It seems like everyone in Arizona has Strep throat. Poor Jerry had to work late making sure everyone got their antibiotics (he is a PA). I put the girls down tonight and they knew they would not see Dad until morning. No big deal really, it's just one night. Right? Madison, the Daddy's girl, was fine with it but Callie on the other hand just did not understand. God bless this child. She loves her Daddy so much. She is having an extremely hard time with bedtime as it is, never mind not having Dad home tonight. I reassured her that Dad WAS coming home. She takes over ONE hour to fall asleep (with a parent in the room), sometimes longer. She is deathly scared at night. True fear. Fear of the (docile) cat and dog (who she loves during the day) fear of under her bed... she is so afraid to even to go the bathroom in the middle of the night that we have had to put pull-ups on her. She once used a plastic bin in their bedroom instead of walking to the bathroom. No thank you! One thing that I do think is making it somewhat tolerable is that the girls share a bedroom. Madison is right there with her. Most of the time Callie sleeps on the floor (again, scared of her bed), a few times I have been able to get her to sleep with Madison in her bed. One night she actually slept in her own bed. We thought we were home free. Well think again :) We have tried having her sleep with us but then we do not get good sleep especially Jerry. He ends up being up most of the night. Any and all suggestions are welcomed! She has talked to me about the orphanage at bedtime. I think it was a scary place for her. She always tells me "No more Tam Binh". I am hoping that as her understanding of English continues, I will be able to explain to her about being safe and not having to be afraid. Right now, the comprehension is just not there. I don't believe that she completely trusts that she won't be brought back to Tam Binh (the orphanage) and I guess why should she. Bless her little heart, she is the happiest child I have ever met). She finds laughter is normal day-to-day living. It's a nice reminder for me to lighten up. She was no doubt the perfect fit for our family. God does know what he is doing. When we started out in this journey, we wanted a baby girl from China. We ended up with an almost 5-year-old girl from Vietnam. I just amazes me how this worked out so perfectly. I would not have changed a thing. Everyone wants a baby. I have a five year old and it is the best!!! Callahan sees life so differently than the typical "USA" child. It is hard to describe but it is a blessing. Jerry and I hear ALL THE time how lucky SHE is. No way, she has brought so much joy to our family, it is unbelievable. Anyone considering an "older child", I know it can be scary but it is so wonderful! Anyways, Callie kept asking me "If Daddy was coming home?" So finally I told her that he was home (remember it takes a long time to get her settled in for the night) and then she gasped, threw her arms around my neck and said "Oh, thank you Momma, thank you!" Like I said God bless this sweet child. So very happy that Daddy came home to her. I weaken and let her go give him a kiss if she would come back and lay down with out fussing. More happiness and not much fussiness afterwards as long as Mommy would stay and Lele, the cat was out of the room!:)
