Simply put, our kids are the most amazing thing ever to hit planet earth...short of Jesus, of course.

Things are gooood.  It has officially been 6 months since we first laid eyes our Ellie and Elijah.  Crazy. SO much has happened since then...it's really been a whirlwind.  We have fought through multiple stomach parasites, ringworm, severe ear infections, MAJOR tantrums, and most recently, tuberculosis.  We take bi-weekly trips to Charleston for Dr's appointments (we even got to stay at MUSC for 3 nights, quarantined in a nice corner room overlooking the bridge!).  We have a nurse from the health department coming twice a week to give Ellie her meds, and we have 3 appointments a week for Elijah's therapy (speech, physical, occupational), as well as once a week with an early interventionist.  And before the years end, we'll slip in a sleep study for Elijah, possibly a surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids, and a surgery for Ellie's herniated bellybutton.

But seriously, we're doing GREAT.  Despite our crazy schedule, we actually feel like things are calming down a bit.  Weird, I know.  Ellie is learning to keep her fingers out of her mouth (thanks to the great motivator: candy corn!).  Elijah has grown almost 3 inches since getting home.  3 inches!  And Ellie's grow a couple inches herself.  Most notably, the tantrums are MUCH less frequent and severe.  Ellie is learning to control her emotions and calm down.  We've even begun the process to put her in school in January.  Yeesh.

As for Erin and I, we're actually getting dates in now!  We make parenting mistakes on a daily basis, but we're learning.  And we're making sure Erin is getting the MUCH-needed time she needs to herself, to just have some QUIET and get refocussed.  Add to all this the change in weather (starting tomorrow), football season, cute little halloween outfits (ballerina and football player),  and family scheduled to come, and things are looking mighty fine for the Smith family.

Of course, I write this on a really good family day.  Tomorrow, I supposed we could change our tune.  But there is much joy and laughter in the Smith house these days.  We are forever grateful for all those who have shared our journey with us.  It's been an intensely difficult / amazing first 6 months.  Thank you for walking with us and especially for your prayers and support.  It seriously means more than we could ever express.