So much to catch up on!

Let's see. Shi Yu has started her physical therapy. She doesn't mind to much. She still has to start the actual speech therapy and occupational therapy. Life seems like one big appointment and I find I have to schedule visits from friends around it. I discovered that when I accidentally invited 2 different people over at the same time. This is so different from my life before but I love doing it for Shi Yu. I do feel like maybe I am hurting my friends feelings when I have to be so scheduled for them to visit. I hope this isn't the case. Shi Yu got her leg braces and hates them. She will lay in the floor like she can't move around and cry. It breaks my heart. The funny thing is that if she is around her little cousin she completely forgets and crawls all over laughing.  I am looking forward to tomorrow's therapy appointment to see how to deal with this. Shi Yu has become very comfortable with all of the immediate family members that live here. The last to conquer this was my youngest son Matthew. He won her over by playing airplane. What kid doesn't love being flown around the house. I just love seeing him with her. It's like watching my first generation kids growing close with my second generation daughter. I can't wait until Shi Yu meets Mykie. That should be soon. And then my daughter Shay. Still so much to look forward to. I am hating the weather as is Shi Yu. We don't like being stuck in the house and really miss our walks! This new house grows smaller by the day! Thanksgiving was wonderful. I had it here and it went very well. Discovery....Shi Yu isn't big on Turkey.  She isn't really big on meat at all but I don't think she had much of that in China. But give her almost any vegetable and she is in heaven. We went out for a snack at  Friendlys and she had the broccoli lol. We discovered she can't eat things made with milk. It gives her a tummy ache.  So no milk products. We also discovered she likes to sleep on the floor. I'm guessing that's what she did in China. If I put the quilt down she knows it's naptime or bedtime. She is very good about it. At night we put her in the crib after she falls asleep. She does wake up and cry and I just go in and reassure her we are here. Notice I said "I". Daddy feels bad so if he goes in and takes her to bed. Urgh! We are looking forward to Christmas with her. I haven't had a happy Christmas since I lost Ryan. It is very emotional for me still. I miss him so much. He loved Christmas as do all of my children. I think Santa will be pretty good too Shi Yu. It will be her first Christmas ever, since they don't have it in China. So I am excited. Well, I think that does it for now. Hopefully my updates will be closer now. I attached some pics to catch you up. OH! Shi Yu's hair is finally growing! Yay!

Speech and physical therapy evaluation

Oh! And fitting for leg braces. Well. Not quite sure I understand the whole speech eval thing. She you tested fantastic on the comprehension part and they said they were amazed considering she has only been in this country for 2 months and is just laying English. They feel she would have tested much higher then average if it weren't for that. She is definitely bright. The other part, actually speaking words and number of works she knows etc was lower. She was fitted for ankle fit braces as well. These braces have come a long way then the awkward ones of years past. Shi yo will be sorting pink ones. We passed on the designs you can get as she doesn't like to not be able to match her clothes lol.  They are like thin plastic shells that will fit right in her shoes. These should be fine in about a week. On to physical therapy. She wasn't too thrilled with that and was definitely not putting her best foot forward (no pun intended lol). They really won't give you any prognosis but I know what I believe so I don't care. They said she is weak in the trunk and legs. The muscle time is weak but tone comes from the brain and they may end up using medication. Therapy will help the muscle strength but not the time. Her leg muscles are what they call spastic meaning they shake a little sometimes. So she will begin therapy next week. They are checking our insurance for the speech therapy. One other thing, she is having a swallowing test done because she sometimes chokes when eating and drinking.  This also would be because if muscle development and if not treated could cause serious infection. All in all, Shi Yu is not one to accept any weaknesses. She pushed herself to do the things that she knows she can't do even without out help. Her survival skills are honed probably from trying to survive the orphanage. Her determination inspires me. I know I say it all the time but Shi Yu is just so amazing! We are truly the ones blessed to have het as our daughter. One other thing. Shi Yu is adjusting well to other people. Little by little she is learning to love and trust family members. I love seeing family with her. She had met only a few friends for short periods of time and had done well. I am including some recent pics.

It just hit me!

The day I met Shi Yu was one of those days I waited for for so long! It we all so surreal. I think maybe even in shock. I don't think it really really set in until the last week. SHE IS HERE AND SHE IS MINE!  The last few days I just look at het and I can't believe she is here AND SHE IS MY CHILD! I think I was overwhelmed and maybe a little frightened of how well I could deal with the changes coming. By I hold her and I am overcome with emotion and joy. I tell her all the time how happy she had made my life. She is just the sweetest little girl and so happy. I can't even connect with the horrible things she endured in her past . Last week I was holding her and an ad came on tv about donating money to save children. They show such sadness and I said awe  look at those poor little kid Shi Yu. Then it hit me! She had been one of them!  I think she has something special to have been able to survive and still be happy. I am so blessed. Ps: the pic it's off the congee I made her today. Using rice noodles from China ( thanks to my sister in law) and egg, and some shredded vegetables. Mary not look good lol but it's very healthy and she loves it. Plus I want to keep her culture.

