Maia Faith has spent the last two months learning what it means to have a family. Family is such a foreign concept to a child raised in an institution.
These kids don't ever leave me alone!
I must say, though, that despite the challenges these adjustments bring, she is doing fantastic.
She's now had two months of nourishing food. Two months of laughter and eye contact. Two months of touch. It's amazing what a little love, a lot of hard work, and a faithful God can do in just two months.
For beginning stats, click HERE. 1 month stats can be found HERE. Be on the lookout for an update on the rest of us soon as well. :)
Size: 32 lbs, 3'3" tall.
Wears: 4t (pulling the waist in tight still)
Mobility: crawling, pulling up to her knees. Will stand with support and come to a standing position on her own. Will also take steps holding onto our hands.
Eating: Mashed veggies, chopped chicken and ground beef, rice, yogurt, applesauce, etc. She will also eat table food that has been finely chopped. Her favorite food by FAR is yogurt. We also have her on a toddler formula designed to help children gain weight. We have discovered that she does not tolerate soy products or cow's milk very well so we are avoiding those. We have added in a little bit of gluten and she seems to be okay with that, but we are keeping it minimal while her gut continues to heal from 8 years of malnutrition.
Institutional behaviors: rocking, thumb sucking, repetitive movements, moaning, hands in front of her face, holding things to her ear, chewing on her tongue. The head banging is almost completely gone now, praise God!
New things she's learned: How to come to standing holding onto something by herself. How to sign "all done". How to say/sign "again". To sit indian style instead of "w" style. That things are WAY more fun when you're not laying down!! She's also learned to say "dada" and understands who "mommy" and "daddy" are. She has learned to mash food with her tongue and to make new sounds (popping her lips, blowing raspberries, "lalalala", and "nnnnn").
Maia appears to be progressing developmentally as well. When she first came home she would cry or whine/stim when going to sleep. Now she lays in her crib and "chatters" to herself. I almost missed this milestone, but it is HUGE. Just as a baby moves from crying to chattering, Maia has done the same!
She is also now fully involved in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. We are working on tolerance of textures, building an arch in her hands, finger strength, core strength, and balance. Also working on tracking, signing/speech, and feeding skills.
(She can do this without Craig's arm for support now - but we don't have a video of it yet.)
We have a long way to go, but we've come SO FAR already. I'm super proud of her as she discovers who God intended her to be - a DAUGHTER who is LOVED. As much as she is loved by us, she is so much more loved by her heavenly Father and I pray will all my heart that she will come to understand that with time.
Maia (then Maria) at 19 pounds. Estimated age 6. This was before the new director came to Pleven and started getting the kids help.
Maia (then Maria) June 2012, age 7. After a hospital stay and some changes made by the new director.
Maia at pickup, age 8. 30 lbs.
Maia, 2 months home, age 8. 32 pounds.
