Annabel

A lot of people have asked how she is adjusting to her new life. I don't know how to answer this because it is really difficult to know. The language barrier is huge, but can tell you that she loves her Grand Poppa and her Grandmother and loves helping both, giving and receiving hugs, and trying to communicate with them. Dad can get away with correcting her behavior with only a "sorry" in response.

She is not interested in trying new food and picks off anything that resembles cheese, lettuce, or tomatoes. She loves playing outside. She is bored when everything is in English. She goes to bed when told. She insists on helping unload the dishwasher even when she can't reach the shelves. She loves Ollie and Nina and wishes they would sleep on the bed with her.

The beginning of Annabel's life is recorded in an abandonment statement that shows she was found outside a civil affairs office by an employee of the civil affairs department. She was taken to the Nanchang Social Welfare Institute.

Her birth was determined to be 2 days prior to her discovery.

An ad was posted looking for the parents who left their baby girl, but no one responded.

There is only her immunization record showing information on her life during this time.

She knows that she was found to be very sick at about age 2. I have heard from 2 people who take credit for saving her life. She was told her head was too big and was put in the hospital.

Shortly thereafter she was placed with a foster family. I have very little if any records of these events.

The next time there is any record is when she is taken from her foster family and returned to the orphanage to await her adoption.

I did not receive many records on her schooling, growth, or anything else.

It does appear that her foster family was richer than most and when I met them was surprised at how well they were dressed and that they appeared to be somewhat higher class than I thought. Also they did not seem to have missed a meal, which makes it even more difficult to understand why Annabel is so small and under on development.

I'm not sure if she will ever be able to feel in the blanks or not. That's a lot of years to go through for a forever family. I hope she will think it is worth.