Three Months

Today marks three months.  Three months of togetherness.  I sit in disbelief.  Not so much because it's gone so fast- but it honestly seems like she's just always been here.   It's more of a disbelief of 'only' three months. 

Little Miss has made her mark firmly on all our hearts.  

Three months Gotcha!

That little girl- so scared on her first day in our arms.   Skinny.  Pale.  Unsure of what was happening to her.   She's coming so far.  She's COME so far.  



Lots has happened since last month.  First- her language is exploding.   This little girl- who we were told 'had slow language development' in China- only knowing basic words, phrases.... well... this little girl is learning a completely NEW language- quick.  I said she probably knew 45-50 words last month.   Well I wrote out a list today to count words she uses frequently & correctly.  That list is over 180 words.  And I know I'm forgetting some..    

She's also putting together small sentences.  (2-3 words).   Yep.  She's getting this English thing down pack!     The biggest problem is (and will be) pronounciation.   She started Speech Therapy so we'll see if that helps.

Girl learned some shapes- in English.   She can quite easily (and very happily) identify Circles, Squares, Triangles, Rectangles, Hearts & Ovals.  She loves finding shapes in everything she explores. 

Her favorite things to do - baths remain top of list.  She just loves her 'splish splash'!  She loves to color and will get out her paper and crayons and 'color' every single day while the girls do their homework.  

Likes her dollies.  Likes her princesses.  Likes to collect 'treasures' in baggies.  Ziplocs are her favorite.  Girl finds & hoardes paper trash like there is no tomorrow.  We've had problems with disappearing doctor scripts, checks & homework.   Oh, and socks. 

She still enjoys 'chores' and will happily wash things and fold laundry.   She's a great helper. 

Could care less about TV (except for a few things- baby Einstien shape DVD and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse). 

Loves books and her favorite - that we read every night - is Pig Kahuna.  Yes.  It's about Pigs surfing.  Oh, she looooves it.  She pics it without fault every single night when given a choice.

That's a new thing this month too.  Choices.  Making them.  Choosing.   When we got her, she picked nothing.  Identified nothing.  Showed no preference.  Why would she?  She never had a say in anything.  She was expected to do what she was told with what she was given.   Choices don't exist in institutions.   So she didn't know how to make one. 

This month she's CHOOSING.  Everything!  She wants her say heard.  From what she eats, to what she wears, to what she reads, to what toys she plays with to what activity she chooses to do.   What a great step forward. 

And let's talk the biggie one.  Attachment.  Well, eye contact is still poor- very poor.  But there is (itty bitty tiny) progress  there.   But we have very far to go on this. 

But.  BUT... this month little girl FINALLY recognized that names belong to people.  And that my name is Mommy.  And Kurt's name is Daddy.  And Becca and Sarah have names.  She uses them.  Mostly to identify possesions.  "Sarah's book",  "Becca's socks",  "Mommy's paper".   She has not yet called out to make a request.   As in like.... Mommy, come help me.     But we are working on it. 

She has not recognized and does not understand what mommy and daddy's are there for.  And so we continue to walk that road of attachment.  But I don't expect that to be quick.  I expect it to more about a year till we see solid progress in this.

There are three small steps she did make that are signs that she's STARTING to form the beginnings of attachment.   THe first is she's gotten extremely picky with food (trusting more will come).   The second is whining. (trusting she has a voice/say in this world) and sparadiocally she has become upset when we leave her.   This has been a few occasions and we need to see this increase to indicate she's moving forward. 

Like I said, we are getting there.  One very small, slow step at a time.

Physically she's gaining weight and height.  Her hair is growing.  New hair is coming in thick and strong.

She's stopped closing one eye to see meaning she's adjusting to her glasses. 

Her bed is better.  We have a great routine at night.  And she falls alseep quickly.  Her night wakings are diminishing.

She still can eat pretty good.  But she's picky with what she will eat.  Mommy is getting creative with hiding brocolli in her favorites.  :)   Her favorites include noodles, cheese, muffins, juice, bananas & chips!  (Oh, and candy..thanks to Halloween!).

She's loving exploring her life.  Her surroundings.  She's starting to learn what a family means.   She's walking those first tentative steps of learning to trust.  And to love.    Every day, is a step forward (even if maybe we have a few steps back).

Her laugh is contagious.  She cracks us up with her expressions (tone especially).   She loves to dance.  She loves music. 

