Madi is sleeping a little later each day and today she made it until
6:20 am. Yeah!! She was surprised to see that Santa dropped off a
couple of little gifts for her. She may be a bit overwhelmed to see
what he has brought to her in NY, but she definitely has her favorite
things and it will be fun to watch her play skills and likes develop.
The play dough has kept her occupied for quite some time. She has
little stamps for the play doh and she just sorted all of the numbers
and letters and she put the numbers in numerical order. A smart little
cookie!! She has benefited so much by being part of the LWB BIM school
and it is so very obvious by her behavior, her reactions to things, and
her skills. The children who do not have an opportunity to go to any
type of school program are typically much more delayed. That is a
generalization, however and many of the kids are not. However, living
in an orphanage is often times not very stimulating. Madi certainly has
a lot to learn and is not up to par in comparison to our American 6 year
olds, but she is learning like crazy already and I am sure she will
catch up in no time. I am amazed with how much English she is already
saying. She does clam up outside of the hotel room, but that is okay
and a very typical reaction.
Today we will have a nice breakfast (the food has been great) and then
we are going witht he Lamy family to do some shopping on Shamian Island.
I will order some of the things that I want made for Madison such as
Chops, a stone etching as well as the "painting in the bottle." There
are several other things that I want, but those are the things I need to
order so toady is the day to do it so I can pick them up later in the
week. I am not sure what the plan is for dinner, but there are a lot of
great options by the Garden Hotel. Last night we had Italian for dinner
and it was delicious. Madison loved her noodles and sauce. Nana will
be thrilled. I am not sure she will like our style sauce, but I am
happy to see that she is starting to turn some foods away that she does
not like. Things she has eaten early in the week she now refuses and
that is a good sign. She knows there is always enough and more food and
she doesn't have to eat simply because it is offered.
Tomorrow we go back to the clinic for the PPD results and then we are
going to the Pearl and Jade market. Like I did for Emily and Alyssa, I
will get Madison a pretty strand of pearls for when she is older and a
piece of jade, which is "good luck" in China.
At this moment in America my family and all of my cousins are gathered
at my cousin Mike and Karen's house for Christmas eve. It is a family
tradition and one I will miss being a part of. this year has been one
of fantastic celebrations (Jackie's wedding, a new baby girl in the
family to love, and Madi's adoption). There have also been some hard
times with some medical issues for some I love so dearly. I know that
both of the people I love will enter 2012 with some challenges, but I am
confident that it will be a wonderful year with nothing but positive
responses to the medical treatments that lie ahead. This year we
decided to do things a bit differently on Xmas Eve and instead of
getting all dressed up, which we usually do, everyone is wearing
Christmas pajamas. It should be fun for everyone and I hear that there
is a contest for the best holiday PJs. I am sure there will be a couple
of "interesting" pajamas and I can't wait to see pictures LOL. I am
sure that my cousin's Ed and Jeff will not disappoint us.
The girls are getting excited for Christmas but they are having a rough
time without Mama. One in particular is having a lot of trouble and I
knew this length of time being apart would be hard for her. We are
deciding whether or not to skype as much as we have been. I don't know
if it is making it worse of better for her. I know that my Mom is
taking such good care of them and she is loving and patient and
comforting to both of my chick-a-dees. I am glad that I signed them up
for Youth Camp at our youth center for next week. It is only 3 hours
per day, but it will break the days up for them.
Merry Christmas!!! I am sorry that I am missing all of the festivities,
but it is fun being her with Madi too. I think it is harder for my Mom
and my girls than it is for me at this point.
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