Todays doctor results

Today we saw our first pediatric specialist. Shi Yu was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Thus us why she hadn't been able to walk. It wasn't a surprise. I felt good told me this before we even got her and they did suspect it. I also felt a peace about it. They feel it is a mild case. She had an appointment to get fitted for foot and ankle braces in 2 weeks. Her muscles are very "spastic". Very much so in the groin. This is a big concern because without therapy (which she will be getting) her hip joints could eventually become dislocated.  Dan asked the doctor (who was wonderful) if she would ever walk. The doctor felt very confident that she will. She said she couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't need some kind of help later in life but said she had a very good feeling she wouldn't. She will also need a walker for a bit. When Dan asked the doctor of Shi Yu would walk and when the doctor answered...Dan had tears in his eyes...which made me emotional. He its such a good Dad. He does everything in his power to be at every appt. In December we have at least 3 appointments. Neurologist, ophthalmologist, and pediatrician. Oh and probably final fitting for her leg braces. But she is worth every second of it! I can't wait to see her stand in her own  it will be amazing! She is such a blessing.

Shi Yu's first holiday. Halloween

I have to be honest. My older kids were never really allowed to participate in Halloween due to religious beliefs. But Daddy insisted so Shi Yu had her first Halloween. Daddy wanted her to be a pumpkin. I attached pics. Naturally it was Rainey out. But at least it wasn't cold. Being new in ths neighborhood it was hard to go to many houses because we were meeting our neighbors. Shi Yu's cousin Jimmy came over later and we hit a few more houses lol. I thought the dark, very windy, Rainey night made it more fun. You can see the pic of the stroller umbrella set up lol. It was a great time and it will be very memorable. Shi Yu isn't really allowed much candy but she was very happy just getting paper with something she was unaware of inside. I loved seeing little Jimmy and Shi Yu together. Little Jimmy was so adorable. It is actually his first Halloween too.  He would stand at a closed door and so sweetly say "trick or treat."  When the door didn't open right away he would say "trick or treat please". It was so adorable! Here are some pics. Please note lol. I am a mess in the pic from bring in a windstorm twice lmbo

1st complete physical

Finally! ShiYu's first full physical at the pediatrician. I have to say I love the doctor! She is very caring and very thorough. ShiYu is much smaller then what I thought. I felt she was tall for her age but she is actually in the 5.29 percent range of the growth chart. Her weight is in the 7.22 percent range. Wow! She received her baby shots (even though she got these in China it is recommended they are given again due to the possibility they might have not received the right amount, the could have been expired, or never given). She also received her flu shot. Poor little thing. The shots in one day. You can see in the picture how ShiYu felt about the shots. You can also see Daddy and how much he loves his little girl! The doctor is also referring her to a neurologist, orthopedic doctor, ophthalmologist, and speech therapist. She also suspects that ShiYu does in fact have mild cerebral palsy.  All in all poor little ShiYu had a very hard dayand its sleeping peacefully right now.She is the sweetest, happiest, baby. 

Shi Yu has loved to pretend she is stirring good since day one. I think she may have seen this done often. Today she is making breakfast. What would you like lol

They told us she may be afraid of dogs as she had never seen animals.

Sound asleep

1st art project

Today Shi Yu made her very first art project! Yes the forever traditional old faithful handprint turkey.  Shi Yu wasn't quite as thrilled as Mommy and Daddy though. She wasn't to sure about all of that weird colored stuff on her hands. Being the trooper she is, she allowed herself to go through the yucky process. I think she was very proud at the end result.  Well, Mommy and Daddy were very proud. Lol

Just had to share the precious children from or group AGAIN

They once were lost and now are found

Did I mention?

Shi Yu's favorite toy is paper! Now I know that most kids like the paper and boxes from gifts better then the gifts when they are young but this is very different.  I think most of the children that were adopted loved paper. Not to just shake, crinkle, and ball up without thought. Paper is treated as delicately as a baby or toddler is capable of.  It's examined, turned over, touched. Then it can be folded in so many ways. Then unfolded, examined again. Shi Yu originally could play with a piece of paper very calmly for an hour. After much of this play it was finally time to gently tear pieces of paper off. Each piece that was separated from the original piece was sill just as precious. It was not to be discarded. It was in essence a whole new toy. After the papers were torn they would each be examined one by one and placed in a pile. This is done over and over again. I say all of this because it is so reflective of how poor these orphanages are. Giving paper as a toy.  I sometimes wonder if there were enough pieces of paper so that each child would get one. The odd thing is Shi Yu is very content with a piece of paper and I can see the use of her imagination growing. The mind of a child is so amazing. Yes I know. Thus is probably an odd blog entry. But its something I want to remember. Shi Yu loves when the mailman drops the mail through the door! All that junk mail is finally handy for something lol. Btw, she has paper (an advertisement) in the pic.

My favorite pic so far.