And we love all she's brought into our lives.  Happy three months little girl! 

Two Months

It's hard to believe that today is the two months mark.   It seems as though Charlie has been in our lives for so much longer than just a mere 60 days.  

How can it be only 60 days? 

She has come so, so far.

Scared little girl on Gotcha Day.  Timid.  Shy.  Unable to see.  Biting her lip.  Trying to figure out what was happening to her life as she knew it....

Orphanage (survival) behaviors with every beat of her heart. 

A plane flew her halfway around the world.  And deposited her in an unfamiliar world.  Scary new sights.  New sounds.  New smells.  So many new people.   What did it all mean?

A month later tentative skills start to emerge - fears are being faced.  She's such a brave little girl.

And one from month from that, we start to see a whole new little girl.  A little girl who is starting to learn what a home is.  What family is.  That there is enough food to eat.  That someone kisses boo-boos and gives hugs.  Starting to learn what love is.   Two months.  Such a short time.  But she's come oh. so. far.

Happy 2 month anniversary Charlotte Meifang

She took so many great pictures in today's photo shoot.  That I just can't resist but post them all as we describe what and where our Little Miss is today.

And let's face it- she is adorably cute.... and all together, as Sarah says, squeezable!!!

Little Miss has grown an inch and gained 5 pounds since she's been place in our arms.  That has her solidly on the growth charts at 20%.  Yhea.

Her hair has grown enough to put in a small pony or two tiny pig tails.  We try to make sure we put a bow in.  She reaches up to see if there is indeed 'a bow'. 

She got glasses & it's a whole new world.  Things to see and discover.....

Although we still get this face a lot... it's the "what the heck is this?" face...

It is usually accompanied by a 'huh?'

Speaking of words.  Oh, her words are expanding.....  She absolutely understands a lot.  For instance I told her today as she was reading her magazine upside down "Turn your magazine around".  She promptly turned her magazine around.   OK then.  

Let me see if I can remember all her words that she uses correctly in context (not just repeating). I want to try to keep a record of expansion 1. dog, 2. sleep, 3. night night, 4. Charlie, 5. Mama, 6. Daddy, 7. Sarah, 8. Leaf, 9. Pumpkin, 10. water, 11. splish slash, 12. eat, 13. napkin, 14. fork, 15. uh oh, 16. sit down, 17. come on, 18. potty, 19. shoes on, 20. shoes off, 21. car, 22. feet, 23. book, 24. NO, 25. color, 26. circle, 27. Minnie Mouse, 28. yes, 29. up, 30. down, 31. let's go, 32. zebra, 33. lights, 34. cheese, 35. garbage, 36. again, 37. all done, 38. all gone, 39. hop, 40. slide, 41. swing, 42. fish, 43. more, 44. flower, 45. candy

I'm sure there are more & I just can't remember what they are right now.

Using family names appropriatly.  Well, we are still working on this- but we are getting somewhere.  I do think she realizes who Mama, Daddy, Sarah & Becca are.  She still doesn't address us by them as in a manner to get our attention.  "Mom!".  Although today for the first time I did hear her use Sarah's name in that way.  So we will get there.   This, along with eye contact, are still major areas of work we need to do to work on attachment.

Potty training.  Well, she's pretty much fully potty trained.  Nary an accident since that first week over a month ago.  And she's woken up dry for the last 3 weeks.  As soon as the current pull ups are done, will be stopping them all together- even for night!

Food- for the most part- this has gotten much better.  Actually, she is showing one of the first signs of trust that is necessary for attachement and that is pickiness.  She is refusing foods of all sorts.  This is actually GOOD news for us on the attachment front.  It means she is trusting us enough to realize there will be more food for her in the future.  (not so good for nutrition).

Her favorite foods.  Well, carbs my friends.  Although she refused noodles today.  She doesn't like fruits except bananas.  She doesn't like any veggies that I can find.  She loved meat- until she refused chicken today.   Still LOOOOOVES her pasta. 

She drinks from a sippy- but no dairy.  Except cheese.  She loves cheese.

Bedtime.  Well it got better.  Then it got worse.  Then it got better.  You never know.  We do have a pretty established routine going to bed that she enjoys.  Getting warm jammies on (since she REFUSES blankets- she's terrified of them at night- but will use them in the day), brushing our teeth, reading a book (her favorite is 10 Little Ladybugs) & then cuddling to music before I lay her down and hold her hand till she falls asleep.

