Three months home...

It is amazing to me that Brynn has only been here three months AND that it has already been three months. The time has flown by since she joined our family and she has adjusted so amazingly well that it seems like we have known her all her life. This weekend Brynn and I ventured up to Bushkill Falls, PA for my annual "Women's Weekend" with 6 girlfriends from high school. She had a great time and loved all the attention.

We left on Thursday after Brynn had surgery to "get a new belly button" as the boys like to call it. Brynn has had a piece of intestine (yes, gross) sticking out of her bellybutton about 1/2 an inch her entire life - it was red, raw, and bled when rubbed. I think that I wrote in an earlier post from China that when the doctors at her physical in China saw her belly, they asked me what it was!!??! An ultrasound showed that it was not connected to anything inside so it was "same-day" surgery. All my fears of her being upset when taken away by a stranger (since that happened only 3-months ago) when the nurse took her to surgery were not necessary. After being at the hospital for 1 1/2 hours prior to surgery she was very comfortable and only whimpered a little and stopped when I said "be right back". After surgery she was just quiet until she had juice and a popsicle - then she started checking our her IV and her bandaids and was ready to go. The long car-ride up north for the weekend was a great way to keep her from being too active at home with the boys. She only complained about the pain around the times it was time for another dose and she learned after two times and two falls that she couldn't bend at the waist to pick things up (evil mommy laughed because it was cute but she got me back 'cause I was the toy-picker-upper for the next two days). By Saturday she was back to her full-speed self. She has an "inny" now and the follow-up appointment today went well.

Brynn continues to be very, very outgoing, busy, and active. She still loves most foods (not applesauce I learned last week), animals, and babies. She is starting to say sentences and ask about colors - purple is the only one she gets right all the time so far. Everyone we talk with seems amazed on how quickly she has picked up English. I don' t really have a comparison but I know I don't think twice when I ask her to do things and she typically does exactly what I ask. We went to an ice-skating party two weekends ago and while Price (4 1/2) and Evan (3 Nov. 1) didn't want to try (they tend to be hesitant of trying new things), Brynn quickly put on the 2-sizes too big skates (the smallest they had) and headed out to the ice. It hurt my back but she had a ball! Caleb (7) did well for his second time out... he fell more this time but it affected him less; he is toughening up a bit! :)

Brynn tried to count the floors on the elevator today when they changed on the sign and while she had the rhythm right, she was saying, "Kay-a, Pi-e, Eban, Yee-a..." (Caleb, Price, Evan, and Leia (a friend)). Brynn is very loud too, even just talking, which is so different for our family. She gets excited so easily and lets everyone around know it. As if her being the only Asian in the family doesn't draw enough stares! :) So far we have for the most part only been met with smiles and kind comments so I think most people just consider her cute... hope her future teachers think so 'cause between her and Evan I am thinking our number will be on speed dial!

Brynn also was very interested in every tool used in the doctor's office today and eagerly tested every one the medical student was willing to share... maybe a career in medicine is in her future though she needs to learn to lighten her touch checking reflexes - OUCH!

We have our second post-adoption visit with the social worker next week - she will talk with the boys so that should be interesting. If Evan isn't being shy that hour I would love to hear what he has to say.

Here is Brynn with Price...