the one with the free day

today we slept in and then went to breakfast.  it's crowded later in the morning.

we decided to skype the kids before they went to bed and it was great to see them!  I miss them so much!!

then we set out on an adventure to find the trustmart.  but a friend mentioned the Aeon was closer so we went there.  I had only brought a few outfits that I was sure would not fit sarah, whether too big or too small. I figured we'd buy her some things here.  well, most of what I have is too big.  the pair of leggings I brought in size 7-8 is perfect. but in changsha the only place the guide would take us was carefour and they had next to no kids clothes and they were for winter.  we bought her tennis shoes because she came to us in sandles that are a little to small dispite looking brand new, and I figured with all the walking we are doing she would need something more comfortable.  well, she won't wear the shoes unless daddy makes her.  and still no clothes that fit.  I pin everything. well, this morning I put a dress on her that is a spaghetti strap dress and I don't normally have the girls wear something like that but it's super hot here and I had intended to bring a white tee to go under it.  well, forgot the tee and when she got it on, it was too loose fitting in the top so I made her take it off.  Well, that didn't go over well and we are already on shaky ground.

since sarah is having a hard time attatching to me, it is my job to dress her and take her around the buffet and order her food and baths. well, anyway, she was super mad but she could not wear this dress.  so at Aeon I was looking for a white tee to go under it so she could wear it another day.  no luck but I found a cute shrug that I hope will work.

anyway, we got back and as soon as we got to the hotel what are the first words out of her mouth?  YOYONG !!(swimming!) so, since she had been mad at me all morning about the dress, (oh and she was even more mad after we went to starbucks and she tried to insist we get her coffee, we offered her tea, iced tea, cookies...but no coffee) we decided maybe I should be the one to take her swimming.

I figured this would not go over well, but we gave it a shot. brendan stayed in the room while I took the kids to the pool. the big kids had asked for a bit of time to swim alone with out her grabbing them, so they stayed in the deep end...sarah was stuck with me. I could see in her face she was not thrilled, but her love of swimming must have been stronger then her hate of me....and we went in together.  she held on to me and we played together.  she kept pointing to jordan and megan but we just waved and I kept ahold of her.she did ok but a few times she would get excited and laugh and then look at me and stop.  I swung her around and she wanted to copy jordan and megan (jordan was picking megan up and throwing her) so I tried to do it without drowning her.  she seemed to have fun and we played for about an hour. then she was cold and we got out.  as we sat drying off she as talking to herself and the words I could make out were dad and swimming. the tone told me she was saying something like why couldn't daddy have taken me swimming.  oh well.  so we went back to the room and I bathed her, and then took out the lego set I brought for her.  I thought surely she would have no patience for this task.  the longest she has focused on anything this last week is when she is taking selfies! but no, she loved it.  she followed all the directions, had to turn a few things around but all in all completed it on her own.  I was impressed. I sat with her the whole tima nd encouraged her and laughed and she smiled back.baby steps :)

Jordan and megan came back from the pool and we dressed and went to dinner at Tekila.

Tekila is "authentic" mexican food in the middle of china.  well, I am sure I haven't quite had any "authentic" mexican food, even in aurora...but this left something to be desired.  I wanted refried beans!! theirs were dry and whole beans and...hmmm...just not up to par.

this evening sarah has been a bit more responsive. she has showed me some of her selfies (as long as I don't touch the phone) and then at bed time she asked me to come sit by her bed.  she held my hand and pointed to megan to hold her hand and I prayed for us. (I have been trying to do this every night though she will not always hold my hand.) I kissed megan and said I love you and I kissed her and said I love you. she kind of cringed but let me kiss her.

I know this may not mean anything.  tomorrow we will probably be back to the evil eye and walking on the opposite side of the side walk from me...but, in the long run I hope it is the first in a series of steps that brings us closer.  at least for now I see a tiny speck of light at the end of a super long dark tunnel. thank you all for praying for us!!  It means the world to me!

ps. still can't upload pictures...so sorry!!