Finally...an update!

Hi, everyone. I know, I know, this is about 2 months overdue. I thank those of you who "nagged" me via email for an update- I do appreciate it because then I know that this blog is still being followed and is worth it! We have been very busy the past few months. In September, we worked very hard to finish our basement (which we are renovating) so we could move all the stuff back downstairs (which had been upstairs for 6 months!) and get our upstairs back in order. Mid-October I went back to work full time and well, I think that explains the delay in this entry!

So I guess I will go back to August...at the end of August, we had an appointment with Ziva's pediatrician, at which time we found out that she had actually grown! Yeah! Since her previous visit, she had gained a pound and grew 2 cm. I know she's growing just because her clothes aren't fitting anymore!

On September 4th we went to Sick Kids for a follow-up appointment regarding Ziva's congenital syphilis. We were very happy to find out that her spinal fluid came back normal and there has been no neurological damage from the syphilis. Praise God!

Ziva started going to nursery school in September. She goes 2 days a week from 8-4. The first few weeks were pretty rough- for both Ziva and her teachers. Ziva was simply overwhelmed by it all and didn't know how to behave properly. We are pleased to hear that she has settled down quite a bit and is learning routines. Once a week, a Resource Consultant comes to the school for an hour and a half to work with Ziva. She has just finished assessing Ziva and soon we will be able to meet with her, learn about Ziva's strengths and challenges, and then set goals for her. The Resource Consultant is an advocate for Ziva and her needs and so she has been very helpful. As some of you may know, the nursery school that Ziva attends is in my school. Now that I am back at work, this is very handy. To help with attachment, I go down to her room once a day and spend a few minutes with her and give her lots of hugs and kisses! When we bring her to school, we always have her stop by "mommy's room", and we think that she is beginning to understand that I am in the same building as her.

About a month ago, Ziva broke her finger at school. She had gotten into this bad habit of hiding behind doors. Well, she hid behind the door, the teacher didn't see her, and she closed the door right on Ziva's pinkie. Thank goodness I was at school (my first week back) and so we quickly took her to emergency. She needed stitches and they tried to make a popsicle splint to hold the finger in place (which Ziva promptly pulled out the next day so I had to back to emerg to get it rebandaged). Her finger is so small, they finally gave up on trying to splint it and just bandaged it so much her finger looked like a club. The stitches were taken out last week and everything looks fine, the doctor says. Now we are just waiting for the finger nail to fall off. Yuck. And let's just say that Ziva doesn't hide behind doors anymore...

In the past few weeks, Ziva has started to do what we call a "happy dance" when we pick her up at the end of the day or when I visit her at school. She puts her arms in the air and does this half jump/half dance thing. And she yells. It is so funny and sweet...and she only does it when she sees US after we have been apart for a while. We think this is a beginning sign of attachment and are very happy about that.

Ziva's speech is slowly improving. She can now say a few words: mommy, apple, baby, bye bye, pee pee, poo poo (yes, those last two are important ones!), and amen. She says a few others that are close. For example, she says milk but it comes out "mih", please is "peez" and I love you is "ah luh ew" (that's the best one!). We had an appointment with Erin Oak (the wait list we had been on since February) which will provide us with free speech therapy. Because they are so bogged down, we will have to wait until February to start therapy sessions, but at least the wait is over!

Ziva loves to pray. Sometimes we ask her if she would like to pray. She will bow her head, babble for about 15 seconds, and then say a loud "amen". It is precious. She continues to love singing and can now "sing" about 5 different songs (she carries a tune but babbles for the words). It shows us she has a good memory. She has also started to count- everything! Her shoes, crayons, books, her fingers, the number of pieces of apple in her bowl, waffle bites on her plate- you name it, she counts it. And although the only number she can say is one, she points to items one at a time and says a word.

Scott and I continue to be "educators" as we encounter people who are ignorant and say awful things- either about adoptive parenting or Ziva's delays. Many people think that because Ziva doesn't talk she is stupid or invisible. We have learned to become thick skinned and, needless to say, we are very defensive when it comes to Ziva. (Momma Bear instinct kicking in!)

Here's Ziva on August 28th (7 months since Gotcha Day).

First day of school.

Our funny girl!

Ziva in her new bed.

September 28th (8 months since Gotcha Day).

Hanging out in her new play area in the basement.

Ziva wasn't quite sure what to make of the pumpkin patch. But hey, if there is mud, she is happy.

Ziva's broken finger....a.ka. "the club"

Halloween: Ziva the cow.

October 28th (9 months since Gotcha Day).