Dreams really do come true

It's 4:30 in the morning Changsha time and I can't sleep, but it's all for good reason. I woke up to this little hand reaching out for my face and for the 800th time today, I just melted. Sha Sha canned the kids' cot idea from the first day and wanted to sleep in the big bed. The first night she said we had to sleep in the cot, but by night she didn't appear to mind so much. She slept on the far side with her big blue cat in the middle of us. Last night she wanted to sleep in the middle of us which I thought was a huge step in her beginning to trust us. She LOVES Paul and it's beyond amazing to see just how much she has instantly transformed him. He's already so wonderful with her and I can't wait for you all to see this awesome relationship they are forming. When she first got into bed, Paul laid down with her and when I came out of the bathroom she was lying her head on him and holding his hand, she did this all voluntarily. I have attached a picture, that was melt # 789:) We noticed when she is tired she likes to rub our faces, she likes to rub Paul's stubble on his face. She also appears very comfortable when her head is on my lap and her legs on Paul's, I think that is her way of just making sure we are close.



Now for seriously one of the most amazing moments that happened today. It was just the three of us at lunch. Sha ordered Spaghetti Bolgenese which we couldn't believe but the best was when she started eating it she actually took her fork and spoon and started to twirl the pasta, we just cracked up....also attached a picture of that knowing she will make my Italian side of the family very proud. The waitress (Zoe) and her then started to talk and unfortunately the waitress did not have good English so she couldn't tell us what they were talking about. Paul and I started to get concerned because the tone of the conversation started to sound serious. We were like "What if she is telling the waitress her new parents are crazy-lol". This conversation went on for about 10 minutes and at one point the waitress handed Sha a bracelet that was on her wrist. She was able to tell us that Sha could keep this but I could sense there was something else and again being worried I thought Sha may had said she was unhappy or sad to her. When we were going to leave, another waitress came running up to us with Zoe and wanted to translate their conversation to her. She told us Sha told her that these are her new parents and that she is going on a long plane ride to the USA. She told her and I quote, "she was afraid of the plane crashing however she knew she had to get on the plane because she had an opportunity to go to college one day and to live out her dreams". She mentioned again Harvard to the waitress. The waitress translating then told us Zoe wants her to have this bracelet to remind her of this moment and to always stay true to her dreams. Yes, true story and Paul and I were literally hysterically crying tears. Later that night Clare stopped by and I told her the story because I wanted her to see what Sha's version of it was. Clare asked her about the bracelet and Sha wanted me to tell the story, when Clare mentioned Harvard Sha just lit up again and told her she wants to be a doctor so she can help other people. We all just hugged each other:)


We just had another great day, she continues to just amaze us. She will not go anywhere now with out her translator,in fact when she was in the shower tonight she asked me for it which I panicked thinking if she gets this wet we'll be lost forever. However she understood me when I asked her to lean outside with it. The little sunshine just wanted her doll;) She is already saying words like, "computer, baby, please, thank you, can you help me, i'm ok, stop, and my favorite, go go go" that's when she wants to leave the room or restaurant. She seems to be doing really well, we all seem to be doing really well.


We also went swimming again, discovered a love for a beach ball, found an "interesting" playroom in the hotel and went out for Chinese with Clare;) Pics are also attached. Oh one last thing, Sha found a the video I did of her finished bedroom which was great because Clare was there so she could explain things to her. The part when I opened the closet and she saw all her clothes her face lit up. She hasn't grasped the concept that most of them are here right now but she saw the blue dress Paul got her and she went crazy, especially when I pulled it out of the suitcase.:)

Sorry for the long blog. We received everyone's wonderful emails sending their love, support and prayers and we want you all to know we've read them all and it truly meant so much to us. We would love to email you all individually however we thought the blog may be the best way to update you all.