Shawna update- the good stuff

I've worried about so many things over the past few months.  I've shared those worries with many of you. So, I am going to try to address them.  First.. the good stuff:   She can drink from a bottle.  No problems.  It's even a normal sized nipple!  For this, we are grateful.  Many infants in Chinese orphanages are fed by gravity… a propped bottle with rice-thickened formula that just drips into their mouth.  Babies need to learn how to 'suck' in order to develop the appropriate muscles for speech.  Shawna can suck down a bottle in 10 minutes FLAT! Phew!   Bug bites, lice, and other icky stuff? Nope.  None of that.  I came armed with an entire pharmacy of meds that we haven't needed.   Her nanny said that she got a bath every night before bed.  Hmmm… I think what she meant was … she got a sponge bath every night before bed.  The kid screamed bloody murder when we put her into the tub last night.  Yes- she was very clean when they gave her to us.  But, I don't think that she has ever soaked in a tub before.   She has a few Mongolian spots on her back, but doesn't appear to have any evidence of restraining devices on her arms or legs.  This is also a good thing.  Many young orphans are strapped to a chamber pot for hours until they "go."   Her overall health appears to be pretty good.  No distended belly (Giardia) or bow shaped legs (rickets).  She does have a fever and is pretty congested.  (My guess is some type of upper respiratory infection or strep.  So, we started her on some amoxicillin. )  It's still really early to make any grand statements.  Afterall, she's only been with us for 3 days. Only time will tell.... but so far, we're doing pretty good. Lori M. Baylor