ICE!

We've had our version of an ice storm over here lately!

When I was little girl I was very jealous of the fact that my friend had an indoor ice and water dispenser in their refrigerator.  We never had one and to me, well, that was the coolest thing ever.  I felt like if I could ever reach a point in life where I had an ice dispenser in the door of my refrigerator I would have truly  made it.

Seven years ago when we built our house we bought a new refrigerator.  And you guessed it- it had in door ice and water dispenser.  I was pretty pumped.  I didn't necessarily think we had made it quite yet- whatever that means.  I was excited though.

However, God has a funny sense of humor because that thing really drives me crazy!  It doesn't work all that great and takes way more time that just opening the fridge and grabbing some ice from the dispenser.  I've always said that was "punishment" for my covetous ways as a child.

Now however, I don't think God is punishing me for trying to keep up with Jones', I think He is cracking up.  Because I have new level of aggravation for the ice dispenser.

  

When we first got home and she discovered water came out of there she would just stare at it.  Then she would make gestures and sounds that we knew meant she wanted some water.  We would get her a cup and put just a tiny sip in it.  Most of which ended up on the floor.  But she didn't have the height or the strength to push the button.

A few months later……  She knows where the cups are and can get her own water.  A few full cups on the floor and I decided we needed to keep it on the ice button all the time.  She couldn't press it long enough to get anything out.  Problem solved.

Until a few weeks later.  Now she is tall enough and strong enough to get whatever she wants out of that dispenser.  So much ice and water everywhere.  Puddles all over the house.  Half melted ice in every room.  

And one seriously cute face!

I spent the first few days laughing about how funny life is.  I spent the next 2 days frustrated at the never ending puddles and now this is what I have decided……

Every morning a sleepy headed Jenny rolls out of her room still in her jammies.  She goes to the cup drawer, gets a cup, and then gets herself something to drink.  Every morning.  Why?  Well, she wakes up thirsty, but also because she is at home.  She knows where the cups are.  She has the knowledge that water is available whenever she is thirsty.  She knows that its ok.  Its her home.

SO instead of being frustrated I am being thankful.  Or at least reminding myself to be thankful.  She is at home.  She knows where the cups are.  She has grown enough to reach the dispenser.  She is now strong enough to get the ice out.  Over and over again.  She knows when she is thirsty she can get something to drink.

It's a good thing, just a little wet.  Everywhere!

Three months today

Three months ago today this sweet baby was placed in my arms.

She actually kind of grabbed onto me around the neck.  It was kind of shocking really.  Now I know that's how she hugs.  She grabs on tight!  I love that I know that now.  I love that I know her.

She was a baby in so many ways.  She has come so far.

Painting with "snow".  Puffy paint made of glue and shaving cream.

I've written so many blog posts in my head but just have not found the time to actually write them.  We have definitely turned a corner in the last month and as a friend of mine who also brought home a daughter at the same time  said, "The honeymoon is over."  And that's a good thing.
She is not afraid to show her stuff when she is not happy.

And that is good.  She is comfortable and safe.  There have definitely been more tears in the last month.  Especially at bedtime.  Not for long periods of time, but it does seem to be when she struggles.  We have moved the cot back into her room and I am sleeping in there each night.  At first this felt like such a set back, but I keep having to remind myself that she has only been home a few months.  Three  months ago she was sleeping in China in a room full of kids.  We feel like she has always been here, but sadly she has not.  It is a process and right now she needs me close during the night.  And that is ok.

We have started to do some "school."  We are just working on catching up on some skills and having new expierences.  I have a list of goals for her each month.  My own little IEP.  That keeps me focused and working towards something.  We are not being hard core at all.  Mostly just meaningful play.

Painting with noodles!

Playing in the noodles!  She is signing "more".  She really liked this!

Her new play kitchen!  We are so thankful for the gift cards that people gave us.  They have helped us be able to get her fun things like this that are so imprtant to help her developemental skills.

We have been blessed to have a nice quiet month.  The next few are so busy!  It has been nice to have a slower pace.  She has had so many firsts this month!

First time at the park!  We are trying to get to the park at least once a week for "PE".  This helps with her gross motor skills and it's just fun!

First time to get stitches.  

As Will said, "She fought the wall and the wall won."

It was only three little stiches in the back of her head and she was a trooper. 

First time to play dress up.  Unfortunately it was her teenage brother making her look like a thug instead of her sister making her look like a princess.  She's cute anyway!

First Chinese New Year with us!

I had a blast with Chinese New Year!  We had a family dinner on Friday night and then had our family over for a Chinese feast on Super Bowl Sunday.

First Boy Scout Court of Honor.  Will got his hard earned Eagle! 

First time to be sick at home :( 

I told someone it was like having a newborn get sick.  I didn't know what her normal sick looks like if you know what I mean.  She ran super high fever and was very lethargic.  It only lasted 2 days though and she was back to her old self!

First Snow!

 First bed head!

She has discovered her sisters closet!  Awesome boots!

We've made some progress medically too.  Sarah has cerebral palsy as her main diagnosis.  She has had a PT evaluation and we have a home program ready to start.  I will be working with her on goals at home and then we will se the PT every few weeks.  This will allow us to stretch our therapy allotment out and also continue to help with attachment.  PT is by nature very physical and for now its best if we are the ones doing that.  

Last week Sarah had a sedated hearing test in order for us to get a better picture of her hearing situation.

This confirmed for us what we really already knew.  She has a pretty significant hearing loss.  This explains so much and although we aren't "glad" for the news we are glad to know and move forward.  This girl has so much potential! She is gonna rock those pink hearing aids!  

We have been so blessed by this little one.  It still takes my breath away that she sits at my kitchen table every day.  I challenge you to pray about adoption.  If the Lord is pricking your heart I urge you to listen.  It is not easy.  There are always excuses.  I had lots.  But even today as she sat next to me in the booth at the mexican restaurant covered in beans and eating all the chips her heart desired I thought, "What if we had said no."  Look what we would have missed.