Way over due!

Sorry it's taken so long to update. We have had so many doctor and therapy appts!  Shi Yu has settled in so well. The inky sign of home sickness I see is if I have to wake her up. I think she expects to see the orphanage and it's surprised when she sees where she is at. She cries fir a long time. Actually she ends up dining sadly. It breaks my heart. Luckily she doesn't have to be written up very often. Other then that she is adjusting wonderfully! She is such a happy little girl. We changed the place where she had all of her therapy. I took it for granted that the original place was good (I had nothing to compare it to). When an organization called Help Me Grow (works with children with disabilities), came to the house and I saw the therapy they did I was blown away and knew I had to change. So far I really like the new place. They are lively, aggressive, and I am seeing better results. Shi Yu has just started in a walker. We were given a loner until the one that was ordered comes in. It is such a joy to see her standing upright! At this point she is just getting used to it and it will be a bit before she can actually walk alone in it. The therapists are amazed at how quickly she catches on so I don't think it will take to long. The walker is made to change over time using less and less support until it is stripped down to just a walker (frame). Hopefully eventually she won't even need that. She attend physical therapy twice a week, occupational therapy piece a week, and is starting aqua therapy next week. Shi Yu had to have a swallow study because she chokes very easily when she drinks. It showed that she was aspirating everything she swallowed. It also showed that she sometimes cleared it. That part amazed them because they couldn't figure out how she did that. They were also amazed that she had lived from birth having this issue. Most babies would due without immediate surgery. We were referred to an ENT doctor who put a score down her nose and into her throat. With this procedure he can only go so far without putting her to sleep. Based on what he could see, he could find no reason for the aspirating. He suggested the next procedure of putting her to sleep. We are still debating that one since she has been ok all this time. She is still dealing with the rash she brought back from China. Doctors say it can take more then a year, even up to 5 years to go away. Urgh! She is going for her second speech therapy evaluation in Saturday (since we changed places it needs to be done again). After that she will begin having speech therapy once a week. She currently says almost 30 words which is great considering she came from China less then 5 months ago. It's especially great because we were originally told she didn't speak at all and didn't make sound when she laughed!  She adores watching sesame street. She had learned so much from it! She lives Elmo and of course that is one of the words she says. She says cookie too. She also loves mini mouse. Elmo and Mini are her 2 favorite characters. She adores books and will spend a great deal of time looking at the pictures. She likes to point to the pictures and have you tell her what they are, over and over again. I would live to go on a book buying spree with her! She loves the bookstore! She would rather look at books then play with toys! I show her YouTube videos of guitar and piano playing just to broaden her horizons. She is like a little sponge right now just soaking everything up. She is still a major daddy's girl and squeals when he comes home from work. He is such a wonderful daddy. He will get up with her at night, change diapers, give her a bath, anything she needs. He is trying his hardest to learn even the most basic children's songs lol. Shi Yu is getting much better with people she doesn't know. She warns up to them much quicker now. Her first Christmas was wonderful! If course she enjoyed the gift wrap and boxes the most.  She loved the new clothes she got. It's funny to see one so young appreciate and be so proud of the clothes she gets. I know she never had her own in the orphanage but I would think she was too young to understand. Who knows, maybe she just has an eye for pretty clothes.

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.