All About Lainie

Here's what we know about Lainie ....

Name: Chen Xiang Yi. This name was given to her by the orphanage director. Chen (short for Chenzhou) represents the place she was found. Xiang is short for Hunan (her province) Yi means "mannerism". The director wrote that she was "given this name in hopes that she would grow up beautifully and gracefully. It is the good wish of all of the staff at the orphanage."

Birthdate: February 23, 2006.

Finding Date: February 24, 2006

STATS: At birth she weighed 7.05 lbs, and was 19.29 inches long. Upon examination on her arrival at the orphanage, the Dr. heard a level IV heart murmur. This is a result of her Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) or hole in the heart. We had a cardiologist review her ultrasound and at the time it was done - August 06 - she did not appear to need surgery to repair it based on that report. She will see a pediatric cardiologist for evaluation as soon as she is home. The hole could close on its own. That is what we are praying and hoping for.

Where she lives now: Chenzhou Social Welfare Institute, Hunan Province of China

(It is a Social Institute as opposed to a Children's Institute because it houses Senior Citizens as well.

Her report includes brief notes about her growth and development each month:

1 month: "she habitually put her hands at both sides of her head when sleeping. Followed light."

2 months: likes to be held and played with, sucks fingers, has reflexive smile

3 months: follows rattle with head and eyes.
4 months: lifts head, dislikes baths, likes to be held

5-6 months: likes to go to the playroom, likes colorful decorations, likes to play "baby aerobics"? AND MY FAVORITE PART: when you hold her, she would hold on to you tightly, she is an affectionate child.

In January we received a brief update:

She then weighed 19.8 lbs, and was 27.5 inches tall. She has 4 upper teeth and 3 lower. She gets up at 7 am, naps for about an hour, and goes to bed around 9:00pm. She likes to sleep on her back. She is not a picky eater. She is graceful and easy to approach. She does not have shortness of breath and purple lips, nor does she need surgery at this point.

That's what we know about our girl at this point! Please join us in continuing to pray that God would keep her healthy and safe until she is home with us.