Cherish + Matthew = Love

Matthew fell asleep in daddy's lap in the living room tonight. When he was moved, he woke up. Trying to transfer him to bed caused quite a bit of crying and clinging to Derek.

Matthew did not want daddy leaving his bedroom! After about 30 minutes of crying, Derek left and Cherish was in the room to comfort him.

Cherish made up a song out of the Chinese words she knew, and she sang Matthew to sleep with her Chinese song! How sweet!!!!!

Cherish has been sleeping on the floor next to Matthew since he arrived home. First, she spent her nights on our floor as Matthew slept in the playpen next to daddy's side of the bed. When Matthew moved into a toddler bed, Cherish was right on the floor next to him.

What sweet love!! 💗

Update: Cherish ended up falling asleep for the night right there in Matthew's toddler bed.

School Room Companion

I thought it would be hard to homeschool with yet another preschooler in the house.

Nope! This little guy is so quiet, and he will easily sit for an hour plus concentrating one thing. I am amazed!!

He really is a "big boy"

When you wake up early,
you find an early morning nap so desirable!

Matthew is so unusually fun. He has the body size of an 18-month-old, he waddles as he walks like an 18-month-old, and he has the curiosity of an 18-month-old--since everything is new to him. Yet, he is smart as a whip as a 4-year-old. Thus, he doesn't climb furniture to use as a spring board for jumping (as Sammy did/does as a 1, 2, and 3-year-old), he is too short to reach door knobs to escape the house, and he doesn't put non-edibles in his mouth. Therefore, I can let him wander around the house exploring without any problems.

Almost every time I go looking for him (which is numerous times a day, since he is independent and oh so quiet!!!), he is almost always either looking at books, playing with little Legos, or napping. Those seem to be his three favorite things to do.

Matthew, you give us so much joy!!!! 😍

Testing day and new bed

Matthew went for testing today. Mommy collected the stool samples, and daddy was in charge of the blood collection.

First, daddy took Matthew to Quest, but they sent Derek to the Children's Hospital for the blood work instead. Quest said it would take 5 - 6 appointments to gather enough blood for all the testing that was required.

So, off they went to the Children's Hospital. After a couple of attempts to prick a vein, the specialist was called in.

(Pictures by Cherish)

Derek was told Matthew doesn't have enough muscle to hold his veins in place, so the veins kept rolling around. (His limbs truly feel like a baby's--so delicate and squishy 😍!!!!)

But, somehow squishy boy has enough muscles in his legs to propel himself out of his playpen to try to sleep with daddy. So, tonight he was introduced to the toddler bed. Oh, how he hated it! Oh, how he cried to not be sleeping on the side of daddy's bed! Oh, how the tears flowed when daddy walked away!

But, then...Andrew. He crawled right up next to Matthew and instantly Matthew stopped crying. He fell asleep within probably two minutes of Andrew reclining next to him!

Brothers! 💙💚 

Good night, Big Boy!

Matthew meets Mr. and Mrs. Kong

Today after church, Matthew met Mr. and Mrs. Kong for the first time.

Everyone was happy!

(Mrs. Kong is the children's Chinese language teacher.)

It was SO wonderful hearing Mr. and Mrs. Kong talk with Matthew and to hear them translate his answers!!!

At one point, Matthew told them he was hungry and wanted a hamburger! An orphan who had learned the Chinese word for hamburger???! I'd love to hear the story about his encounter with hamburgers while in China--since we have not had any since he has been Stateside!

He also told Mr. and Mrs. Kong in Chinese: "Daddy is good. Mommy is good." He also understands that the children are his siblings and that he needs to share daddy with them 😉.

As you can see from the picture that there is one more Bollinger who now loves Mr. and Mrs. Kong--or "Uncle" and "Auntie" as Matthew learned to called them today. 💙

Next tree climber

Since we spend most of our time in the front yard, Matthew has been watching his siblings climb trees. Today he tried to climb a tree for the first time! He has two feet up in the tree! Way to go, Buddy!!!!!

First doctor's appointment

Matthew was a star patient this morning at his first doctor appointment! Not only did he smile his way through the appointment, he blew the female doctor several kisses. Sweet boy melted her heart.

Matthew...

