What a week. Kajal has the flu, or a virus. I'm not sure which but whatever it is, it hasn't been fun for her. She started running a fever on Monday and spent two days with fevers of 102/103 and a cough. It started when she woke up Monday morning and said to me "I don't think I want to go swimming today Mommy" hmmmm... not go swimming, her favorite thing to do during her days at camp. Are you feeling okay, baby? I feel a teeny bit not so well, was her quiet answer. I felt her face and sure enough, she was burning up.

I did everything we parents can do, lukewarm wet cloths over her face, neck, arms and body. Motrin, popsicles, watermelon slush, gaterade, chicken soup. I reached into my box of surprises for rainy days and pulled out arts and craft projects and little fun surprises. Why Mommy, she kept asking, why are you letting me have all these things I like? And before I could say anything she'd giggle and say, I know, it's because you want me to feel better right? And she'd laugh with glee at the idea that I would want to make her feel better like it was the most amazing gift in the world.

On the end of the second day, curled up on the couch Kajal asked, Mommy, can I tell you something. Sure honey... always, whats up?

Thank you Mommy, thank you for taking such good care of me.

It amazes me how full of gratitude she is, even when she's burning up with fever. I'm still working on teaching her to tell me when she doesn't feel good, to show me where it hurts. It's so clear that there was no one in her past to turn to, no one who she could count on to care for her. She survived alone and by herself, by her own will and wit. She still isn't comfortable asking for help.

Two days of being ill and then yesterday she seemed to take a turn for the better. All day, no fever. So today I let her go to camp and of course, I worried all day. I was tempted to go check on her but knew that the camp would call if she needed me. When I picked her up from camp she came straight home and asked to rest on the couch. Uh oh. I checked her temperature, 101.6... The cough came back as well, ten times worse than before. The doctors office asked her to come in tomorrow... concerned that whatever she had seemed to go away and now was back. I don't know if it's the flu, swine flu or a virus but you all know out there how horrible it is to not be able to do anything to make them feel better. I'm sitting next to her in bed now and she's coughing so hard. I've got her propped up on pillows on my lap hoping it will help but in her sleep she's suffering.

Earlier today, as Kajal and I walked down the street she once again, astounded me with her wisdom.

As we walked hand in hand I had turned to her and whispered, we are so blessed, Kajal. So blessed that God helped us find each other.

I know, Mom. I'm so glad we got adopted. If we didn't get adopted life would have been really boring. You know Mom, if we do try and get adopted then life is so much better. If you don't even try then you never know, you never know who you are and you don't know who you love. But if you do, then you can feel everything. You can feel the whole world!

I hugged her, oh my goodness Kajal, that was sooooo smart. You are so smart! I told her that her words were filled with the greatest of wisdom and asked her to help me write down exactly what she said. She was so excited she pulled out a new little notebook. I told her I was going to share her words with all of you and she was thrilled. Yes mommy, tell them, tell them how wonderful adoption is. Tell them what I said.