Towards the end of the week after Tella has been gone for college, Dubale starts looking in her room to see if she is home yet. He has mastered riding his bicycle with training wheels. He is bonding well to each of us and each in a different way. He is socialable, but doesn't go to stranges indiscrimately. Good! The only thing he does that we will work on is each time he says "By" he also says "I love you" regardless of who he is talking to.


Vocabulary is increasing also. Additional words Dubale can say and understand are:


Night, Good morning, Dylan, Hana, Hope, Pastor Don, Miss Cindy, truck, trash, open, hot/cold, outside, Buttons, Hannah, Puppy, Hannah outside, up please. Sentences: "Mommy I not full" at lunchtime. I asked him what he wanted. "Beans" He LOVES baked beans. His ball rolled over the hill and he ran and got it once. Rolled over again he said, "Mommy get it" and laughed.





It has been work in adjusting. Parenting looks a lot different for us then it did 16 and 20 years ago. The biggest change is our relationship with the Lord. Through this He has strengthened us. You have to remember Tim and I also have a 16 and 20 year old. We would not change our decision for the world. It's not always easy. It has taken sacrifice from each of us, but it so totally worth it. I have had so many people say, "God will Bless Your Family for what you have done." I say, "He already has!" Thank you Lord for each of our children. Help us to raise them to look to you Jesus. Help Tim and I to be a strong example of this. We Love You more each day Lord. Dawn

WORDS DUBALE CAN SAY AND UNDERSTAND:
Pappa
Momma
Auntie
Casey
Tella
Grandma
I love you
I love you so much!
"Watch"
Bicycle
Yes
Thank you
Please
You're Welcome

Horse

Elephant

Cat-meow

Dog-ruff

Counts to 10....usually in English

Says ABC's

Rides tricycle

Trying to learn to ride Bicycle with training wheels

RUNS

Eats anything, but milk and cheese

Dubale insists on saying his prayers himself. He always starts with Dubale, Pappa, Casey, Tella

Momma and Grandma.

On 8/24/10

39" and 37.6 lbs

On 9/9/10

38#

Thank you Busy Bee Quilters

This is Dubale making use of his new quilt given to him by the Busy Bee Quilters at our church. Thank you so much!

MORE FAMILY PICTURES

Family Pictures

What do Greathouse's do on their first weekend home as a family?

Count your blessings name them one by one!

Tomorrow 8/28/10 will mark our one year anniversary of applying to America World Adoption. Some things we have prayed continuously for is the we would bond with our son and him to us, that he would be loved and be shown Gods love, for his health, and that he would be safe. It is amazing to us how God has shown us so clearly that He not only cared enough to hear our prayers, but He is showing us how He answered our petitions to Him.
First of all let me say that we feel so connected to Dubale. It is difficult for me to explain, but in our hearts we know that we are family. Though he came to us a different route than Tella and Casey, it is amazing at how God has bonded us together. Sometimes I forget that I did not birth him. Dubale has been shown love. We can tell it by the way he has bonded to us and his ability to express himself. He wraps his little arms so tightly around our necks and gives kisses galore. The Doctor at the Transition Home told us that Dubale was one of the healthiest children there. Thank you Lord. And Boy can this kid eat. He has learned to bow his head for prayers before starting his meal....well sometimes he sneaks a little nibble if he is really hungry. I can just see Jesus throwing His head back and laughing as He watches our family. The Lord tells us that He sets the lonely in families. I just didn't know how lonely I was. Funny thing is, most people think we are helping/saving a little child, but he in a sense is helping us. We are so very blessed to have been given three beautiful children. We are so very thankful.

Dubale is quite the jokester. Mom says I will earn it trying to play a joke on him. The other day I was sweeping and laid the dust pan down. When I went back to get it, I thought I had lost my mind because it was gone. That was until I say our son walking nonchalantly across the dining room from the living room. Sure enough the lost dust pan was hidden in the living room.
He loves to wrestle, play Lego's, cars, and anything to do with a hammer. He is definitely his fathers son. He loves his sisters, whom he calls Auntie Tella and Auntie Casey.
Another day as he was watching me wash my hands, he wanted to wash his. Since he had just washed his I told him no. He decided to force himself to go to the bathroom since he knew that I couldn't say no after that. To resourceful!
Dubale does great with people. He is definitely gifted in that area. He sticks out his little hand to either shake or give high five. Occasionally he announces, "Hi, I Dubale".
He is definitely a daddy's boy. He mimics everything. When Grandma comes to visit, he insist on holding her hand or sitting next to her. Too cute!
We are so very blessed. Thank you Lord for putting our family together. Thank you for placing friends and family around us to encourage and support us. Thank you for giving us Your wisdom, strength and courage. Thank you for being such an awesome Father. Dawn