Chapter 2

Tien-Tien is different from other children. She is very active. If Tien-Tien didn't sleep, even for a second, her arms and legs would be moving twenty-four hours a day. She is also very intelligent. Within minutes, her arms, legs, or face might be copying the same kind of movement you are doing. When someone claps their hands, she will clap with them.

On January 13, 1995, Tien-Tien went to church for the very first time. On March 19, she could roll over by herself. On May 7, Tien-Tien got her first common cold. She would cry and whine all day long. Tien-Tien also disliked people cleaning her nose. She would struggle to pull free and would cry. On May 16, Tien-Tien begins to eat solid foods. At first, when she wanted to put something in her mouth, her circulation wasn't well calculated. Instead of putting the food in her mouth, she would smash the food on her face, accidentally. On May 23, 1995, she started to crawl. Although she crawled like an inchworm, she still landed on her face when she fell. On June 21, Tien-Tien could sit up by herself, upright.

Inside Tien-Tien's eyes are spectacular talking pupils. Her eyes can tell you whether she is sad, mad, happy, or just playing with you. Her eyes express her feelings and emotions too.

Tien-Tien can do many magnificent tricks. Some are: clap hands, stick tongue out, make silly faces, play with her hands and more. Sometimes it seems like she can really understand you. Once, when my family and I were in the family room watching Tien-Tien play, I stood her up because she still couldn't stand up by herself yet, and wanted her to walk to my dad. Instead of walking, she bent her knees, like aerobics, and did that seven times before she fell down. It was a sight to see.

On November 2, 1995, Tien-Tien got really sick. We sent her to St. Mary's. The pediatric department's nurse told us that she was breathing faster than she should be. The nurse gave her a small IV that was fit to put on the hand because if my sister had a big IV that hung by the bed, it would be knocked over because Tien-Tien is so active. Tien-Tien also bit off pieces of the surgical tape so we had to change the tape many times. She spent the night at the hospital, and I spent the night at my godmother's house. Tien-Tien slept inside an oxygen tent so she would have enough air to breathe during the night. She came home the next night.