03/26/2007

Olivia was waiting by the window again, but papa brought the camera to video her so that you can see how excited she gets. So hopefully we can email that when we are home (we have dial-up here, so it would talk all day to email something like that) She seemed very happy, and remembered some English, she says "Hello" and "Goodbye" really well. We bring new toys each day, and we share toys with the Mikos, since our children seem to like each others toys. Today she asked for yogurt by name, so she must really like it. She only drank one juice, which was cherry/banana. We have to somewhat feed her on the sly, since they aren’t big on you feeding the children. I gave her a bite of chocolate, as I wasn’t sure if she had ever tried it.

We ran into her teacher/nurse, and she told her that we were her mama and papa. The teacher/nurse apparently told her not to be a naughty girl in America when she gets home. (per our translator) Each time we leave it seems to get harder for Olivia, she was upset and kept saying no to the translator about going back to her class. The translator told her not to be a naughty girl and she jumped up and asked again if we would come tomorrow. She wanted to bring a stacking cup set that the Mikos brought, but we told that that was their toy, so we talked her into taking a car puzzle back to her class. I think that she likes taking something back with her as a reassurance that we are coming back.

Also apparently it is whispered in some circles that American’s are adopting their (Kazakhstan) children to use their organs?? We tried to explain to our coordinator that was so ridiculous that in America you can’t even sell your own organs. He said that he knew that, but that it was a belief in this country. I do worry a little how Olivia will feel when we can’t visit next Sunday, as they typically don’t allow visits on Sundays.

Olivia is currently in about a 4T top, as her arms are a little shorter then normal, due to her condition. I bought some size 5 leggings which seem to fit her well. She has special shoes that we have asked about borrowing, so we hope to get to take them to the bazaar tomorrow to have several pairs made, since I am not sure that we can even find a place in American that will custom make her shoes, and certainly not for the same price.

We are not sure how soon they will want to start her operations, and whether they will start on her hands or feet, or do both at the same time? She does have two elbows and two knees (we weren’t sure from original photos), but she seems to favor one knee and one elbow, so we are not sure if therapy will give her better use of the less used joints. She loves the piano so that will be great therapy for her after her surgeries, if we can keep her interested. She gets around amazingly well, and can feed herself simple foods like cookies. But she uses her leg to push her arm to her mouth.

She does seem to have several cavities, and her teeth are quite yellow. She also has her two bottom permanent teeth are growing behind her bottom two baby teeth, so I am guessing they will need to pull her baby teeth. Ironically both Julia and Jordan had the same issue with their baby teeth not wanting to fall out. So I think once we are back we will have to have some dental work done. I am hoping they will just put her under since she needs so much work done, and I don’t want her traumatized, to the point that going to the dentist becomes something she fears.

The children at the orphanage are very well-behaved. The other American parents that we have talked to here have joked that we need to learn more about their boot camp. They have over 100 children under 3 at the orphanage and you seldom here one cry. They are all pretty much potty-trained, and eat anything you give them.