Annie Oakley Is Here!

Annie Oakley visits our house often--Luci loves her rocking horse from Debby and Fabian.
John had a good tickle with Luci this morning before leaving on a 5 day trip for the Army Reserves. When we got Luci, she would not let us tickle her--we would try but she would not laugh or smile. The doctors at the International Adoption Clinic in Birmingham said that she had "adoptive aphasia," similar to the aphasia a stroke victim might have. Aphasia is when the body does not remember the sensations and cannot react to stimuli. Speech aphasia is very common with stroke victims. Luci was not able to remember how to react to tickling, hugging, kissing, etc. either because she was never tickled, hugged or kissed, or because she just didn't want to respond to us in fear of being left again. (She does not remember being left by her China momma, but she does remember being left by the orphanage people.)

We are so thankful that Luci trusts us enough to let us tickle her now!

Luci is ready for breakfast! We have to keep the chairs away from the table at all times, or she will crawl up and dance--which is fine, but the fall is quite a shock to her. Also, the pancakes don't appreciate it!