Doctors, Doctors, Doctors...

Poor little Emma has seen her share of doctors this week! We began the week with the pediatrician, then the optimologist, next the pediatric cardiologist, and then topped off the week with bloodwork done at the lab in St. Mary's Hospital. This morning when Emma got up, I held her and she said, "mommy's right here, mommy loves you". She was repeating what I've said to her a hundred times this week to calm her fears every time we walked into a doctor's office. After we'd get done and I would be dressing her she'd say, "all done, all done, all done..." and I'd say, "yes sweetie, all done." Ellie has been a great help. When Emma was afraid to get undressed, Ellie got undressed with her to help Emma see it's not so bad. What a sweet big sister. Ellie said tonight as the girls were in the tub... "I love Emma, it's fun having a sister." Oh how sweet the sound of those little words. At night when they giggle and chat in bed I say, "OK girls, settle down and go to sleep". I love saying that... Then I just listen for them to get started up again.
As far as Emma's health... she has strep throat and giardia... I'm assuming Ellie has giardia too, we'll soon find out. Let's just say, it appears to be so. The last report we received from China was unfortunately wrong... Emma still has her heart condition (but it is minor and does not limit her activities) and she does in fact have a strabisimus (which does not surprise us at all) and it will most likely need surgery. But I must say, in spite of alllllllll that, she is the jolliest little girl I've ever seen. She just loves life! She is so playful and giggles all the time!!! She's also very cuddly and huggy!
Did I mention she hoards her food. I'm sure this comes from not getting fed very often and probably never enough to satisfy when she did get fed. She will not, and I mean not, let you take her plate or bowl unless it's empty. Even if she has to gag it down. She also keeps pointing to the pot on the stove for more until you show her the pot is empty. We have to hide it and say, all gone! She's also very sensative about sharing her food. I found out at the restuarant the other day that if you put something in front of her, she assumes it is hers. I offered her some chips and salsa and then I ate one. She burst into tears and was inconsolable. Like I just stole some of her food. We had to leave. She's much better on her own turf because she knows the pantry is stocked. She'll get out a paper plate and hold it out for us to fill for her when she wants food or she'll point her finger in her mouth. Whenever I cook at the stove, it's like Pavlov's dog, "ding" she runs in the kitchen and gets a paperplate and waits for her portion. Once she realizes food is plentiful I'm sure this will all subside. It just makes me sad to think about her first few years not getting enough to eat. And I think of the other hungry children and have to just stop and pray. I'm sure the orphanage did the best they could with what they had.
Keith went with me to the Saturday lab appointment where they had to draw so much blood. He said she just clung to me and was so different than she was at the physical in China. She was scared, but seemed to take comfort in me and trust me. I think I cried louder than she did when they stuck her because afterwards they kept saying, "are you ok, are you ok?" I said, "I think she'll be ok." They said, "no you, are you ok?" Ok, I'll admit, I'm not one for pain, and even worse when one of my children are in pain. But we're both Ok now!!!