Battle scars

When Julia first arrived home every bump was a cause for mass hysteria.  There were tears.  There were screams.  There were A LOT of hugs and kissses.  But, gradually, most of this has stopped.  This weekend Julia fell off the swing.  This drew a few tears, but nothing like her past screams.  She fell in the garden and cut her knee.  She didn't even notice until I saw the blood seeping thru her pants.  She was not concerned.  She got a bandaid!  Awhile later she slipped in the driveway and cut the same knee open.  Again, not worried.  Another bandaid was called for!  Yesterday she fell out of the wagon and cut her elbow.  Yet another bandaid!  Battle scars!  She has bruises, too, and shows them off very proudly.  She has played!  This is something very new to her.  This morning she was looking at the pictures from her orphanage and telling me how she had to sit and watch TV all the time.  She wasn't allowed to walk around or go outside to play.  This explains her lack of muscle tone and the reason she had no idea what to do with her body at the playground.  The girl has rolls!  She told me the babies had strong legs with muscles.  She didn't.  I said now she can go out and play and she proudly rolled her sleeve up to show me her muscles.  She says she wasn't happy at the orphanage, but she is very happy now.  And she is.  Notice the sparkles?  Still the internal battle scars are there....they pop up once in awhile......like the sleeping on the floor......why the floor?  She talks to herself, too.  But, that is starting to fade, too.  Now, she looks at books!  She is learning that slapping isn't a good thing, but hugs are awesome!  She has come such a long way in such a short time.  She hasn't been home a month!  And this weekend......her first birthday party!  For her!  She will be 9 on Monday.  She doesn't yet understand what this is yet.....but, she soon will!  And I happen to know she's getting a pretty awesome present!  Something she will just love!  Wait till you see!  Wait till she sees! 

 n