She still wakes at night- sometimes several times.

Her favorite things to do.... well - be outside.  Oh how she loves to be outside.  And she loves fall- with the leaves & the pumpkins.  Both things she loves to collect.

She loves walks.  She loves baths.   She loves to color.  She loves to slide (oh yes, she is going down the slide), she loves to swing, she loves to carry paper around! Yes, she still loves her treasures of trash.  But she is getting SO much better with this.

We still have far to go on attachment.  People find this hard to believe- but yet- the very fact that she's engaging to them & going to them is proof that she is not attached.  We need to regress her to almost infant state where she learns to run/depend on mom and dad first.. .and always look to us first.  This is imparative to her ability to have any healthy relationship in the future.  

We'll get there.  We are already so much farther than we were just a month ago. 

And the girl is getting comfortable.  Just this week- she is learning to say "no" to directions and commands that she does not wish to follow.  HUGE step as well with trust.  Before she was terrified and would almost go shell shock if a voice was raised.   She got this look I call 'China look'.  It's a checked out look.

Tonight, she was happy playing in the bath.  ANd I said "Are you ready to get out?" A question I have asked many times in the past (as well as many other questions, none which were answered).  Tonight she said very clearly to me "NO"  And then giggled.  I couldn't help but giggle too!  And I had to ask her 3 more times before I didn't get a NO. 

She's finding her place here.  Language is becoming familiar.  She's coming out of her shell- discovering her world & learning what it means to be a child.

A child of laughter.   A child of joy.  A child of love.  Our child.

Our little Charlie.
We love you.  Happy 2 month Gotcha!

Go get that world!  It's yours to discover!

A New View on Life

This will be my last regular post on this blog.  I plan on resuming my private, personal blog starting tonight- with all three girls & our life in general- along with Charlie's progress...and all our ups and downs.

I will post back on this blog every month on her Gotcha date- with pictures and her new accomplishments until we hit a year.  That is when I plan to stop this completely and publish a book of the entries for Charlotte and our family.

For those that requested membership- I am adding you tonight.

So it seems appropriate as I wrap this down by writing about the new future we hope our girl will take. 

In her referral (done at an early age - 18 months) her eye issues were present.  They are what made her special needs.  So that means, most likely (although we will never know for sure) that they were present at birth.  Since our optomologist suggested poor pre-natal diet as a cause- this makes sense.

Her prescription was almost a -6 for nearsightedness (meaning she can't see far away).  I am a -3.25 nearsightedness.  Without my glasses, I can not see anything.   I can not imagine how she went through life with a -6.  It most likly explains her language delay as well (how can you relate words to a visual cue if you can't SEE it).  

Little Miss got her glasses last Friday.

She's got a whole new world to explore. 

In so many ways, her life opens up now..... 

I can't imagine what it is for her to not see anything & suddenly see so much more. 

It is so much my hope that she can now begin to experience and SEE life through the eyes of a child.   Through not being in an orpahange.  And not limited by poor vision.

That is my hope for her.  A childhood.

That being said- this past week I can sum up my thoughts in one word.  Defeated.

It was a hard week.

Between Sarah and Charlie- every day, every hour, every minute...was hard.   Charlie reverted to newborn sleep patterns- leaving me immobilized with fatigue...and much less patience. 

Sarah is fighting for control over EVERY. LITTLE. THING.  and then vacillitating back to tears and hurt at feeling displaced.  I never know what any second will bring with her.  We can make special time with her to be rebuffed, rejected & have angry words thrown at us.  I can hug her to have a back turned.  She will willfully disobey everything we ask.  She's bouncing off walls.  She's trying to control all our actions.   We are trying to work with her.  But we are also tired. 

Draining.  Defeated.

Charlie has been with us for almost 7 weeks.  7 weeks.  She has yet to call us mama or daddy (unless it's repeating us directly- does not count).  She is having problems putting names to people.  Is this normal with an oprhanage?  Doesn't seem to be- to at least recognize that my name is 'mama' (even though I know it's normal to not know what a mama MEANS).  

And when you put a lot of effort, loss of sleep, frustration at language, frustration with fits...without even a glimpse of a small measure of return.  A word.  Mama.  Directed to me.  Recognize me.  It's hard.

Draining. Defeated.

Then there's Becca.  She who requires the least.  And so she who is getting the least.  Which plays so much to my guilt factor.   She needs more of us too. 

