July and August Updates
Greetings to all!
I hope you enjoyed the pictures I've finally posted of Sara. I got so fed-up with trying to post my scanned pics on my blog so I simply emailed them to my cousin Lui to post them for me. He knows everything and anything there is to know about computers. He posted them as a draft so I could edit them before actually posting. Thanks Lui!!!
I apologize for not posting as often as I would like. This summer has been quite busy with all 4 kids being home. Between laundry, housework, work, gardening, summer activities and extra attention for Sara, I simply haven't had much time! I will be able to post more often once school starts. The T.V. commercials have started.........."It's the most wonderful time of the year!"..........
I just love those commercials! They are so funny because by this time we are all getting on each others nerves a little to often and therefore moms and dads can't wait for school to begin! Although I'm very grateful that I have Sara home for a year before she begins junior kindergarten in Sept. 2007. I'm looking forward to having time alone with her.
I also wanted to say that I have been checking how the Adoption process is coming along in Ukraine. I've checked the FRUA chatline once in a while and I'm very happy to see that things have started to move along! This week some people have received their appointments for the beginning of Sept. I'm so thrilled for them. Lets hope that those appointments keep rolling in!
Whats been happening with Sara lately??............
July 13th
Today Sara started her immunization needles. It was recommended to us that this be done and that it would not harm her. She got 2 needles today. I explained to her exactly what would happen and then when it was done she would receive a lolli-pop. She kept insisting that she was getting 2 lolli-pops. I guess she figured she deserved 2 lolli-pops for 2 needles! Anyways the nurse had me hold her on my lap. She cried for both when it was actually being done. I felt so bad for her. After it was done she wiped her tears and looked up at me and said, "Candy??" I laughed and said,"Yes!" and she gave me a big smile. She did make sure the nurse gave her 2 lolli-pops. She just loves candy! Afterwards one of her arms was quite sore. She became really cranky, whiney and clingy. Even though she had a 2 hour nap when we got home. She also ran a high fever. This gave me the opportunity to take care of her. When I was putting her to bed for the night I sat on her bed and softly stroked her fore-head for a long time. She finally fell asleep and woke up with a fever again. She was cranky, whiney and clingy again but as the day went by all that disappeared and she was her old self again.
July 22nd
Today was Sara's first time attending a wedding! She had a blast! She had fun dressing up. She behaved very well at the dinner table. I also brought her own bag of things to keep her busy that worked out very well. Sara did lots of dancing and she seemed to really get into it when some old ACDC songs came on!! Go figure... I've got a rockin roll gal on my hands! It was such a joy to watch her have so much fun and she didn't even get cranky when it got to be so late at night for her. There was just one incident that worried me a bit. A friend of ours at the wedding was giving her alot of affection. She was holding her on her lap, hugging her and kissing her. The thing that worried me was Sara accepted this affection from someone she had just met and was giving it back to her. This was the type of affection she was giving me or Philip. Philip ended up taking Sara into his arms to take her out of the situation. She doesn't quite understand the stranger-dangerous thing or what is appropriate behaviour for someone she has just met. Afetrwards I spoke to her as best as I could about it. This hasn't been a problem. It's only happened a few times since she has been home. She doesn't go to strangers and is shy when first introduced to someone. Although Philip pointed out that the few times she has done this, she has watched us greet these people with a hug and kiss. So she probably thought it was o.k. because we did it. Another thing to think about....... I know in time she will learn about appropriate behaviour with a little guidance and love.
July 26th
Today we had an appointment at 11am at the Adoption Clinic in Mississauga, Ontario. They contacted me a week or so ago to see if we were interested in a consultation with Sara to discuss her motor skills and mental development for her age group. They sent me a package of papers to fill out which were all questions about what I have just mentioned. It was very interesting to fill out. Sara did very well in both categories and it basically confirmed that she is definitely doing great. That morning over breakfast, the most wonderful thing happened!! She began talking about how yesterday mamma got mad at Sara for misbehaving. I said to her,"Sara look at mamma". I put her face in my hands and said,"Sara mamma loves Sara even when Sara make mamma mad". She gave me a big smile and a big hug and said,"I love you....You good girl mom". We gave each other a kiss and I was totally in my glory! That was the first time she said I love you!
