Fortunately, during these important discussions, Francesca is usually busy drawing on the wall or sneaking a lollipop out of my purse, so she misses the bulk of the things that she can't do.
Then, she goes and does them.
Every specialist I met told me emphatically Francesca would not be able to drink from a straw because her cleft palate is not repaired. Never, never, not at all. I believed them, so I lugged around a sippy cup (without the valve, because she can't do that either) everywhere we went. This was a pain. I don't even like to carry a purse around. I just stuff my credit card in my pocket (don't ask me how many times I have to order new cards when they mysteriously get lost). I usually ended up loosing the sippy cup or dropping it in a disgusting place, like the floor of the bathroom at the mall.
One day, we were at a restaurant (oh, how I love restaurants) and Francesca wanted a drink RIGHT NOW. Instead of patiently waiting, she grabbed Victoria's cup.
I looked sadly at her, watching how hard she was trying to get the water with the straw. She was twisting her mouth every which way. Poor little child.
Until I realized that she was actually drinking with the straw!!!
Doctors: 0
Francesca: 1,000,000,000,000!!!!!!
Don't mess with my beverage! You showed them Francesca!
Someone asked me if Francesca is talking yet? (blogger wouldn't let me comment on my own blog!) Yes, she is quite the little vocalist. She has a lot to say; paragraphs of ideas flow from her lips. We don't always understand her, but she certainly knows what she is saying. You should hear her tattle on Catherine. Her favorites words are "Victoria", "no" and "elephant".
Francessca rocks! Love U!
ReplyDeleteI can't help but wonder, what would her life be like, had she not found a family? I remember, how thin she was when she came home. Perhaps it is best, not to think about this. She has a Mama now, she is loved, she receives medical care and nutrition - incl. fish oil from Iceland even... ;)
ReplyDeleteFrancesca is leaving the medical professionals puzzled now, she is too busy conquering her new world to worry about their shortcomings - this fairy tale has a happy ending...
It is just, I can't forget about all the others, the ones, who have not found a family, may never find a family...
Karen
Karen,
DeleteYou have adopted four children and made their lives better. We are all human beings. Thus, it is hard to take care of every orphan. In order to provide more to your children, maybe some college funds when they grow up, we need to forget other children sometimes.
I think that God will be proud of you, as you're a beautiful person and wonderful Mom.
Francesca- YOU ARE AWESOME SAUCE!!!!! Doctors can be so dense sometimes....
ReplyDeleteLOL... You show em Francesca!
ReplyDeleteYEAH!!!! So happy to hear it - what an amazing child!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for answering my question :-D
I want her to blow the straw wrapper in the doctor's face, next visit! :D
ReplyDeleteThe doctor may be wrong, but he/she may not necessary be a bad person. Please be kind, esp. if you want to be your kids' role model.
DeleteAw, come on. Have a sense of humor. I don't really expect her to bring a paper-wrapped straw and blow it in the doctor's face at their next visit. Puh-lease.
DeleteI am thinking of bringing in a straw to the doctor just to show them what she can do!
DeleteFrancesca is such a cutie! Doctors are talking about Statistics, which means 50% of children will be like this or like that. However,Francesca can be an exception:
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, you're a very loving Mom. I cannot imagine how busy you are with six children, esp. two are babies who need surgeries.
Secondly, I believe that Francesca is a very healthy and energetic child. That helps!
I am not sure about the speaking part though. Many of my Chinese friends' children were born in US. Some of them cannot speak anything until almost 3; they can understand both English and Chinese though. However when they began speaking, they can speak both English and Chinese beautifully.
I am not sure about your daughter's case. I think that it will help if you can find a good doctor to help her. You have a limited time frame to help her learn basic skills that other children already have. This one year will be critical.
I have a friend who is a medical doctor. (She is smart, as she got a Master's from MIT.) She taught her son sign language before he was one. She told me that as her son cannot talk, he will use sign language to communicate with her. According to her, sign language made her son smarter and relaxed. I am not sure whether her theory is true. But if I am a Mom, I will consider her approach.
Go Francesca!
ReplyDeleteI'd love an update sometime about how she is dealing with the changes to her fingers and toes post surgery. It must be a huge change for her! I'd love to hear how that's going.
I've also wondered - I noticed her fingers are separated differently on each hand. Did they do that purposefully or did the structure of each hand just require they proceed differently?
Way to go, Francesca! You are a precious miracle and we are all pulling for you. :)
ReplyDeleteYayy, Franesca!!! Yep, she'll only continue to amaze you:) Hugs and happy dances to ya!
ReplyDeleteI love watching the progress of your girls! Miracles are happening.
ReplyDeleteIf blogger won't let you comment, try switching browsers. Blogger and IE don't get along very well.
If you haven't already done so, come find me over at my new blog http://fromsurvivaltoserenity.blogspot.com. I had to shut my old one down without warning and the final post never made it to most feed readers. So, many don't know my old blog has gone private and that I've moved.
Thanks so much for telling me! I really like reading your blog!
DeleteYou go girl!!! That is awesome! :-D
ReplyDelete