Anna

wow. It is hard to believe we have only been home for 6 weeks. It feels like Anna has been part of our family forever. What a journey this has been. Anna has come so far in just the short time we have been with her.

When we meet Anna she would not or could not walk. Within a few days she would walk but only if we were holding her hand. A few days after we arrived home she took her first steps by herself, now she walks all over the place without problems. She climbs all over us, she gets on Colby's bed all by herself, she can climb on the couch without difficulty.

In China bathtime was a total nightmare. Just the sight of water made Anna fuss. When we tried to put her in the tub she would not even sit in the tub. She tightened up her entire body and screamed so I just layed her down in the tub and washed her as fast as possible. When we got home I would get in the tub with her but she continued to cry. She is now taking a bath by herself and splashing the water and playing with the bubbles.

We were told she was eating soft rice and noodles but we were unable to get her to eat anything. They gave her to use holding a bottle filled with apple juice with a huge hole cut in the nipple.When we put anything in her mouth she would hold the food in her mouth and scream until she eventually swallowed the food about 5 minutes later. When we offered her anything to eat or drink she would turn her head. She is now eating soft table food. She still has trouble chewing firmer food and is still drinking from the bottle but no juice only milk. However she is letting me put other liquids in her mouth using a straw. She has gained 8 lbs since we have been home.

We were told that she could understand Chinese but did not speak even in Chinese. She is starting to understand English pretty well. She can say "up" because she likes to be picked up alot and she says something like "bye bye". She is definitly is an on the go kinda girl.

She is now sleeping in her room however she still prefers to sleep on the floor. We put her mattress on the floor in her room and sometimes she does sleep on it but she was sleeping on the floor in the living room until last week.

She has been evaluated by all kinds of doctors. But things look good so far. She is recieving PT and Speech therapy and is on a waiting list for OT. She started preschool last week and will go twice a week. She does not need surgery at this time. It looks like she had surgery while in China to close the meningocele. According to the orphange she had not had surgery. Her kidneys and bladder look normal. The neurosurgeon said that she should develop normally.The doctors will continue to follow her to make sure she is developing as expected.

She seems to very happy and adjusting well. She loves to play and spend time with her brothers. She has a contagious laugh. Sometimes she just starts laughing which gets Colby laughing which gets everyone else laughing. She loves music and dancing. She loves books and coloring and playing with her toys.

The past 6 weeks have been exciting, anxious, busy, tiring and wonderful but I would not change a thing. Anna has a long way to go but she learns something new everyday and it is such a pleasure to watch her grow and learn.