No shots, sort of, and a note from the principal

Annabelle had a doctor’s appointment today. We’ve been able to use Google’s translator to “talk” with her, and we reassured her that she wouldn’t be getting any more shots today. The last time she saw a doctor she got poked in the arm 5 times. While we technically didn’t lie to her, the doc did draw 4 vials of blood from her little arm today. Kim took a couple of Chinese young ladies with her to smooth the communication process. Joyce and Evangeline were wonderful! Joyce actually went into the room with Annabelle and Kim, and was able to help Annabelle understand what was going on. Kim thought she might have to comfort Annabelle (read ice cream), but our brave little girl said she wasn’t scared, and that the blood-taking didn’t hurt a bit.

Our doc also gave us some direction about Annabelle’s diet. We have been a little concerned that she’s only eating ramen. Doc’s words: Don’t stress. Let her eat what she wants until she adjusts to life in our house. Keep putting our food on her plate, and let her taste what were eating. She’ll be fine on ramen, fruit, and a vitamin, at least for a while. Her preliminary eye exam confirmed what we suspected—she’ll need glasses. And they couldn’t get her to understand the hearing test, even with Joyce’s help. Annabelle would smile when she heard the beep, but they couldn’t get her to vocalize the beep when she was supposed to. We’ll have her hearing tested again once she has a better grasp of English.

We got an email from Annabelle’s principal today. She’s really enjoying school. She was up at 6 this morning, way ahead of the alarm clock’s ringing. Principal DeShong said that she’s doing really well, and seems more at ease than most of the English-speaking transfer students. She showed me her math paper today, and was beaming! She’s starting to repeat phrases that we say, which is nice. But her rendition of “Show daddy” sounded a lot like “Shoot daddy.” When Kim and the girls started laughing, she began to repeat it. Oh well. She also started trying to teach us Mandarin words. We must not be very good students, cause she laughed at us. A lot. We’re not learning her language as well as she is learning ours.

We’re settling back into our routines around the house. I was re-stringing a guitar in the living room this afternoon in preparation for worship team rehearsal, and Annabelle got wide-eyed. She was staring at me last Sunday morning at church when we began singing. I wonder what her reaction will be to me leading worship at midtown this week. Sadie had basketball tonight, and Annabelle went with her to watch. As they were walking out of the gym, Annabelle tried to dribble the ball—right off the steps and under a waiting car! She doesn’t have an awareness of parking lot safety yet, so we have to watch her closely when we get around moving vehicles.

I don’t imagine that we’ll ever know the story behind her abandonment. But for the life of me, I can’t fathom why she wasn’t adopted before now. She’s a beautiful, smart, precious little girl. Even with the language barrier and the changes she’s faced, she’s showing a sparkling, funny, pleasant personality. She’s a perfect addition to our family. I can only reason that God had her picked out specifically for us.

We’ll keep her!