Here are a few new pictures of Kora. She continues to do well. Kora has the best laugh when she is getting tickled. She also is starting to say a few words, such as ball, go, more, and up. She still loves to suck that thumb.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Happy New Year
It has become a tradition in our family for Megan and Jason to camp out in the living room on New Year's Eve. Kora didn't sleep in the living room, but she did get in on the fun by crawling around in the tents. This year we decided to have New Year's Day be Pajama Day, and we all had a good time.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Medical Appointments
We had a busy week this past week with medical appointments. We went in on Tuesday for Kora's 4th try at her hearing screening. The state of Minnesota requires children to have a hearing screening within three months of being home. We've tried 3 times before to have this done without success, and there's a possibility Kora would have to be sedated if we couldn't get it any other way. The screening requires Kora to have a little earplug in her ear for about a minute while she is fairly quiet so the machine can read the echo in her ear to determine if her hearing is okay. We got the right ear completed on try number two, but we haven't been able to get her to cooperate for the left ear. So this time, we got a prescription for a medicine that helps kids sleep, which is what they give for dentist appointments, etc. I gave it to Kora 45 minutes before her appointment like they recommended, and then brought her into the clinic in her car seat. Well, she woke up immediately, was alert, and there was no chance of her going back to sleep at the clinic. But she did go back to sleep after riding around in the vehicle again and was out cold after about 2 hours after receiving the medication. So we were able to get the screening done on the left ear, which she passed.
On Thursday, Kora had her appointment with the ophthalmologist. This went about the same as any other appointment. She's okay until the strange people start touching her and trying to do stuff with her. Then she starts crying and she's done cooperating. The doctor only got a partial exam completed, but he felt most likely she would need surgery to correct her vision. He recommended we go to the U of Minn to see a pediatric ophthalmologist because they would be the best to get a thorough exam and the best to perform the surgery.
Other than that, everything has been going well. Kora is pulling to stand by herself and walking when you hold both her hands. She waves and claps, and now has 5 teeth. We're looking forward to celebrating our first Christmas as a family of five. We hope you all have a Merry Christmas.
On Thursday, Kora had her appointment with the ophthalmologist. This went about the same as any other appointment. She's okay until the strange people start touching her and trying to do stuff with her. Then she starts crying and she's done cooperating. The doctor only got a partial exam completed, but he felt most likely she would need surgery to correct her vision. He recommended we go to the U of Minn to see a pediatric ophthalmologist because they would be the best to get a thorough exam and the best to perform the surgery.
Other than that, everything has been going well. Kora is pulling to stand by herself and walking when you hold both her hands. She waves and claps, and now has 5 teeth. We're looking forward to celebrating our first Christmas as a family of five. We hope you all have a Merry Christmas.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Thoughts
Just before Thanksgiving, we were asked to have an article written about our adoption for the local paper. At first, we didn't want to because we don't usually like to draw attention to ourselves. We also didn't think we were any more special than others in our area who had adopted, and they didn't get an article in the paper. We feel we're just a regular family who followed the path that God set before us. But we then decided we should do the article because if some other family read it and considered adopting because of us, it would be so worth it.
People have told us that Kora is so lucky that we adopted her, but it's us who are so blessed to have her. She has added so much to our family. It's amazing to think that here we are at home with our daughter when it all started from two small photos and a limited medical history. What a leap of faith adoptive parents take when they receive their referrals and decide to make those children their own. But God is so good and has made her a part of our family. Of course it hasn't been all wonderful. We've all had to make adjustments.
On the lighter side, we are doing a good job turning this Chinese girl into a Northern Minnesotan. She says "ya" with the best of them. Kora also has learned to sign "more", although it is more of a clap then touching her fingers, but that's okay with us as long as she knows what it means. Sometimes she will do it on her own without prompting, sometimes she doesn't. She's got a mind of her own, imagine that! Here is another photo taken before Thanksgiving of all of us.
People have told us that Kora is so lucky that we adopted her, but it's us who are so blessed to have her. She has added so much to our family. It's amazing to think that here we are at home with our daughter when it all started from two small photos and a limited medical history. What a leap of faith adoptive parents take when they receive their referrals and decide to make those children their own. But God is so good and has made her a part of our family. Of course it hasn't been all wonderful. We've all had to make adjustments.
On the lighter side, we are doing a good job turning this Chinese girl into a Northern Minnesotan. She says "ya" with the best of them. Kora also has learned to sign "more", although it is more of a clap then touching her fingers, but that's okay with us as long as she knows what it means. Sometimes she will do it on her own without prompting, sometimes she doesn't. She's got a mind of her own, imagine that! Here is another photo taken before Thanksgiving of all of us.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Home for one month and Thanksgiving
It's hard to believe we've been home with Kora for just over a month. It's actually seemed like she has been with us for longer since she is adjusting so well to being a part of our family. I'm amazed how well and how fast she has attached to Jesse and I. She only wanted to be with one of us and didn't want anything to do with strangers, which is a good sign for seeing that she is attaching to us. She didn't even want them to touch her while Jesse or I held her. We're very thankful that she is doing so well with us.
