Whew!!! I am exhausted!! Do you know how hard I have worked, how many grey hairs I have gotten (too many), how many countless hours I have spent at the table begging Lizzie to take just one more bite, how much muscle I have built up holding her close while she tantrums because I asked her to take one more bite (she is tiny but she is strong), and how much Pediasure I have bought (cha-ching) for that 7 pounds and 2 1/2 inches??? When we got to China Lizzie was 17 pounds and 31 inches tall and was wearing 3 month size clothing (she was 2 years old). By the time we got home she was 19 pounds and there she stayed, no matter how hard we tried. Completely understandable because she was living through leaving everything she had ever known (good or bad), coming to a new country with virtual strangers to immediately start speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy, blew through 2 different hand surgeries and castings for her clubfoot (there were 18 in all), complete with some horrific skin issues. No wonder she could not gain any weight! Now that all the physical stuff is mostly behind her, we have seen some small amount of growth. We took her to the doctor yesterday just to get a growth check and low and behold, she had grown! Not enough for Momma, because well I am Momma, but enough for the doc! She is still not on the American chart but is on the Southern Chinese Growth Chart for girls!! Wup Wup!!! Small victories! I will take 'em!! So, for now, we will continue with the Pediasure (cha-ching) and the Carnation Instant Breakfast and the meds to stimulate her appetite (seriously, who actually needs their appetite stimulated???) and the prayers for patience and understanding and more small victories! Now if I could only figure out how to get the girl to grow a little more booty!! This is a short little movie of how we spend our time at the doctor's office. You know, when they immediately take you away from the big room with all the toys and put you in the tiny little room with NO toys (except of course for the stool that spins around and flings children everywhere) and tell you that the doctor will soon be with you - yeah right!! Enjoy!!
Yeah! A victory if you ask me. Sounds like a celebration for cake and ice cream!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! What a great, GREAT day! I remember when the Tongginator first made it on the Southern Chinese Girls chart! And the day she made it on the American chart? We just about fell over. Keep plugging away... she's already there and she may get further! Celebrating with you!
ReplyDeleteSo glad for Lizzie! I didn't know there were different growth charts for different areas of China. Wish I had Lizzie's issue of gaining weight. I could go for a milkshake!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your hard work! I wish I could send you a few of Jasmine's pounds--she is one solid 29 lb 2 year old (who loves to be held and carried--she's killin' me). Love, Monica
ReplyDeleteYou go Lizzie and great job momma!! I know how hard its been as we are fighting the same battle. Little T weighs 27 lbs at 3/12 yrs old. She finally made it on the chart too though I think she fell back off it now...Gotta love our petite girls!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Carla
Yeah! Slowly but surely wins the race. I have been so swamped with school that I haven't been checking the blogs regularly. I'm hoping to get that changed. It is so wonderful the girls are the same age (3, right?) They will be so close.
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