What's New With Emilia?

It's been about two months since I last updated on Emilia's development, so I figure it's time for a little post on the Bulgarian princess.

Emilia is doing very well.  Physically, she continues to gain more height than weight and now comfortably sports 24 months footsie pajamas.  She has added another shoe size and depending on style, wears a 6.5 or 7 these days.  Her weight still hovers right around that 25 pound mark.  I wish she would put on a few more pounds, but every tiny illness causes her to drop a little, hence the hovering.

Sometimes she pretends to be a supermodel

Attachment has been in crazy overdrive.  Emilia definitely prefers Craig and me now out of everyone in the world and she is more cautious with strangers and even with people she does not know well.  However, her personality is friendly and loving and it shows in public as well as at home.  She doles out countless hugs and kisses each day and they are precious.  Emilia allows me to hold her like a baby now and I sing to her while we gaze into each other's eyes.  It's quite a lovely thing that a year ago would have been completely unthinkable.

I feel that we have also reached a new phase of speech development.  Emilia has stopped making her high pitched bird sounds, rarely lets her tongue hang out anymore, and her babbling is noticeably more conversational now.  When she makes an utterance, she looks at us and expects a response.  She also has started a very little bit of verbal imitation.  For example, when I ask her to say "Rex," I am likely to get an "Ex" or a "Reh."  On Christmas Day, she kept saying, "Hohoho." She also continues her one word statements where she utterly unexpectedly will say one word one single time, clear as day.  Among those words are no, up, ball, mama, car, and on.

I love this funny picture
of Emilia trying on new pants that are too big
and reacting to something she sees on the Kindle

Emilia still does her crazy pincer grasp with her middle finger and thumb, but she is effective with it.  Her finger-feeding skills have improved so much and she is a pro at handling her open cup.  Emilia continues to enjoy almost all foods we offer.  She now takes bites from sandwiches, snacks on crunchy foods like Chex cereal, and sticks things like almonds and grapes into her mouth though they usually come back out.  Still, she is recognizing these items as food and is willing to give them a try.  When Oma arrives next month, we are going to tag-team spoon-feeding and potty-training.

Our big girl

Favorite toys at the moment include bowls, cups, plates, and spoons.  I even see a little pretend play emerging as we stir up our Lego soups and bead stews.  Sometimes we pretend play with a teddy bear and Emilia makes him jump and gives him hugs and kisses.  Emilia loves the Kindle she and Rex received for Christmas and likes to watch videos and listen to music on it.  She's also still after her daddy's cell phone like you wouldn't believe.  She's doing a great job waving bye and shaking hands hello.  She can take off her socks and shoes without any problems.

Emilia's last day of preschool was December 18, but she is still a busy girl.  She attends three classes a week in the community with our trusted Ms. Rie and also has her 15 minute educational sessions with me.  Since she loves to look at books at the moment, I am working on building up her attention span for reading.  She also enjoys watching many different Baby Einstein selections on youtube.  Her favorite song for which she will drop anything is the Gilmore Girls theme.  She and I have re-watched the entire series on DVD and will probably do so again in a few years.  We've told the guys that it's a mother-daughter thing.

My main priority for now is to get Emilia through the rest of the winter without any more illnesses and to keep gently pushing her along developmentally.  I know she will continue to blossom and bring us joy each day.

Tiny Steps To Independence

GFDF Continued

We are three weeks into the gluten-free, dairy-free diet for Rex and still going strong.  As I admitted earlier, I was scared to try it, but it's really been an easy transition, except for on the pocketbook.

Since we started the diet, Rex's therapists have described him as more socially aware, more verbal, more willing and able to accept redirection and being told no, and less focused on his usually preferred activities.  His daily reports have noted his happy mood, laughter, and cooperation.  The calming effect we saw initially seems to be wearing off a bit, but we still find that, outside of menacing his sister, Rex's attitude is more positive.  He's simply full of joyful energy.  Rex still needs to take his laxative, but we also noticed that he seems to have an easier time with his bowel movements.  Since the full effect of the diet can take months to show, we are excited to see what else is in store.

Now, for the logistics, I wanted to provide a few details.  Today, we made a Whole Foods run and bought supplies for two weeks for Rex.  These are simply things that are specifically GFDF.  There are obviously other foods that I will prepare and that Rex will eat, but these are packaged ingredients and/or items he will need.

And here's the ouch:

I have started keeping a list of things that Rex enjoys eating now and wanted to share it as well. The list keeps growing as I offer new or new again selections.

1) Vegan grilled cheese sandwiches
2) GFDF homemade English muffin pizza

3) Baked sweet potato with brown sugar and vegan buttery spread
4) Mashed banana and avocado
5) GF waffles with maple syrup
6) GF toast with cinnamon and vegan buttery spread
7) GF sandwich with vegan cream cheese
8) GF PBJ
9) Bananas
10) GF salami sandwich
11) Homemade soups
12) Potato and egg casserole
13) GFDF homemade blueberry muffins
14) GFDF spicy buffalo chicken dip with tortilla chips
15) Homemade fruit smoothies
16) Rice crackers with seeds
17) Sea salt potato chips
18) Almond milk yogurt
19) Lightly salted almonds and cashews
20) GF Chex cereal

Coming up next I will try GF pasta with marinara, vegan burgers, GF popcorn, GF snack mix with vegan chocolate chips, and almond milk pudding.  I also found a GFDF chocolate spread online that I want to order for Rex and I asked my Kroger store to special order the new GF Rice Krispies for me.  Rex did not like the GFDF crepes though the rest of us did and he has not enjoyed the almond milk icecream but Emilia is a fan.

