An Update

Last week we met with the International Adoption pediatrician who reviewed Olivia's file when we first received it.  The meeting we had was to discuss travel plans as well as how we would proceed with medical treatment when we arrive home.  Dr. Walker wrote us prescriptions for antibiotics to bring to China as well as suggested a few over the counter medications such as Tylenol, Motrin, Benedryl and Cortisone Cream.  She also suggested we take scabies and lice treatment.  We had already planned to do this because one of the realities of international adoption is that these kids are living in close quarters which can lead to bugs.  I am hoping that we will avoid these bugs at all costs and I already had one of Brooks's teachers tell me that she has been praying specifically for "no lice and no scabies" for Olivia. 
In addition to making a game plan for routine check ups upon return  to make sure there are no additional health concerns, we discussed treatment for her special need.  I wrote on this blog initially that we decided to go the Special Needs route for our adoption.  We have chosen at this point not to discuss her special need because honestly, that is not who our child is.  We never want her to be labeled by what makes her different.  To us she is our beautiful daughter, chosen for us by God however, she just so happens to have a smaller right ear and hearing loss in that ear.

Olivia has what is called auditory atresia and microtia of her right ear.  As Dr. Walker said, this is nothing that is of immediate concern.  She will be able to learn, talk and thrive just as any other child.  However, as she gets older there are treatment options that may allow her to hear and can cosmetically let her ear look more like her left one.  These are all options we will explore later but, our priority when we get her home will be to love her and help her to grow into her new family who has been waiting so anxiously for her.

Please never hesitate to as Brad and I questions about Olivia's microtia.  We are happy to answer any questions we have.  However, we do ask you to be sensitive about discussing it around our other children as well as Olivia.  As I said before, this is not what defines our daughter and we never want her to feel singled out or uncomfortable because of how she was created. 

So...onto the good part of this post.
Because we never had a good picture of Olivia's ear and we were mainly going of Chinese medical reports, Dr. Walker suggested we request some pictures of the ear.  On a Thursday afternoon we contacted our agency and requested the pictures.  The agency suggested we also write a list of questions for the nannies.  By Monday evening (mind you this is record speed. Thank you God) we received three photos and a beautiful description of our daughter.  According to her caregivers, Olivia is walking.  She can say "mama and papa".  This made us so happy thinking they are showing her the photos we sent and teaching her about her family.  She enjoys watching cartoons and is quick to giggle.  She plays with other children and calms down easily when upset by picking her up or handing her a toy.  We were also given height and weight measurements however, I am certain they were inaccurate because they claim she is 35 lbs which is more than Brooks weighs.  Overall, we couldn't be happier to hear how our little one is blossoming.

We can't wait to get you sweet girl.  Mama and Papa will be there soon! (Our Article 5 which is the last step is supposed to be picked up on 12/26.  Then begins the offical travel approval wait which is anywhere from 1-3 weeks)