Lily has been a part of our family now for 5 weeks - home for a little over 3 weeks. The last month has certainly been a blur! And even as I sit and write this I am staring at 2 suitcases that are only half emptied! I can't believe I have been home almost a month and still haven't unpacked all our suitcases from the trip....thought I should give you a good picture of how NOT together I really am just in case any of you were living with the allusion that I somehow do have it together. Not that any could possibly really think that! LOL ;)
When we were in China it was almost as if life was a "pause" but once we returned home in almost feels like someone pushed the fast forwarding button and now we are running across the screen just to keep up (and more often than not it isn't working out very well!). Even as I sit here to write this now my mind is racing with all the things I need to do and should be working on to prepare for all the things we still have coming up this week. The girls are napping right now though and I really wanted to catch up my blog so I sit here with my laptop and keep telling all those other thoughts to "take a hike"! The girls are napping and I really need to catch up on this blog so I don't lose all the info I want to make sure gets in here for future reference.
How have things been going since my last post which was about 2 weeks ago? Well, up until yesterday I would have said everything was about the same. Lily really hadn't made a lot of "progress" per say and we hadn't really got any more answers in her medical or physical struggles, etc. She is still having "off" days where you can just tell she doesn't really want to smile. I feel there is just a deep sadness and sense of loss inside her that she allows to bubble up every few days. The good news is that she has more good/happy days in-between the not so happy ones. Of course, she deserves all the time she needs to grieve and we are giving her that as much as we know how, but it is so good to see her beginning to spend more time happy than sad.
So why was yesterday the turning point in progress for her? Well, in the morning we met with a professional that will be working with us to co-ordinate a team of occupational therapists and physical therapists and speech therapists to get started helping her to catch up to where she should be. She was very encouraging in and agreed with us that Liliana is very smart and just needs help getting stronger and adding to her set of skills. Part of the evaluation had her asking me several questions about things that she had not had the opportunity to observe whether Lily was able to do or not. One of the questions was if she attempted to climb up onto any furniture to sit. I told her "no" as I had never seen Lily even have any interest in sitting on a chair or the sofa (with the exception of the child sized princess fold out couch we have). I had to think she had probably never even seen such a piece of furniture before coming here and just paid it little to no attention. For some reason that question really got to me and as I sat there thinking about it I was so very sad. I couldn't even tell you why that question had that effect really. There were many others that I had to tell them she wasn't able to do as well. Maybe it was the build up of it all and I just kept thinking about all she had missed out on it her first two and a half years and it was hard to swallow answering question after question I guess.
Later in the afternoon Gabby, Lily and I were playing in the floor of the living room when Lily made her way over to one of the leather side chairs and began to try and climb into the chair. I couldn't believe what I was seeing and couldn't help but be amazed! Here she was trying to do the very thing that I felt such sadness about her not being able to do just this morning. I grabbed my camera and began to video her as she tried. I recorded three failed attempts filled with frustration and tears for her before she finally made it up into the chair and smiled at all she had accomplished! She was sweating and her face and eyes were red from crying, but she had made it!
Gabby and I cheered and cheered for Lily and I thanked God for the nugget of encouragement in the exact way I needed it. I have no doubt that was His way of saying "don't doubt what she is capable of and what I have in store for her!". I am listening Lord - I am listening!! Liliana is no doubt a little MIRACLE!
She made it up!
Big Sis, Gabby, joins her for a little "Max and Ruby" cartoon time. The undisputed favorite in this house :)
A little JOY anyone?! This is what happy looks like :)
Oh how I love those precious smiles!
This week started out exciting and there is no sign of that excitment going away anytime soon! We are preparing for the arrival of our Au Pair from China, Morgan, on Thursday evening. We are so excited to meet her in person after corresponding for months with her over Skype now. She is just so sweet and I, for one, can't wait for the help and adult company throughout the day with kiddos :) She flew into New York city yesterday for a 4 day training and sightseeing excursion before she will fly into Cincinnati Thursday evening and to what will become her new home for at least the next year.
I am not going to pretend that adding yet another person to our home - albeit this one temporary - isn't somewhat terrifying! But I am convinced that we will enrich our lives, her life and the lives of all the kiddos so much by venturing out on this adventure, too. There is no looking back now.....
And one final update is to mention that Liliana will be meeting with the cardiology team for testing this Friday. We will get a much clearer picture of what struggles her heart may be having and what next steps are in the plan to get her healthy and whole!
I am including a few more pictures from over the last couple of weeks. And an update on what Lily is able to do since arriving home as I am sure that her skill set will continue to get larger as the days and weeks progress here.
This month (Oct.) Lily is 30 months old (2 1/2 years)
- Liliana can crawl (quickly enough to catch Gabby who runs away with a toy she took from Lily :)
- Liliana can stand up on her own without holding anything
- Lily can take up to 4 steps on her own before she sits back down on the floor
- Lily can cruise all over anywhere she wants as long as she has something to balance her - a wall will work just fine!
- Lily can climb up on to the sofa and chairs in the family room on her own (just started this!).
- Lily naps from 1-3:30pm every day and sleeps from 8pm until 9am every night..in the room she shares with sister, Gabby.
- Lily LOVES eggs - in any form!
- Lily is still afraid of the dog and cat, but will get very close to where they are laying on the floor and clap and laugh as she looks at them - she only touches them every now and then and it's a very quick pat that is followed by hysterical giggling :)
- Liliana is very good at pouring tea for us from her Fisher Price tea pot set and even joining in the pretend drinking of said tea ;)
- Lily loves jackets and sweaters and if she comes across one she will grab it and insist that you put it on her - even if it causes her to sweat!
- Lily LOVES headbands and bows - seriously! She often has to go to bed with one because of you take it off her when laying her down she screams.
- Lily is the best behaved toddler I have ever seen at meals out in a restaurant. She is truly super good and has excellent table manners :)
- Lily can say "hi" and "mama" even though most people would not know she was saying either, but they are new sounds she has acquired since coming home and that is super exciting!
- Lily has learned to point, wave and blow kisses since coming home and if I call for her she will come find me.
- Bath time is one of her very favorite activities by far and has been since the beginning.
- Lily has now given me 4 official "kisses" even though they have come from much coaxing!
- Lily can show us her belly when we ask "where is your belly?" I always tickle her so now she starts laughing as soon as I ask the question :)
With my little ladies :)
Thank you for staying tuned and to all of you that are still sending emails, making comments and cards I want to say a special thank you! I love the encouraging words and have read and re-read every one that I have received...they truly are food for my soul :)
Blessings,
Jessica (and family)
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