We are now in the fabulous Garden Hotel, which is the nicest place I have ever stayed. We have a suite with 2 beds and a couch in one room, a king size bed and crib in another room, an office area with a desk and exercise bicycle, a huge cloak closet for all of our bags, and a beautiful bathroom with a bathtub overlooking the city and a TV on the wall! My kids are really getting spoiled!!
There are about 8 more Lifeline families here and a few Small World families and we are all having a great time. Yesterday we went to get our medical exams and TB test. WOW! What a morning!! Children were screaming everywhere---it was paradise! ha ha!! We took her visa picture first and of course, she was the one kid who made an ugly face, screamed and have to have the photographer dance and play the tambourine to get her to not arch her back and stay in the chair!! We all got a kick out of her stink face later. Get ready everyone, the stink face appears more than the precious smile of her cuddling the bear in her referral picture!!
The first counter we went to was the nurses' station for vital signs. She screamed, arched her back and poured tears from her eyes! When she was is not happy--everyone knows! We went to talk to the doctor next and she went over her charts from her referral. On there is said "mild motor development delay", so the Dr. wanted to see if she could walk. We put her on the floor and she just stood there. She has been walking all over the place, put she planted her feet on the ground and didn't budge. We told the Dr. that she can walk, so she just believed us. Next we had to take her clothes off----she hates for me to change her diaper, so I knew this would be fun! She is one strong little girl who has probably been through more in her short two years than I will ever go through. I think her fear of people looking at her bottom has to do with her surgery....heaven only knows what happened there or how it hurt. I hope she gets over that soon. We made it through the physical OK, so then it was time for the ENT. This was funny. For her hearing test, they took a squeaky pig and held it to her left side and if she turned when they squeaked it, she passed. Very in depth! They looked in her mouth and eyes, with help of mommy & daddy holding her down. Everything looked great! The last room was the TB test, and blood would be drawn. They took her from me, so that she wouldn't associate that pain with Mommy and a few minutes later, she came out---red faced and gator tears reaching for us! It was over! In the lobby of the clinic there was a vending machine with wine bottles in it. We all got a kick of that!! The overall verdict of most of these exams were positive. She appears not have a motor delay and when we get home we will check her spinal cord for any other problems. Praise the Lord!!! All of the children here precious and beautiful.
She got in the bathtub last night without crying!! Yeah! Every little step toward normalcy is celebrated! She even said "Mama" last night! She needed something and called my name and I helped her. She has not said it again, but I will be patient and take these little gifts when they come.Today she kissed Nickie on the cheek!! The light in her eyes is slowing appearing, and hopefully the love will come in her heart for us soon. Until then, we wait.........
Tomorrow we are going to the Zoo and a dinner cruise tomorrow night. Lifeline (our adoption agency) has been amazing. This has been a life changing experience where I have seen God's hand so much. I have met incredible people who have big hearts for the ones who seem to be forgotten by the world. The Father knows them by name and holds every tear they cry. They were created for a purpose and He has plans for them too. I am humbled by it all and can't wait for a little girl who has never said "Mama" to say it again and again.....
Blessings from across the world, ( more photos tomorrow)
Laurie
