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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
HOME FOR FIVE MONTHS

Wow, it’s hard to believe it’s been 5 months already. Our 6 month post-placement visit is coming up and it seems like just yesterday we were in China waiting to meet our daughter for the first time. This past month has been a busy one for Maili, who has continued to grow and change in amazing ways. She experienced her first soccer game, her first haircut (with us, anyway), her first dentist appointment, and her first Easter. She met them all with her usual joyful enthusiasm, even the dentist appointment.

Based on the information in her referral paperwork, we were expecting extensive dental work in her future and I had been dreading that first confirmation of visits yet to come. In addition, I was prepared for her to be frightened and uncooperative. Surprisingly, she was very excited about going to the “tooth doctor” once I explained that if she was a good girl and let the dentist look at her teeth she might get a new toothbrush out of the deal. She cooperated beautifully, allowing the dentist to take x-rays and inspect and clean her teeth. When he was done, she proclaimed “Maili Mei Mei GOOD gull, get toothbrush. I want DAT one! Orange one!” So she walked away with a brand new toothbrush and a smile, and I was smiling too, once I found out that the information we received from China was incorrect- instead of the 4 cavities we were expecting, her teeth are in perfect condition and she has NO cavities at all! Once again, we were prepared for the worst and got the best. One by one, each concern we have had about her health has been put to rest, and the dentist was the last appointment scheduled for her. So no more appointments for her until her physical next year, hallelujah.

Maili has continued to increase her language and academic skills and her speech has improved to the point where people outside of our family can understand her. She chatters constantly and is excited to come home from school each afternoon and tell us about her day. It’s hard to believe that just 5 months ago she spoke no English at all and now she can tell us what she did at school each day, including what she ate, what she played with, who got in trouble (even if it’s her, ha ha ) and which letters and numbers she worked on. She wrote her name by herself for the first time this month and proudly posted it on the fridge next to Holt’s honor roll report card. She is recognizing a handful of letters and numbers consistently but has trouble with naming colors for some reason. She has a definite preference for all things pink or orange, so she recognizes those two.

One thing we have discovered this month is that Maili is absolutely terrified of thunderstorms. That was actually the last thing her foster father told the translator to let us know as we were leaving the orphanage, but we had forgotten until just recently when a series of thunderstorms struck our area in the wee hours of the morning. She began screaming hysterically in her bed and continued to shake and whimper long after I picked her up took her to our bed to ride out the storm. That night it took her a long time to go back to sleep and she wrapped her arms around my neck so tightly I could feel her heart pounding for almost half an hour. The next time it happened she cried out for me and kept saying “Mama’s bed” until I went up and got her, but as soon as I put her in our bed she snuggled up next to me and went back to sleep. She reached out and held my hand while she slept and she kept checking to make sure I was there. Last night we had the worst thunderstorm yet, and of course she began to cry and ask for Mama’s bed. Once again, she fell asleep holding my hand. The funny thing was, even though the thunder and lightening raged on and on, she never even flinched. It was as if she knew she was safe and she didn’t have to be afraid of it any more. It saddens me to think of all the times in China she must have lain in her bed crying in fear with no one to comfort her. She doesn’t quite have the language to tell us she’s afraid, but she says “Dat too loud, Mama. Too loud. Mei Mei need a HUG!” Anytime, sweetheart. Anytime.

Take time to smell the flowers

Pretty in pink

After her first haircut

Kisses for GeGe

First soccer game

Ready for the egg hunt

Daddy's girl

Two China dolls

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