Update on Life
So sorry it has taken so long to update. We have been grieving and very busy.
Izzy:
First of all, after almost two weeks of fighting for her life, Izzy was put to sleep today. It has been an emotional roller coaster for us and I am just heart broken. But she is no longer sick and in my mind is in heaven doing her "Bichon Buzz" and torturing Lacey (my brother's family dog) that died a few months ago. They were good friends. Thank you all for your comments of support and care over the past two weeks - we are doing okay. Just the other day, Maggie came into the house and said "I-girl". I told her that "I-girl" was sick and not here. Then she proceeded to run laps around the sofa. That is what we called the Bichon Buzz and Izzy did it several times a day. It was one of the main things we loved her for. Now my child does that! Go figure!!!!
Isabella Thompson (Izzy, Izzy-girl, I-girl) Aug. 21, 2003 - March 29, 2010
Well, now for the update on little Miss Priss, aka Maggie! She is such a delight and I just love that she is happy almost 24/7. It is so much fun to see life through her eyes on a daily basis.
Eyes:
Speaking of eyes. When we returned to the States in December, Maggie had several appointments with the International Adoption Clinic. One of their recommendations was that she see a hearing specialist and an eye specialist. The hearing test showed a little fluid in her ears, which later turned into an ear infection, but her hearing was good. Actually that was a fun test.
We then went to see an eye specialist. Within 5 minutes of sitting down with her and using some stickers to help her focus, Dr. Metz noticed that she wasn't using her right eye. He then dilated her eyes which I am sure everyone in the state of Alabama heard! Wow, my girl has some lungs!
The final outcome is that Maggie's right eye has +4.00 sight - I believe that is extreme nearsightedness. Her left eye is fine but if we didn't catch this early, she would develop a lazy eye and might lose sight out of that eye. So she is in glasses. They are so cute and small and she does NOT take them off ever. Bless her heart, I guess she can finally see. The doctor wanted us to patch her good eye to make her weak eye stronger. Ever tried to do that with a 2 year old? I have patched my eye, the bear is patched but no go for Maggie. I called the doctor today to see if he had any ideas. I have tried fun patches and have tried a patch that goes over her glasses. That patch is the smallest they make but it is still way too big for her glasses. Hopefully, just using her glasses will be enough. We'll see - waiting on the doctor to return my call.
Pre-glasses
Trying on her glasses.
I can See!!!!!
Mommy (excuse my looks) has glasses too!
Development/Attachment:
As most of you know we have had beautiful springs days along with major winter days lately. When it is nice, we have been escaping to the outside for some well needed Vitamin D. Maggie is learning to play with so many toys and is just turning into the active little 2 year old she should be. I am so happy with her attachment and progress. You all would be so amazed at how much she has developed since I got her December 7, 2009.
I have been a little concerned with Maggie's speech development. She and I are learning sign language and that has been incredible. My mom got us The Signing Times DVD set and it is awesome. Maggie learned 7 signs in one night. She has been able to use a couple of them in the way they are to be used. For example, when she is hungry, this past week she has signed "eat" to me and says it too. She is also saying "all done" and kinda uses her hands like when someone is safe at home in baseball. But then she continues to eat so no telling. LOL She also is putting Eat and More together both with signing and speaking.
I decided to have her tested by the State to see if she would qualify for Early Intervention. She did and they found her to be about 25% delayed in Motor and Speech. They will be coming to her daycare at least once a month for therapy. This was one test I was glad that she didn't excel. I wanted her to have as much help as possible to make sure she catches up quickly.
I have noticed that Maggie is really smart. I have had many people tell me that "Asian" people are smart and I should get her to be a doctor. That may well be true, but I don't want to put that kind of pressure on her and I hope people don't say that to her when she is older. As long as she does her best and tries, that is all I ask for. She can be who she wants to be and I don't care - as long as a college education is completed!
Speaking of crazy things people say: I was at the grocery store this weekend and a Vietnam vet was bringing out my groceries for me. He was excited to see Maggie and know that I adopted her. I was enjoying chatting with him until he said "China only wants money from the Americans. I'm sure when you "BOUGHT" her, you could have gotten her cheaper than you did." I said "WHAT???" He quickly said, "I mean, when you adopted her." Talk about Momma Bear coming out. I just looked at him and was just dumbfounded that he would say something like that. I thought I would not say something nice in return, so I got in my car and just sat shocked. You know, I knew things like this would happen but when it does, you are just in shock. God bless his little heart.
