December 19, 2000

Today was the most important day of our lives, our dreams have finally come true! Matthew (Matt) Eugene Gribble arrived at the K.C.I. Airport in Kansas City, Missouri. Matt was born in Romania and has now come to complete our family!

To our delight, the plane arrived about ten minutes early. Thirteen family members anxiously watched the passengers deplane. Of course, Matt was the last one off, being carried by Daniel from Tree of Life Adoption Center. Gina instantly recognized the clothing and Chiefs jacket he was wearing and knew that he was our new son. His hair was long, hanging over his face, with these beautiful big brown eyes with very long eyelashes peeking out at this crowd of people. Gina put her hands out to him and he went to her immediately. Poor little guy, here he was on the other side of the world after twenty hours of travel and all these people were gathered around him. It must have been devastating for him.

Matt cried a lot, but Gina was able to calm him most of the time. So, we all walked to the parking lot and climbed into Grandma and Grandad's car for his first car ride to Independence, to his new home and his very own bedroom. He was very busy watching all the cars and the scenery all the way home. We immediately showed him around and just let him do what he wanted. Grandma and Grandad left and there we were, alone as a family for the first time.

Since Matt was in diapers, Steve went to the store to get some diapers and soup for Matt. He was scared to sleep, so this first night was a hard one. Mommy rocking him and kissing him, lots, finally relaxed him and he went to sleep. Thank you, God, for our son!

December 20, 2000

Hooray! Matt loves to take baths! He liked it so well that he wanted to take another one later. That's great, he will sure be clean. We began our bonding together and loved showing him to friends and neighbors. We went over to Grandma & Granddad's home. The first thing that Matt noticed was the "choo choo" under the Christmas tree.
He watched it go around a few times, then grabbed it off the track. (Granddad about had a stroke.) Ha ha!

The rest of the week, we just kinda got to know one another. We are taking things slowly. He is doing well!

December 23, 2000

Gina's cousin, Kenny, came in from Houston for Christmas and he came of to see the family. So, the three of us jumped in the car and hurried over to Grandmas house again. Of course, Kenny thought Matt was a doll. We had a nice visit and then Kenny had to go to his Mom's.

December 24, 2000

It's Christmas Eve Day and we already have received the greatest gift of all, a son! We took him to church for the first time and he was pretty good considering. He was very good and Gina delighted in carrying him up to the alter when they had Children's Time. He loved the Cburch . . . the stained glass windows, the organ and music, etc. After church, we went to Steve's parents home for dinner. Steve's two step sisters and step brother were there. Matt was a good boy. We found out he likes to play in big boxes. He likes people to push him in the box. Big smile. He didn't know how to open presents. Oh well, he will next Christmas.

December 25, Christmas 2000

What a full day. Matt was excited to see presents under the Christmas tree. First time for Matt. He got a motorized motorcycle that lights up, building blocks, big firetruck and lots of cars and trucks. (He liked the box best. Ha Ha!) We went to Lori (Gina's older sister) and her family for Brunch. Yum! Very good and Matt ate lots. All the Horn Family was there and we exchanged presents. Matt loved going up and down the steps and playing with cousins, Jenna and Travis.

Then, we went to Grandma & Grandad Hortt's house for Dinner about four o'clock and opened some more presents. It was a very busy, fun day. Matt's first Christmas with his new family.

December 31, New Year's Eve

We went to Grandma & Grandad's house for dinner and to wait for the New Year. Paula, Mel & Travis came too. We ate, watched TV and played with the kids. Matt went to sleep before the New Year arrived. He seems to enjoy all his new family. Gina was off work from December 19 to January 2nd and Steve had some time off too. That made it nice to give extra time to bond.

January 2, 2001

It was Matt's first day to go to Grandma's house while Gina started back to work. It was up at 5:30 am, get Matt up, give him breakfast, dress both of them and then off to Grandma's they went. She was waiting for them with the porch light on. It was very dark outside this early in the morning. Granddad and Grandma said he was a good boy. Grandma took him for his first visit to the local grocery store. He seemed to enjoy the high ceilings, lights, bright displays and mounds of fruit and stuff. She handed him things and he threw them in the basket. He really got excited when he saw the oatmeal box and jello. He recognized those things because he loves both.

