Mattie and Greg Wright try to help their newly adopted Vietnamese daughter adjust to her new life in America.
It has been a week of fear, uncertainty of what lies ahead.
We have started with the doctor's appointments with Korina; and it has not been pleasant (particularly for her). I don't think we can handle too much more of all her screaming or her biting the doctors as they try to help her.
It also isn't pleasant when we try to communicate with her. How does one communicate with a child whose first language is not English?
We don't know any Vietnamese words! We are at a loss here!
At night, it is especially traumatic. Korina does not want to go to sleep. We put her to bed, put a fresh, clean diaper on her, and hope she'll settle for the night; yet we are usually awakened in the middle of the night by ear-splitting screams of fear. We try to calm her down; sometimes it takes as much as an hour to settle her down to where she's nothing more than a wet, qiuvering lump.
We do know this much about our newly adopted daughter: she does not like crutches or the braces. Whenever we try to get her to use the crutches, attach the braces to her legs, she screams like she is getting killed. Every attempt at doing therapy is nothing but a huge battle of wills--and we usually end up losing; we usually end up giving in to her because we can't stand to hear her howling in misery.
It's a wonder we have any eardrums left, due to all her screaming!
Who ever knew that someone so little could make so much noise??
We have not taken Grace out in public--other than to her different doctors' appointments, that is. She is just too susceptible to any sickness that may come along; we have to try to build up her immune system first. She is still riddled with sores, still has lice (a war we are winning; but still--it's a frustrating process), and is still extremely frightened.
Grace doesn't know what to make of her new surroundings: the foods, the language, the people--everything is so new, so alien, so--foreign--to her. It's no wonder the little girl is so scared!
It is going to take the patience of Job to handle this little child who is now a part of our lives. It is not going to be easy; it is going to take nothing but a miracle to bring her out of her shell.
Sometimes I wonder if we have done the right thing in adopting little Korina into our family; after the week we've had, I'm starting to have my doubts.
Oh my... seldom have I felt so disempowered and helpless at the end of a write... you take us right there, Karen. My heart bleeds for the frustration and pain of this situation... and it pounds! I can well remember I used to have to leave the house, take a five minute walk up the garden when my little ones had screaming fits. This would be one of my worst nightmares. A cliff-hanger for me. Pray, pray, pray... Love, Kate xx
This kept my interest very well written. If there are other parts of the story I hav enot read them yet. I am sure it will work out, kids are a challenge, especially if they are from another place where things are very different and they have obstacles, and adoption is a blessing.
Oftentimes in life we either have to go on or give up. But if we give up, we may have to do it all over again. The Chosen Ones are always given difficult tasks.
You presented it well Karen. Cheers my friend and GodBless!
Just tell her "qus Korina, tôi yêu cac" "dear Korina, I love you"
but perhaps she is too little to understand the mean of the words.
A good warmth hug will reassure her and she will understand the gesture as a welcoming one.
Georg
Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...patience, patience. It will work out. You do ask valid questions: how does "someone so little make so much noise?" and "how do you communicate with a child whose first language is not English?" Love will temper the tantrums and frustrations, when Korina sees that her parents are not trying to hurt her, but help...it'll come. Excellent, Karen.
The adjustment of any new child to a family unit is always difficult but when the child is probmablic or disabled the stress factor triples...only love and a lot of patience can help in these scenarios
