Well, those of you I've met IRL, you unfortunately won't get the opportunity to see Olivia's lovely earrings up close and in person. That's right, they are no longer.

I was so frustrated with her today. She has wanted her ears pierced forever. I was originally going to let her do it when she turned 10. Then she did so well at getting past her bedwetting and things were going along great, and I let her do it as a surprise Valentine gift. I talked to her extensively about not playing with them, how they couldn't come out before at least 6 weeks, possibly longer, etc. I thought she could handle it. And yet today she came home from school with only one earring. She admitted she was playing with them and took one out. I took out the other one. We're done, until at LEAST 10. I was and am very disappointed in her.

Along those same lines (?) I think we're FINALLY at a point of her beginning counseling. I have tried for a couple of months to get it situated, but unless I caught her adopt unit "person" actually in her office, she never returned my phone call. I got a hold of her and she tried to put it off again, but I said no, this is who I want, please send the letter. They have to send a letter to the person you want to counsel the child, for it to go through the adopt unit. A lot of red tape to me. I decided to have her go to the counselor she went to a few years ago from our old agency while her brother was having some hard times and then ended up moving. She already knows our situation, and her brother is what Olivia really needs to work on processing the most, so I think in the long run she will be the best choice for us.

Things overall have gone really well with Olivia for quite some time now. We still have little instances of attachment issues, but overall there has been nothing big. (Knock on wood big time!) :) I hope that counseling, for both of us, is a great way for her to re-look at what "happened" to bring her to care, why her brother left, and why we aren't able to visit with him. (His adoptive parents.)