*One more note

For clarity's sake, when I say things are "harder than they had to be", please know that Joel's orphanage was actually one of the best ones that he could have been in.  The people were kind, and for the last 1 1/2 years, he was in a day care program at the orphanage where they did work with him some.  That said, malnutrition and neglect (even when not intentional) are very real, and very hard to overcome after 7 years.  Even the best orphanage situation is not adequate to meet a child's real and basic needs.  I just want to be clear that we are thankful for what they DID do for him, but what they did not do for him is what is hard to overcome.