Medical Week

I haven't written for a week? Time is flying. It was a good week, and a long week. I had a little GI virus a few days which was a bummer, probably brought it back from China. I woke up this a.m. feeling like my energy is coming back. JCG continues to adapt really well! He has been out and about, visited a pumpkin patch, played with his triplet buddies, more visits from new friends who want to meet him, went to a play group for families who've adopted kids from China (great for mom, learned a lot - esp. that it's normal for your kid to be at the bottom or below the U.S. growth charts on arrival), many walks around the neighborhood and the plaza, just generally exploring.

Yesterday we had our first pediatrician visit. I really like Dr. Collitin, Children's Mercy in KC. He specializes in international adoption, was really layed back, took his time, was thorough, and welcomed all my questions.

He didn't recommend any major tests re: potential for milk contamination (see headline news in China) as JCG is asymptomatic, doesn't want to do a CT scan as it is a lot of radiation, too invasive. He said we can do a urinalysis to see if there's any blood in the urine which would be a potential sign of kidney stones/damage, we'll do that next visit. He was really reassuring.

JCG is at the 5th percentile on the U.S. charts for both height and weight, which is about the 40th-50th percentile on the Asian chart. 2'9" height, 23 lbs, 2 oz weight. Dr. wasn't concerned, as 1) this is typical when adopted kids first arrive 2) the cleft palate also played a role in the under-nutrition. He wants JCG to eat eat eat, esp. dairy. "There is no way you can overdose him on calories at this point." He gave us a case of this high calorie dairy milkshake, he's to drink 3 per day. And start on multivitamins.

Dr. said not to focus on the age deal at this point, let's get his weight up and observe how he develops the next few months. Many families have this concern at the beginning, he rarely does the bone density test and wouldn't advocate for it until some time has passed and there would be other developmental concerns beyond size. I don't have any other developmental concerns, which feels great to say.

The mark on his arm is a birthmark, no big deal, they call it a "port wine" mark. If he wants to laser it off when he's older, he can.

We're gonna have him circumcized at the same time they do the palate surgery, while he's still under anasthesia, highly recommended.

We had labs taken this visit and will do immunizations next. They drew enough blood for 10 vials, I am not kidding. JCG screamed bloody murder, big crocodile tears, it took 3 pricks to make it work. How could that much blood come out of his little arm? One hour later he was home, giggling with his blocks, I was still traumatized. Go figure. His resilience just amazes me, over and over again.

Friday we have our 1/2 day evaluation for cleft lip/palate. Wish us well. This is truly our medical week. So far so good, very impressed with the hospital staff.