Friday, November 6, 2009
Oh Happy Day!!!!!!!
Today I got the news I have been waiting 17 months for. Today I passed court in Ethiopia. That means that in the eyes of the Ethiopian Government I am now legally Grace's mother. I expect to get travel dates early next week. I'm not sure how how much time I'll have to prepare but really, does it matter? My baby girl is coming home!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I will sleep soundly tonight for the first time in months!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Seven Months Today
Grace is exactly 7 months today. At the end of last week I got an update on her. Some of it was fantastic, some of it a little scary.
First the scary: She isn't gaining weight at the rate they would like. She'll drink about an ounce and a half from the bottle and then lose interest. So as a proactive measure they are supplementing her bottle feedings with a feeding tube. I'm obviously grateful she's getting such care and attention and that's she in a place that can provide her with the nutrition she needs. However, it's very unsettling to get a call telling you that you're baby's on a feeding tube even if you know it's being done for good reasons. It makes a difficult wait unbearable. That being said, there does not seem to be any underlying medical issues and while it was only a very small gain, she did have a gain in weight this month. I'm hoping that we'll see a big improvement with the feeding supplement. I was also told that she doesn't like the feeding tube and will pull it out. To me, that's the most positive sign that she's still feisty!
Now the fantastic: A WH social worker was visiting a few weeks ago and sent me an update on not just the eating issues but how she is doing in general. She said she interacts and engages well with the other babies when she's on the floor with them. She kicks her legs a lot and vocalizes loudly, she blows raspberries and is very smiley and sociable. It's just so amazing to get these little snippets of what she's like. All the pictures I have of her are so posed and I constantly worry if she's doing the things that babies her age should do and now I know that she is. Quite a relief!
Still no travel news. I'm just desperate to hear anything at this point. This part of the wait has been exhausting and I'm definitely cracking. So if you could send some good vibes, prayers,whatever you like, into the universe for us to hear something soon I'd be very appreciative.
First the scary: She isn't gaining weight at the rate they would like. She'll drink about an ounce and a half from the bottle and then lose interest. So as a proactive measure they are supplementing her bottle feedings with a feeding tube. I'm obviously grateful she's getting such care and attention and that's she in a place that can provide her with the nutrition she needs. However, it's very unsettling to get a call telling you that you're baby's on a feeding tube even if you know it's being done for good reasons. It makes a difficult wait unbearable. That being said, there does not seem to be any underlying medical issues and while it was only a very small gain, she did have a gain in weight this month. I'm hoping that we'll see a big improvement with the feeding supplement. I was also told that she doesn't like the feeding tube and will pull it out. To me, that's the most positive sign that she's still feisty!
Now the fantastic: A WH social worker was visiting a few weeks ago and sent me an update on not just the eating issues but how she is doing in general. She said she interacts and engages well with the other babies when she's on the floor with them. She kicks her legs a lot and vocalizes loudly, she blows raspberries and is very smiley and sociable. It's just so amazing to get these little snippets of what she's like. All the pictures I have of her are so posed and I constantly worry if she's doing the things that babies her age should do and now I know that she is. Quite a relief!
Still no travel news. I'm just desperate to hear anything at this point. This part of the wait has been exhausting and I'm definitely cracking. So if you could send some good vibes, prayers,whatever you like, into the universe for us to hear something soon I'd be very appreciative.
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