July 31st
Today I did "Holding Time" with Sara. I've already done this quite a few times with amazing results.This post is a sad one to read. I think Sara is beginning her healing from her past experiences. Lately she had been regressing ( pretending to be a baby- sometimes taking a soother- having me give her a baby bottle of milk etc.) a little more than usual and I was wondering why. I was rocking her in the chair and I told her how much I loved rocking and holding her. Then I gently asked her," Remember when you were baby Nastya? As soon as I said this she began to cry and said,"Da" (yes). I was shocked as I realized that Sara remembered when she was younger. She was in the hospital orphanage from birth to 1 yr. and from what I understand the babies get minimal affection simply because there isn't enough nurses to care for all the babies at once. Very unlike the orphanage she was living at when we met her. There were many caregivers. It was almost one caregiver per child. They received lots of affection. After she began to cry, I rocked her and repeated,Mamma loves you very very much, you are mamma's baby and mamma loves to rock and hold Sara again and again. Then she continued to cry even more. It was a very sad cry. I then asked her if she was sad because nobody rocked her when she was a baby. She answered," Da". She continued to cry and hold me tight with her face in my neck. My heart ached for her as she poured out the sad feelings she had bottled up inside her. I was grateful that she was doing this but at the same time I was so sad she had this experience. It is very healthy for her to get rid of these feelings so she can heal her emotional wounds. She cried for about 15 minutes straight. All the while I was also repeating "Mamma loves you very much, My poor poor baby Sara you were so sad." When she stopped crying I asked her if she was feeling better now? She said yes and then I asked,"Did you get all the "sad" out? She said, yes and hugged me and also said, "I love you......mamma bed now". I put her down and she fell asleep in 3 minutes. She was exhausted.
Aug.9th
I have continued to do "Holding Time" with Sara a few more times. After the holding time on July 31st, Sara has been telling me she loves me with so much sincerity and affection. She is also dancing and singing alittle more than usual. I'm so happy that I am able to help her to heal. She is becoming noticeably happier and care-free as the days go by. I just have to be strong, patient, understanding and loving as time is healing her wounds.
Ciao for now everyone and take care,
Gina
I hope you enjoyed the pictures I've finally posted of Sara. I got so fed-up with trying to post my scanned pics on my blog so I simply emailed them to my cousin Lui to post them for me. He knows everything and anything there is to know about computers. He posted them as a draft so I could edit them before actually posting. Thanks Lui!!!
I apologize for not posting as often as I would like. This summer has been quite busy with all 4 kids being home. Between laundry, housework, work, gardening, summer activities and extra attention for Sara, I simply haven't had much time! I will be able to post more often once school starts. The T.V. commercials have started.........."It's the most wonderful time of the year!"..........
I just love those commercials! They are so funny because by this time we are all getting on each others nerves a little to often and therefore moms and dads can't wait for school to begin! Although I'm very grateful that I have Sara home for a year before she begins junior kindergarten in Sept. 2007. I'm looking forward to having time alone with her.
I also wanted to say that I have been checking how the Adoption process is coming along in Ukraine. I've checked the FRUA chatline once in a while and I'm very happy to see that things have started to move along! This week some people have received their appointments for the beginning of Sept. I'm so thrilled for them. Lets hope that those appointments keep rolling in!
Whats been happening with Sara lately??............
July 13th
Today Sara started her immunization needles. It was recommended to us that this be done and that it would not harm her. She got 2 needles today. I explained to her exactly what would happen and then when it was done she would receive a lolli-pop. She kept insisting that she was getting 2 lolli-pops. I guess she figured she deserved 2 lolli-pops for 2 needles! Anyways the nurse had me hold her on my lap. She cried for both when it was actually being done. I felt so bad for her. After it was done she wiped her tears and looked up at me and said, "Candy??" I laughed and said,"Yes!" and she gave me a big smile. She did make sure the nurse gave her 2 lolli-pops. She just loves candy! Afterwards one of her arms was quite sore. She became really cranky, whiney and clingy. Even though she had a 2 hour nap when we got home. She also ran a high fever. This gave me the opportunity to take care of her. When I was putting her to bed for the night I sat on her bed and softly stroked her fore-head for a long time. She finally fell asleep and woke up with a fever again. She was cranky, whiney and clingy again but as the day went by all that disappeared and she was her old self again.
