Today we have been home from China for 5 weeks! Wow, where did 5 weeks go? The first week we were back was lost to walking around in a fog from jet-lag, all three of us with sinus infections, and people coming and going from our home constantly. Ken returned to work the beginning of the following week and I was left home to take care of Xiu Xiu for the first time all by myself . . . . . . . . . . . Yikes!
I have to admit, that first week home alone was really tough. For me, I felt like working a 12 hour shift in an ICU was easier then staying home with a 10 month old baby for 12 hours! When Ken got home from work the first evening I told him I called the hospital and was going back to work earlier than planned! I was kidding of course. . . . . but it did cross my mind a few times during the day! Xiu Xiu would not let me out of her sight and wanted to be held all the time unless she was eating! The good thing about it was she wanted me! Just a little too much of me!
I’m happy to report all that is behind us now and Xiu’s adjusting better than we ever expected this early. She had her 3rd visit to the pediatrician this week. All her lab work is normal and she has gained two pounds and grown one inch since she has been home! She sleeps through the night (in her own crib!), takes two naps a day, and eats just about anything I make for her. She now has 8 teeth and prefers to feed her self. I have to be really creative and think of things to make that she can pick up with her fingers . . . she is not very good with a spoon yet. The only problem occurs when she runs out of food on her tray at meal time. When this happens, she does this grunting screaming thing until you give her more. We had this same problem in China. I have tried waving my finger at her saying “No, No, No”, and she just waves her finger back at me. It’s actually pretty funny but doesn’t do anything for the behavior problem! We have also tried teaching her the “baby sign” for “more” but for some reason she doesn’t seem to understand what we are doing. Maybe we should teach her to wave her finger in the air when she wants more. . . . . she caught on to that pretty quick!
She talks constantly (mostly baby Chinese) but also can say Da Da, MaMaMa, Hi, and has a special word for the dogs that I cannot type. When Ken gets home from work, she is usually sitting in her high chair waiting for dinner. When she sees him come through the door she smiles real big and says Hi, DaDa! Of course it is prompted by “here comes daddy” . . . . . and “daddy’s coming”. We think it is pretty remarkable that she can put two words together already. At first I thought it was just a fluke that she did it. Now she has done it so consistently, it appears that she actually knows what she is saying. Yes, this is the same baby that cannot learn the sign for more!
She is also crawling all over the house and is faster than the speed of lightening. In China she could only sit up and when she fell over you had to help her back up (I think she was faking it so she could surprise us when we got home!). Her favorite toys are empty plastic containers with lids, phones (not her play ones only real ones), remote controls, extension cords, and rawhides. Tonight I had all her nice (appropriate) toys spread out on the family room floor for her to play with. She crawled right by them and made her way to our dog Samantha who was minding her own business chewing on a rawhide. She sat there for a minute and as soon as she saw the opportunity she grabbed the rawhide from in front of Samantha. When Samantha looked up at her “dumbfounded” she took her pacifier out of her mouth and offered it to the dog like she was making a trade! I wish I could have caught this on video . . . . . it was too funny!
This morning when I was enjoying a few minutes of quiet time before Xiu awoke I decided to catch up on some Bible study that I haven’t been able to find time for. When I opened my Bible it opened to Isaiah 43! It was just another confirmation of God’s hand in all of this.
All ready for my first Sunday at "Church on the Rise"
Playing in my backyard pool
Day at the Lake in my bikini from Aunt Sue!
People used to try to make us fearful we were not making the right decision about the adoption. They would say things like “your life as you know it is going to change forever!” and “why would you want to adopt from China?” Well I am happy to say we are so thankful that we listened to the voice of God and did not let our fears overcome us. Our lives “have changed forever” and we truly cannot imagine our life without this precious little blessing! I know God has used us to bring this child from the East for a purpose. We cannot wait to see the special plan He has for her life unfold!
Trusting in Him,
Ken, Sharon & Anna (Xiu Xiu)
“Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east,
And gather you from the west;
I will say to the north, “Give them up!”
And to the south, “Do not keep them back!”
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth—
Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
“I have formed him, I have made him.”
Isaiah 43:5-7
