Home and Family

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Transfused!

We brought Abby into the Hematologist today. She was pale and not talking very much BUT she was doing okay.

Once we were escorted into a room she became a little fearful.

She was wondering what was going on?

And then they looked at the veins in her inner arm and the tears began to flow and flow and flow.

Abby did so well with the blood draw the day before and she has been given blood many many times, so I declined a interpreter...

my mistake...

I felt really bad for her...

we tried a interpreter over the speaker phone but she wanted nothing to do with it.

Her sadness was to loud to even hear what he was trying to say to her.

So, your wondering WHY did we decline the interpreter.

Well...

because we have had mixed experiences with them.

All of them are nice people BUT they kind of get in the way of bonding.

I want and need Abby to depend on me and to learn to trust me.

Sometimes they get too playful and mothery over the children.

Sometimes they ask our child a question, our child doesn't answer BUT the translator answers for them.

Sometimes they hang with us all the time and I feel obligated to visit and not have my time with our child.

So it usually is my preference not to have one-

BUT

this time I was wrong

DARN

Abby cried and cried in my arms. I tried to comfort her but she continued to cry. We were in the bed together- cuddling.

I wondered what she was thinking?

Am I here for a whole week?

Is my new Momma going to leave me here?

Will she come back?

Will it hurt?

I want to be back at my new home with all my brothers and sisters!

I don't want to be here.

Why do I have to have this done so much?

Her lunch try came- I tried to order as many recognizable food as possible.

She enjoyed her lunch and promptly fell asleep!

I knew once it was over with and she would see that all would be fine! Our sweet girl got presents, good food, the procedure was painless, she watched TV and Momma never left her side- it turned out to be a pretty good experience- if you have to get blood that is!

It was actually nice for me to have that time with her.

We had Karen's daughter Katie babysit the children at home.

She is 21, college student and an awesome capable sitter- they really should clone her, too!

(Along with Karen)

Big brother Mark took over the last half of the shift until Babba came home.

What it is not- is thalassemia.

I was a little bummed. It would have been nice to have an answer and then figured out a plan from there.

Her body is not even trying to make up for the red blood cells that are bad.

It's going to be about 3 months before we find out. It will be a process of many tests and waiting for results.

Inside, I am thinking China was right. They usually are...

I was hoping since they did not give us anything to substantiate the diagnosis maybe it was just a shot in the dark for them.

I am guessing not, it probably is MDS-RAS. I don't know...

We have a bone marrow biopsy scheduled for January 19th.

Then more genetic testing and whatever after that...

Whatever the road will be, we are doing it.

She is just too precious!

A beautiful child, a gift from GOD!

We are so thankful she is HOME!

Abby got a blanket- the one on her bed and a present that was all wrapped up- littlest pet shop kitchen- every girl needs one of those!

She left a happy camper!

Singing songs and repeating 3 word sentences in english!

She was thrilled to come home to chinese dinner waiting for her and all the children and Babba so excited to see her!

Luke's appt is tomorrow.

Last night after a long day with Abby I looked at Luke and did a double take-

Where his lips more blue? Or was I seeing things?

Jet lag can do that to a person!

Then hubby reminded me-

he had just finished the blue part of his popsicle!

WHEW!

Today the freezer gets fixed- YAY!!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Lot's Happening...

Hard to know how to title this post!

Lots happening-

Hubby's work computer crashed...

Our freezer is no longer working...

And we have random lights in the house that no longer work (electrical issues)...

I'm trying to block the fact that this is the Christmas season and all the things I normally do... I cannot do...

We are just focusing on having a good attitude, doing all the things we need to do, minus all the Christmas stuff that we usually do... and preparing our hearts for one of the most important days of the year!

While, at the same time, trying to become a new enlarged family and somehow finding our new normal- which will take a little bit of time.

Abby has been increasingly pale and pasty looking with dark circles under her eyes. In spite of that she stays awake all day and colors and plays with all the children. I took her into the DR today to check her HGB(hemoglobin)- it was 6, just 20 days earlier she was at 12.6. That's not good...

They are awaiting our call tomorrow morning and will get us into the hematologist. Most likely she will be transfused tomorrow, too. She is such a dear sweet child- and yet such a trooper- she doesn't complain at all. Honestly 48 hours home, jet lag and she still keeps up with the other kids- I think she is amazing!

The Dr- also listened to Luke- he is somewhat irregular (but she was not alarmed) and she heard two murmurs- we will also be contacting the Peds cardiologist tomorrow(our appt is scheduled for next week but we may want to get in sooner). He is wheezing but not bad and we will start neb (pulmicort) tomorrow, too.

We have noticed that Luke does not run like the other kids. He self regulates his activity level and will gladly hold a parent's hand while the other kids run ahead.

Both of these children are so dear and so amazing. They are more delicate that our other children- at least that is how we feel. Their health issues are serious and life threatening. We need to know exactly where they are at "health wise" and go from there.

We are blessed to have them and pray that our Heavenly Father will be with us every step of the way!

(Maybe pics later or with next post!)

Sunday, December 18, 2011

There's No Place Like Home!

Grace was one of our Guides in GZ- She was wonderful and remembered us(Ava and Sam) from last March!

Our flight went very well! GZ to Beijing- arrived late and went straight to bed! Ate BKF and then back to the airport for the grueling flight to the USA. Of course it was morning and we all had just slept- so we were wide awake for the whole ride across the pond! Luke managed 3 hours of sleep- which was wonderful for him- he needed it!

