Pictures from the last month

Here are some various pictures from June. Enjoy!

1 month later

I haven't written in a while- well it has pretty much been survival mode here at the Gray house. I wanted to give you all an update while I could. Olivia is doing so well. She had giardia (sp?) which is a parasite in the intestines. Most of the girls who came from her orphanage had this but it does cause intense discomfort in the stomach and bowels. I mentioned how little she was eating when we came home and this was probably the cause. Once we got her on medication for a couple of days she found her appetite. She was eating 13-15 ounces a day and now she is close to 30 with a couple of meals with solid food as well. It is so comforting to see her actually eating well. I hope to see her put on some weight soon. She has had a cold so I think that may have slowed her down but it is better now.

She is getting stronger everyday. She is bouncing like crazy, sitting up (most of the time) without assistance, pushing up with her arms and getting one leg under her moving toward crawling. It is hard to believe that she is the same little girl who couldn't hold her head up 6 weeks ago. She is smiling and interacting with people but defiantly likes to be in her Mom's arms while she meets new people. We have been slowly introducing her to people in our world and it is going very well. She loves her sister playing with her and singing silly songs. She is a little leery of her brother as he often has trouble with the gentle part of loving on her.

We have all been adjusting to life with 3 kids. It is a switch and yesterday as two kids were yelling and I was changing the other's poopy diaper I was thinking back to before kids and how peaceful life was. However, our life is so rich with laughter and love that it makes all of the hard moments possible. Pictures to follow.

Love, The Grays

News on the homefront

Well we have been back for over a week now so here I am with a new post. Olivia has been doing okay. She is not eating or sleeping well which has made it rough for me as Patrick continues to work nights. The past 2 nights she has come to bed with me so that at least I can rest when I am bouncing her. The hardest part is when the 2 others get up in the morning. Coffee has been my friend since Joshua was born and we have gotten closer since miss Olivia has arrived. We took her to the doctor on Friday and as part of routine check up with an internationally adopted child they did blood work and took a stool sample. Actually these things were ordered and I had to go to the hospital to get it done. The blood sample was quite something. First I forgot to go on Friday when my two older kids were not with me so we had to go on Saturday- without Patrick because it was the middle of the day and that is when he sleeps. So I want you all to have this picture in your head- Olivia is in the front carrier, Joshua is in the stroller and Cambria is walking beside. Can't you just imagine what was going through the hospital workers' minds when I come up and tell them that the littlest one needs to have a blood sample taken. Anyway, because she is so small the most they can take from her is 5ml which is exactly the amount that they need to complete all the tests the doctor has ordered. If anything needs to be redone we will have to go back. They spent 15 mins trying to find a vein in her arm or leg to draw from but to no avail. Finally they took it from her hand with me pinning her down and two people holding her arms. After we were done they gave me the cup for the stool sample and said it had to come back with in 24 hours of "deposit". So Sunday we collected and this morning we took the sample back. This afternoon they called and said that she has girardia (sp?). This is an intestinal bug which is very uncomfortable. This is probably the reason that she doesn't eat and sleep well. We have medicine and hope to be done with this nastiness in 10 days or less. We had thought that she had acid reflux, however, now we are wondering if that is correct or if everything has been this parasite in her. Time will only tell but I am looking forward to some sleep.

On another front- Cambria and Joshua are adjusting very well to their sister. Joshua forgets that he is twice her size and I have looked up to see him sitting on her as well as laying on her to give her a hug. He is very sweet- he even says "hug" as he is doing it. I have been working with him on this. Cambria would really like her to be old enough to play with now- but enjoys loving on her.

Olivia's favorite thing is the Johnny Jump Up. She bounces with gusto. She is getting better at sitting up on her own but is in no way ready to do it without help. Maybe when she feels better.

I will attach pictures for you to enjoy- these are some more from China.

Love, all of the Grays