Kora likes to crawl on Jason and Megan if they are lying on the floor. She now has 4 teeth and appears to be working on getting some more to come in. Just before Thanksgiving, she began enjoying taking a bath and loves to splash in the water. Now, we just have to work on her tolerating lotion.
We traveled back to North Dakota for the first time to visit our families over the Thanksgiving weekend. Overall, it went pretty well. She rode in the car seat up to 2 1/2 hours at one time without too much complaining. Kora slept well at night also, except for the last night. She even allowed the Grandmas and Grandpas and aunts to hold her for short period of time without getting upset.
We took advantage of the nice weather the weekend before Thanksgiving to get a few outdoor pictures. Jason and Megan wanted to show what they like doing outside.
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Kora likes to crawl on Jason and Megan if they are lying on the floor. She now has 4 teeth and appears to be working on getting some more to come in. Just before Thanksgiving, she began enjoying taking a bath and loves to splash in the water. Now, we just have to work on her tolerating lotion.
We traveled back to North Dakota for the first time to visit our families over the Thanksgiving weekend. Overall, it went pretty well. She rode in the car seat up to 2 1/2 hours at one time without too much complaining. Kora slept well at night also, except for the last night. She even allowed the Grandmas and Grandpas and aunts to hold her for short period of time without getting upset.
We took advantage of the nice weather the weekend before Thanksgiving to get a few outdoor pictures. Jason and Megan wanted to show what they like doing outside.
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Wednesday, November 14, 2012
First labs and Doctor's appointment
Kora had her first medical tests and appointments last week. First, she had to go have blood drawn for her labs. The worst part wasn't the poke with the needle, but holding her still and keeping her right arm pinned down. But she recovered pretty quickly afterwards. All her labs were normal, so that's good. The doctor's appointment was tougher for her. Kora was okay with the doctor and nurse at first, but by the end she was over her limit of tolerating strangers touching her and trying to do things with her. She also had to have 5 vaccinations and a hearing test. She didn't make it through the hearing exam so we'll have to try that again another day. Kora is okay with strangers as long as they keep their distance.
Kora is getting more teeth, so he has been more irritable at times. But she still sleeps pretty well. She's getting better with tolerating baths. She is okay with her body, arms, and legs getting wet for a little bit, but she absolutely hates her head wet.
She continues to crawl all over the place and pulls herself up to kneeling against furniture. She'll stand for short periods if you stand her up against furniture or hold her hands.
Kora is getting more teeth, so he has been more irritable at times. But she still sleeps pretty well. She's getting better with tolerating baths. She is okay with her body, arms, and legs getting wet for a little bit, but she absolutely hates her head wet.
She continues to crawl all over the place and pulls herself up to kneeling against furniture. She'll stand for short periods if you stand her up against furniture or hold her hands.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Home for 10 days
The first few days we were home, Kora woke up every 1-3 hours at night so still not much sleep for me. She also got another cold which made sleeping hard for her with her stuffed up nose. But now she is sleeping through the night and goes to sleep with minimal fussing.
After spending every waking second with me for nearly 2 days on the airplanes, she started preferring me over Jesse. She wouldn't even want to be with Jesse if I was in the same room for the first few days. That has gotten better now too. If she hasn't seen Jesse for a few hours, she will go to him on her own with me still in the room.
Smiles and giggles are coming all the time now. She isn't as sensitive with her hands and face as before. She only gets mad with touching her face when we are trying to wipe it clean. She will grab our hands to play games like pull up into sitting or pull up into standing.
We have her on all American formula and rice cereal now and are working on thinning it down. At the orphanage, they mix the bottle so it is at least twice the concentration as US formula and they put rice cereal in the bottle to make it very thick. They also don't start solid foods until after a year old. Since we've been home, she has done very well with solids. She gets pretty excited when you put her in the high chair. So far she has eaten squash, peas, green beans, oatmeal, peaches, and applesauce.
Below are some pictures we've taken since being home. Jesse especially likes the first one. He loves to encourage her to stick out her tongue. But as you'll see on the bottom picture, she doesn't need much encouragement. Big Brother and Sister also wanted to get in on the pictures.
After spending every waking second with me for nearly 2 days on the airplanes, she started preferring me over Jesse. She wouldn't even want to be with Jesse if I was in the same room for the first few days. That has gotten better now too. If she hasn't seen Jesse for a few hours, she will go to him on her own with me still in the room.
Smiles and giggles are coming all the time now. She isn't as sensitive with her hands and face as before. She only gets mad with touching her face when we are trying to wipe it clean. She will grab our hands to play games like pull up into sitting or pull up into standing.
We have her on all American formula and rice cereal now and are working on thinning it down. At the orphanage, they mix the bottle so it is at least twice the concentration as US formula and they put rice cereal in the bottle to make it very thick. They also don't start solid foods until after a year old. Since we've been home, she has done very well with solids. She gets pretty excited when you put her in the high chair. So far she has eaten squash, peas, green beans, oatmeal, peaches, and applesauce.
Below are some pictures we've taken since being home. Jesse especially likes the first one. He loves to encourage her to stick out her tongue. But as you'll see on the bottom picture, she doesn't need much encouragement. Big Brother and Sister also wanted to get in on the pictures.
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