Found a pediatrician familiar with babies adopted from China. I’m starting to feel like an actual parent. I called and made arrangements for us to go in to see him once we get the referral. He’ll consult with us on the medicals of the child and prescribe medicines to take with us to China.

There is also a health program at a children’s hospital in Cincinnati that is designed especially for internationally adopted children. I know two local families who adopted from Russia who have used it. I reminded James about it last night and he said instantly, “We’re definitely taking her there right away when we get home.” So I guess we’re taking her there right away when we get home. :) :)

One interesting thing I recently learned…you’d think that being in the SWI with all those other babies would have produced a sooper dooper immune system, however we’ll need to keep her isolated for a while when we get home in order to give her a chance to build a resistence to germs here in the U.S. Interesting, that. Foreign germies. We plan to keep her isolated for a good long while anyway, for attachment reasons.

Speaking of attachment…there are numerous ways she could react to us on adoption day (I really hate the term “gotcha day”).

1.) She could come to us calmly, play and interact and instantly “seem” to be fine — this would indicate she’s never really attached to any one person and as a coping mechanism simply “attaches” to any old person in order to get her needs met. I really hope it’s not this one. Seems the hardest to deal with, ultimately.

2.) She could come to us calmly and be unresponsive and “wet noodle” like. — This would indicate that she’s pretty much in shock.

3.) She could pitch a fit and instantly reach back for her nannies — the most hopeful and healthy reaction in my mind. Means she emotes easily and has perhaps attached before.

4.) She could come easily to me and reject James.

5.) She could go easily to James and reject me.

6.) She could reject both of us. (Ouch!)

They say the first 48-72 hours are pretty much hell, but in 95% of the cases after that period the baby begins to adjust and accept. In any case, we expect it to be rough at first. We expect her to grieve. She’ll probably go through the whole cycle of significant loss once she figures out her little life has been disrupted in a major way for the THIRD time. I expect — Denial, anger, depression and then, finally, acceptance.

I plan to use a baby hip carrier as much as possible (if she’ll let me), especially in China, since strangers (it’s a cultural thing) tend to just pick babies up willy nilly. If she’s in a carrier, this will not be possible. Also, it’s good for attachment. Once we get home we intend to become hermits for a good long while. Easy for me since I’m kind of a hermit anyway.