I love working with photo programs. One of my regrets is turning down the offer by Abby studios to send me to school in Chicago (that was 38 years ago lol and all I wanted to do was be a housewife and Mom). But I did love the retouching I did for them. I hear not to many people can do it anymore. Of course with all the computer programs now days its probably obsolete. Sorry, went in a tangent lol.

My late one month update!

One month home would have been Oct 13. But pretty soon we will be on our 2 month anniversary of actually receiving her. So maybe I an early and late lol. It seems Shi Yu brought a nasty little Freind home with her called mollusca.  She had it from the day we met her and it want to bad but it eventually spread and blew up! Finally after the 3Rd doctor (from 3 days ago) I feel like we might be getting somewhere. poor little thing is not a happy camper and looks like she is covered with measles. At least now we have a prescription cream that helps the itching and we can give her Benadryl.  So beside that little disaster everything is going well. She has her first full pediatrician appointment next week so hopefully we can get to the root of problem concerning her legs, balance, muscles etc. and we can get in the road with the correct medical path to take. She had already come so far I have no doubt this little girl is going to do great!  I have never seen a 2 year old that will beg for vegetables but she loves them!  She has the best manners!  One day while getting a napkin to wipe her mouth she put her hand out, took the napkin, wiped her mouth and hands, and the proceeded to wipe the high chair tray off. She must have been taught that at the orphanage. The other thing she learned there was to stay still when she is going to get her diaper changed. If I lay her down and tell her I am going to change her diaper she will lay there until I go get her diaper, come back, and put it on her. When I think of the horrible things she had been through, the lack of love,  care, attention, encouragement... I am astounded at this little girls ability to love, laugh, and be happy. She had been from one orphanage to the other and foster care (that is a joke in China) and bank to the orphanage, to hospitals where they have no parent to console them and the doctors and nurses are so cold and indifferent, yet this little girl had a smile on her gave almost all the time. She adores her Daddy and he adores her. I think she its pretty find of me too lol. Such a happy little girl. Such a blessing to us. Ooh, and she loves the dogs. She is very affectionate and gentle with them. Lots of gentle hugs for them..

Sitting pretty

Bundled up for a walk in the fall brrr

Hair grows so slow lol

Life is amazing!

I have never seen a happier child! Shi Yu is adjusting so well. She is blossoming in so many ways.  We are still holding strong to not letting people see her (besides immediate family) and it sometimes feels isolating but I can see how helps the bonding process. Any one that has seen her probably find the things we say about all her baby talking, laughing etc, unbelievable because when they see her she still curls up in a ball and doesn't say a word. My mother is an exception to the rule. But as I said before my Mom and I act and talk so much alike that I think she senses the closeness. So far she has seen 2 doctors. We are still waiting for our appt with the pediatrician but in the mean time we had her to a dermatologist for the rash she has had since China. It recently started spreading so we were concerned (even though 2 doctors in China blew it off). We found out it is something called Molluscum (sp?). It is contagious mostly only to children though as most adults have built up immunity.  And having it won't ban a child from going to school or any other activity except wrestling lol. He also said you would pretty much have to have skin to skin contact. It is common even in this country where there are many children together so it is most likely from the orphanage. He gave us a prescription that its actually green tea extract and promotes the skin to wake up and fight the rash. The down side is that it can take a year to go away. Or biggest concern are her legs and walking. She had xrays as they suspected hip dysplasia but that was rolled out. She had an appointment to see an orthopedic doctor in a few weeks. We can see she had muscle spasms in her legs at times and its sometimes in a little pain. But she has still made amazing progress!  She can crawl on her knees whereas before it was a combat crawl. She can sit on her knees. She can stand if we hold her hands. She is doing a great job at holding her head up. She had become very vocal. She can baby talk up a storm! And screech in laughter!  The hardest pray had been her sleeping. Since we are in the bonding stage and trying to build up her security we can't just put her to bed for a nap or at night. It terrified her and she had no way of knowing if she its being abandoned again. Thus to me odds the biggest difference in having biological children. And since she can't walk yet it means someone (mostly mama) is carrying or holding her she sleeps in the bed at night (this is recommended by all professionals in these situations) and at least does well with that. Throughout the night she will reach out and touch you  to make sure you are there. Maritime means rocking her to sleep and if she is in a deep enough sleep I try to get up so I can do some housework (lets not discuss the house urgh lol). She its getting beret with that though. Today I was able to lay her in the rocking chair and stand next to it and she feel asleep. This was a huge accomplishment! It means she is starting to trust that we won't disappear on her. She loves the blanket my sons fiancee crochet for her and always wants it at Nap time. If I don't get it first she will point to it and baby talk that she wants it. She gives you a huge smile when she gets it and then rubs it on her face. I have to give my husband a lot of credit. He is a natural Dad. Shi Yu adores him.  This is the first time I have had the experience of my child having a good Dad. (if you don't know me I was married before...a long long time a go. If you do know me you know what I am talking about). He is so involved and wants to be part of everything in her life. He never complains about anything. His life is totally dedicated to her. It is an amazing feeling and I am so appreciative of it. I think that is pretty much it. I am posting some random pics from China just for the heck if it lol.