The Reason for the Journey

We had a wonderful birthday party for her this past weekend at a local park. My friends helped organize this wonderful party and it was a great reflection of how much she is truly loved. We rented a Tinkerbell bounce house and she really loved jumping and playing in there. She loved it so much that she didn't want to eat the delicious food or open her gifts, she just wanted to bounce, oh and play with the balls that we had as favors for the kids. Her vocabulary has really grown this past month, she can say ball very clearly, bubble and balloon, so we have the B’s covered. The other letters are coming along too. Her favorite things are Tinkerbell, Yo Gabba Gabba, Mickey Mouse, balls and bubbles. She likes to eat watermelon, noodles, potato chips and shrimp chips. She says ooooh and points when she likes something and says yummmm to the sight of her favorite foods.
We had our 6 month post-placement visit from the social worker last week and she was amazed at Leilani’s development. She said she usually sees kids that are significantly behind in motor skills and social interaction. She said that if you compared Leilani to her two-year old, there was no difference. That was great news. We thought she was doing really well, but it was nice to hear it from a professional who visits lots of kids.
Today, she went to her well-baby visit. Her pediatrician was very pleased with her progress. On her first visit, she weighed a little over 18 pounds. Now, 6 months later, she weighs 24 pounds. She was 28.5 inches tall, now 31.5 inches tall, her head is now 46.25 centimeters. All her measurements are below the 25th percentile, but appropriate for her and she is growing steadily.
Words can’t express how very blessed we feel. There are times we find ourselves just staring at her, amazed at the things she does. We have been given a gift far beyond our wildest imagination and we thank God everyday for her in our lives. Sometimes people saw how lucky she is to have found a family, but we are the lucky ones, she has enriched our lives and given us a great measure of joy and happiness.