It's been over a month since I last posted. The time has really flown by! We've had Victoria for..I've lost count, let's see...almost 3 months now. (She has been home for almost 2 and 1/2.) Like I've told many people who ask how it's going, we take two steps forward and one back, but that's parenting, adoptive or not. It's
beginning to feel "normal" now. Victoria is doing well and continuing to adjust. She continues to get along with her sisters like they've known each other all their lives. John and I are a little more slowly, but surely, adjusting to being her parents.
Victoria has adjusted to our lifestyle and language very well. Our days are very busy, but routine. She has learned the basic colors, numbers to 10, and is now learning letters and the sounds that they make. She is very bright and picks things up quickly. Victoria loves singing songs from her classes at church. She speaks mostly in broken English now and rarely uses a Bulgarian word. Her pronunciation and vocabulary are getting better all the time.
We have also begun weekly physical therapy for her at Gillette Children's Clinic in Maple Grove. (It's such a blessing not to drive to St. Paul every week!) She is so excited that she can ride "her bike" there (a modified tricycle) and is so proud of herself! We hope that the physical therapy will help her to build some strength where possible and maintain her strength as long as she can. We also have a walker on order. We'll see how long it will take for her to adapt to it.
We continue to encourage Victoria to be as independent as possible. She dresses herself, makes her bed, takes her dishes to the counter after meals and helps with cleaning up toys and folding laundry. We encourage her to walk around the house as much as she can. She loves attention and praise for doing a good job. We can see her maturing little by little and know that we have many years of orphanage imprint to unwrap. She has done so well to this point - something to be very thankful for.