Posing by my car.
Pushing it back - can't quite do that 3 point turn yet.
Look mom - no hands!!!! YIKES!
Hey Mom!
Getting in and out of the car by herself.
Look Mom got me chalk today! How much fun is this!
Time for a sippy cup break. Excuse the mess - I was cleaning out my garage!
Oh my goodness, this is so much fun!
Check out my shakers Gran gave me. Yeah!!!!
Practicing for Auburn Football games. War Eagle!
Learning to pick up money. Putting it in her Auburn bank Pete gave her. Learning to save early!!!
First Birthday Party:
This past Sunday, Maggie attended her first birthday party. Two of her classmates from daycare turned two and they had a big blowout with a Easter Egg hunt and the Easter Bunny. There were lots of people there and Maggie had a blast. She was a little timid at first then we began playing on the great swing set that Walker has in his yard. She loved the swing and loved the slide. She didn't really care for the Easter Bunny though and being the mean mom that I am I thru her into the Easter Bunny's arms for a picture. Oh boy, can't wait until Christmas!!!! LOL I believe she was not emotionally scarred but who knows! I am so mean...
I'm sorry the update is so long. I promise to be better about updating as life happens. Enjoy the pictures. Love,
Tricia and Maggie and in memory of Izzy!
Mom and me going to my first birthday party! Happy Birthday Ford and Walker!!
Don't you just love her watermelon outfit? I got this year one of five while waiting on her. It is really too small but I wanted her to wear it at least once.
Look my first swing with mommy!
This is cool!
I loved the slide!
Weeeeeee
Easter Egg Hunting. Maggie mainly just took her eggs out of the basket as I put them in. We have another week to work on that!
Cute baskets that the Easter Bunny handed out.
Maggie's friend in crime at school - Finn
ME NO LIKE THIS GUY! LOL (I'm so mean)
Ok they slide again - whew, better!
Finn going for it with Maggie ready behind him.
Bye Bye - we had a good time and mommy didn't even get a picture of the birthday boys! There were so many people there!
Izzy:
First of all, after almost two weeks of fighting for her life, Izzy was put to sleep today. It has been an emotional roller coaster for us and I am just heart broken. But she is no longer sick and in my mind is in heaven doing her "Bichon Buzz" and torturing Lacey (my brother's family dog) that died a few months ago. They were good friends. Thank you all for your comments of support and care over the past two weeks - we are doing okay. Just the other day, Maggie came into the house and said "I-girl". I told her that "I-girl" was sick and not here. Then she proceeded to run laps around the sofa. That is what we called the Bichon Buzz and Izzy did it several times a day. It was one of the main things we loved her for. Now my child does that! Go figure!!!!
Isabella Thompson (Izzy, Izzy-girl, I-girl) Aug. 21, 2003 - March 29, 2010Well, now for the update on little Miss Priss, aka Maggie! She is such a delight and I just love that she is happy almost 24/7. It is so much fun to see life through her eyes on a daily basis.
Eyes:
Speaking of eyes. When we returned to the States in December, Maggie had several appointments with the International Adoption Clinic. One of their recommendations was that she see a hearing specialist and an eye specialist. The hearing test showed a little fluid in her ears, which later turned into an ear infection, but her hearing was good. Actually that was a fun test.
We then went to see an eye specialist. Within 5 minutes of sitting down with her and using some stickers to help her focus, Dr. Metz noticed that she wasn't using her right eye. He then dilated her eyes which I am sure everyone in the state of Alabama heard! Wow, my girl has some lungs!
The final outcome is that Maggie's right eye has +4.00 sight - I believe that is extreme nearsightedness. Her left eye is fine but if we didn't catch this early, she would develop a lazy eye and might lose sight out of that eye. So she is in glasses. They are so cute and small and she does NOT take them off ever. Bless her heart, I guess she can finally see. The doctor wanted us to patch her good eye to make her weak eye stronger. Ever tried to do that with a 2 year old? I have patched my eye, the bear is patched but no go for Maggie. I called the doctor today to see if he had any ideas. I have tried fun patches and have tried a patch that goes over her glasses. That patch is the smallest they make but it is still way too big for her glasses. Hopefully, just using her glasses will be enough. We'll see - waiting on the doctor to return my call.
