i am seeing so many changes already. they sneak up on you. she is settling in. getting more comfortable. getting goofier. losing the animal whine sound she used to do often whenever she wasn't getting her way. kissing on the lips instead of only the cheeks. smiling more. going to bed without drama. still cleaning up :). meltdowns to a minimum.before she falls asleep, i tell her i will never leave her. her and i are forever. mommy. phoebe. and then she just starts talking. and talking. i have no idea what she is saying. i think i wish i knew. i wonder how much she remembers of her first three years, before her one year stint at the orphanage? tomorrow night, she will meet another foreign exchange student friend. this one is from HCMC. it will be her first time to converse with someone in vietnamese since she left. i am excited, and a little nervous, to find out what she tells kim. do any of you have any thoughts as to whether we should eventually have kim ask her about her life before? part of me wants to record it for her if she remembers any of it. or will it be too painful and confusing? will we ever know why she was left at the orphanage gate at night when she was three years old? God will have to help me here. i will need His grace. His words. when the time is right, probably many years from now. the first two nights here, she slept fine in her little bed. and then the third night, i found her on the couch the next morning. and the next. and then it was major drama to be put into her bed. so now she sleeps on the couch. fernando ortego plays quietly all night long (just like he does almost all day :) box fan on. and she sleeps like a baby now. i think being left in the dark is very hard for her. and i understand why.
her dental surgery is scheduled for weds. feb. 18th. couldn't get the insurance and hospital availability coordinated before then. God's timing.
thanks to anyone who reads this. again, i am amazed, and humbled, when someone posts a note or sends an email or sees me and tells them they have been following along. some people i've never met. never will. but our paths crossed here and their words give life. it is just neat that people care enough to keep tabs. wow. blogs can be a good thing. xoxoxoxo.
I'm amazed at how well Phoebe is getting settled in. What an answer to prayer and a blessing to all of us. I enjoy reading the updates...what an inspiration. -Karen
ReplyDeleteWow, it sound like there have been alot of positive changes over the last month. Now if we could only remember than when they nearly give us hearing loss in a screaming tirade! I too struggle with thoughts of the future explaining our little one's traumatic past. God will give us the grace and words to speak when the time comes ;) Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteit is so awesome to see Phoebe adjusting so well. She is tall! what is the age difference between Sarah and Phoebe? Phoebe just seems talk in those pictures. Love the dress up.
ReplyDeletekeep the blog coming LOVE IT!!!!!!
love you, Sue
I love checking in, you two sound like you're making wonderful strides. I am so happy for all of you. I must say, blogs are wonderful esp. when I get the opportunity to read one like yours. I love your perspective, your insights, I hope you keep blogging.
ReplyDeleteShe looks so loved. By you and our Father. Yay God!
ReplyDeleteShe does look happier and happier. You have been truly blessed.
ReplyDeleteNancy
Jan
ReplyDeleteI love reading your updates on this blog. I am so happy things are going better each day. I have prayed for you all and continue to do so. I will pray for next Wed. that all goes well and mostly for Phoebe that she won't be scared or in too much pain. She is such a doll and it is so sweet to watch Sarah with her!
Love Ya
Kathy
I am excited to hear her bonding and enjoying life.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to comment on your upcoming visit with kim. I would not ask about her past. I would let the conversation flow naturally and see what come out. Pray to be guide on what to ask to help you and her connect and bond. The past is the past, but now find out what her likes and dislikes are, does she like the food, what things she would be interested in doing.
we will keep her and your family in our prayers.
christie
Hi Jan;
ReplyDeleteJust a quick note for you as we are currently in Hanoi, having just met and picked up our son (he's napping right now). I think you should go with your gut on the question of having someone ask her about her past. Perhaps if you find someone with whom she can be comfortable, it would be a good thing to ask her what, if anything, she remembers. We plan to do that with Hung. We have a friend (the one teaching me Vietnamese) that we hope Hung will get comfortable enough with to talk to. I think the information we can gleen from such a conversation and the future benefit that information will give us is worth the possible pain in the telling. Just my thoughts. God bless and congratulations on the progress so far!
Hey Jan! Thanks for updating about Phoebe. She's so cute. Today in Sunday school she was just watching all the kids sing and then she would smile. Then when they did the hand motions for Jesus Loves Me, Phoebe crossed her arms over her chest just like the rest of the kids!:)))))
ReplyDeleteAs far as her past, you probably already know it wasn't the best or else she would not have been dropped off. So I guess you probably want to figure out if YOU want to know all of her background (if she remembers). Hard question to answer but God will give you guidance. Praying her surgery goes well.
Thanks for the updates.
Jan,
ReplyDeletethanks so much for allowing me to bond with Phoebe at the Cub Scout ceremony. I was so thrilled that she stayed with me and wasn't too freaked out. She is such a blessing. We all still really enjoy this blog.
If her surgery is tomorrow please let me know if we can help.
Love and Prayers, Amy