Answered prayers......

Two big issues on our journey to Sarah have been number one that since she was seven when she entered the orphanage they did not feel she needed any immunizations so no documented immunizations. She has had immunizations, she has the scars to show it and told our guide she had shots. Number two, she had a positive PPD in her orphanage but chest xray and CT scan negative for TB, The chest xrays both showed something funky which was diagnosed as advanced bronchitis. I brought meds with me from our pediatrician just in case but since She has been with me she has no cough, fever or any symptoms. I listened to her chest, totally clear. I have not given her any meds except Mucinex for some nasal congestion. The doctor our agency sent to see her agreed her lungs sound great. He said the xray results must be a mistake? She has an appointment to be seen by our pediatrician on the 13th. She had to have a PPD on Saturday at the clinic along with the required medical exam. I have prayed hard about both these issues all along. Each time we had a delay in our paperwork or the process, I prayed the delay would mean the timing would be right for the immunization law to change. When we went back to have the TB test read, I held my breath, not sure whet their reading would be. I measured it to be 8-9mm. In the US under 10mm is negative. Well she tested NEGATIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If we had traveled one week sooner this little girl would have had to have had 7-9 immunizations and a TB test at one time...... I truly believe that the timing was as it was meant to be. Many, many prayers answered!

Sarah Lan Lan is doing very well! She is handling no better. I let her watch the DVD's I brought on the laptop or the learning English DVD's. She also gets to watch the Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf DVD's in Mandarin. No more Chinese TV. It caused way to MANY issues when we had to turn it off......She is much better this way! She is also still learning that I can not buy her everything she asks for bu she has gotten some nice things.
On Monday we went to the Pearl Market with our group. It was a seven story mall with just jewelry. Our guide took us to what she said was the best store to buy pearls. They had sea pearls and fresh water pearls. You pick out the pearls and they make the jewelry in front of you. Very neat to see. I did get a few gifts for the girls to have when they are older and a few other small gifts. Very nice stuff! It was very hot and very muggy yesterday so we just bought what we wanted and went right back to the hotel. We spent most of the day hanging out with another little girl Autumn and her mom Pam. Autumn is seven and deaf. She is AMAZING! She is soooooo smart! No issues communicating for this little sweetie. Her mom is amazing too! We are enjoying our time together. These two girls are going to love to have new sisters! We spent some time at a local park with other adoptive families. We had lunch out at the little deli next to the hotel. It was very nice to sit outside to eat. The weather was perfect yesterday.

Today, Tuesday morning we are waiting in our room until our guide gets back from the US Consulate. If there are any issues or questions with our paperwork, she will call us. Once she is back we are free to leave our room. Our guide did call us last night to ask me what school Sarah Lan Lan went to in China/ I had no idea. She said the Consulate will want to know. I woke Sarah Lan Lan up and she talked to the guide on the phone. The guide said she does know but she will need Sarah Lan Lan to write the name of the school out in characters on paper today in case it is needed. So far I have not heard from her... Oh, our guide just called. The paperwork is all GOOD!!!!!!!! We are good to go now!!!!!!! She still needs Sarah Lan Lan to write out the name of the school but she can do that this afternoon. The next step is at 1:50 we meet our guide and take a bus to the US Consulate to take our Oath together as a group. We will all raise our hands and swear that everything in our paperwork is true! That is it! No pictures allowed. On Thursday afternoon our guide will pick up Sarah Lan Lan's US Visa! We leave for Hong Kong after that! We are oh so ready to be on our way home! This week is going QUICKLY!!!!
We are going to go get some lunch now. We hope you all have a great night!
Brenda and Sarah Lan Lan