Draining. Defeated.

Oh, we do have our shining moments.  Good ones.  Smiles, laughter....  Times where it seems 'right'.  I know we'll see more of those as we continue onwards down this path.

As several other adoptive parents have said before us.... "The first six months pretty much suck" as everyone finds their new normal. 

We'll get there.  One day.  One hour.  One minute at a time.

It would be nice if more of those minutes were filled with sleep however.  Oh sleep.... how I miss thee...

(Side note- we are attempting to co-sleep with her again shortly...and we are doing so by purchasing a king bed... overdue anyways since we usually have a kid or two and several animals in it anyways..plus our old bed was 12 years old...I am very excited....)

A few quick thank yous.

Thank you to Amy T. if you are reading this... taking over many of the GS shiz I do in the fall...VERY appreciated.....

Thank you to those who made me dinner over the past few weeks.  They are the only home cook meals we've had... Maria, Julie & Amy M!  They are were all so delicious!  Thank you, thank you!!

The gifts that I've been very sucky at getting thank you notes out for.  Aunt Beth for the flowers & scroll, Aunt Glory for the blanket, Kristen for the book (she LOVES it) and movie, Julie for the shoes (Becca still won't shut up about them), Aunt Pat for the little blanket, Jen for the book, baby & Precious Moments figure...... if I forgot you.. I'm sorry- not intentional!

To Sandy- this book...

Seriously awesome.  I am and have always been forever a lover of the written word.  I could lose myself in a book store or library for months & be perfecty happy.  My favorite place growing up was when my dad took me to the King's bookstore in Detroit where we spent all day wandering the old used books.  I loved it.  The memories it still invokes.

One of my current prized possesions happens to be three very old books that belonged to Grandma Daisy.  The one being the Atlas she won in the spelling bee (oh, the irony is not lost on me) engraved with her name.  It sits proudly in my living room.  Along with her 2nd grade reader & her college biology book that she loved so much.  

The book you sent, will join it.  It will not belong to me- rather Charlie.  But it will be cherished.  It's old pages loved by your dad, will be loved by us!  I am so, so touched by the gift.   Thank you!

(For those that wonder- it's an old book owned by my Great Uncle Clarence (my grandfather's brother) it is a book of Chinese poetry, complete with beautiful watercolor pictures... circulated a very long time ago).

Lastly, ( I feel like I'm accepting an award for an Oscar here), the biggest thank you to my mother.  I COULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THE LAST 2 MONTHS WITHOUT YOU.  Thank you a million times over for everything.  For watching my kids while we were in China, for helping out at my house with cleaning, cooking and shopping, for checking in to making sure I'm doing ok, to giving up time at your beloved Northwoods to be with me becasue I needed it....  to making the beautiful quilt of wishes for Charlie, for the love we all felt with all your actions.

I love you.  Thank you.  All of us are so very lucky.

With that, my Oscar speech is over.  And I'm moving over to the other blog!

Over and out.  For almost the final time.  :)

3 hours. 5 days. 2 outings.

Such an exciting title, isn't it?

Before I devulge the meaning behind it.. just a quick note-  for those that requested invites to the private blog.  It's not this blog- I already have a blog that I've been writing in for about 4 years.  That is set to private.  So you will recieve an invite from me (Tinker326) to Live. Love. Travel... which is the name of the blog.

It asks for you to register a google e-mail & password.   All you need to do is enter your current e-mail address (does not need to be 'google') and create a password.  Then bookmark the site & you can access it anytime but entering your email & password.  

Ok.  So that's done.

The title.

So going back a few weeks...and we arrive at the orphanage fully expecting our new 4 year old daughter to be in underwear.  They even told us that she was when we asked right there.   She was not. 

Have to admit- it was a bit of a downer.  One of the ups of older adoptoin we had been looking forward to was not having to deal with diapers or potty training.

So much for that. :)  I am convinced that she was placed in a room with very young babies and not in an age appropriate toddler room.   It is my guess that there were not bathrooms attached because babies do not need them.   For whatever reason, she was never moved into the toddler rooms maybe?  I don't know.  

Anyways,  I gave it a few weeks.  Laid down the groundwork of introducing what a potty was, the american term & how us Westerners use a toilet. 

