Seven Weeks!

Hello from the Meyer Family!
Saturday we passed the seven week mark and things continue to get a bit easier each week. I am delighted that February starts tomorrow and we pass little milestones as the days pass.

On Saturday we called a coworker of Mike's who teaches Chinese at St. Xavier. She has agreed to talk to Marie Ling when we call and it has been a godsend. This week I asked Jade to talk to her about wearing her eye patch. Each day we add a minute to how long she wears the patch and I was anxious for Jade to explain how we are trying to strengthen her weak eye. Marie Ling does not like wearing the patch because it really disrrupts her ability to see, but she is usually at least tolerant.

I also asked Jade to talk with ML about the difference between an "indoor voice" and an "outdoor voice". So often she is so loud! Coming from one full fledged extrovert with a well developed teacher voice that says a lot! I guess in the orphanage one had to be loud to be heard. Jade said ML understood the request; Mike and I realize this one will be a learning process, not an event.

On Thursday, Marie Ling went with her class across the street to the public library. ML was very excited and came home with a Barbie book written at about a third or fourth grade level. I knew that the idea of borrowing was likely to be a challenge. Sure enough that night ML came to me with a card she had made and the book and said "For Magda...Birthday!" It is indeed sweet that she wants to give her new sister something nice for her birthday, yet this was another topic for Jade to discuss with our little one. Jade tried to explain how we can go often and borrow several books and ....we take the books back so other boys and girls can read them!  I think she got it. We'll see how it goes when her class goes to the school library this week for the second time.  The fact that we have shelves of books around the house must complicate the situation for a little one trying to understand this crazy new culture. ML is still not willing to sit and be read to...I hope that comes soon, so we can help her learn vocabulary and how words fit together.

Jade said two things are consistent when she speaks to ML. One is that she is full of questions and the other is that no matter what Jade says or how she says it ML says "No" when asked if she understands or agrees. I think her name should be Contrary Mary! The questions Jade shared with me included: Why do we have different shoes for inside and for outside? (I guess she has never had slippers before). Why do Matthias, Magda and Marie Ling have rooms of their own and Daddy and Mommy sleep together? I told Jade that we would have to talk to her about that one at a later time! She also asked why Mommy parks her car in the garage and Daddy parks his outside? She is observant...too many bikes and too much "personal inventory" in the garage to get two cars in at this point.

Tonight ML and Magda put on a dance recital for Mike and me. I videotaped their little show which included a lot more movement from the yonger than the older one; nonetheless, it is so good to see when they are playing together and some movement is better than none for dear Magda. Marie Ling would dance and dance...everyday! She loves it.

Enough for tonight. I need to get some shuteye in case the predicted ice and freezing rain do not come tomorrow morning as predicted.

Michelle and the rest of the M Family.