A little about my Darling

Before I start going on and on about Alex, I want to thank our family, friends, old neighbours, teachers, TD peers - essentially everyone for your wonderful comments. I love logging in and checking to see what messages we have. I feel so far away from home that it is wonderful to know that so many people are thinking and praying about us.
Now on to Alex. As you know Alex was from an orphanage. She was in a metal crib with a wood plank for the last (almost) 9 months of her life. There were almost 50 other children in the room with 2 nannies to look after them all. She was hardly ever held and was kept on a strict schedule.
These girls don't cry, they have learnt from an early age that no one will come. Alex was very content when we would put her down on the bed or floor or anywhere. She didn't care. She is used to spending hours upon hours entertaining herself. Because of that Alex self stimulates - uses her hands, her mouth, her feet to entertain. The first day it was hard for her to even reach out and touch us with her hands or look us in the eyes. After stickers on my nose and constant touching she is starting to respond. Alex also no longer wants to be put down. She has realized that it is more fun to be held by us. She still will not reach out to be picked up but for the first time today when a complete stranger reached out and wanted to hold her (before I could yell 'step away from my baby'), she turned back into me and away from the stranger. I started to cry. This is great progress in only a couple days.
We have noticed that she is almost limp like and very quiet when we are out - originally this was all the time but has now decreased to only when we leave the hotel room. This is shock and way too much stimuli. I will be increasing the time we spend together in the room. As all of the girls are the same way, site seeing was cancelled for today and the orphanage visit has been postponed until Thursday. I will not be taking Alex back to the orphanage. I believe that this could be very traumatic for her, so crazy confusing. Brian is going to go and film everything for us including the restaurant where she was abandoned. I am writing a prayer for Brian to say at this spot for her birth mom - we are forever joined.
So that about covers it for Alex's emotional state. We knew that it would be hard for her coming from an orphanage but man is she beautiful and spunky and I know that with His healing she will be well.
Her physical state - oh boy! Her cough and congestion is getting better. She is quite the sweater but it is crazy hot. She has a rash all over her body especially her face so I took her to the hospital. Heat rash! You will see from the new pic that she is coated in lotion now. Of course there was an old Chinese remedy given as well and so now she has soaked in a fine blend of four teas as well! Her bum spots are getting better but not as quickly as I would like. Perhaps the tea bath might help? Her welt on her head (scabies) was shown to the doctor and I recieved ointment for that. The total visit including the costs of all the herbs and drugs? $11US:)
So I wanted to give everyone an update about Alex but I really don't want anyone to be worried as all these things - physical and emotional can be treated. So we will. Some quickly some slowly.
Before I log off. To all those attending the Watsa Family Cottage weekend - wish Alex could be there to meet everyone, learn a little tennis and play some ping pong. We will need to add a new competition - gymnastics. Alex is incredibly flexible:) Have fun, loving you all and wishing I could be there for the poker, laughs and multiple conversations at one moment!
Talk soon