Madeline Day--Dec 15!

Ni Hao!  Today at around 12 we met Madeline Lu Ren, a very petite, laid back sweet-faced little one year old.  She was very good, only a few whimpers when handed to us, mostly in shock I think.  She cries every time we lay her down. She was wearing split pants so I'm thinking she was not in a diaper, although her legs are not strong enough to stand at a potty, so I'm  not sure.  She came with a diaper on, but some babies did not.  

So yesterday was quite an emotional day.  We began with me being an emotional wreck about all things Madeline and then some that weren't.  I'm sure I drove Kevin nutty with my bouts of crying and irrational-ness, but he's a great husband and let me cry.  As soon as we got to the building she was meeting us at, I began to feel peace, finally.  As soon as they brought her in the room, I knew her right away.  She doesn't look much different than her referral picture, which I had printed on my shirt, and she seemed to really like seeing it.  She gobbled down some cheerios and fell in love with the cheerio lid right away, but we could not get her to drink from bottles.

 We had quite a full day involving much paperwork, waiting, paperwork, etc.  Our last appointment was at 8 pm and then we finally put her to bed, she had not taken a nap all day.  She has been waking every hour and a half needing comfort, and has a very sad cry.  But we did see several smiles today as I see her bonding to us fast.  We are really trying to not rock her to sleep but it is hard, we are wrapped around her pinky!  We also finally discovered that she doesn't use bottles, she doesn't seem to know what to do with them, but will drink from a cup and was very happy with us when we finally figured this out.  Big smiles!  She can't really hold the cup, but that must have been how she was eating, she knew what to do right away.  She's extremely petite, 12 month clothes are big on her, and needs to develop a lot of leg strength but I'm sure a week with Leo will have her catching up fast.  She is by far the smallest of the group.  There is so much more to tell you, but it is late, I am trying to get back to sleep without success.  The pollution(about 1/2 mile visibility) and smoke are very bad here indoors and out, and make our eyes and throat constantly burn, so we are desperate for Idaho's blue skies and clean mountain air.  Love you all and miss you terribly, especially Little Man!  More tomorrow.....