Today we had our mandatory medical examination. This appointment is required for all immigrants. Also, any child over the age of two is required to get a TB test. The appointment consists of four different stations that could be done in any order. We did the following: 1) Vitals including height, weight, blood pressure, color blindness test and eye exam, 2) ENT 3) General screening/physical and 4) Blood draw (which is how they do the TB test too). When we walked in, our guide escorted us to the section of the medical office label for Adoptive families only. The area looked chaotic but actually ran pretty smoothly. It was a small area with waiting room chairs and many, many families all there with their newly adopted children of various ages. When we got her vitals, she was 129 cm tall, and 27 kg in weight. Thats about 4' 2" and almost 60 pounds. She passed the color blindness test and the eye exam but they did determine that she favors her left eye quite a bit and cannot see as well out of her right eye. Also, for the color blindness test, they wanted her to trace the "hidden" shape with her finger. She could see the shape (showing that she's not color blind), but she had trouble tracing the shape with her finger. The ENT screening was so fast, I'm not even sure what they did. I know she had her open her mouth to see her throat, but that's the only thing I remember happening in that station. The general screening was what the typical pediatrician asks (can she walk alone, dress herself, etc). Then she stripped her down to her underwear and examined her legs, back and took her pulse and respirations. Then it was time for the blood draw. I was dreading this part the most because I expected this to be the first time we saw her distressed so far...but then they told us we aren't allowed in that room. The child goes in alone, they do their thing and then the door opens and they bring your child out to you. The little girl before us came out crying unconsolably. Fortunately, Cheyenne wasn't phased in the slightest! The nurses told us she was the best kid they had all day. :)
When we get home, we will have an appointment at Cincinnati Childrens International Adoption Clinic. That will be a 4 hour appointment but they will redo all of the above and have her examined by a PT, OT and Speech Therapist. They will then recommend the best course of treatment needed (if any) for her.
When we got back from the appointment, we ate a quick lunch and took a walk down the street to the department store. We plan to go swimming tomorrow and wanted to try to find a swimming ring for her to use. We are assuming she has never been in a swimming pool before. By the end of the walk, Cheyenne was so tired, she made Daddy carry her the majority of the way back to the hotel. Since she was so tired, we decided to try to give her a short nap. When we got her, the orphanage staff told us that she normally takes a nap from 12-2 everyday. We haven't been following that same schedule but she was visibly tired, so we figured it would help.
Once we were back in the room, I had her go potty and when she came out, I had closed the door to our bedroom and drew the cutains mostly closed. I told ehr we were going to lay down for a short nap. She was not happy with this and started running to the door and calling for Baba. I grabbed her and carried her into the bed and told her she needed a nap and Mama would lay with her. She complied but then started crying. At first she was trying to fight the tears, but then i stroked her face and said "It's ok honey, please don't cry.", she just lost it. The tears starting falling and she did the heavy studdered breathing thing and my heart broke into a million pieces! I tried to snuggle and comfort her, but she didn't want to. I knew she wanted daddy and I was torn between complying to comfort her and not giving in to a temper tantrum. I didn't know if the tears were from being tired, overstimulated, the grieving process, or a combination of all. I decided five days into our relationship was not the time to get into a power struggle with her so I got Kevin and asked him to lay with us too. Of course he obliged and when she saw him coming in, she started ctying more...and my heart broke more, and that's when the dam finally broke for me too. All of the emotions that I had been fighting for the past few days came pouring out and I was now also crying a river of tears (poor Kevin). Kevin got a small towel from the bathroom her to wipre her face. She wiped her face and then wiped mine. We then all laid down together. She cried a soft cry for a few more minutes but then fell asleep. I just laid there and watched her sleep for the next hour. I felt so bad for being the one to trigger her first meltdown. Kevin did his best to convince me that it wasn't me and that she was just overstimulated. I was panicked thinking she may withdraw from me moving forward. Fortunately, after her nap, she was back to her normal self and we were clearly still buddies.
Later we went to dinner with the agency's China rep, Richard. Then we took a walk to get some ice cream and came back to the hotel. I gave Cheyenne another bubble bath. Bath time seems to a time when she and I bond the most.
Now she is playing Play-Doh with the boys again and I'm so relieved she is back to her normal self.
Tomorrow we will have mostly a pool day. We have an appointment with our guide at 4:30 to go through some paperwork needed for our Consulate appointment on Wednesday. Then we are all going on the Pearl River boat cruise.
When we get home, we will have an appointment at Cincinnati Childrens International Adoption Clinic. That will be a 4 hour appointment but they will redo all of the above and have her examined by a PT, OT and Speech Therapist. They will then recommend the best course of treatment needed (if any) for her.
When we got back from the appointment, we ate a quick lunch and took a walk down the street to the department store. We plan to go swimming tomorrow and wanted to try to find a swimming ring for her to use. We are assuming she has never been in a swimming pool before. By the end of the walk, Cheyenne was so tired, she made Daddy carry her the majority of the way back to the hotel. Since she was so tired, we decided to try to give her a short nap. When we got her, the orphanage staff told us that she normally takes a nap from 12-2 everyday. We haven't been following that same schedule but she was visibly tired, so we figured it would help.
Once we were back in the room, I had her go potty and when she came out, I had closed the door to our bedroom and drew the cutains mostly closed. I told ehr we were going to lay down for a short nap. She was not happy with this and started running to the door and calling for Baba. I grabbed her and carried her into the bed and told her she needed a nap and Mama would lay with her. She complied but then started crying. At first she was trying to fight the tears, but then i stroked her face and said "It's ok honey, please don't cry.", she just lost it. The tears starting falling and she did the heavy studdered breathing thing and my heart broke into a million pieces! I tried to snuggle and comfort her, but she didn't want to. I knew she wanted daddy and I was torn between complying to comfort her and not giving in to a temper tantrum. I didn't know if the tears were from being tired, overstimulated, the grieving process, or a combination of all. I decided five days into our relationship was not the time to get into a power struggle with her so I got Kevin and asked him to lay with us too. Of course he obliged and when she saw him coming in, she started ctying more...and my heart broke more, and that's when the dam finally broke for me too. All of the emotions that I had been fighting for the past few days came pouring out and I was now also crying a river of tears (poor Kevin). Kevin got a small towel from the bathroom her to wipre her face. She wiped her face and then wiped mine. We then all laid down together. She cried a soft cry for a few more minutes but then fell asleep. I just laid there and watched her sleep for the next hour. I felt so bad for being the one to trigger her first meltdown. Kevin did his best to convince me that it wasn't me and that she was just overstimulated. I was panicked thinking she may withdraw from me moving forward. Fortunately, after her nap, she was back to her normal self and we were clearly still buddies.
Later we went to dinner with the agency's China rep, Richard. Then we took a walk to get some ice cream and came back to the hotel. I gave Cheyenne another bubble bath. Bath time seems to a time when she and I bond the most.
Now she is playing Play-Doh with the boys again and I'm so relieved she is back to her normal self.
Tomorrow we will have mostly a pool day. We have an appointment with our guide at 4:30 to go through some paperwork needed for our Consulate appointment on Wednesday. Then we are all going on the Pearl River boat cruise.
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