First, here's a GREAT pic that Robert's sister, Nancy took at the airport of Robert holding Mary - I absolutely love this picture because it truly captures both Father and daughter beaming, comfortable and in love with each other while also enjoying being HOME!!!
Well, the Busindas' are finally getting to a normal pattern of sleep and Mary is ALMOST on Tennessee time! The night before last, Mary was down for 9 hours and last night, she actually slept 12 hours - HOO-RAY!!!!!!!! We're noticing how Mary has a tendancy to wake up for a little bit, babble to herself and then go back to sleep. Mom had about 12 hours last night as that's the most I've slept since we've been back home. Robert's been able to rest when Mary has but Mom hasn't (Nap OR bedtime - I can tell I'm a 'first time worrying Mom!) so Robert kept close eye on Mary last night while I shnoozed in the back bedroom. NOW, I think we're all up to speed on our rest AND a schedule - WOO-HOO!!!!
Next, Mary had a visit to the International Adoption Clinic at Vanderbilt Children's hospital yesterday - it was an AWESOME visit and I'm sooooo grateful for such a positive report. First of all, as Mom, Dad and Mary were well rested, we put Mary in the car seat for the first time - went smooth as a baby's butt!!!! She was sooo good and smiled at both of us when I would turn around to look at her and was just so wonderful to hang out with - no tears! As we were driving to the hospital, looking at my happer and well-rested daughter, looking at my husband and holding onto his hand, it felt soo good, so sweet to be this 'family', to be more than just husband and wife but father and mother with a daughter as well......still can't describe it. Another great thing was that Mary also reached out to Robert to hold her, carry her and love on her in addition to me so it looks like she's really getting it into her heart that now - she has a mother and father = a family!!!!!
To sum the 4 hour hospital visit, Mary's growth parameters were measured according to an American growth chart, not Chinese and where weight, height, and head circumference were all within normal limits!!!! We made follow up appointments with the occupational and developmental therapist and her appointment with the cardiologist is next week. That was a given as to her repaired heart defects as well as the murmur that she has so we look forward to that visit. Mary also had a chest x-ray and then the LAST STOP WAS THE LAB!!!! 15 vials of blood they took from baby girl as dad held her and mom distracted her. (I think this was harder on Dad than Mary!) When they first inserted the needle, she did cry but then the cry became a whimper - apparently she knew the drill! She was absolutely amazing during the whole time and even the nurse exclaimed that Mary was their best patient that day! Wrapping it up, Mary was waving to the nurses and blowing kisses and they were so sweet to give her a little stuffed animal! Vanderbilt ROCKS! So with all of that, we'll follow up with the labs and poop specimen mom got today with our pediatrician, Dr. Donna Lett - she's the WOMAN! We're believing for another good report.
Lastly, the Businda family came over this past Saturday night for a cook out and while Mary was slow to warm up, by the end of the night, she reached out to Grandpa, played with Kenny - who was hysterical, opened up her awesome gifts from Grandpa, Diane, Jacob and Nancy and it was a great introduction to the wonderful family that I already know and such a kind and Christlike family who loves and embraces this gift from God! Today and yesterday have been just, very, VERY cool as this immediate family has been chilling, and spending some intimate and fun time with each other - Mary is definitely becoming more and more comfortable and her bond with Robert is getting stronger and stronger! Also, she's babbling, cooing and communicating more so we'll be starting just a couple of 'signs' and start the baby sign language soon!!!!
We're headed to Wal-mart for a short trip (hopefully) and I'll be posting at the end of this week! 'Til then, enjoy these other pictures Aunt Nancy took of Mary at our cook-out!!!!
