A big Anna update!

 

 

Tomorrow, it will be ONE MONTH since Anna walked into our lives in her scratchy, yellow party dress and too-small pink flats.  At the end of this week, it will be three weeks since Anna first stepped foot in her new forever home in Texas.  Also, as of Friday, Anna will have completed her first week of Pre-K.  I think it's time for an update!

Anna's personality:  Anna is generally cheerful and cooperative.  She loves to be a helper.  She seems to know quite a bit about cleaning house, folding laundry, and shooing away kitty cats.  She and Isaac the cat have had to come to an understanding, and they seem to have called a truce.  Although Anna has no formal language of any kind, she has no trouble getting her point across.  If she wants something, she persists until you understand.  If you understand but say no, she can give you the what-for like no child I have ever seen.  Anna is easily bored; most toys and activities don't hold her interest for long.  However, she LOVES to play outside, and the first sign that I think she really connected with a meaning is the sign for "swing."  She will stand at the back door and sign swing until you agree to let her go outside to play.  She has picked up a few other signs, but right now, we are combatting her busy nature.  She is just not too interested in signing just yet.

The medical situation:  We have discovered that, although WE think Anna should be on the fast-track for all medical intervention, hardly anyone is in as much a hurry as we are.  Anna has had one audiology appointment, where they opinined that she has "moderate hearing loss," which means Anna should be able to hear with assistive devices and perhaps even speak someday.  A second opinion from a speech pathologist who is also an audiologist indicated that, perhaps, the inital evaluation was overly optimistic and Anna may not hear in that range.  Anecdotally, we range from thinking Anna has no hearing at all to thinking she may have some hearing in her left ear.  Anna has an appointment next week to clear out her ear canals (they are impacted) and to see about addressing the fluid behind her ears that are preventing movement in her eardrums.  Then, we should be able to have her re-tested for a better idea of what her hearing loss really is.

The dental situation:  Her teeth still look pretty awful.  Anna has a consult with our family dentist tomorrow that will hopefully outline a plan of attack for Anna's dental needs.

The educational situation:  Currently, Anna is in a Pre-K classroom that includes regular education children and ESL children.  A special education aide is assisting Anna in the mornings.  Anna cries each morning at drop-off, but the school reports that she has a good day each day.  We hope that, at some point, Anna will receive additional services.  Right now, we are navigating the maze of doctors, referrals, testing and Special Education.  Thank goodness that certain members of our family are well-versed in Special Ed procedures and legalities!  I can't imagine being a parent on this journey without any background or support.  One of the hard things is looking around the room and realizing just how behind Anna is - through no fault of her own - simply because she has not had any meaningful access to language.  The other 4 year olds are writing their names; Anna doesn't even know she has a name, much less what her name is.  I am so eager to see how much progress Anna will make.  She is a bright girl, no doubt about it!  I predict that it will take her some time to catch up, but when she does, there will be no stopping Anna.

The attachment situation:  Anna seems to be bonding well with each member of our family.  At times, she and Lucy can be rivals, but at other times, they seem to be adjusting well to one another.  Anna loves Amelia, and Amelia, who is not the most compassionate of human beings, has really surprised me with how merciful and compassionate and helpful she has been with Anna.  As for the adults, adding another child has taken some adjustments on everyone's part, but it's typical stuff.  We all love Anna and are amazed by her resilience, strength and tenacity.  She really is someone special and we often sit in wonder at why the Lord chose to rescue her out of her situation and put her into a time and place where she has every opportunity before her.  In the end, we may never understand why some children are born into good circumstances, and others are not, or why some children are rescued out of dire circumstances, while others waste away.  I can't pretend to understand.  I can only say that I trust the heart of the Father, and I believe He loves ALL the children of the world.  That's not a platitude....that's just a place of simple acceptance of things I will never understand.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and your support of our family.  Anna has been a blessed addition to our home, and she is stretching us all and helping us to grow into our new roles as her advocates.  I expect to have many exciting and wonderful things to report in the weeks and months ahead.

-Amy