January 5, 2001

Granddad picked up cousin Travis from his preschool at one, so Matt got to play with Travis until Mommy picked him up. Matt doesn't seem to know how to play with other kids. We think because be hasn't been around many children close to his age. (Travis just turned four.) He will learn soon. Travis loves Matt and tries to kiss him a lot.

January 6,2001

Gina & Grandma went shopping for a stroller for Matt. They found a good one at Toys R Us, so Gina bought it. Grandma got Matt a choo choo to sit and ride on. Matt loved it and pushes the button to hear "whoo whoo;' and a bell ring. We are convinced that Matt has more hearing than they said he did! He is reacting to sound a lot!

Sunday, January 7th

Gina took Matt to church today. Steve wanted to sleep in and watch the football playoff games. Matt was very good in church and seemed to be singing with the congregation. We had communion and the associate paster gave Matt a small piece of bread. He just smelled it, tore it apart and threw it on the floor. We don't understand that. Grandma is trying to reach Daniel to talk to him about Matt. We suspect he might have a little autismn. We hope not. Wait till Doctors exam in a few weeks. Waiting for the insurance to go through and we have his card.

Tuesday, January 9, 2001

Matt gets excited when we get to Grandma's house in the morning. He knows they will play with him and he gets to do his favorite thing . . . eat. Matt didn't want to take nap. But Grandma just sat there and watched him cry & sob. Finally, she handed him a little toy man. Matt stopped crying and played with it. Within a few minutes, he was asleep, Grandma learned something today . . . give him a toy to lay down with and he will soon go to sleep. Again, he was a good boy.

Wednesday, January 10, 2001

Matt refuses to eat hard things . . . he smells them but won't eat them. When he woke from his nap, grandma gave him milk and a graham cracker. He would not eat them. Then grandma gave him a little piece and he threw it in the milk. Then she broke up the whole cracker and put it in the milk . . . and he ate the whole thing, drinking the rest of the milk. Great! Now he is getting the milk he needs and gets a satisfying, filling snack. He loves potatoes, cottage cheese, soups, puddings, jello and ice cream. Since he won't eat bread or toast, grandma just mixes stuff together and he eats it all. What a piggy.

We took Matt down the street to meet our dear neighbor Rex. Rex took pictures and played with Matt. Rex is a very special man because his wife, Pat, was one of Grandmas best friends. She died of cancer two years ago this month. (She would've loved Matt"

Friday, January 12, 2001

We went to Golden Coral for dinner, Matt loved it. He ate meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Then, we went out to Independence Center and pushed Matt around in his new stroller. He loved it! He took his first merry-go-round ride and smiled all the time going up and down on the horse. Matt loves lights.

Monday, January 15th

Today was a big day for Matt. His new word is "up". Grandma and grandad took care of Jenna and Travis as there was no school because Marin Luther Kings Birthday. So, Matt got to play with his cousins all day. Jenna is almost twelve and is very good with Matt. Travis just turned four and he loves to play with his cousins. Tonight was Gina's Bunco night, so Steve bought Matt over to Joyce's house so all the girls could see him. It was fun for us to show him off to everyone. The Bunco girls gave Gina a shower for Matt in November and he got lots of clothes and toys. Everyone said he is so cute and "what a doll". Matt smiled at them. That was a fun time. Matt drank a whole glass of milk today. First time. He usually won't drink milk.

January 22nd
Today we got Matt's picture taken,. We can hardly wait to see them. We should get them on Feb. 2nd. Matt was a very good boy and smiled lots. He signed the word stop today. He is doing better every day.

