Post Placement

Our wonderful social worker visited today so she could write up Isabella's six month report. I think she agrees that all is going very well and we are very blessed!

Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful Christmas!

Six Months!

It so seems as if Isabella has been a part of our family forever. Thinking back before we brought Elizabeth home I remember wondering if it was possible to love a child who was not born to you as much as one that was. It seems so ridiculous now that I even questioned it. The answer is a resounding YES!

Miracles Happen

I've been debating for a while whether or not to write this post. In the end I feel it is just too important not to. For those who have followed the blog for a while it is no secret that we have adopted our girls using the "Children of Promise" program through our agency. This does mean that our daughters both have what are considered medical conditions in China. Many of the needs the children have are considered minor and / or correctable in the U.S. We accepted Isabella's referral knowing that she was positive for hepatitis B. Unfortunately there can be a stigma attached to her condition which can lead to some being wary of any contact with her. We also just wanted her to be thought of as Isabella - not the girl with hepatitis B. Therefore few know of her diagnosis. Yes, it is contagious, but there is a vaccine that has been given to children since the early 90's so most are protected. Plus common sense should tell you to always be cautious around any blood spills. I was pretty hesitant at first until I did research and educated myself. Isabella was brought into our family to love and we felt that even though there is a small chance of liver problems in the future we would have her regularly monitored and would be able to deal with anything that might arise. Most of the statistics that are available do not include the scenario of a child who has hepatitis B because her birth mother passed in to her unknowingly. With monitoring and possible treatment in the future the vast majority will live long, healthy lives. This leads me to the miracle part of this post. When we brought our Isabella home we waited about a month before taking her in for blood work. We needed to find out how her liver was doing and see if her body was recognizing the virus or not. The majority of children have no damage to their livers until later in life because their immature immune systems do not recognize that there is a virus in their little bodies so they live in harmony with it. When they do start to fight the virus it is usually early teens to twenties and medication is given to them to help them overcome it and hopefully protect the liver from damage. I received a phone call from the doctor's office on our 25th anniversary that they had some unexpected results. My heart immediately felt this was going to be positive. The nurse told me that she was testing positive for antibodies to the virus but wanted her tested again in three months. After receiving all the results I slowly realized that this not only meant that she had antibodies - she is actually testing negative for the virus. If the results were the same in three months this would mean what is considered "the holy grail" and means that she is considered "cured" of the virus. This is a very rare occurrence. Well we had her tested again the day after Thanksgiving and on our way to Walt Disney World for vacation we received the news that her little body has indeed miraculously cleared the virus! We are thanking God this holiday season! Merry Christmas!

Walt Disney World!

Ellie ready to go!

Lizzie, too!

First princess meeting at Akershus.

Mulan!

The bear is scary!

Beautiful castle.

Cute little girl.

It's Piglet time at The Crystal Palace.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Still Just Ellie

Just Ellie

We've all had colds around here the last couple of weeks so I haven't felt like updating the blog. Here are a couple of pictures of Miss Isabella so that I don't appear too lazy!

Trick or Treat!

Elizabeth loving it and Isabella not so sure!

At Grandma's

Elizabeth having a blast!

Boo!

One of their last stops before their noses froze off!

Giggling Girls!

Sister, Sister

Well we found another similarity with the girls. Although one insists on sleeping in her slippers (and wearing them all day long - even when she wears footy pajamas) and the other strips her socks off as soon as she is tucked in.

The Little Girls

Halloween Party

Four Months!

Blueberries for Sal

Last week we began rowing Blueberries for Sal. There is so much we can do with this book and last week was quite busy so we are continuing with it this week. I would really like to row this one again when it is blueberry picking season. I haven't been in years and I think the girls would both enjoy it. It would also be nice to find some tin pails so we can experience first hand kerplink, kerplank, kerplunk!

Wearing Nico's Hat

Ella's Sleeping Position

Elizabeth's New Dress

No Pictures, Please!

Two Year Check

Isabella saw Dr. Gold yesterday. She is now 23 pounds and 33.5 inches. That puts her at about 10th percentile for weight and 50th for height. Very close to Elizabeth at age two so it looks as if she'll be tall for a Chinese girl too! Sadly she had one immunization and spent the evening very fussy and had me up about three times overnight because of discomfort and a fever. I was hoping the only reason she had issues in China was due to receiving five vaccines, but apparently it only takes one. Last one for a while will be next year thank goodness! This morning the fever is down and she's acting like herself again!

Da Girls!

Chinatown!