Travel Journal - Day 9

Day 9 and our family is adjusting much better! We are learning Elaine’s moods and gestures; which isn’t easy considering how stoic she is most of the time. She is smiling a little bit and playing more. She had her first big girl bath in the bath tub tonight. She doesn’t like having her hair washed so we skipped that tonight!

I took Lani and Kara to Lani’s medical exam. All adopted children must have an exit exam for their immigration. They tested her hearing and vision; which consisted of shaking a rattle by each ear and shining a light in her eyes. They asked if I knew she was blind in her right eye and I assured them I did know about it! J Cracks me up! They looked at her spine, measured her head, and checked her arms and legs. I didn’t even mention her arm; I would rather deal with that in the U.S. By the way, she has been using her arm and the swelling is gone so we don’t think it is broken. They weighed her and she is a whopping 20lbs. Her paperwork said she was 24lbs in August so we were expecting over 25lbs. I told you she was tiny! She is 80 cm long. I don’t have a conversion chart so I’m not sure what that converts to in inches.

While we were at the medical exam, Mike had Meri at a doctor’s appointment. We found an American dr. so Mike got a Taxi and took Meri to his office. She has had croup for a few nights and this morning she kept coughing and looked very tired. She felt a little warm so we decided something had to be done. She had 101 fever, ear infections and bronchitis. Poor little thing! That is how it always is with her. She will act a little sick, we take her in and she is actually very sick. I feel so bad for her but she is quiet a trooper. She has antibiotics and an inhaler. We are keeping the fever down and she took a good nap today. The visit and RX cost $200 US dollars. But, it was worth every penny. This Dr. was trained in the US and his office is in a hotel and he caters to visiting Americans/Canadians. Of course, any one can see him but he stays busy with us foreigners!

Meanwhile, Kara was with me and she was like a little mother! She carried the backpack and camera. She held Lani when I had to fill out paper work. She helped console her after the check up. I got back to the hotel room and Kara was talking about all she did at the appt. and Meri was telling me about her appt. and I just started crying. They seemed to have grown up over night. I hugged them and told them how proud I am of them and they are doing great at being sisters again and they are exceptional world travelers! It is amazing how the kids grow up when a new sibling is added to the family. Meri even feels bigger when she sits in my lap. I know I am just tired but I could hardly stop crying at the realization of how our family has changed… and changed for the better! Right now, dinner was just delivered, and Kara and Meri helped put it on the table and they have organized it and are already eating. Oh, I need to enjoy everyday because my babies are growing up!

I better go join the family for dinner. We ordered from that US style Deli again. We love their Chicken Noodle soup! And, the girls get to drink Orange Soda for dinner! They love that!

We are ready to see all our friends and family! Missing you! The Goff Gang