Olivia has had such a great time with family the last few weeks. First, my dad came up for Thanksgiving, then my mom came up for a week to keep Olivia while Danny worked his last week at work for while, then Danny's parents came up and spent a week!! We have had such a great time!! Then, really last minute, we came home to Alabama the weekend before Christmas. My mom had been planning a family get-together ALL year with her sister's family (my Aunt Betty Lane) and we just couldn't miss it! However, the flights were SO expensive that we just didn't see how we could go. Danny ended up going on priceline.com and did the negotiator tool and got flights almost 50% less than any airline had - including pricelines prices (you get to pick the day - just not the time)!!! So, we had a great, but quick, trip to Alabama and got a chance to see our family. We didn't get to see any of our dear friends (so sorry to ALL our friends :( ) because our trip was so quick. We love you all and can't wait to come back and hopefully spend more time so we can see everyone! Olivia did exceptionally well on all our flights - she is quite the world traveler. ;)
An update on how everything else is going since bringing Olivia home...
Olivia has bonded to us SO well! We feel so honored and blessed that she loves us so much. We fell in love with her from minute 1, but we knew it would take her more time. We hear that adoptive families do often struggle with attachment and bonding issues, but I must say that is one area that we have not struggled - even from the beginning. Olivia almost instantly bonded with Danny and I. This is not to say that she didn't grieve - but she took to us from the beginning. We are so thankful for that.
Sleep - well, sleep is over-rated anyway, right?!?!?! Sleep is one area that we CONTINUE to struggle with and have not had relief for the almost 9 months that she's been home. I believe God allowed her to bond to us so quickly b/c I'm not sure people could deal with no sleep AND bonding issues. We have tried EVERYTHING to get our sweet baby to sleep, but with limited or no success. Our doctors up here don't have her background and they kind of blew us off and just told us what they tell everyone - that hasn't worked either. I am convinced that it is still something medically related. Since she can't talk yet - she isn't able to tell us. Oh how I can't wait to her that sweet little girl's words!!! Please pray for this area of our lives - it is hard on all 3 of us. It doesn't seem to phase Olivia during the day though - she is just as active whether she's been up 2 times or 10. Danny and I both feel like our bodies have been hit by trucks every morning when we wake up - we know it's just a lack of sleep and "this too shall pass".
Development - Olivia has been amazing to watch develop. 9 months ago we received a beautiful, but frail, little 12lb 15 month old little girl who had no teeth and still had a soft spot on her head. Her little legs were like limp spaghetti noodles and I could literally wrap her upper most thigh with my thumb to middle finger! She had limited control of her head and zero ability to even sit up!! We had to stack pillows behind her to hold her up while we were in China and then used a boppy once we got home. Now - we have a true toddler running around with a laugh that could fill a room!! She has made unbelievable progress in so little time. Her legs are strong and so is she. She is just over 21lbs and has 12 teeth. We are so proud of her!!! We beam like headlights when people get to see her - we are THOSE proud parents!! One area that has yet to fully develop is speech. It isn't that she doesn't talk - she does!! Its just that - its not English - at least not any we speak down south :). She jibber jabbers - just doesn't speak actual words. We are now in the process of getting a speech therapist so they can help us work with her to help develop in that area.
Medical - her GI issues have greatly improved since her mal-rotation surgery just before we moved to PA. She still struggles some, but not near as much as before! We have noticed more of a blueish tint in her hands and feet a couple of times. The first time it happened, it freaked me out and I called the cardiology doctor on call at CHOP. Once they found out she was a single ventricle patient awaiting a Fontan procedure - they didn't seem overly concerned. They said that sort of thing will most likely become more common leading up to her surgery. She acted fine - was just a little blue for a few minutes. I am thankful her surgery is still so far away, but will be happy once we get past that part. I am so thankful there is a procedure that can be done, but obviously no parent wants to have their child go through what she will have to endure. She is one strong little girl y'all!!! She amazes us daily!
We can truly no longer imagine our lives without our precious little Bing Bing. Oh yea - she fully responds to BOTH of her names :). We still call her Bing Bing the majority of the time, but now she will turn if you say "Olivia".
I have a special post tomorrow - an AWESOME article that was done on the Bing!! And then we will finally post some Christmas morning pictures!! Sorry we are so far behind! :)
