Too long....

It has been so long since I have updated our blog. I took five classes in the spring semester and I spent ALL of my free time studying, doing papers, or taking tests. The good thing I survived and actually did well. I am taking two classes this summer and one is the fall and I am DONE! When classes are done,  I will sit for my national board exam ( and hopefully pass) wait for my license and start looking for a job! I don't want to work full time. We have been talking about me working 15-20 hours a week. I am not sure I ever want to work full time again. I would if I had to, but I don't want to. :)

So, in a month from yesterday we have been Sarah's parents for a YEAR. I can't believe it. Time has gone by so fast. Life has changed do much! Sarah has changed so much. Here are same of the ways she has changed in a little less of a year:

She went from barely been able to walk independently to running, jumping, hopping, and riding a tricycle. 

Baths used to be HORRIBLE, she would scream and cry now she takes showers and sprays water in her face. 

She used to not be able to feed herself, now she can. She doesn't always want to, but she can. 

She didn't know how to color or draw, but now it is one of her favorite things to do. 

She used to never sleep through the night, now she mostly does (especially when she is sleeping with mommy and daddy). 

She couldn't speak any English, now we can understand most of what she is saying. She certainly understand everything we say. 

She never liked to cuddle, now she does. That is one of my favorite changes! 

She now says mommy and daddy and clearly know we are "her people." 

She recognizes people and places we see or visit often. 

She certainly does not listen as much as she used to. 

She is fiercely independent and at the ripe old age of three she knows everything! :) 

She is comfortable with us leaving her with a few select people and may even enjoy the time away from us. 

I can leave her to entertain herself in the other room for a short time.  

Of course there is so much more....she is a lovely, smart, sweet little girl!

I want to continue to keep the blog up. It feels therapeutic for me. I think I will write next on how much I have changed in the last year next. I have to process that a little before writing.  Thanks for reading!

My lovely......

Sarah had a cardiologist appointment yesterday. It was rough. She had to be sedated for her echo because little Miss Sarah won't cooperate. Even sedating her was rough. She fought the nurse with all of her thirty pound might. It was horrible to watch. I didn't even watch. She eventually fell asleep and they did an echo and EKG. She looked so beautiful laying there. Once she woke up, she got sick four and five times. I felt so bad for her. The doctor (who is wonderful by the way) told us that Sarah's aortic root is enlarged and he prescribed her some blood pressure medication that will hopefully stop the root from enlarging. Her blood pressure isn't high, however the medication has proved to help this condition. If the medication doesn't work, she may have to have the valve replaced. The doctor said that if she needed surgery, it probably wouldn't be for awhile. Sarah's two valves are also leaking, which is part of her defect. After yesterday, I have resolved to the fact that Sarah will have to have her valves replaced. The great thing is that these things are fixable. One of the hardest parts of all of this is that Sarah's is so scared of the doctors and procedures. She fights, screams, and cries. If she has to have surgery, we are hoping it is later than sooner so maybe she will understand more. The doctor said she has no restrictions and to treat her like a children with no problems. She is so strong and active. Nobody would ever know she was born with a heart defect unless you saw the scar on her lovely little chest. Yesterday was exhausting. Thank God Todd was able to come. I wouldn't of weathered quite as well if he wasn't there. 

The fun news is Sarah's birthday is March 6th and she is having a party on the 5th. I am excited. I am not even sure she has ever celebrated her birthday. She will have a great time and she deserves to be honored. I love her and her little personality. Her strong will makes us insane at times, but later in life, it will serve her well. 

It is so warm here today...I have flip flops on! Yay!

Special Needs...

According to China, Sarah is"special needs" because of her heart condition and her extra thumb, which she no longer has. Sarah has been to the cardiologist and the doctor says to treat her as a normal child, that she is fine! We are so blessed that she is healthy. Day to day, Sarah heart condition is not an issue. She is so active and healthy. Sarah's real special need is that she is 2 years old and we are her third family. Her broken heart is her special need. Sarah is so resilient. Day to day she is happy, adjusting, and becoming more and more attached to us. Her grief comes out mostly at night. It is getting better, but when we first got home she would have terrible night terrors a couple of nights a week. She would be asleep, but be crying out for what I imagined was her foster mother. She can be so clingy that we have to spend all day holding her or carrying her. Although, she loves to be held, she wouldn't be vulnerable enough to cuddle or snuggle. That is getting better. She is be more snugly with both Todd and I. She is independently playing herself more and more. She is comfortable staying with a select few people that we will leave her with. She use to scream and cry when we left. She is getting so much better, but my heart still breaks for her! She deserves to have a forever family and NOW she has a forever family!

We will love and adore her forever!

Here are some updated pictures.....