Friday

Today was a great day. We really didn't do much and just had time to spend with our little girl. She is doing well and seems very happy. Even Dr. Moody said it just seems like she understands what is happening. When we woke up in the morning, she needed a shower because her colostomy site was so dirty, I didn't want to just clean it with a wipe. I can't wait to have this taken care of at home! We gave her fruit snacks in the shower and cleaned her quickly. She was not happy, but didn't throw a huge fit. For breakfast she ate a nutri grain bar, bowl of cheerios and her formula. She was so funny. When her bowl was empty, she handed it to me, said something in Chinese... then pointed to the door. I am pretty sure she wanted more. She is eating so much. Her ayis would die if they saw what I was feeding her.

 

We spent the afternoon walking around the village, blowing bubbles and coloring. We probably walked 500 laps around this place! It is interesting to see Hannah's behavior. Our first night here, she was so excited to show us her house and her room. She was happy with the ayis. But this morning, when we were blowing bubbles on the lawn, her ayis walked by to pick up lunch in the kitchen. She wanted nothing to do with them. We wanted a picture with these ladies (since they are the ones who helped save her life!) and she started crying .She didn't want to be with them. It is like she knew that she had already said good-bye and was finished. On our walks today, every time we got close to her house, she would point the other direction. She wanted to make sure that we were not going there. I had to meet with her doctors today, and their office is in her house. She threw a fit and would not go inside. Rick had to take her back to the inn so I could meet with them. She knows that she has a family now, and she isn't taking a chance of going back.

 

 

Hannah had a big bowl of rice and veggies for lunch, crackers for snack and pizza for dinner :) She loves to eat... so much that she is avoiding her special formula. When I asked her doctors about the formula and the purpose of it, they said "well, she is just so skinny and weak. We want her to grow strong!" HA! for as much as she has been through, "skinny" is not a word I would use! Dr. Moody explained that Hannah has been through so much, and is doing so well now. The ayis are afraid to do anything different with her, with fear they might mess something up. So, since she has been on a special liquid diet for so long, they think they must continue or something will go wrong again. He told me to feel free to do whatever I want. Dr. Jane really wants me to keep her on the formula until I get home. We will offer it to her morning and night. But, after 2 pieces of pizza for dinner, she stuck her nose up at the formula!

 

I feel really good about Hannah's medical needs. I know exactly what I need to do when I get home. I video taped Dr. Moody and Dr. Jane talking about her this morning. Dr. Moody said that she is the most complicated case they have ever seen. There were so many times that the hospital staff looked at them and wondered why they were even trying to help her. Or, so many times (he said 2 or 3) that they thought she would not pull through. But, she always did. He said that there must be big plans for her to have gone through so much and always survive. He gave all the credit to the ayis, who would stay in a small hospital room with her for 2-3 months at a time and sleep next to her on the floor. They complained when hospitals were not good, and advocated for her to be moved. They made sure she was cared for. He said that the coolest part of Hannah's story, is the beautiful witness she is to adoption. The ayis' eyes were opened when they saw that someone actually wanted to adopt Hannah. They thought is was amazing that someone would take her. We are thrilled to be that family. We love her so much already. We are anxious to get her home and give her the quality of life she needs and deserves!

 

 

Our biggest issue right now is sleeping. She doesn't want to go to bed. We had a Grady, an older orphan here at the village, tell her it was bed time and she must go to sleep. She shook her head NO and started to cry. She also hates being changed. I saw the ayis change her and she never cried. That makes me wonder if I am being too rough when I clean her or if the wipes I have are irritating her. We have to change every 2 hours, and she screams every time. We are a tiny bit worried about that plane ride home! Please pray for night time to go a little easier and for changing time to be a little less traumatic for her. 

 

This is Kayla and her mom. Kayla is the therapist here and her mom is here to visit. Hannah adores Kayla. Whenever she sees her, she runs to hug her or sit in her lap. Kayla spends a lot of time in Hannah's house with a little baby named Leah. Hannah loved to show Kayla where Leah was sleeping and to bring her stuffed animals. It is obvious that Kayla loved our girl and made her feel loved. It is a sweet relationship.

She learned how to blow bubbles quickly. She loves it!

She thought she was hot stuff eating at the big table and eating food that everyone else was eating. Big smiles the whole time!!

Dr. Ana is another person my girl obvisouly loves. Every time she saw her, she would run to her for a hug. So sweet. It is like she knows she needs to say good-bye to these people. Dr. Ana just had a birthday, and she said Hannah's adoption was by far the best gift she received.

We walked all day Friday! Here is Hannah with her house in the background. We really couldn't get much closer than that!

 

 

Dr. Jane is another person Hannah ran to for a hug when she saw her. Dr. Jane is the Chinese doctor here and really knows our girl well. Dr. Jane asked Hannah the other day if her mama was coming, and Hannah said, "YES, mama is!" I don't have a picture of Dr. Jane with her, but need to get one today!