What do the boys think??

That whole ride into school after getting the email about EK was with the boys.  I fought hard to maintain composure!  I didn’t want to lose it in front of them and as much as I wanted to tell them, I wanted to make sure this was a done deal before sharing with them!

Kenny came home a little early from work that afternoon and I wrapped up a present with her picture in it.  I told the boys it was an early birthday present for them, but with several disclaimers…it wasn’t a toy, but something we could play with and something we all had been wanting for a while.  I realized we were off base a little when I heard Charlie tell Sam, “I bet it’s an iPad!!”

Ummm, not quite.

Watch the reveal below…

 

They have been soooooo excited!!  We told them from the beginning that God made Ellie Kate’s ears so that they didn’t hear and one of the ways we could talk to her would be with our hands.  They never missed a beat and have dove head first into learning sign language! 

It has turned into quite the challenge (as in, against each other!) and less than a week in, they both know the whole alphabet and Sam actually kicked Charlie’s butt when I was quizzing them the other day!  Although he struggles with getting those fingers in the right place.  He’s flipped us off on more than one occasion! 

I’ve overheard Sam tell several people… “I have a new baby sister and she can’t hear and I’m gonna talk to her with my hands!!”  He has her picture printed out and carries it around the house with him, giving her kisses or hugs.  The other day I caught him staring at her picture on the fridge and asked him what he was doing… “She is just so cute, Mommy!”

Charlie asked if he could take her picture to school, has fiercely studied the ABC’s sheet on the fridge and is asking for more to learn!

Her given name is Ji Xisha (pronounced Gee Shesha…according to the "translate" app on my phone!) and Sam has dubbed her ‘Lil Ji, which I think fits perfectly with Chuck and Ham Bone.

Chuck, Ham Bone and ‘Lil Ji.  I like it.