Update #2 - Riley

Well, I am doing my best to try to get updates posted on all of my miracles. Now it is Riley's turn.

Riley has had an interesting start to Kindergarten. He has been going to school since he turned three. He has had the Developmentally delayed label and Speech/Language impaired. The DD was due to coming home from China at 2 and a half years old and just being so far behind. He couldn't even pull his socks off of his feet! School was just what he needed! Starting Kindergarten should have been no big deal. WRONG! Riley cried and begged to stay with me for the first few weeks of school. I started walking him to class. This continued until last week. It took an entire quarter of the school year before Riley would go voluntarily to class. This was not fun. Riley is doing VERY well in school. We think that maybe the larger class size and higher work load just stressed him out.

Riley's articulation has improved TREMENDOUSLY since school started. His Speech Pathologist is outstanding. He works like a trooper for her. He now willingly practices at home. His confidence in social settings is skyrocketing. He needed this.

Riley is still going to Gymnastics classes on Saturdays. This is the highlight of his week. He loves to jump, flip, walk on the balance beam and do anything his instructors ask of him. He is super flexible and strong. We really think that if we increased his time in the gym he would excel. He is a dare devil. He has also started playing soccer. He enjoys the outside run and play time alot.... though the gym is his favorite place to be. Riley is just so naturally athletic. He takes to new outdoor physical activities like a fish to water. He is now riding a bigger bike. He loves to do all sorts of tricks on his bike which give me heart failure.

Riley is starting to read some. He knows all of his letters and sounds and wants to be read to constantly. I think Jerry, James and I all read to him most days... sometimes twice. He has his favorite books but really will pick all different books each day.

Riley is quite artistic. He loves to color, paint, make collages and sculpt things with clay and Play Doh. He will glue, cut and color for hours on end. For a child who is so active, it is amazing to see his calm determination when he is creating a new masterpiece. He has such a unique eye. He does like coloring pictures, but prefers creating new and more abstract pieces of artwork. Our refrigerator is covered from top to bottom with original artwork. We are always looking for a new medium to introduce to him. This summer we started doing Shrinky Dinks as another creative outlet. He loves it!

Well, I know I could go on and on about Riley and all of his gifts and talents. Once I post this I am sure I will think of several other things I wish I had added.

Sometimes Jerry and I are overcome watching Riley. He is so completely different from the scared little boy we brought home from China. It took him such a very long time to trust, to feel safe and secure, to understand his place in our family. Riley struggled for a very long time. He carried a lot of "baggage" for a very long time. He isn't struggling now. We really believe his trip to China last December to bring his sister home put so much into perspective for him. We think he now understands his "story" more. He now sees himself as Chinese. He sees that other Asian people look like him. He just is more secure in himself.

All of our children are miracles... but Riley is just different. Everything about him is different. Nothing comes to Riley without work and perserverence. He is a miracle, blessing, gift and so much more.