6 Weeks Home: Taking Stock...

Here is Anna workign hard at swim team practice, smiling for Nana's camera...

Lilly and Mama at the pool...she likes the water!

The official certificate of citizenship arrived this week! She looks nothing like the photo on this certificate--taken just a few days before leaving China--anymore.

One of Lilly's favorite places to play--on a towel on the kitchen floor, with a bowl of water, measuring cups, and a funnel.

Daddy and his girls...Lilly had just come out of the bath (which she loves these days...saying "yay!" as Anna dumps water over her head)

She likes to wear her hair in pigtails these days...and she likes to smile for the camera since she knows she'll get to see the image on the back of the camera momentarily...

Nana, Anna, Jared, and Lilly enjoying the hot tub on the last night my folks were here.

Lilly did eventually let Pap Pap pick her up.

Beckoning the water to "lai" (come)...

Hershey's ice cream for dessert one night...

Taking a step back and a big deep breath, it is so exciting to see how far Lilly has come in just 6 short weeks at home. Not just Lilly, actually, but all of us. Here is where we are at:

• We have a daily routine down, Lilly knows when every family members heads out and comes home, and--even though she still asks about each of them all day long--she can trust that at the end of the day, the whole family will be together again. Her favorite time of day.


• I am re-remembering how to fill my days with fun toddler-type activities at home and outings. I am noticing the smaller play structures at local parks, rather than looking to see if they would be suitable for my older kids. I am learning to be highly attuned to Lilly's needs...and learning how to help her cope when my attention needs to be directed to someone or something else for a time.


• Lilly is napping great, sleeping mostly through the night (maybe up once to pee or have a drink every few nights).


• Lilly is speaking new English words each day, learning new signs (even the ones we use with the dog), and is starting to put together sentences in Chinese (and her own little babbly language that she uses with us sometimes. Very cute as she gets an earnest expression on her face, gestures with her hands, and puts together sounds with a few real words thrown in).
• Lilly has begun her catch-up immunizations...no fever the second time around.


• Lilly has undegone an EKG, an echocardiogram, and been to her initial ortho consult. The verdict: for now we'll monitor her closely and see how her growth affects her curvature. There is no rush to do surgery and more information over time on her condition will make the outcome better. Back for more x-rays and consult in October. In the meantime we need to schedule a kidney sonogram to be sure her renal function is normal.


• Anna is learning how to play with Lilly in a way that is fun for all--they have come such a LONG way in bonding as sisters!! Praise God.


• Anna is learning Chinese almost as quickly as Lilly is learning English. I might have two bilingual girls on my hands at the end of the day.


• Jared has shown great willingness and eagerness to play with Lilly and help with whatever needs to be done around the house. He is done with track season and is now running on his own in the mornings to stay fit (and avoid having mom and dad make him get back in the pool with the team).


• Tom will officially take command of the squadron a week from today. Yikes! Go Tom!


• Lilly knows she can trust us, and she knows we care enough to take care of boo boos (she points them out regularly expecting kisses and "medicine" (usually moisturizing cream or hydrocortisone for those pesky mosquito bites that balloon to golf ball size on her).


• Lilly loves the water. We spend time in our pool frequently, playing singing games that promote lots of closeness and smiles.


• Lilly loves to swing with mommy on our disc swing in the back yard. She sits in my lap facing me while I swing. Mommy gets a little motion sickness, but Lilly likes it so we still do it. At least as long as I can tolerate it!


• Lilly actually refuses many foods now. For most moms this would not be considered a good thing, but she is SO over the food hoarding and gorging behaviors, this mama is happy. She is growing and filling out so much. She was definitely malnourished when we received her. Now she looks like a normal toddler.


• Lilly will get evaluated by "Child Find" folks in our county to screen her for possible entry in the Pre-K Disability program at our local elementary school. From what I understand, it is a fabulous school program for children as young as 3 who have English as a second language, language delays, or physical or mental disabilities. We will consider this or preschool of some sort for possibly 2 mornings in the fall.


• Lilly has gotten to meet one set of grandparents, with a visit by the other set slated for next week! Yay!
• Now that school is only in session for about 6 more weeks, we are looking ahead at the summer and trying to decide on kids' activities for the big kids, family trips, etc. Stay tuned!