And I decided last week that this week I would hunker down and begin Potty Training 101.  I decided to go with the method I used to train Sarah..which is no underwear or pants.  She didn't like that feeling & she didn't like the feeling of nothing there to catch anything- or pee getting on leg.   I potty trained Sarah in one week.  At 2.5 years.   That was my goal for my 4 year old (we won't talk about the 9 month process of Becca who wasn't potty trained until 3.5).

I started the process Monday morning using myself, Sarah & the trusty candy corn we introduced the night before to her.  (Candy Crack).  

Well, candy crack has magical potty powers.   The girl wanted some.  And damn it.... she was gonna get some.   Girl potty trained in three hours.   It's Friday night.   We've gone all week with nary an accident.   The candy corn still sitting high up enticing her to pee lots!  We arn't there for nights yet.  That's ok.  I'm not too worried about that.  We need to teach her to sleep at night first & then gather courage to leave the bed when she wakes (another post....btw... we learned some stuff about her orphanage from another mom who adopted an older girl from that orphanage who's been home long enough to aquire some English to start talking about her experience).

So.  There you go.  Something to cross off my list.  Girl is potty trained.   For 5 days now.   And we've gone on two big outtings with big girl panties!  (all of us..except for Kurt... who wears big boy panties.. ok ok.. he doesn't wear panties...whatever).

Thank you candy corn.  I always knew you were wonderful...and this just reaffirms it. 

So two outings.  First was to meet another area adoptive mom who has a 3.5 year old cutie.  We tried Legoland which was really not for the two girl's age bracket at all.    But.......

I took this picture for the biggers..who love Harry.

 

 

We also played in the play area.  And she did pretty good playing and not just doing sensory stuff with items.

 



She thought it a pretty big riot to build a big lego tower.   Bigger than her!

Then on Wednesday the girls had half a day & the weather was nice- so we went off to the zoo. 

If you remember our last zoo experience.  In China.  In 9,000 degree weather with half of China pushing me out of the way to see a panda and a bear dressed like a clown in a gigantic ampitheater where a girl peed behind us and we watched pee progress instead of the show.....

Well, you'll remember it wasn't great.   I felt defeated that day anyways.  Because I was still expecting a FOUR year old with PERFECT vision and with a GOOD upbringing.  Gosh, how stupid I can be sometimes even when I know otherwise. 

So today we went with our 'two' year old, knowing she couldn't see much & we had issues we might deal with.

Know what?  It went pretty darn awesome. 

She maybe didn't see much (Her glasses just came in today!)..but she had fun.  And so did we.  Maybe because random people were not peeing all over the zoo?!

Which we managed the ENTIRE afternoon not only in our big girl underwear with no accidents (candy corn travels well) BUT ALSO (cue angels singing) without any treasures!  A FIRST!!!!

Some pics from our day!

My three beautiful girls.

My husband (not wearing big girl panties), the girl, the bigger girl & the bigger girl's BFF who mine as well just move into our house- she's always here! :)

How tall compared to a bear?  Aww, little is as big as cub....

Sisters!!!

Such a huge step for us- she'll hold our hands now when walking. 

Love these chickie dees....

Very excited to be on a frog.

Sissy joins.

First Carousal ride!  Of course we picked the panda!!  She was a little worried at first but once she started going around- she loved it!  We are starting to install proper Disney ride protocal for our little Chinese princess.  She must aquire it for her first trip which will be soon in this family of Dis-Freaks!

Lots of walking, riding & animal seeing wears you out.

Afternoon at the zoo = success.

Candy Corn = Crack = Potty training wonders.

Glasses on a child = a whole new world.

That will be the next post.

One Month

Today is the one month anniversary of our Gotcha Day.

One month we've had this little imp in our lives.   Sometimes it seems as though she's been here so much longer and other days it seems like we just had her placed in our arms.

One month ago today- Meifang came to us with her too big dress, too big shoes & some rockin' bear socks. (knew she belonged in our family when she came to us in those socks!).

She was a brave soul as her life as she knew it got totally flipped upside down with little understanding of why.

She marched forward and determined to take each day as it came...

And face it with determination and acceptance.  How a little girl can take so much and still come out the other side with her giggle that knocks your socks off- I'll never know.

I've known her a month.  And I'm pretty sure she's the bravest person I know and will ever know.

One month in our family.

A month ago she wouldn't get off the bed in our hotel room.  Or initiate doing anything.  Right now, she's running around imitating her big sister's voice with a doll as mom & I laugh hysterically at it... and calling for "Sarah". 