If anyone else is out there with more GFDF experience than me, I'd love to have recipes of stuff your kids actually eat, especially when they are like my boy and not much into fresh fruits/veggies or meat.

IAC 240 Results

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 240 which was held on December 12, 2012:

1) Spanish dossier from August 2009 referred a male child aged 2 years and 3 months

2) German dossier from October 2009 referred a female child aged 2 years

3) Italian dossier from October 2009 referred a female child aged 5 years and 7 months

4) French dossier from November 2009 referred a male child aged 5 years and 5 months

5) French dossier from December 2009 referred a male child aged 5 years and 8 months

6) US dossier from April 2010 referred a female child aged 3 years and 6 months with features in health status

7) Italian dossier from May 2010 referred sisters aged 5 years & 6 years and 10 months

8) Spanish dossier from June 2010 referred a female child aged 7 years and 1 month with features in health status

9) Dutch dossier from December 2010 referred a female child aged 1 year and 9 months with features in health status

10) Italian dossier from March 2011 referred a male child aged 7 years and 6 months

11) US dossier from December 2011 referred a female child aged 2 years with features in health status

12) US dossier from November 2012 referred two waiting children (#1855 & #1848) with profiles on the MOJ site

13) US dossier from December 2012 referred a waiting child (#1817) with a profile on the MOJ site

14) US dossier from December 2012 referred two waiting children (#1810 & #2) with profiles on the MOJ site

15) Swedish dossier from December 2012 referred a waiting child (#1480) with a profile on the MOJ site

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On July 16, 2012, MOJ published a document listing 96 active dossiers that were registered between October 2006 and December 2009.  By my count, of these 96 dossiers, 58 received referrals by December 12, 2012.

IAC 239 Results

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 239 which was held on December 6, 2012:

1) Spanish dossier from October 2009 referred a female child aged 3 years and 8 months

2) Spanish dossier from October 2009 referred a female child aged 4 years and 9 months with features in health status and a family history

3) French dossier from November 2009 referred a female child aged 3 years and 8 months with features in health status

4) Canadian dossier from November 2009 referred a female child aged 1 year and 8 months with features in health status

5) Italian dossier from April 2011 referred brothers aged 7 years and 1 month & 8 years and 3 months

6) French dossier from July 2011 referred a female child aged 6 years and 4 months with a family history

7) Italian dossier from November 2011 referred brothers aged 7 years and 9 months & 9 years and 9 months

8) Italian dossier from January 2012 referred a male child aged 2 years and 9 months with features in health status

9) French dossier from March 2012 referred a male child aged 9 years with features in health status

10) US dossier from July 2012 referred a male child aged 10 years and 3 months

11) Italian dossier from November 2012 referred a male child aged 9 years and 1 month

12) Swedish dossier from November 2012 referred a waiting child (#1803) with a profile on the MOJ site

13) US dossier from November 2012 referred two waiting children (#1260 & #1880) with profiles on the MOJ site

14) US dossier from November 2012 referred a waiting child (#1039) with a profile on the MOJ site

Mama, Mama, Mama

As the mother of a child who is largely nonverbal, I often wonder what he thinks and feels and how much he understands of the world around him and of his own story.  I have to believe that it is more than seems possible and that a part of him is aware of everything within his realm of existence.  Sometimes, very unexpectedly, there are moments that allow me to glimpse into Rex's mind and soul and confirm this belief.

This morning, Rex and I had a heart to heart on the stairs.  I was telling him the story of how we found him and how I loved him for a long time before we ever met.  I also told him how his daddy and I had to travel all the way to Armenia to adopt the best little boy in the whole wide world and how he would always be our son now, forever and ever.  When I stopped, Rex leaned back against the stair behind him, looked at me and said, "Mama, Mama, Mama."

Three little words: nothing more, nothing less.  Three words for Rex to let me know that he understands.  Three words for him to reach out to me and show me his love.  Three words that mean everything.

Yuck, Blech, Ick

We have all been sick.

12/21 Emilia has conjunctivitis

12/25 I have a cold and lose my voice for a few days

12/29 Rex has conjunctivitis

12/29 Rex’s ear tube falls out

12/31 Emilia spikes a fever and is sick for a few days (probably flu)

01/03 Rex has a double ear infection (the other ear tube must have fallen out unnoticed)

01/05 I become completely ill with flu and don’t get out of bed for over 40 hours

01/07 Craig is sick with the flu and must stay in bed

01/10 Emilia has an ear infection

01/10 Rex is sent home sick from school and sleeps for 18 straight hours (probably flu)

01/12 A first semblance of normalcy

The conjunctivitis was successfully treated in both children and, thankfully, it seems like Craig and I dodged that bullet.  Both kids’ ear infections are cleared up as well.  Everyone in the house continues to fight a persistent cough and some of us have runny noses.  I haven’t had my normal voice since Christmas Day.  Needless to say, the last three weeks have been pretty sucky around here.  

The house is a crazy mess of holiday aftermath, daily occurrences, and illness.  Once I am feeling fully better, it will take me a long time to dig out from the mountain of accumulated work.  On the upside, any pounds I may have put on with holiday indulgences have melted away with this unintended diet.

Now a new week is about to start, one where I have commitments away from home that I must keep.  Wish me enough stamina to get through it all while continuing to recuperate.  I was hit hardest with illness among my family and seem to be taking the longest to get back up on my feet.