Day 4

A part of the adoption process in China is the dreaded trip to the medical office for the medical exam, which involves little more than a thermometer and a scale, but also a TB test. When we adopted Jun, the clinic was in a rundown building, the offices seemed dirty, and there were lots and lots of screaming children clinging to new parents who looked mostly shell-shocked by the experience.   Every adoptive parent in China dreads and fears the visit to the medical clinic.  It's tough enough forcing your child to get a shot, but when you can't speak the same language and haven't bonded enough to truly be of comfort it's even worse.  (And when you're like me and feel like fainting just entering a medical office of any sort, it's even worse)

So far Lena has handled everything much better than we ever could have imagined, but she has also been very afraid.  Afraid of everything, so we had no idea how the trip would go.  Our guide for the day was very friendly, caring, and very calm.  The clinic has moved to a new location since our last visit.  It is now in a modern building which has lots more room, is very clean, and since there are so few adoptions coming out of China, the amount of screaming children has been reduced to a minimum.  The entire experience seemed much calmer than the last time around.  After getting us checked in, our guide sat with Lena and explained the process of what was going to happen during the visit (she didn't yet explain that the visit involved a TB test, a needle).  Lena handled it like a champ, she was fearful, but complied with each doctor's requests.    

Jun was a little wound up and was having a bit of a tough time, but really was trying to hold it all together.  Jun's new thing is that he likes to hold Lena's hand so he was doing a good job of holding her hand and walking her from place to place.  It was so cute that I sat back and watched all the onlookers pointing them out as we passed by.   But then as the appointment took longer and longer , Jun got more and bored and wanted more and more to play like he does with his friends.  They tackle one another, they jump on one another, they smash into one another, and they scream with delight each time the play gets rougher and rougher.  So, just minutes after the guide explained to Lena that the next step in her day involved a needle,  Jun came flying around the corner at full speed and literally smashed right into Lena –knocking her to the floor with a loud, loud thud.  For a moment nobody said anything and for that short moment I thought it might all pass, but then Lena looked up, opened her mouth, and let out a cry that reminded us all that she has a great set of lungs.  She looked at Jun like she couldn't believe what he had just done.  Jun looked shocked and scared, and immediately ran away, thinking he was facing a world of trouble.  And Todd and I just stood there.   At that moment it looked like the day was going to fall apart, but after some soft, gentle talking to Lena, she calmed down.  Poor Jun really felt sorry.  And then, before we knew it, it was off  to get the shot. Todd carried Jun as has become custom when Lena is being carried. They were quick with the shot and quicker with the candy reward. Without hesitation they offered Jun some candy too and all of a sudden things were much better.

Day 4 was so much better than Day 3 and Day 3 was much better than Day 2.  I know things will go up and down and back and forth.  And it's not like it's not a day filled with stress and super high and low emotions.  –It's only 8PM and I'm exhausted, but all in all I'm amazed at how well things are going for our family.  Lena and Jun are amazing kids and Todd and I are lucky to be their parents. 

I can't end the post without sending a special thanks to all of Jun's friends and teachers (especially Ashley).  You cannot imagine how happy the videos you sent along made him.  He was so happy and so thrilled and felt so special that it made me cry watching him.  Yes, I'm admitting that I cried watching Jun watch a video, it really did mean that much to him.  Thanks again.  –We're taking a couple family trips over the next couple of days so he's going to be working on another special project which we'll send along soon.