A month ago she'd never played in a bathtub, splashed, ran on grass with bare feet, climbed stairs, fall down and giggle for no reason or ask for food and get it.  Today, she does this all. 

A month ago, no one ever asked her to speak back to them.  She only did what she was told.  Today she's saying more and more words in English and is asking for things.  And telling us what she likes and doesn't like.

A month ago she rocked herself to sleep with no one to care if she was scared, hurt, happy or sick.  Today mommy brushes her teach & reads her a story as we cuddle down to try to go to sleep.  There is very little crying at night going to sleep now (although still crying/rocking if she wakes up disoriented).

A month ago she was a number in a system.  Today she's our daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and friend.

She's come so far.  And we can't wait to see her go farther.   Happy one month Charlie Meifang.

My dear friends Julie and Lynne made the family an awesome 1st month anniversary dinner & we got the pleasure of some great company tonight.    Thank you!!! 

They also introduced yet another favorite halloween treat in our household to Charlie girl.

Yhea, she pretty much loved it.

Stuffing her face with candy......

Asking for more....

Yup.  She's fitting right into the folds of our family!

Notice how she's even picking up Sarah's food on the face 'style'?

Happy one month gotcha anniversary Charlie Girl.

Medical Stuff. And Pez.

First off, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be switching back to my private blog shortly.....  so for anyone who wants to keep following our journey, shoot me an email with your email to add you to it. 

So medical stuff....

So not so long ago in the distant past- China was the 'it' happening place for your young baby daughter to be matched to you and come home.  Thousands and thousands and thousands of beautiful little girls found their forever homes over the years.

But then, in the magical land of all things controlled by the government, the country realized they were getting a bad rap for having their number one export be children.  And literally overnight, all the healthy baby girls were no longer available.    You know, not because they don't exist, but because China doesn't want a bad rap. 

I will say, that SLOWLY China is starting to change.   That they are starting to realize that maybe forced abortion, penatlties for more than one kid & the devaluation of girls isn't such a hot thing.  Well, ok, let's be fair..... they are starting to get a bad rap for it....and China wants the whole world to think they are wonderful.  So slowly things are starting to change where Chinese citizens ARE keeping their 2nd, 3rd child- even if they are all girls.  This is a good thing & I hope that the Chinese governement will encourage this movement.  

So all the healthy little baby girls are no longer made available for adoption.  Many have been fostered out in China (again, a good thing...keeping them in their culture).  Some have made up needs to be made paper ready for adoptions.  Some are being adopted by Chinese citizens.   So pretty much since 2007, 95% of adoptions coming out of China are considered 'special needs'.  Meaning there is some sort of medical need. 

There are a lot of these beautiful children in Chinese orphanages unfortuently.  Because, as you can imagine, a culture that considers female to be a deteriment... sees little value in a child with a special need.  They are considered extremely unlucky and most have no future in Chinese society.  You can see this wherever you go in China.  You don't see children with disablitiles anywhere.  The adults with them- are on the streets.   Value is placed on the child who can perform the best.  Be the best.  And make the best money to then take care of their parents in the older years.  It is the culutre there. The 'special need' becomes their face instead of child behind it.

Why the long explanation- I don't know.  Perhaps so people understand it more.  Because I saw all these beautiful little faces while in China during our last leg, where all the adoptive familes come together to finish up US paperwork.  I saw the kids.  And not the needs.   You see the smile.  You see the bright eyes...you hear the laughter.  You hear the cries. You see the CHILD.  Not the need.  And your heart hurts a bit for all the little kids over there not getting the chance to BE a child in a family.

I love that when people see Charlie they say... "oh, what special need".  I hope and pray that we can give her THE BEST medical care so she can say 'what special need?'.  I hope that even if we can't fix it, that we help her adapt to it & show the world what perservance means...and again, we can say "what special need, all I see is Charlie!" or "I am awesome just the way I am".  

Cuz she is pretty awesome.  (and pretty stubborn & spicy & sweet and man she has a giggle that can knock your socks off!)

So the special need is her vision.   Or as it states in her referral "cloudiness of the corneas".  Well, from the second we got her we knew she could see pretty darn well.  She can find a freaking crumb of food from across the room! 

So the last week has been different doctors & labs and all that fun stuff.  Poor girl had 14 vials of blood taken from her to check for every disease, body function,  and parasite possible.  