It was a delta flight so once we were on the plane it felt familiar!- The people spoke english, the plane was clean, the food was recognizable!

Abby was very quiet on the plane and a little moody- I think she was scared. I was concerned she was not feeling well but she made it through just fine. I so wished I could communicate with her to comfort her and let her know everything would be okay.

She got irritated with me when I would put on her seatbelt, stop her from picking her nose and kicking the seat in front of her and then she would pout and hang her head. There was nothing I could do - even when I kind man spoke to her in Chinese she chose not to answer or even acknowledge him.

Soon she would see for herself that all would be fine.

It is survival once on the long ride home. Movies, electronic games whatever for as long as anyone can stand them. I hope to never again play suduko or solitaire on an ipad EVER AGAIN!

Landing in Seattle was wonderful!

However my ever so darling hubby forgot to figure in customs! We only had 1 1/2 to catch the next plane!

Surprisingly- WE DID IT! And it was not because of customs kindness or precision- I don't think they could have moved slower!

The gates just so happened to be very close by and we RAN!

We made it AND so did our luggage- YAY!!

Katie and her boyfriend Andrew picked us up in Vanna! The other children were anxiously waiting at home with Karen- who took care of them when we were gone!

The carseat pics are from Katie's phone!

The kids were fine with the carseats! I think Luke may have used one with his foster family!

They loved meeting Katie and Andrew! Honestly they probably think Andrew is one of their brothers!!

I should have gotten a pic of them with the kids- I just wasn't thinking clearly!

Once HOME we were greeted by American flags and smiling children wearing red, white and blue! Once again I didn't get a good pic ;-(

The children at home were adorable and so excited to see their Momma, Babba, Sarah and new siblings!

Oh my, did I feel loved!

Sam is so happy to have another little boy in the family!

Honestly, I think Johnny missed us the most! He is so so happy we are all home!!

He even wore his China shirt (in honor of his new siblings) to welcome us home!

Abby's face lit up when she saw her siblings and her new home!

All the children were so welcoming and kind to Abby and Luke!

JOhnny has opened his heart so many times to new sibling! We are so proud of him and his kind and loving spirit!

It has been a journey for him as well as us and he is doing so well now with all of our adoptions!

His friends get such a kick out of these precious children!

Johnny right away introduces them as the come over to hang out with him!

Luke and Abby LOVE the dogs BUT they are also a little afraid of them! We have them gated in the mudroom and they love watching them from the safe distance!

Luke calls Katie's dog a tiger! She is a miniature poodle! He's pretty sure the dog says roar instead of woof!

Everyone has been clicking well- no one seems to feel left out right now!

None of the kids looked at us like we were from outer space. Everyone was just happy to see us and welcoming! I am so thankful that Emma and Ellie are in such a great place right now! They are comfortable and relaxed! They are not threatened by our two new additions!

Ava and Sam are they same way! So Thankful for that!

The children at home had a little program for us! They sang songs and did movements to them!

It was adorable and I think big sissy will be putting it on u*tube!

Our sitter Karen did an incredible job at home!!

She had Sammy's colostomy, his dilitations, medicines to remember, she continued with school and all the kids activities, not to mention a few extra fun activities and church! The house was spotless, the kids were so happy, they learned so much, the laundry was done and she made us dinner!

WOW!! Thank you Karen!!

You are a blessing to all of us!

Here is our crew at home!

Feeling so blessed!

I looked at the children and felt like they had grown since we had left!

We measured them this morning and sure enough- everyone had added a half inch since September and Emma had grown an inch!!

Sam is a half in taller than Anna and Anna is a half inch taller than Abby- which surprised me!

Once we get some nourishing food in Abby and her transfusions figured out along with the medication to decrease the excess iron in her blood she will probably have a little growth spirt too!

We were thankful to have the dinner prepared and at our fingertips!

It was great but lil miss Abby was not used to this kind of food. She ate a little but not much...

For lunch we had chicken noodle sup and got rice an d dumplings- she was thrilled and gobbled it up!

As look at Abby- I think she looks very pale, her lips have lost their color and she seems tired.

Some of that is jet lag and some of it is she may need a transfusion soon.

She looks better today after eating food she likes.

Everyone got pj's on early!

Sarah went to bed at 7:30 and slept until 8:00am!

Abby and Luke were in bed at 7:45.

The rest of the children went to bed at 8:30!

Including ME!

Dad was in bed at 9:00!!

By 10:45 pm there was a party going on in the littles room!

Everyone was up, chatting, lights on and...

Ava was taking Luke to the bathroom!

Because... ya know she said...he wants to go to the bathroom...

Excuse me?

He wears diapers!

It was adorable but I was semi lacking my sense of humor due to fatigue!

I put them all back into bed and took the two newbies with us!

They slept between their Momma and Babba.

At 3:00am they woke up and stirred for an hour.

We did not offer anything other than more sleep.

I really can't do the BKF in the middle of the night thing- I would just be too unpleasant for the whole day!

They feel back asleep by 4:00 and we ALL woke up at 8:00!

Praise God for a good first night!

A very happy and tired Babba with his new son!

Both Abby and Luke like their new name cups!

(many of the children are accidentally calling Abby - Mia, I do still love that name- darn dog)

We have an appt for her on WEdnesday and we are watching them both closely. We may take her in earlier. Luke's appt is the following week but there is a good chance he will go in early, too. He has a deep cough but he only occasionally coughs and seems to feel well!