Oh oh! Vaccination Day

 What do you get when you go for lab results and vaccinations?  Two UNhappy Little Princesses.  Still, they did GREAT!  The nurse even remarked that she could hardly believe they were the same children!

Jennifer cried a little bit, but Abigail took it all in stride.  If you remember, she was the one who screamed for like five hours when they had their initial evaluations, so this was tremendous progress!

There were no real surprises in their lab results or their diagnosis and plan for treatment.  We are glad for that.  The bad news was that after testing for immunities, Abigail needed four shots and Jennifer needed three.  With as much worrying as they did about them they surely were cooperative!  Again, Jen cried a little bit, but Abigail didn't even flinch.  Wow.

We thought this was going to be a short appointment, and perhaps in the world of international adoption it was, but it still took two hours.  Most of that time was spent actually WITH a medical person, not just waiting, so I continue to be impressed at the time and attention these folks take with our children.

At one point the nurse practitioner was asking about their diet and we were discussing options for calcium since neither girl likes milk.  She mentioned ice cream and Abigail ran with it!  Ice cream is one of the signs we've learned in our Signing Time movies, and she made sure we didn't forget that she wanted some. 

I think I had an "AH HA" moment.  We have found that when we tell Abigail she may have something but she needs to wait for it (wait is another of our signs and she knows the meaning) she is very, very persistent to NAG us until it happens.  If our bio children had done this we would think they were being a little naughty, and honestly it gets tiring.  But what if,  just consider - WHAT IF she has been told lies in the past to get her to cooperate?  She has no way of knowing that if Mama tells her, "Yes, we are going to get ice cream," that I really WILL make every effort to do what I have promised.  I'm choosing to give her the benefit of the doubt and have even a little more patience with the pestering.  In time she will learn that I can be trusted.

After the long morning and being human pin cushions we figured they were due for a treat.  Lunch at Chick-fil-a followed by the requested ice cream was in order! 

We think this may have been the first time the Little Princesses have had an ice cream cone.  They seemed quite amazed when we told them they could actually EAT the cone part!

Jennifer is so, so funny when she eats.  If it is something she really likes she will nod her head over and over and say, "yummy, yummy."  The cone was worthy of this reaction.  This little munchkin ate the ENTIRE THING! 

The Royalty Visits the Dentist

 I was dreading today.  Our pediatric dentist (whom we've seen for many years) is over two hours away now that we've moved to Ohio.  But, I think he is worth it, so I went on a road trip this morning with my three little ladies to get their teeth cleaned.

Jen began crying about an hour into the trip.  I don't know what types of things she imagines is going to happen to her, but she is frightened of something.  She doesn't understand English well enough to reason with her, and doesn't have a whole lot of reason to trust me anyway since she has only known me for a couple of months.  We opted for distractions and stopped at a McDonald's to use the restroom and get a snack.

We also took the opportunity to tell them that we were going to get our TEETH BRUSHED.  Abigail cheered out loudly at this announcement!  They were both cheerful for the rest of the trip.

Abigail gets her picture taken.

Big sister Tikvah led the way and the other two went back with her to see just what was going to happen.  They watched her get her x rays and then her teeth cleaned.  Abigail was fascinated, though Jen fussed a little bit and was unsure if she wanted to cooperate.

I was surprised that Abigail then volunteered to go first and have her "picture taken" with the really big camera.  The technician had to hold the x ray films in place and have someone else press the button, but she got the pictures! Next up,  Jennifer just fussed a little bit then went to have her teeth brushed. 

Jennifer's tooth pictures.

This office is GOOD and they are FAST.  I was running about attempting to talk to the dentist as he looked at each mouth and totally missed the cleanings.  I was just lucky to have gotten these couple of photos!

Tikvah was happy to have no cavities and a report of "perfection" for her brushing technique.  The Little Princesses didn't fare as well.  Both have infected teeth and got a prescription for an antibiotic as well as plans to go under general anesthesia at the hospital to address some cavity issues. 

After the appointment we met up with a couple of my adult daughters and their children for lunch and a play date at the park.  Perfect!  They didn't even seem to mind the long ride home that much.






As for Mama, well ... I am TIRED but feeling positive about the successful experience today.  Here's hoping they learned to trust more and that Wednesday's appointment for lab results and (GULP) shots won't undue all the trust I've earned. Here are the royal sisters with their clean teeth and their new toothbrushes.  Happy!

Jennifer's Awesome Gift

Jennifer had a walker in the orphanage.  When she received it (autumn of 2011) it opened a whole new world for her - one with a little bit of independence.  Until then she was so much more limited because of her lack of mobility.  Also, our Jen is a pretty determined little gal and she loves to do things for herself.  Alas, she came to us in her wheelchair (which was a blessing to us since we had to walk so much in China) but she really dislikes the thing.

The Little Princesses arrived home on May 4, and I began working on getting Jen a new walker that following week never imagining it was going to be a problem.  I've spent literally hours on the telephone calling pharmacies and home health care places, doctors, even SEEING numerous physicians and specialists since we've been home.  It appears that no one is willing to prescribe a walker to enable us to GET a walker without a physical therapy evaluation.  Even with begging and pleading and finally getting an appointment (that became open only due to a cancellation) it was going to be August before this evaluation!