July 22nd
Today was Sara's first time attending a wedding! She had a blast! She had fun dressing up. She behaved very well at the dinner table. I also brought her own bag of things to keep her busy that worked out very well. Sara did lots of dancing and she seemed to really get into it when some old ACDC songs came on!! Go figure... I've got a rockin roll gal on my hands! It was such a joy to watch her have so much fun and she didn't even get cranky when it got to be so late at night for her. There was just one incident that worried me a bit. A friend of ours at the wedding was giving her alot of affection. She was holding her on her lap, hugging her and kissing her. The thing that worried me was Sara accepted this affection from someone she had just met and was giving it back to her. This was the type of affection she was giving me or Philip. Philip ended up taking Sara into his arms to take her out of the situation. She doesn't quite understand the stranger-dangerous thing or what is appropriate behaviour for someone she has just met. Afetrwards I spoke to her as best as I could about it. This hasn't been a problem. It's only happened a few times since she has been home. She doesn't go to strangers and is shy when first introduced to someone. Although Philip pointed out that the few times she has done this, she has watched us greet these people with a hug and kiss. So she probably thought it was o.k. because we did it. Another thing to think about....... I know in time she will learn about appropriate behaviour with a little guidance and love.
July 26th
Today we had an appointment at 11am at the Adoption Clinic in Mississauga, Ontario. They contacted me a week or so ago to see if we were interested in a consultation with Sara to discuss her motor skills and mental development for her age group. They sent me a package of papers to fill out which were all questions about what I have just mentioned. It was very interesting to fill out. Sara did very well in both categories and it basically confirmed that she is definitely doing great. That morning over breakfast, the most wonderful thing happened!! She began talking about how yesterday mamma got mad at Sara for misbehaving. I said to her,"Sara look at mamma". I put her face in my hands and said,"Sara mamma loves Sara even when Sara make mamma mad". She gave me a big smile and a big hug and said,"I love you....You good girl mom". We gave each other a kiss and I was totally in my glory! That was the first time she said I love you!
July 31st
Today I did "Holding Time" with Sara. I've already done this quite a few times with amazing results.This post is a sad one to read. I think Sara is beginning her healing from her past experiences. Lately she had been regressing ( pretending to be a baby- sometimes taking a soother- having me give her a baby bottle of milk etc.) a little more than usual and I was wondering why. I was rocking her in the chair and I told her how much I loved rocking and holding her. Then I gently asked her," Remember when you were baby Nastya? As soon as I said this she began to cry and said,"Da" (yes). I was shocked as I realized that Sara remembered when she was younger. She was in the hospital orphanage from birth to 1 yr. and from what I understand the babies get minimal affection simply because there isn't enough nurses to care for all the babies at once. Very unlike the orphanage she was living at when we met her. There were many caregivers. It was almost one caregiver per child. They received lots of affection. After she began to cry, I rocked her and repeated,Mamma loves you very very much, you are mamma's baby and mamma loves to rock and hold Sara again and again. Then she continued to cry even more. It was a very sad cry. I then asked her if she was sad because nobody rocked her when she was a baby. She answered," Da". She continued to cry and hold me tight with her face in my neck. My heart ached for her as she poured out the sad feelings she had bottled up inside her. I was grateful that she was doing this but at the same time I was so sad she had this experience. It is very healthy for her to get rid of these feelings so she can heal her emotional wounds. She cried for about 15 minutes straight. All the while I was also repeating "Mamma loves you very much, My poor poor baby Sara you were so sad." When she stopped crying I asked her if she was feeling better now? She said yes and then I asked,"Did you get all the "sad" out? She said, yes and hugged me and also said, "I love you......mamma bed now". I put her down and she fell asleep in 3 minutes. She was exhausted.
Aug.9th
I have continued to do "Holding Time" with Sara a few more times. After the holding time on July 31st, Sara has been telling me she loves me with so much sincerity and affection. She is also dancing and singing alittle more than usual. I'm so happy that I am able to help her to heal. She is becoming noticeably happier and care-free as the days go by. I just have to be strong, patient, understanding and loving as time is healing her wounds.
Ciao for now everyone and take care,
Gina
posted by Gina Fortini @ 12:17 a.m.
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