Lanzhou Happenings

Abby Grace is doing wonderful. She is such a happy little girl. She hasn't been talking a lot but her eyes express so much. When we are out places and she sees something that excites her eyes light up and she says "ooya" which according to our guide is "wow". She sees buses and cars and gets all excited. Today we went to a park and watched kite flying and she was so amazed and kept pointing to the kites in the sky. She has been eating everything, she has an appetite like I have never seen. Last night our group went for pizza, yes I know we are in China, not Italy but we are all getting a little tired of real Chinese food. Anyway, she loved it, she ate a whole big piece all by herself and then ate more once we got back to the room. This morning she ate a whole fried egg and a big bowl of noodles for breakfast. I'm guessing that in the orphanage they limited their food so she is eating just to eat. This is something I've heard about from other adoptive parents also and they have all said the children adjust once they get home. She finally drank from a sippy cup today. The last two days I've been giving her milk and juice using a medicine dropper, but today she finally figured it out. She also walked around more today holding my hand as opposed to wanting to be carried everywhere. Yesterday the dads finally broke down and bought strollers prior to our trip to the zoo. She loved riding in it. It was very hilly and there were lots of step ups so I cannot imagine carrying her throughout the zoo. A little note about the zoo...it is very old and outdated. The animals are kept in very sad condition, except of course for the Panda who had a great enclosure. Most of the cages were concrete floors and iron bars. It was very depressing. One funny thing we found is that they keep house cats in the enclosures with the large birds to eat the mice. It was very odd to see the cats lying around in the enclosures meowing.

We are having some issues with attachment. I am the only one who she will let hold her. Last night Sean was able to feed her some milk before bedtime and I snuck off of the bed. She cried for a while wen she noticed I was gone and he eventually got her to sleep. Well today she wanted noting to do with him or V for the most part. She looks and them and smiles sometimes but she will not let them hold her. Sometimes she dosn't even want them to touch her. We've got to work on that. I think V is getting her feelings hurt. Please pray for her attachment and trust in them to improve.

Prayer Request:
Andrew is not feeling well. He is usually a little clown and always smiling. Today he was not himself and this evening when Lisa and Kevin checked his temp he was 102+. They have started giving him some tylenol/motrin and amoxicillan. Please pray for his healing. It is so hard as a new parent to know your child is sick and be so far from home and your own doctors.