There is more to the story than a little girl who desperately wanted some independence back in her life.  She NEEDS the walker.  She has fallen numerous times around the house, and the top side of her little feet are actually bruised from the way she walks.  New tennis shoes have helped a little, but the situation is so severe that she has actually worn holes through the toes of these shoes after wearing them for only a week and a half!

So it was after spending yet another hour on the phone today that I expressed my frustration (ok, so maybe I whined...) on Facebook.  About an hour later a friend from our homeschool co-op called to say she had something that I might be interested in.  AND HOW!!!!

This beautiful piece of equipment had been hiding out in her garage for about three years, and my Facebook whine post made her think of it!  Jennifer was one very, very happy little girl when she saw it!

I bought her a bike basket and handlebar tassels so the walker looks more worthy of this little princess.  She LOVES being able to take things from one room to the next in her basket.  Up to this point that has just not been possible as her concentration has had to be totally on keeping her balance.

After dinner we took all three of the girls to cut flowers.  Jennifer literally RAN through the (empty) parking lot squealing and laughing like she was having the best day of her life.  Abigail joined in the fun, and while Tikvah cut flowers the Two Little Princesses RAN through the parking lot giggling their little heads off.  Yeah.  Good day!  Isn't it just like our God to orchestrate such a wonderful gift?

The Princesses Plant Flowers

Since both girls have speech issues we've been slowly working our way through the Signing Time video series.  We are on dvd #4 now, and they've learned really quite a few words.  We use a combination of sign language and English, and they seem to understand most of what we are attempting to tell them.

One of their favorite signs is the one for "flower" so they totally got it today when I asked them if they wanted to go SHOPPING (another favorite thing) with me for flowers. (using the sign) 

Jennifer's fear of doctors continues, and we get the series of questions before we leave the house - every time.  Each time we visit a different doctor, that specialty gets a sign that she makes up and is added to the quizzing.  They visit the dentist on Monday and I can hardly wait for another doctor to make his way onto the repertoire.  But I digress.... today's conversation went something like this:

Jen: "DOC?" 
Me:  "No doctors.  We are going shopping for flowers."
Jen:  Uses her sign to ask if she is going to get a shot.
Me: "No doctor, no shot.  We are going shopping for flowers."
Jen:  Uses her sign to ask if she has to go get glasses.
Me: "No doctor, going shopping for flowers."
Jen: Uses her sign to ask if we are going to go to therapy to get her a walker.
Me: "Quit it with the doctors, already.  We are going shopping for flowers!  Do you want to go or stay at home with Ruth?"
Ok, now we are getting somewhere.  She indicates she wants to go. 

So Abigail, Jennifer and I all piled in the van (not a quick process) and headed to the store.  We found impatiens on sale at Meijer, so we purchased a flat of pretty pink ones.  Then we headed across the lot to Home Depot where we bought two bags of mulch.

There was an area below the windows off our back patio that was just begging for some sprucing up.  Rocks to go around the flower beds had been just piled there last summer, then leaves piled up in the fall and it was a mess!  So the first thing we had to do was to move the rocks then bag up the leaves.  Let me tell you these girls are hard workers! 

After planting our flowers and putting mulch around each one the Little Princesses were DIRTY!  (Dirty happens to be another of their favorite signs.)  But we weren't quite done yet.  We still needed to line up the rocks to define the area.  After signing wildly about being dirty they posed for a photo with their completed work.

I was super impressed. They were actually a LOT of help and stayed on task until it was completed.  They were also just plain FUN to work with!  We had a rough time at bedtime last night, so I was very, very thankful for an enjoyable time together today.

What does one do with dirty (water loving) princesses?  Help them clean up, of course!  They squealed with delight when I set the hose loose on them!

 A chilly (but clean and happy) Princess warming in the sun.

 

I'm pretty sure they love gardening!

Glasses!

It was a surprise to me when the eye doctor said that Abigail needed glasses.  She seemed to function very well, and I wasn't expecting it.  The little gasp she let out when her new glasses were placed on her face and the pointing at everything that soon followed convinced me!

We've seen a change in a behavior also.  She has always stood very, very close to the television.  She began sitting in a chair to watch instead of standing right in front of the set after she got her glasses.

Oh, one other thing....she is pretty adorable in them too!

Ordinary Days

Sometimes it is the ordinary days that are the most fun.  Days like when you get a new (second hand) playhouse with people and furniture....

Or when friends visit and you get to water them...

 

Or days when your family roasts marshmallows in the fire pit and makes 'smores.  

Yep.  Ordinary days are often the best ones!

Chinese Tea Party

Since Tikvah had her birthday while we were in China she missed a having a celebration with her friends.  So this week she invited several of her closest friends to a tea party which evolved into a dinner party by the time the plans were finished.

Jen and Abigail lucked out by getting to host a couple of the little sisters of the friends.  Often Abigail is nervous when people she doesn't know well come to our home.  Not this day.  She totally came alive, waving and yelling, "hi ya" to people as they came through the door.  I don't know if it was the Chinese dresses, the familiar food, or the presence of several other Asian children, but she loved it!

The Little Princesses noticed a photo of a friend's daughter (who was adopted at the beginning of this year) on the front of our refrigerator.  They have been asking about her since their first day home.  It was great for them to finally meet her!  This was so much fun that I can see lots of tea parties in our future.