20.6 Pounds...Dripping Wet!

Three days short of a month since our last post! It's been quite a ride. Lia has made huge progress, yet there is such a long way to go. Are we overwhelmed? Absolutely. Even as I sit here I have to get up and have a conflict management sessions with the two girls. (Those of you who have more than one child are thinking, "Welcome to my world.")

On the other hand, we have been told that adopting is addictive. Even in the two months we have had Lia we realize this is true. When we watch a child make the gains that Lia has in eight weeks, we can't help but wish we could do the same for all the children we met at the orphanage. She has gained almost five pounds. may not sound like much, but it's a quarter of her total body weight! She has learned so many new words, which have significantly decreased her frustration level...

Instead of throwing something to the floor she says, "help."

Instead of putting her plate full of food on top of her head (Which is what we were told she did in the orphanage) she says, "finished."

Instead of slapping us in the face she says, "no."

She is even spontaneously saying "thank you" when we hand her something she has been asking for.

However, I have to admit, we were not the ones to teach her to say "Amen" at the end of prayers. In fact, to our shame it is sometimes Cecilia who reminds us that we haven't prayed before a meal by folding her hands and blurting out, "Amen."

Today when I went to pick her up at the nursery I was told she is a delight to have in class.

Please continue to pray for us. As I mentioned before, we couldn't ask for better health care. I notice a sparkle in the surgeons eye when she considers the best plan of action for Cecilia's treatment. This is not just a job for her...it's a passion.

Pray that we will be wise as we make major medical decisions. Lia struggles daily with eating and as her parents it's really hard to watch.

Thank you.