All is well

All is well; we are just getting busier and busier!  Kelley is settling in and we are doing more and more things with her.  She is truly part of the family...like she has been here all of her life.  She takes everything in stride and nothing seems to frustrate her.  We are being careful not to overwhelm her though.

Last week was Kelley's first doctor's appointment for a complete exam.  We were at UH for three hours on Monday meeting with the adoption specialists and having lab work done.  The nurse and doctor examined her and watched her behavior.  They were very pleased with her attachment and the way her hand looks and works.  The lab drew blood to check her vaccinations, vitamins and other levels.  She laughed when they poked her with the needle!  The doctor encouraged us to work on her language and bonding with the family for the next three months and then come back.  We will have a complete report in a few weeks when all of the tests come back. 

Kelley also had a preschool screening with the County last week.  She was monitored by specialists for 45 minutes.  The county will wait for the UH report and then make their decision.  I think she needs a "disability" to qualify thru the county.  I believe her hand and speech should let her in...we'll see.  She is learning more and more English words every day, but her speech is still a little unclear.  Her laughter is very clear and very heartwarming.  We hear it all of the time.  We also hear screams as she runs thru the house playing with Kimmy or trying to scare Daddy.

Last week, Kelley and I went shopping.  I gave her some choices and she said yes or no if she wanted to try them.  We even picked out some matching outfits for her and Kimmy, based on Kelley's choice.  She learned "no-no" and "come on" while we were shopping and now she uses them on me.  Her nickname on Monday was Huangtao no-no and she called me "come on, come on". 

Saturday was a beautiful day and we headed down to my Aunt & Uncle's house outside of Mt Vernon.  The kids got to see baby goats that were about a month old, tractors and farm equipment and got to ride in a barrel train.  They also had fun shelling corn and letting go a Chinese lantern...only one because it was too windy.  Kelley took about 100 pictures with my phone; I only kept 5.  Most were pictures of feet or people and animals with missing heads.  She had fun and thought she was special.  Kimmy got the camera and also took about 100 pictures; I kept at least half of hers.  The girls played well with their cousins:  Mikayla, Emma, Samantha & Rachel.  Later, Kimmy told me how happy she was to have Kelley as her sister.  I think Kelley feels the same way about Kimmy.

Sunday was cold and windy and nothing was on the calendar.  Kimmy spent the night on Saturday with Grandma & Papa and decided to go back Sunday afternoon to ride her pony.  I thought that might be a good time to introduce Kelley to the ponies again.  She has gotten very comfortable with Kimmy and will do anything that she does.  I saddled up Smoki and Kimmy went for a short ride.  I asked her to jump off and give Kelley a quick turn and then  Kimmy could ride some more when she went in the house.  Kimmy cooperated and Kelley did not.  Smoki took 2 steps and Kelley shook her head yes, that she wanted to go more.  We walked around the ring a few times with Papa holding her leg and then I told her it was time to get off.  Kelley refused to let go of the reins and the saddle horn.  I had to pry her hands off and pluck her out of the saddle.  She cried.  She bit me.  She threw her helmet at me.  She threw her mittens on the ground and stomped on them.  That was the first sign of bad behavior that I have seen from her in a month.  I was too stunned to do or say anything.  Secretly I was laughing.  Papa saddled up Sofie and led her around awhile and it was all better.  Kimmy got back on Smoki and the two girls rode together.  I'm in trouble now.

Sunday night ended with both girls in the bath tub, laughing & splashing and getting their hair washed without any issues.  Then off to bed they went.   

Another week in Ohio

We have wrapped up another week in Ohio and Kelley continues to make progress and adjust to American living.  We've tried a lot of new things with her this week and she has accepted most of them. 

First off NO MORE HIVES!  After last weekend, we cut out all of the Halloween candy and have been keeping her diet bland and watching it closely.  Towards the end of the week we started adding in a larger variety of food with great success. 

She has also decided (on her own) that she doesn't like the name Kelley, Kelley Tao or Tao Tao.  She wants to be called Huangtao (Hwong tow), her Chinese name which means yellow peach.  She is a peach!  I still write about her as Kelley and talk about her as Kelley, but usually call her Huangtao when I'm talking to her.

Tuesday night we went to Hiram College for their trick or treat.  Kimmy was a mermaid and Kelley was a ghoul, who didn't wear her mask.  That means, she was basically, just a kid.  Each group or club had a table and gave away candy after the kids did an activity.  She figured this out right away and learned to grab a sucker and say thank you.  Kelley fell asleep on Thursday and missed trick or treat from house to house in the rain...smart girl!  Kimmy & I dredged out in Garrettsville for about 45 minutes.

