Aynsli update...

Sorry its been a while, we have been settling in at home and getting adjusted as a family of 6! We have also had lots of medical appointments including cardiology, audiology, bloodwork, vaccines, cleft team, early intervention, and I'm sure more that I'm forgetting!! Aynsli is doing very well, when you consider everything she has been through.  Four different hotels and a new home in 6 weeks, changing a language and moving halfway across the world (and gaining 3 lovingly smothering brothers!).  She eats almost anything we give her, but does not raid the pantry or eat all day.  She takes an awesome 2-3 hour nap every afternoon, and if it happens to be later than normal she does fine with that too.  She goes to bed at 7:30 every night with a bottle of whole milk and sleeps all night until at least 6:30.  And in between she plays with toys and gets carted around from place to place. 

Obviously she can't talk yet because of her cleft palate, however the one word she can say is "mama."  So thankful for that!  Since getting Aynsli 6 weeks ago, we have taught her many signs and she picked them up so fast.  So now she can communicate what she needs, more food, please, all done, night night, hi, bye, etc.  She seems to  understand a lot already in English- its amazing! Only growing up in a Mandarin country and now she understands most of what I say in English! Every day its amazing to watch the blessing of Aynsli.  She has also made huge strides with gross motor development.  She could only walk, sit or lay down when we got her, but couldn't get in between on her own.  Now she can sit from lying down, or stand up from lying or sitting, and she has a much easier time getting around by herself.  She still can't do stairs yet, but I'm ok with that one it stops her from trying them!

Now it hasn't been all roses either, but when I think of where she has come from we feel truely blessed.  She definitely is a toddler and lets you know when she doesn't like you saying "no" to something! And it has also been interesting getting to know, essentially, a stranger living in your home.  But every day we feel more bonded to her and she seems to be attaching well to us.  We have been enforcing the typical adoption attachment techniques such as Lucas and I being the only ones to change her diaper, feed her, comfort her, and really care for her.  So naturally she comes to us when she has a need that needs to be met.  We are so thankful for this smooth transition. 

Aynsli is scheduled to have surgery to repair her soft palate on June 11.  She will also have tubes put in her ears as there is much fluid behind both of them.  Once she has healed we can begin speech therapy in hopes of her speaking! Prayers are appreciated for things to go smoothly and that there would be no complications and that the boys staying home with family would be safe.  We will be traveling up to Massachusetts for the surgery at Shriners children's hospital. We are praising God for a great report at the cardiologist regarding her heart murmur.  She still has a murmur however the structure and function of her heart are normal! YAY!

Aynsli is a very content, resilient and happy girl! We thank God for the blessing of being able to have her in our family.  We look forward to all that God has in store for her in the future- mighty things!