9/13/06 We've accepted referral!

We have been smiled upon by God and really blessed by this trip. There really was no doubt when we met this little girl, who I will call ¨peanut¨ that she was coming home with us. It was pretty much the defining moment when they told me she danced to music. They ran and got the tape player and indeed she dances to music, swaying back and forth as she holds onto the side of the playpen with one hand. I started crying.

An independent doctor evaluated her on Monday to inform us of her current status and she really looks great. Recent tests showed her not to be at risk for some serious conditions that were originally a concern and she is measuring bigger than was stated on the medicals we received initially, especially in terms of her head circumference. We joke that it has grown 2 cm larger since we arrived. She is now easily on the chart in terms of head circumference, an extremely good thing.

She is interacting with us very well. I don´t remember what I said in the previous post, but at first she seemed more interested in her toys than our faces. Within days, this was reversed. She responds as though she recognizes us when we come and is more dependent on us for physical comfort. She also has come down with a little cold, as have all the babies in her group, so we are really enjoy some cuddling time with her. Poor peanut was just getting the cold when the dr. examined her and it was frustrating to see her prompted to perform all her tricks, crawling, cruising, when she really just wanted to plant her head down in the big playpen and rest. She did an excellent job vocalizing for her. Apparently, the Russian babytalk is the key, an area where we are profoundly lacking! Oddly enough, she is not delayed at all, fine motor, gross motor, speech. She is now 15.2 lbs. I find it odd given the circumstances as the orphanage is not a good place for these children to thrive. They are so resilient. The ¨leap of faith¨aspect of this is so amazing. There are maybe ten babies in her group and if I was assigned another child, I am sure I would have found myself thinking about her. Hard to know.

I have to go now. post more later.