Monday, August 18, 2008

I promise to get new pictures posted soon!

I am never sure whether I should start from the current and work backward or start where I left off!

Sunday we stayed home.

After Saturday night I could not and did not have the strength to do much else.

We did have a VERY SMALL birthday party for Annabel. Just us and my nieces and mom and dad. It seemed to fit the bill. Someone else wrote and said their daughter resented that she did not have a birthday party when she got home. No need to add extra issues to the future problems!

In our still upside down world, I could not find the presents I had meant to give, so she got 2 new webkinz, which mean nothing to her. Oh well! Mom and Dad did much better with a fairy princess assortment of hair do dads. She puts new ones in every day.

She was very excited about having a birthday cake even though she didn't like it! She did like the ice cream.

I thought I was going to get through the day without any tears.

I sat down to post last night and here came Grace with tears streaming down her face. "I'm sad". I always know what this is in reference to - her foster mother. I am always at a loss on this subject, so I can only say I'm sorry.

This morning we had a doctor's appointment early.

Thank goodness for wonderful people who will share their skills. A co-worker, originally from China, met us at the doctor's office to translate.

She helped me out with Grace when we first returned and explained they were about to take 2 gallons of blood to test! Then a chest x ray and a urine sample!

But this time she was actually at the doctor's office to start.

I had her explain we had to do this because school started Monday.

Oh my you cannot believe how many tears fell.

She thought she was only here for vacation.

I know she got to do several of trips while at the orphanage, but had no clue she thought she was just a short timer here.

I know the orphanage and the guides had been clear with her that she was to be adopted, but what does adoption mean to an 11 year old? My heart wanted to break. She would not respond to anyone for a long time.

But she has to be one of the most resilient children I have seen. Soon she was more interested in what was happening around her again, or is the mini container of Pringles and a Sprite made up for the loss of her home country!

We have several specialists we need to see as she has a chronic middle ear infection, vision issues, and some issues with her feet, probably from wearing shoes that were too small.

But we pressed on to the lab for blood work.

Any time I have to have a blood test, the women in that department draw straws and the loser has to deal with me. I am the world's biggest chicken and cannot stand even the sight of a needle! Grace covered her eyes and Sarah held her hand and she did not make a sound.

On to the chest x ray which I think must be difficult to explain to a child anyway and then in Chinese must be harder.

We thanked Sarah for all her help and ran to Grace's make up piano lesson.

On the way she learned how well her mom provides meals as we drove through McDonalds and ate in the car for our fast trip!

I have horrible nightmares of another test Grace had to have when she first arrived and I feared that Annabel would too.

Not only does Annabel need the test, but also Grace.

I will try really hard not to be too graphic, but it is a stool specimen, not like adults do though.

This one is so incredibly GROSS!!!!!

I got Grace's finished and if I had any food in my stomach it would not have just been dry heaves. I gave Annabel the instructions from hers, since it was written in Chinese. I hope she can do it herself!! I don't think so, but I can hope!

We were supposed to go to the Ranger game tonight but since it has rained all day and I finally have at least 2 feeling better, I couldn't see us heading to sit in the rain! So now I feel like I need to make it up tomorrow.

The Crow Museum is having special activities for the Olympics and it is free. Sounds like our kind of event. Then we will try to find a good Chinese buffet. Annabel told Sarah the only food she likes is Chinese. However, she consumed the majority of the ham a sweet lady from church brought for dinner tonight.

Sarah asked Annabel about what name she preferred as Annabel seems cumbersome at this point. She said she would prefer a shorter name, maybe Ann, or even shorter, maybe A for school. I can just see explaining all that to the teachers. Mom, Dad, G and D can call her Annabel but Grace and I must call her Wan Yun.

Time for snack as they are out of their hour long tub fest, which truly does cure all ills!

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