Pre-glasses Trying on her glasses. I can See!!!!! Mommy (excuse my looks) has glasses too!Development/Attachment:
As most of you know we have had beautiful springs days along with major winter days lately. When it is nice, we have been escaping to the outside for some well needed Vitamin D. Maggie is learning to play with so many toys and is just turning into the active little 2 year old she should be. I am so happy with her attachment and progress. You all would be so amazed at how much she has developed since I got her December 7, 2009.
I have been a little concerned with Maggie's speech development. She and I are learning sign language and that has been incredible. My mom got us The Signing Times DVD set and it is awesome. Maggie learned 7 signs in one night. She has been able to use a couple of them in the way they are to be used. For example, when she is hungry, this past week she has signed "eat" to me and says it too. She is also saying "all done" and kinda uses her hands like when someone is safe at home in baseball. But then she continues to eat so no telling. LOL She also is putting Eat and More together both with signing and speaking.
I decided to have her tested by the State to see if she would qualify for Early Intervention. She did and they found her to be about 25% delayed in Motor and Speech. They will be coming to her daycare at least once a month for therapy. This was one test I was glad that she didn't excel. I wanted her to have as much help as possible to make sure she catches up quickly.
I have noticed that Maggie is really smart. I have had many people tell me that "Asian" people are smart and I should get her to be a doctor. That may well be true, but I don't want to put that kind of pressure on her and I hope people don't say that to her when she is older. As long as she does her best and tries, that is all I ask for. She can be who she wants to be and I don't care - as long as a college education is completed!
Speaking of crazy things people say: I was at the grocery store this weekend and a Vietnam vet was bringing out my groceries for me. He was excited to see Maggie and know that I adopted her. I was enjoying chatting with him until he said "China only wants money from the Americans. I'm sure when you "BOUGHT" her, you could have gotten her cheaper than you did." I said "WHAT???" He quickly said, "I mean, when you adopted her." Talk about Momma Bear coming out. I just looked at him and was just dumbfounded that he would say something like that. I thought I would not say something nice in return, so I got in my car and just sat shocked. You know, I knew things like this would happen but when it does, you are just in shock. God bless his little heart.
Posing by my car. Pushing it back - can't quite do that 3 point turn yet. Look mom - no hands!!!! YIKES! Hey Mom! Getting in and out of the car by herself. Look Mom got me chalk today! How much fun is this! Time for a sippy cup break. Excuse the mess - I was cleaning out my garage! Oh my goodness, this is so much fun! Check out my shakers Gran gave me. Yeah!!!! Practicing for Auburn Football games. War Eagle! Learning to pick up money. Putting it in her Auburn bank Pete gave her. Learning to save early!!!First Birthday Party:
This past Sunday, Maggie attended her first birthday party. Two of her classmates from daycare turned two and they had a big blowout with a Easter Egg hunt and the Easter Bunny. There were lots of people there and Maggie had a blast. She was a little timid at first then we began playing on the great swing set that Walker has in his yard. She loved the swing and loved the slide. She didn't really care for the Easter Bunny though and being the mean mom that I am I thru her into the Easter Bunny's arms for a picture. Oh boy, can't wait until Christmas!!!! LOL I believe she was not emotionally scarred but who knows! I am so mean...
I'm sorry the update is so long. I promise to be better about updating as life happens. Enjoy the pictures. Love,
Tricia and Maggie and in memory of Izzy!
Mom and me going to my first birthday party! Happy Birthday Ford and Walker!! Don't you just love her watermelon outfit? I got this year one of five while waiting on her. It is really too small but I wanted her to wear it at least once. Look my first swing with mommy! This is cool! I loved the slide! Weeeeeee Easter Egg Hunting. Maggie mainly just took her eggs out of the basket as I put them in. We have another week to work on that! Cute baskets that the Easter Bunny handed out. Maggie's friend in crime at school - Finn ME NO LIKE THIS GUY! LOL (I'm so mean) Ok they slide again - whew, better! Finn going for it with Maggie ready behind him. Bye Bye - we had a good time and mommy didn't even get a picture of the birthday boys! There were so many people there!
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