Abandonment

Well, there is an article on Yahoo today about a dutch family who have relinquished custody of their 7 year old daughter (adopted from South Korea) for aparently no better reason than I can read than because they now have biological kids. They should be arrested and jailed for abandonment. And, since it is a diplomatic family, shame on the Dutch government for not firing this guy and sending their butts to jail somewhere.

Life on the street: Cairo

Very interesting article on young girls on the street in Cairo. Traffiking is such a huge issue, and I'm not sure when folks will deal with it.

Newsweek: Give me a BREAK

OK. Newsweek just published this amazingly horrid sounding article: When Adoptions Go Bad. The tone is negative, and starts out with a parent killing their adoptive child. What they didn't share is that most of what is listed in the article is actually symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder. It was disappointing to say the least that instead of talking about a serious subject, it was treated like FOXNews with the sensational story.

I'm going to need more time to think about this...

Webkins

Well, it had to happen at some point. The girls have webkins, and I have now activated their accounts. To be honest, it's kind of cute - and just as addictive as I heard other parents tell me it is. I've now racked up a ton of points for each of the girls, before we even get on. Stunning. I'm glad I'm putting my time to good use...

Medical Updates, while we are at it...

Since I'm in here, we have lots of medical updates to share.

Lucy: Now that we have confirmed that she is 6-10 months younger than her paperwork states, we need to get a full cardiac work up. Except that Childrens hasn't opened it's schedule for 2008 yet - so each Monday I get to call and wait on hold, hoping to find out if the calendar is open. Finally today I got through and have an appoinment for late January. http://heart.seattlechildrens.org/home/

Ella: Ella has now been officially diagnosed with Thalassemia - an inhertited, genetic blood disorder that causes chronic anemia. In her form, she has inherited from only one parent, which is very, very good. However, she will need to confirm that her S.O. is not also a carrier - the version from two parents is devastating. Worse case, she can adopt - which she tells me already she wants to do. Learn more at: http://www.thalassemia.org/

Gwenn: Gwenn, Gwenn, Gwenn. How much to say here. This week we have her MRI scheduled at Childrens. Next month is the full neuropsych eval and her VEEG at Childrens. The social worker with the pediatricians office is also working on a care meeting with all of the folks involved - pediatrician, neurologist, neuro-psychologist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, regular therapist, etc. Gwenn has also been dismissed from the counseling at the Kindering Center that we were taking advantage of. They believe that she is dealing with attachment disorder, and so we have a re-evaluation with Attachment Center NW next week. She was seen there just about 2 years ago, and they thought nothing was going on. However, the same issues are still here and amplified, and since the counselor has recommended, they are going to evaluate her again.

Some of you have asked to learn more about Sensory Processing Dysfunction, and other related issues... you can learn more at some of these places:
http://www.sensorynation.com/
http://www.sinetwork.org/home.html
http://www.comeunity.com/disability/sensory_integration/
http://www.brighttots.com/sensory_integration.html
http://gigli.tripod.com/therapies/sensitivities.htm
http://www.incrediblehorizons.com/sensory-integration.htm
Eide's Neurodevelopmental Blog
Developmental Trauma Disorder
Attachment Center NW
Families for Effective Autism Treatment
Great list of books about SI

Lara: Still sound like I'm about to hack up a lung. Cannot WAIT for this to be done.

We're back

Well, I can't say that the break has been enjoyable. I'm just finishing my 4th round of antiobiotics for some nasty bronchitis that won't go away. I still sound like I've walked off of a 1950's TB ward, and feel like I've been sucker punched in the chest. But, I'm getting better...

So... what have we been up to, besides listening to me cough?

Cheerleading has ended. Gwenn accepted trophies for both herself and Ella, since Ella was sick that weekend (that is what started it all).

Halloween occured - and we were very successful in the candy department this year. The girls loved dressing up, and it took Lucy only one house to figure out what the deal was about. She ran at full steam from house to house, yelling "tree" (she can't say treat yet) and getting candy. All in all, it was a good day... Viivi also carved her first pumpkin, so that is big stuff!

Lucy continues to grow and suprise us all. She is getting more hair, loves to talk on the phone, and has learned how to undress herself. All in all, she is keeping her mom and sisters very busy!

And, Lucy has continued to rage - although not like she did in China. Now, it's mostly a 2 year old thing, and we are having fun when she gets into it. This episode was sparked by Ella not wanting to hold Lucy's hand during dinner (Ella's hands were busy putting food into Ella's mouth...)

The "big" girls and I went to see Disney Princess on Ice Tour. It was very special - we joined the hundreds of other little girls in their princess costumes heading to Key Arena for the skating. It was a very nice, expensive, Disney kind of night. It's amazing how well they know how to tap into our pocketbook. I need more marketing lessons from them!

Sick

I've been sick for the past 2 weeks, and am just starting to get well. More coming soon, I promise!