I don't remember if it was Tuesday or Wednesday, but she took another successful bath in the big tub with Kimmy AND we got her hair washed without too much trouble.  She cried for a minute or two and then laughed at Kimmy.  Good thing Kimmy is here to help with much of the transition.  It makes things much easier on Kelley (and Mom & Dad).  Her hair is still very fine and brittle so I have started adding some leave in M&T conditioner.  I hope to get it long & thick, like Kimmy's. 

Kelley has been sleeping all night in our room, on a mattress on the floor, without crying at bedtime.  She has even gotten pretty good at sleeping straight or turning a little sideways, but not upside down.  We decided a mattress on the floor is perfect.  One night she did fall out of bed, but only eight inches!  She can also undress and half dresses herself, which makes things easier in the morning. 

Daddy stayed home with her on Tuesday & Wednesday this week - the two nicest days.  He cleaned the garage and she helped.  He swept dirt out of the garage and she swept it back in.  I think she also rode her bike, the 4-wheeler and blew some bubbles.  They went to Home Depot to buy new outdoor Christmas lights for the new house.  She tagged along and afterwards they visited me at work for lunch on Wednesday.  She likes Wendy's chili (one of the new foods added in). 

When I stayed home with her it was cold and rainy and there was nothing to do outside.  She likes to play on the piano and especially likes the Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star tune.  She has sung a Chinese song to us that follows that tune.  We've been working on the ABC song (same tune) and she is picking that up.  This morning she sang the whole thing to me, including "now I know my ABCs, next time won't you sing with me".  I was impressed.  She just laughed...which is what she does most of the time.

Friday night we went to a Chinese buffet for dinner and she ate the inside of a breaded shrimp, the inside of a pork potsticker, some fried rice and then Kimmy's chicken wing.  She ate it all...even started gnawing on the end of the bone.  I had to take it away or she would have eaten the whole thing!  We met another family that was from Macedonia that had 2 older girls adopted from China, 11 and 8 years old.  It is nice to be able to connect with other families that are similar to ours. 

We went to the Akron Zoo on Saturday, in between rain sessions with Grandma, Papa, Mommy, Emma, Kimmy & Kelley.  I think she like the river otter slide the best.  It was enclosed, but actually went thru the water in their enclosure.  There were times they could like sideways in the slide and see the otters swimming.  Or maybe it was the lion she liked best; since she can show you how loud he can roar.  The Zoo had a special to promote the grizzly bear and offered 1/2 off admissions.  Their Zoo is smaller than Cleveland, but a perfect size for kids to walk the entire way.  Of course, she did get a piggyback ride from me & Papa at the end of the trip.  That was our way of controlling her and getting out on time.

On Sunday, we had the Harp family from Elyria join us.  We missed our get together with Kimmy's group of Chinese sisters in August because of our move.  The Harps wanted to meet Kelley and check out the new house.  Kimmy knew Shu and Jie from the past four years and was off to play as soon as they got here.  Really, it might have been that she was happy to show off for her friends.  Kelley was running and screaming thru the house like she was best friends with them, too.  She doesn't speak much English, but she knows the universal language of children...play!  They settled down and watched a movie and had some soup and sandwiches, too.  Dan and I visited with Ken and Sharon and before long our time was up.  Kimmy invited the girls to come back next weekend.  Kelley would be happy if they came over every day!

I would also like to give a shout out to our AWESOME girl scout troop.  They have been very supportive of our adoption and have been following along on this blog.  Last week they gave a present to Kimmy & Kelley...matching shirts that are perfect!  Kimmy has been with these girls for a year and enjoys all of their activities.  In another year or two Kelley can join and hopefully her troop will be as great as #595. 

Tomorrow morning is her first doctor's appointment with the International Adoption Specialists at University Hospital.  They will examine her, draw blood to test titers and lead levels and recommend a treatment plan for her hand.  Last week I had to fill out a 300 questionnaire that measures her development.  Some of the questions, I couldn't answer because I just don't know.  Can she count to 10?  Probably in Chinese, but I had to answer no.  Over the next few months, I will answer the same questions again and again to see how quickly she progresses in the different areas. 

At the end of the week, she has a preschool evaluation with the county.  We are hoping to get her enrolled at the beginning of the year at Garfield Schools.  When we went to China, we weren't sure when she would be ready for school.  We were told that she was in Chinese kindergarten and enjoys learning.  I think (hope) she will be ready in January, but we are letting her set the pace.  One thing is for sure, she likes to play, help and learn.  If it turns out to be too much for her, we can wait till after spring break or try again in the summer.