Adventures in Parenting

Yesterday was a hard but good day for Jade.  We were scheduled to visit the orphanage and meet the foster family.  After breakfast we came back to the hotel room and she got a nose bleed.  It was pretty bad and when she saw the blood she freaked out.  It took me awhile to calm her down.  We decided that the best thing to do was for us girls to stay in the room while Steve and Elias went to the orphanage and meet the foster family.  Seeing all the kids that were SN really upset Elias, but we were able to talk to him and help him understand.
Jade's foster mom really wanted to see her.  We knew that this was going to be difficult but we allowed it.  We met in the hotel lobby.  When Jade first saw her she was mad then she went to her.  After about 10 minutes it was time for her to leave.  The foster mother handed Jade to me and Jade started crying.  I brought her up to the  room and was unable to calm her down.  When Steve got to the room I put her on the floor. Steve was in the other room and she walked up to him and gave him a hug and cried.  She sat on the floor and Steve sat down next to her.  He was mirroring her moves.  Until now she would not let him hold her or take care of her.  She climbed into his lap and for the first time calmed down.
From then on they have had a connection.  She has now designated him her bathroom buddy.  Ever time she needs to use the bathroom she grabs his hand.  She is also playing with him a lot.  Last night she saw Elias give me a kiss good night so she grabbed me and gave me a kiss.  Then she saw Papa and called him over and gave him a kiss.   At 2 O'clock this morning she climbed into our bed and said Papa and cuddled up with Steve.  I think that she now officially has Steve wrapped around her finger.

She has slowly started coming back to me.  It is great that Steve and her got to bond.  It was hard that she was pushing me away but we were able to reconnect.
Today we will get Jade's passport and some other paperwork, and tomorrow we leave XiNing and head to Nanning.