Quick Update

So much is going on and I'm behind! Since I last wrote, Joaquin has settled in wonderfully at pre-school, so far no potty accidents. I feel so good about having him where he is - the Ancilla Center for Children on the campus of the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth. He is clearly cared for there; yesterday a.m. when I dropped him off about 6 little kids said "morning Joaquin" spontaneously. He has friends! He is social and adapting great.

I am also really enjoying being back to work, it's great to reconnect with my clients. I am so grateful for this situation - I can flex my hours however I need to around Joaquin's medical appts and the preschool center's schedule. Today, for example, was an inservice day at preschool so I switched my clients from Tues-Thurs. No big deal.

JCG and I were both sick last week, he with a vomitting flu, I with the achey variety. I was so grateful that my sister Karla was visiting from Colorado when we got sick. It helped to have family here during the first illness! I hope he doesn't catch everything that comes down the pike at preschool but am prepared that this might be exactly what happens for awhile.

Karla's visit!! Despite our illness, we had a really good, layed back time. Karla and JCG just took to each other really naturally, I wonder if kids can sense who their close people are right away, he seemed to. They read books, she layed on the couch and rubbed his tummy when he was sick, we went for walks and to the Plaza and he showed her how he can go down the slide at the park. They read many many books together. I'm going to attach a couple of video's she took while she was here. The only hard part was seeing her go home. I am missing living away from family more than I ever have in my life. It doesn't seem natural, I wish JCG could hang out with his cousins and Aunts and Uncles and Grandpa much more often. My heart aches for this.

Medically, the little munchkin went for his first set of immunizations. Turns out he never really was immunized as his Chinese records show; Dr. Collitin ran some labs and he doesn't carry the antibodies. So we started all over. We'll go back in 6 weeks for another round. Meanwhile, he's scheduled for outpatient surgery October 31st (boo) to be circumcized and to have ear tubes placed in his ears. Chronic ear infections go along with the cleft palate so we're getting it done right away. If we knew he'd be able to have his cleft palate surgery within the next couple of months, they'd do it all then; however we have no idea when they'll fit us in on a cancellation for that one so we are getting this done before winter sets in. We went to the hospital yet again this a.m. for the surgery pre-assessment, and to meet with the anesthesiologist, Dr. Kirsch. I really liked him. Dr. St. Peter will do the "circ" as they say, and Dr. Nicholaus will do the ear tubes. I'll be looking for a support group that weekend so if you're reading this and you live in KC, let me know if you can be on my "friends to call" list!

Whew. The last week was internally hard. I think all the stressors of the past several months caught up with me, I was both physically and emotionally achey, worried about all his appointments, medical bills, hoping he won't be sick a lot, adjusting to being at work, all of it. The past couple of days I'm relaxing more, turning it over the 'ole higher power and getting more centered. It's amazing how it can really be the best of times and hard times all at once.

As for the best of times: he is imitating me and everyone else like crazy. He is babbling incessantly, though I wouldn't describe what comes out of his mouth as actual words. He and I are literally working together - he loves to help me fix dinner (breaded the chicken tonight), sweep the floors (he's in charge of the dustpan), brush our teeth together, and have quite a bedtime ritual. He is sleeping great through the night and generally wakes up in a good mood. His tempermant is just generally happy. He is gaining weight!!!! 2.2 pounds in a 10 day period a couple of weeks ago. Being sick didn't help but I don't think he lost any. He feels heavier. I give him as much high-fat food as possible and his appetite is good. They give him 2nd helpings at daycare all the time and tell me exactly what he ate each day.

It's all good. Keep sending positive thoughts and prayers, I can feel it.