Passport Pictures and Medical Check

(Helen) Today got off with a late start, I'm usually up and ready for the day at 7, but I had a hard night because of a cold, so I didn't wake up until 7. I thought of my girls and that I needed to Skype them, and then I remembered that they were on their way home and that they would be Skyping them from a different place. Once Dan got things in place we Skyped the girls and then I felt ready to start the day. Mei Mei also started the day off late, she woke up crying but we were expecting that... although before she wanted to just stay in the safety of her bed now she wanted to be out with us so that's good right? It would be so frustrating to not be able to communicate! poor kid!

Down at breakfast she stayed in her seat (a first) not without a bit of complaining but she did it! We went back to the to room and got our paper work and baby stuff and headed out to do Mei Mei's visa picture and medical check. It was really crazy where they did the medical check, their were so many family there. All the agencies had a big push to get these families though so they could get home for the holidays. So we all got in lines and waited, and waited!

Mei Mei pointed a few times, she saw one of the families giving high fives to their little girl and so I tried to give her fives and she smiled and thought that was great. So that was my first smile, things are improving... They have 3 stations at the medical check, they do a ENT (ear, nose and throat) a weight, height and temperature check and the last one was physical check. Mei Mei wasn't to happy about any of them! The last one was the worst, the doctor checked out her scar on her bottom and poked around with her tummy. They asked about BMs and then they asked if she could walk, I had to tell them that I didn't know about the walking thing. I said that on the paper work it told us that she could but I have yet to see her walk. Dan had taken her out to start dressing her when were brought them back in. Dan sat on the floor with her, helped her stand while I held out my arms and she walked very slow and cautiously to me, another first! We have asked a lot of her today, she also ate a few new things she's never tried, HAO BUNG (good job) baby!

We are now back at the hotel room with baby asleep, and a paper work meeting in a few hours and then maybe we'll go shopping later. We had 5 other families join us today, they never have been to the Sha Main island so we thought we'd show them the place...
The meeting went a little longer than planned, so there isn't a whole lot of time. Tomorrow we have a free day so maybe we'll go to the island then. We decided to go the the store and get a few things for baby, we went hungry, never a good idea. While at the store Mei Mei perked up when she saw the candy. We even got a big grin when she was presented with a bag of M&M's. We found a few things to bring back to friends, IF they last that long. I've decided that some foods you enjoy much more when you don't know what is in them...

(Dan) Tonight I saw more of her sweet disposition as I took Mei Mei for a walk down to the play ground. She continues to give her trust very slowly, but as we walked around, I would say the names of things in English. Tree, bush, water, rock, slide, swing, woman, man. Instead of hiding her face in my shoulder she listen and watched; by the time we got  up to our room, I said bye bye to a floor attendant and Mei Mei added her bye bye and waved. (That's a three-point shot just when you needed it.)