A Series of Somewhat-Unfortunate Events

Hello. We’re all alive and well. Since last Friday little issues have cropped up that have kept me away from the computer each night and, therefore, unable to find the time to post. They include:

1. On Saturday, we traveled to the mountains (2 hours away) to attend my big brother’s Chinese New Year party. I had been so overtired with my lack of sleep, that I asked my brother if we could spend the night (I was afraid to tackle the 2 hour drive at night).

2. On Sunday, some friends brought dinner over so they could meet Libby Doodle Doo live and in person. Zo Peep became surly and petulant during their visit, (I think due to jealousy about the attention her little sister had been getting) so I needed to spend time talking to her after they left so that her behavior improved.

3. Monday night looked like my night to catch up on posting, but I was exhausted when I put Zo Peep to bed and just decided to go to sleep myself

4. And here we are on Tuesday. The kids are both asleep. All is quiet. So I actually have a few minutes to catch you up on some events.

Chinese New Year events are here. In addition to my brother’s party (he’s been having CNY parties for 14 years – long before I ever considered adopting from China), we have lots of events to attend. Tomorrow night we’ll decorate the house and make a Chinese feast for just our family. This weekend we'll attend a party at the home of Zo Peep’s mandarin teacher -- it's part celebration and part educational as she teaches all of us the significance of several CNY traditions. Also over the weekend we'll attend a CNY dinner organized by adoptive parents in my area. Next Tuesday we'll all go to a CNY celebration sponsored by an Asian Employee Support Network that I belong to at work. Finally on the 16th we'll attend the local FCC (Families with Children from China) celebration. Zo Peep will dance at the last two events – she’s been learning a new routine (with her class) since September. I’m anxious to see how it goes.

Sleeping situations are getting better. Every evening is a little bit better than the night before. Last night I thought Libby Doodle Doo was going to sleep through the entire night, but, unfortunately, Zo Peep wet the guest room bed at 1:15AM (first time in eons). We needed to turn on her (and Libby’s) bedroom lights to get some clean jammies and underwear. The entire ruckus woke up the baby. I put Zo Peep in my bed and stayed with Libby Doodle Doo in Zo Peep’s bed until she fell asleep at about 3 AM. Oh well, maybe tonight will be the night.

Libby Doodle Doo went for her first medical evaluation today. She’s in the 10th percentile for head circumference; between the 25th and 50% percentile for length and only the 5th percentile for weight. Clearly I needed to fatten this chick up. The development specialist and doctor were very impressed with Miss Libby Doodle Doo’s progress to date. Although she’s developmentally behind your average 11 month old, they thought that she's already demonstrated that she’s capable of catching up. Everyone was happy with our level of bonding and was impressed with the variety of foods that we’ve introduced into her diet already. The biggest compliment came when the entire staff who just ooohed and aaahhed about how adorable Libby Doodle Doo is – and these are people who see lots of kids all day long.

I now need to do lots of diagnostic tests on the Libster. I’ll be collecting stool samples for the next week so that she can be tested for intestinal parasites (Being a mom – what a glamorous profession). I also need to set up time for the BLOOD DRAW – the most frightening experience I’ve ever went through with Zo Peep (and one that I don’t look forward to experiencing again).

The lab needs to draw lots of blood to test for antibodies, but also to determine nutritional deficiencies, check for diseases (HIV, anemia etc) and determine lead exposure. When lots of blood is drawn from a baby, one has to be careful that the babies little veins don’t collapse. Among my last travel group almost every other family had to go back for the blood draw several times because of collapsing veins. My pediatrician sent me to an awesome phlebotomist named James (he looked like a Hell’s Angel, but was a gentle, giant of a man) who got Little Zo Peep’s entire blood drawn in one sitting. Today my pediatrician told me that James has been promoted and no longer does blood draws at the lab. She suggested I call him and ask if he’d be willing to come out of "retirement" and do Libby Doodle Doo’s for old time’s sake.

At the end of her visit today, Libby Doodle Doo had to get a tetanus prick and receive two other injections in her thigh. She did not even cry for the tetanus injection (I remember that Zo Peep screamed bloody murder). She did cry for the 2 thigh injections, but calmed down quickly after I picked her up and comforted her. She was all smiles by the time she was dressed.

Earlier during our visit, one of the experts had asked me about Libby Doodle Doo’s tolerance for pain. I said that I didn’t know yet. After witnessing her reaction to those needles at the end of my visit, I realized that my poor little girl has a very high tolerance for pain. I need to teach her that it’s ok to shed tears when she’s hurting. She now has a mommy who can console her, kiss her boo boos and make them better. She doesn’t have to be a brave, silent soldier anymore.

And what about Zo Peep’s hair? My stylist squeezed us in at the end of her Saturday appointments. I had decided that Zo Peep could select how short she would go. When Lisa the stylist surveyed the damage and asked Zo Peep what she wanted to do, my girl selected a blunt cut at the shoulder – a little longer in the front than back. I was surprised Zo Peep wanted to her hair as long as she did – happy, but surprised.

I honestly wasn’t sure how Lisa was going to pull it off – some sections of Zo Peep’s hair were at her earlobes. I was amazed that my hairstylist was able to blend in all the short ends from Thursday’s shearing. In fact, Lisa spent an hour working on Zo Peep’s hair. When she was done, Zo Peep’s hair looked so shiny and healthy and moved beautifully when she turned or walked – just like one of those Pantene commercials. I'll take a picture and post it tomorrow.

I have some other stories to share from the last few days, but my beauty sleep calls. I promise to post again tomorrow.