How Pendo got her groove back

Over the last year, I have had a few people tell me regarding different situations with children "you wouldn't understand because you are not a parent." This phrase has always baffled me because I always wonder, "well, how would you know if I understand or not?" The reality is that there are a few things that I WON'T understand until I am the sole adult responsible for one specific child. I am not so naive to think that I know EVERYTHING and understand EVERYTHING that comes with being a parent. However, there are most things that I DO understand about being a parent... and not just understanding.... but FEELING as a parent feels regarding their children. I have asked two former nannies/caregivers who are now parents if their love, committment, fears, and understanding is less for the children of which they were their nannies. And these two women told me "no." They say that the burden of these children's eternal happiness is not there as they would not have those children for life. But the love and committment was no different. They say it is stronger for their own children, naturally, but that the children of whom they cared for as a nanny still hold exceptional places in their hearts that will live there forever. And there is nothing that they wouldn't do for those children...as they would do for their own.

Hhmmmmmmnnn. Interesting.

The point of me mentioning all this is to help you understand my overwhelming joy at the recent success of our little Pendo. She has changed in leaps and bounds over these past 5 weeks. There were days when I really wasn't sure if we were making any difference to her recovery or if we were just prolonging her agony. But I must tell you that the beautiful efforts of our nurse, our staff supervisor, the three dedicated nannies who fought for her, the patient volunteers, other staff, and "mama Pendo" (I'll let you guess who was the recipient of that name!) has made a difference! Look at our girl now:

Just last Friday, I took a chance and put her in the swing outside. Her bones are still a little fragile so I was especially careful to make sure she was sitting on extra clothing and her thick nappy. Imagine my surprise when the normally serious and sullen Pendo started to smile... then giggle! It was in that moment that I realized she had dimples! The flesh in her face had FINALLY repaired enough to show her dimples. It was a beautiful moment in which I will never forget for as long as I live. Pendo has dimples! And it only took 5 weeks to see them. Amazing. Ashley was beside me and we could have cried.







Here are a few more pictures of her. She is quite annoyed with me because I won't let her have my camera. She has recently been crying over shoes. SHOES! She wants to wear the dressy, black patent leather shoes that some of the other little girls were wearing. After much effort, I finally found some from our clothing supply that fits her. She loves them. And that assures me that she is truly making progress.

Pendo is still very thin and has a long way to go. But her will to be a normal 2.5 year old is getting stronger. A few days ago when Ashley and I were away, Pendo desperately tried to pull herself up in her crib. The nannies then started working with her by standing her up in the playpen and letting her lean over the edge. She only lasts for about 5 minutes, but this helps her get in the practice of using her legs. She hasn't stood up in over 5 months. She has to re-learn how to crawl, stand, balance, and walk again. You can see from the picture how bow-legged her bones have become. But she is determined and we'll do everything we can to help her. GO PENDO!!!




Thank you God for the opportunity to "parent" these children. And thank you readers for giving all of us the encouragement to be here.

+ a lot of love =


So this concludes the tale of HOW PENDO GOT HER GROOVE BACK!

~Shae