...is getting used to being outside.

The first day was very stressful for him. The sun bothered him, and the grass scared him. He screamed and pointed to the house each time I took him out. He wanted nothing to do with being outside. I took him out periodically for a few minutes each time.

Now, he's getting accustomed to being outside

and this is one of his favorite outside toys.

I took him to the backyard, but for days he has wanted nothing to do with the playground. He is terrified of the baby swing, even though Samuel has demonstrated how fun it can be. Nope. He wants nothing to do with it!

He'll warm up to the backyard eventually. But for now, he's enjoying the riding toys in the front of the house.

Such a little guy

Tomorrow I register Daniel for VPK. Matthew is eligible for VPK as well. He will wait an extra year. 

Matthew's hands and feet are so tiny; he can wear size 3 shoes with thick socks. He wears clothing size 18 mon. It was fun getting the little clothes and shoes out of the attic this afternoon!

Jetlaggin' in the living room

2nd day home

In the wee hours of the morning, I went to bed for the night--sleeping with Daniel who woke up crying for daddy three times in the night. I left Derek "in charge" 😉 of the night crew.

I woke up this morning to find only Andrew awake. Derek woke up briefly this morning to tell me he was too sick to stay up last night, so he, Matthew, and Cherish went to bed about 10 minutes after I did. (Cherish asked permission to stay up and care for the night crew, but Derek ended up making her go to bed.)

So, Andrew periodically checked in with Derek through the night. Andrew made his own dinner...taco shells, filled with gold fish, and covered with taco sauce. Poor kid!!! Then, Derek told me, Andrew cleaned the kitchen of the night crew's snacks. The child is a gem! He serves even when sick!

I was able to get him in to see a doctor, and it turns out Andrew has a double ear infection + fever + sore throat + congestion + sinus pressure.... The child doesn't complain!

Thankfully, he is now on an antibiotic and should be feeling better soon.

The children played out in the sun today--it got up to 80° F today!--so there was lots of outdoor play. We took Matthew out back to play on the playground, but he was too scared! He was screaming that I had even thought he might be remotely interested in sitting in a baby seat! I mean, what was I thinking?!  How could any person survive riding in a swing?!!!

So, Sammy--who is too big for the swing--got into the swing and showed Matthew how fun it was. Matthew tried over and over and over again to get near the swing. Finally, by the end of the day, he let Derek hold him over the swing--but without sitting in the swing! 

Perhaps tomorrow he will gain even more courage. For how terrified he was, he was pretty brave to keep going back to try to get closer and closer to the swing.

Concerning my back, on January 20th I woke up in extreme pain--as had been the custom. I had a few ladies praying for my back, and by the evening I was able to hold Matthew! What a blessing!!!

Then, last night I was able to bathe the boys!!! I do not recall having bathed them since I slipped the disks from my lower back. (Cherish had been continually showering the boys.)

I was SO THANKFUL that when my family (my husband) needed me the most, my back was strong enough to be able to assist the family.

There are so many things to be thankful for! In addition, Matthew spends much of his day smiling! He gets so much joy and happiness from the littlest things, like diaper changings, a banana, a door opening, a toy, a hug....

I will say: the smile is contagious! Thank You, Lord, for Matthew!!

1st day home

The 24-hour household is in full swing! The three boys had their picture together this morning:

The boys are in age order. Samuel is the youngest, Matthew is 6 months older than Samuel, and Daniel is the oldest (6 months older than Matthew).

Andrew is very sick with fever and severe pain in his ears, etc., and Derek is the second sickest. They have slept the day away. Matthew has been AWAKE(!!!) all day, took an hour nap tonight, and is back awake. Since Derek has been sleeping all day, I got to hang out with Matthew. 

Matthew has taken to everyone in the family without any problems! He loves all the household toys and has COMPLETELY ignored his backbag (his "security blanket"). Matthew is doing GREAT!!!!

He even walked up to me and kissed me on the lips three times!!! I was shocked!!! I love my boys!! 💙💙💙💙

Matthew's Airport Gotcha Day in Pictures

Pictures by Jenelle Dunathan:

 Julie's HERO!

Andrew: feverish and in tremendous pain

What a special evening with precious family and friends!!