The totally sweet and awesome news on that is she is GREAT!!!  No diseases (in case you were wondering if you might catch Hepatites, HIV or TB from her).   No parasites (amen!).  Iron levels good (thank goodness since they took 14 vials of blood from her),  Lead- none! (always a concern wtih China).  She's healthy as healthy can get coming from an international orphanage.

The orphanage may have sucked in so many ways (that we will spend YEARS undoing the damage) but at least they took good physical care of her.  That I will give them.  Thank you for that.

Then we moved on to pediatric eye doctors.   The first one wasn't sure what was going on..and threw out 'glacoma, cataracts & genetic syndromes".   I, of course, came home and googled every single genetic disease I could find that involved the eye.  Becasue that's how I work.

Truth was, outside the eyes, she wasn't meeting any of the other criteria.  The other doctor referred us to the specialist in the office.    So we had another doctor appointment.

This doc was great- great with Charlie.  Great with her knowledge.  And great with the diagnosis she shared with us....

Now, I will preface, we don't know FOR SURE if this is correct- only time will tell... but the GREAT news is it's not glacoma..and it's not cataracts because she can see through them.  Which  means, no surgery in the immediate future.  She thinks the problem was/is poor pre-natal nutrition & subsequent nutrition from the orphanage.   And the fact that she squints and has a bit of nystagmas (where the eye goes back and forth crazy like) is the fact that she has like a -6 nearsigntness in the left eye and a -2 in the right.  Um, I have -4 and I can tell you I can't see crap without my glasses. 

Her advice.  Glasses.  And a re-check. 

Whoopie!!!!  We can do that!! And we have.  Little miss has her first pair of eyeglasses being made as we speak!  I hope that once we get them- her world will open up!  I can't wait to watch it happen.

And that is our medical stuff & the background of the history of adoption in China.  In case you were wondering about either!  Ha!

Now, enough of the words & on to some updates & pictures!!!

Little Miss is having a good week.  Her sleeping still sucks balls, but I gotta accept that and not expect that to change.  Truth is- night & dark & sleep is scary when your whole world has changed. 

Remind me of that on  those mornings when I've had no sleep.

Let's see...

Words she's picking up and using:  "No, Yes, Shoes On, Shoes Off, More, Eat, Juice, Sit Down (to Sarah), Fish, Dog, Potty (now to get her to USE it- that's next weeks agenda!), Hi, Hello, Ba Bye, Up, Down, Shake, Smile, Flower, Splish Splash.

Things she's doing:  "Up and down the stairs (shh, don't tell DCFS we had a tumble from the top to bottom during stair training...she survived!).  Swinging.  Drinking out of a sippy, doing puzzles, learning to color, playing doll, telling Sarah NO!, riding in car seats, eating at sit down resturants without freaking out, walking while holding mom's hand, more eye contact (this is SO important to establish trust & attachment), letting mama bathe her (instead of trying to do it herself).

Stuff we need to work on:   Less fits when told No.  Doing anything without holding crap in her hands (her treasures as we call them).  The potty.  Sleep (please?!).   Who Mama and Daddy are (she has no reference at all to even try to put in context..she's ONLY had caregivers that come and go...what does she know of a mom and a dad and family?!).

So that's the update on the girl.  Now pictures, pictures.

So today we played outside a bit.  She had her backpack of treasures which we are trying to substite for her carrying everything around in her hands.  It's not working well.

 Lots of squinting outside because she's had her eyes dilated twice this week! 

We cleaned the patio door of dog smudges. 

And she's checking out if there is good stuff inside....

All while holding her treasured ketchup bottle.

Then my doorbell rang.  And what an awesome surprise...

Beautiful flowers from Aunt Beth and Uncle Will- THANK YOU! 

Then we went shopping at Joann's.  And the girl got two awesome American staples that are present in the Herman household.   Her very first pair of Halloween socks (oh, Julie, I am training her EARLY!!!) (P.S- she picked ghosts).  And her very first Pez dispenser.  With a pumpkin on it.

Dude, she needs to learn that in this household, Halloween rocks!  Mama loves her Halloween holiday!

Man oh man, was this girl EXCITED with her first Pez dispenser. 

So was her sister.  Who is always excited with candy.

 ANd I supposed I should get off the computer- because she's running around calling Sarah "Ayi" (caregiver).  

And that's because Sarah's holding the Pez refills. 

Little Miss.  With a killer smile!  She's gonna make people melt with it!