Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Grace Chengmei is officially ours today!

We visited the Civil Affairs Office again and completed all of the paperwork. The first two appointments went fairly well, but it was touch and go about Gracie’s behavior. She has a loud voice and a louder voice. We probably will need to have her hearing checked when she comes home! The third appointment was a disaster.

When we arrived for the three appointments, all of the other families in the room had toddlers or babies who were snuggled in their parent’s arms looking around. Not our Grace! She was loud and proud and very, very active. I don’t have a read on her yet, and I can’t predict what will work. She became overwhelmed very easily while at the breakfast buffet earlier in the morning. I am sure she has never been to a food buffet before. She was fine at first but became overwhelmed after a while and shut down. When I led her out, she was covering her eyes and stooped over as I rubbed her back. Once in the quiet hallway, she stood straighter and was more alert. So when we had to go from appointment to appointment, finally Grace just went berserk during the last one. She wouldn’t do as our guide asked of her or the man behind the desk. She wouldn’t respond to my gentle voice or having her back rubbed. She was just done. But the only problem was that the appointment wasn’t over.

Grace suddenly had to use the restroom during the appointment and leapt out of her chair yelling. John came into the room and told me that is what she needed. I took her into the women’s restroom where she completely freaked over the squatty potty! It wasn’t a pretty scene. We still had to return to the appointment in progress and the disapproving man behind the desk. We were thankful when that last appointment was over. I think our guide was, too.

Grace did well while eating her lunch and seemed to get full. Then she melted down at naptime. She was completely exhausted but didn’t want to give in. She cried and cried while I tried to hold her and soothe her with my voice. After her weeping, she was able to sleep. Sophia and I slept, too!

What we have learned from today is that Grace is definitely in crisis mode, and we are on survival mode at the moment. Throughout it all, Grace is attaching to me. That is a huge positive, and we are going to build on that. Deidra, Sophia, and I keep putting our heads together to assess each situation and look for ways to make it better for Grace and for us. We are already thinking ahead to the medical appointment and blood draw tomorrow. After that appointment, we will be going to a governmental office for her passport. Based upon her emotional state today, tomorrow should be interesting.

It would be easy to get sidetracked by the bad times today since they outweighed the good times, but we are keeping our thoughts positive. She is ours! She is attaching to me! She is a beloved daughter, sister, and friend. She is loved by God and by us. When the man asked me today if I loved her, I really truly could respond “Yes.”