Motherhood has made a mess of me...in a beautiful way. I guess I have always been kind of a mess but there's no better way to show it off other than this. I knew being a mom would be a good kind of hard but I had no idea how it would shape me into a completely new person - someone who has to rid themselves of pleasing anyone but God, being ok with many flaws/failures and accepting that God's grace is sufficient even when you feel like you can't do anything right! :)
Antonio is the greatest gift! He is such an affectionate, funny, playful, talented and brave human being. I have laughed so much during these past seven weeks! He is doing really well with all of the change. He often says, "I am here with you forever" and gives me a big hug. I'd say he's happy!
We have spent most of our time balancing medical appointments, school and family fun. Antonio was on a medical excuse from school since he arrived but started attending half days last Wednesday! He attends Central School in the Brecksville-Broadview Heights District and absolutely LOVES it! I have been off of work on Family Medical Leave and will start to transition back as Antonio does. He's excited to go so I think he will be attending full days in no time!
Medically speaking we have spent our time split between Akron Children's, the Clinic and Shriner's in Erie. Unfortunately, when Antonio had his achilles tendons released in El Salvador, they overdid the job and doesn't have that support to hold him up straight. Also his right hip is 40% out of joint and may face surgery if it deviates any further. The positive side is that Antonio has been rid of all his prescriptions he used to take in El Salvador! He will receive new braces, a new posterior walker to improve his posture and a self-propelling wheelchair for long distances! We are really blessed by so many incredible resources here in the United States! 
Convincing Antonio of all the wonderful activities there are to do outside during the summer and fall months has been somewhat of a chore, however, he always ends up really enjoying them: baseball and football games, swimming, walking in the park, throwing rocks in the lake, feeding fish, picking apples, riding tractors, biking, etc. Tonio's talent is singing so we make sure there is always time for that! He has memorized many new songs from 95,5 The Fish. His favorites are Speak Life by Toby Mac and Fix My Eyes by For King and Country. He will soon start singing and guitar lessons along with swimming and horseback riding lessons. He is going to have one full schedule! 
Preserving Antonio's cultural identity is very important to me. He gets his hair cut at a latino barbershop and we eat out at a pupuseria (Salvadoran corn tortillas filled with beans, cheese and pork) once a week. We also continue to speak Spanish together, knowing that he will learn English very quickly from all the kids around him. In fact, in less than 2 months I have witnessed quite an improvement from when he first came here!
As for my identity - well, it hasn't been very well preserved! Haha! But I'm working on that :).
I can't ever express how much gratitude I have for every single person who has helped make this adoption come to fruition. From my family, friends, church, NRCS, missionaries in El Salvador and supporters that I have never met...I pray that God blesses you for having blessed Tonio and me!
I can't ever express how much gratitude I have for every single person who has helped make this adoption come to fruition. From my family, friends, church, NRCS, missionaries in El Salvador and supporters that I have never met...I pray that God blesses you for having blessed Tonio and me!
