This Blessing Called Adoption

I don't have a lot of time to post, and things have been really, really challenging here. Chelsea and Kate had a tough time of it the first two weeks, and know it's Luke's turn to feel way outside his comfort zone. Of course Chelsea is certainly outside her comfort zone, and both of these kids are strong willed, so you can only imagine the friction they have had with each other. Right now they are tolerating each other, which is a step in the right direction.

That said, I want to focus on the good rather than the bad and the ugly, because the good far outweighs the challenges that originated the adage that "adoption is not for the faint of heart." Chelsea had a 4.5 hour doctor appointment yesterday. She had all her vaccinations, x rays, an ultrasound and blood work. The good news is she turned to me for comfort during this appointment. Those of you who know about attachment challenges know that this is a VERY important step in the bonding process. She didn't cling to the Chinese doctor or the nurses she has never met as they were helping her position properly for the x rays. She clung to ME as she was scared and hurting. We have even been known to rock and sing "Rock a Bye Baby" together! This may seem a strange thing to do with a girl who is almost 10, but it is very important in the bonding process, and BOTH of us enjoy these moments together. Hooray!!!

I just got off the phone with the pediatrician's office. We learned several things already about Chelsea's medical condition--some we were aware of and some we were not. Her scoliosis curve is at 54%. I'm not sure what her treatment will be yet, but the doctors said the curve is significant. The good news is we have been accepted as patients at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, one of the best in the world for treating scoliosis and limb differences. The appointment is March 26th, and Chelsea is EXCITED about the prospect of being able to walk on her own one day.

Chelsea is also learning English at warp speed. In fact, she can handle addition ad subtraction of 4 digit numbers. I think she is reading Chinese on a late first/early second grade level. She does not recognize many English letters. We are working on that so she can learn to read over the next few months and be ready for school in August. That gives us 6 months, but I have no doubt she can do it. She is VERY smart. :-)

I'll give more updates later as time permits. Darrell and I will try our best to be joyful and content with our circumstances as God leads us down this path of new experiences and faithfulness.

Moments Like This

We've had our "normal" ups and downs during this first week and a half home--like sleepless nights, sibling rivalry and the flu--but it's moments like this that make our journey so beautiful!

 

These girls have really enjoyed being sisters, and I think "little" brother is happy to have more time hanging out with dad and just doing guy stuff.

Goodnight friends!

 

It's Good to be Home

Hello all! Our hotels would not let us open Blogger in VPN, so I had to wait until we got home to show you our beautiful daughter! She is doing well and we are tired, but I just couldn't wait to give you a sneak peek. Chelsea is very brave, independent, sweet and smart. She is a happy girl and we will teach her boundaries over time. For example, she asked some strange guy at the airport to take her on a ride outside in her wheelchair. If we do not give her what she wants then she asks someone else. :-) This is not uncommon, though, and we will work hard to bond with her and help her be part of our family. It's so good to have her home.

By the way, the wheelchairs were so helpful. We were able to get them from the hotels and they provided much more mobility for her than the walker, especially outside on the streets. China is full of uneven pavement, stairs and steps (even in the bathrooms), and getting around with a limb difference there was quite the challenge.

Love to all, Laura