Our friends Rick & Cathy from Sedalia came to visit yesterday. They have two daughters, one is seven months and the other is three years old. Matt play with them a little bit. He isn't very interested in other children. Strange. We are still concerned that he has some autism, but we still have not taken him to doctor . . . waiting for insurance to go through. We hope medicine will take care of it. That would be good. My mom keeps saying wait and see. She thinks he can hear lots. We will test him soon. He responds to sound pretty good. We know he can hear the hair dryer.

February 5th

Matt is sick today . . . running high fever and seems to have a sore throat. We tried to get him in to see the Dr. but they can't see him until weds. Grandma Pat spent the night with us so she could hear Matt if he cried. We gave him cool baths and children's Tylenol, His fever would go down for a couple hours then back up to 104 temp. Very scary.

Februay 6th

We got Matt in to see the doctor today. He has a virus and it should take about four days to get over it. He is a good boy and takes his medicine good. They weighed him and he is about 29 pounds. He is growing and gaining some weight.

February 14th

Matt got his first balloon today. He and Travis got one and they played with them lots. Matt love it. He laughed lots. He liked his valentines too. It is also daddy, Steve's birthday.

February 9th

Today was a good day for Matt. Grandad took him up to get his first "professional" haircut. He was excellent. They gave him a sucker. Grandma talked him into putting it in his mouth. It was so funny. He just smiled and kept it in his mouth until it was almost gone. He loved it. It was butterscotch. Then, grandad took him to the train station in Independence and he got to see the Amtrak train come in. What a fun day for Matthew!

February 14th
This was a fun day! Matt's first valentines day. He looked at his cards. He liked his daddy's birthday cake & candles. He loves to blowout candles.

February 18th

Every day seems to be a day of discovery for Matt. He smiles all the time and enjoys tasting different foods. Sometimes he is hesitant, but he will try it. Our biggest challenge is to get him to chew. Since he has had just soft foods, he really didn't know how to chew. We just have to cut everything in tiny pieces.

February 25th

Going to church is an adventure for Matt. He loves looking at the lights, watching the choir sing and the organ music. His favorite time is to go up to the front of the church with all the other kids and listen or watch a childrens message. He always gets a surprise . . . this week it was a sticker. What fun he had sticking it on one hand then the other. Matt always takes a cookie off the refreshment table after church.

March 2nd

Grandma, grandad, mom, dad, Eleanor, Jim and Matt went to tbe American Legion for steak night. Some got steak, some fried chiken and some shrimp. Matt like the chicken and potatoes.

March 16th

This was the American Legion birthday dinner and the whole family went. Matt loved the decorations and the birthday cakes on each table. Of course, he wanted to blowout the candles.

March 17th

This was cousin, Erik's 16th birthday and we all went to Aunt Lori's & Uncle Jeff's for dinner, ice cream and cake and jumping on the trampoline. Since Matt did not want to get off, Mommy & Daddy had to chase around the trampoline to catch him. Then, cousin Jenna, gave him a ride on her scooter. Fun day!

April 1st

Mommy and grandma took Matt shopping for some shorts and tops for the warm weather. It was almost 80 degrees so when we got home, we put shorts and a short sleeve shirt on Matt. It was so funny. It is obvious that he had never had shorts before. He kept laughing and bending over to touch his legs & arms.

April 7th

We took Matt to see the Easter Bunny. He wasn't afraid at all. He even smiled for a picture with the Easter Bunny. He was a very good boy!

April 8th

Palm Sunday and Matt waved a palm branch and walked around the church isle with the other children. At children time he was happy to be with the kids. Grandma took him to the nursery to play with the kids. The teachers said he was so sweet and good. He did not cry. YEAA!

April 15

A beautiful Easter day. Matt looked so cute in his shorts, shirt and pullover sweater. Cousins Jenna & Erik, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Lori and grandma went to church together. Matt loved the music. He sat with Jenna a lot.

Then everyone went to Grandma & Grandad's for an Easter Egg Hunt, Easter baskets and a great dinner. Matt had a ball. Grandma gave Matt & Travis Big Wheel trikes and everyone had to put them together. They played outside all day, blowing bubbles and shooting water guns. Matt loves bubbles. A long, fun day!

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