BECCA BOO'S BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today our daughter turns 4 years old! YEAH! And next year she starts Kindergarten. YIKES................


She had her big girl Diva Princess Party over the weeekend. Had little boys and girls all over the place!!!! Today it's just family!


4 years old............my gosh. I can remember getting Rebecca at 15 months old in China. This scared to death little girl, who cried for 3 days straight, who fought us tooth and nail to eat or go potty, oh thank Heaven those days are over!! She eats just fine now and will tell you if she doesn't want something. Also, potty training is a thing of the past! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just one in pull ups now. (Matthew)

Happy Birthday big girl! Happy Birthday!!!!

Mommy and Daddy

Children's Hospital - TODAY!

Oh my goodness did Matthew wake up on the WRONG side of the bed today. He was horrible! Didn't want to get up, didn't want to go potty, didn't want to get dressed, didn't want to eat, etc. Anyway, he did most of those things. Took awhile, but he did. We ended up going to DC early today. We knew how hard it was to get a parking space at the METRO centers, so we went in like we usually do, early and by 8am. We ended up going and taking the metro to L'Enfant Plaza and looking around. I mean, LOOKING AROUND.........seeing who was close to metro stations (work places) and what "attractions" were close by.

We opted for the Air and Space Museum but before they opened (at 10am), we walked the mall and Matthew was feeling his "normal" self, so he went and chased the geese on the mall and looked at the "big upside down pencil" standing in the air. ROFL Yeah, looking at the monument through a child's eyes, I guess you can say it's a "big upside down pencil". I thought that was funny. Matthew loved the mall. He loved the fact that we could let him out of the stroller and he could run 'til he couldn't run anymore. *sneaky laugh*

After the mall, we called my brother to see if he wanted to meet, but he was quite busy, so we went ahead and walked to the Air and Space Museum. IF YOU COULD HAVE SEEN MATTHEW'S FACE AT THE FIRST CEILING MODEL OF AN AIRPLANE! This is what mom and dad heard.........."MOMMA, DADDA, lookie! AIRPLANE UP DAIR!!" Do you know how many times we heard that? Do you know how many planes are "up dair"?!?! ALOT! Even the newer exhibits are "up dair"! Oh my. He loved the museum. Absolutely LOVED it. He saw Freeze Dried Ice Cream in a bag and said, "No ice cream, momma." I asked him if he wanted any, and Matthew said, NO! hehehehehe.....*s*

The best exhibit as of right now is the American History exhibit. It has the first phonograph, the first record, the hat Abraham Lincoln wore when he died, Jackie Kennedy's gown from a inaug. ball, Dizzy Gillepsie's trumpet thingie, and oh, I forgot his name, but a famous musician who I realized, when I looked at his "score" of music they had from him, HE COULDN'T READ MUSIC!!!!! (When I said that, another music lover noticed the same thing. Most of us started talking about that. Interesting.) Loved it!

Ok, getting down to business...........Matthew went to Children's today for post op "look sees" today. We were only suppose to see just Dr. Murthy, but we ended up meeting Dr. Kalloo there too. So we saw her too! She was like, come on, let's see how Matt's doing.

Dr. Murthy's results: Matthew's fistula fix is holding! HALLELUJAH! The graft is still in place and doing well. Newly formed "tissue" is surrounding it. (Just like it's suppose to.) He was VERY pleased at what he saw. We did show him Matthew's "NO-NO's"........HE BROKE THEM! Dr. Murthy was dumbfounded. Matthew is the ONLY child who has broken a set of NO-NO's!!!! He still has to wear them for at least another week. NO IF's, and's, or but's! Oh, and Matthew's weight is ok, but Dr. Murthy said, if he's hungry and he wants eggs, GIVE HIM DOUBLE! *no quarrels there*

Dr. Kalloo's results: Matthew's "down under" work is doing well. Incision where the hernia was is good and just about totally healed. The undescended teste is doing ok. Um, "Mr. Happy" isn't. We have to see her in two weeks for that. She will do a procedure on Matthew that is "in/out" from the office. Oh boy. Poor Matthew. Without getting into it, it just means one thing.....MORE PAIN! *sigh*

A good day today. Good news for the most part. Please continue to pray for our friend in the earlier post. Thank you.

The momma files

A friend of ours had to make a phonecall...........

and she told us that her and her 2 daughters wouldn't be at Rebecca's birthday party because of a family emergency. Then she went into the emergency.

I know this man. I know this family. Their hearts towards adoption is SO HUGE! They have two Chinese daughters of their own. We met them when we had NO children and were invited to a "playdate" with other adoptive families in the southern MD area.

The dad in this family is a diabetic, type 2, just like me. He's older (older than me), and was struggling with his diabetes......................His diabetes reared it's ugly head earlier in the week. He has now lost a foot to the disease. He's been transferred from a local hospital to Georgetown Univ. Hospital. I know alot of the readers of our blog are christians and pray. I'm asking you to pray for this family. He's still in ICU and has been there for quite a while. His kidney's have tried to shutdown. He's on dialysis. He's doing a tad better, but anyone who knows anything about Diabetes knows things can happen QUICKLY and without warning.

I've been in touch with the family. (The mom) I feel so bad. I feel bad because him and I, even though we don't know each other as well as the mom and I do, we share that same disease! God knows it's ugly! I hate it! It takes too much from people! It's not fair and it strikes ANYONE at any age! You don't have to be fat, skinny, tall, short, have a history of it in your family, or not. It will strike with whom it decides.

Please, if you remember in your prayers, please pray for "D" and his family. God knows who this family is. He goes for another surgery tomorrow. When I find out more, I'll pass it on. Their girls are both under 10. Pray for the mom as she goes to the hospital and still tries to keep the girls on a "schedule" as much as can be done.

Almost a week now.............

Well, so far so good. Matthew had one tiny set back that Daddy figured out more than Mommy did. (from the "down under" stuff) But nothing big. It's been fixed, Matthew didn't like it. Other than that? Life is good. Matthew is doing well but is liking Mommy staying at home. I can see that. Actually? I'm liking staying home with him. He's such a doll. He asks me all kinds of things. Loves to talk more now. His vocabulary and working with consenants are great! He has a J now. His R is getting there too. There is only one thing that is worrying mom and dad at the moment.

We've seen liquid come out of Matthew's nose just once since the surgery. We aren't sure if that was a mishap, like you or I drinking coke and it goes up your nose type of thing or something else. I know our surgeon said that the liklihood of another fistula forming was pretty high. (Although we are praying it doesn't happen!) We are doing everything right. I just don't know until we see the surgeon on Friday. We will go downtown to Children's for an appointment. Hopefully it will be GREAT news! We need some about now. ANYTHING! *besides bills from Children's for Matt's surgery*

Rebecca is in her rare form as always. Since we pay more attention to Matthew, especially mommy, she does just about anything and everything to get our attention! It's really OLD already! Anyone with kids (more than 1) knows about this!!! Daddy tries to teach her what is going on, especially with Matthew, but who knows with her. Her birthday party is coming up soon! She's having a PRINCESS party. You know the Diva must have her Princess party! *oh good grief* (When I was little, it was all about the birthday cake! Who cared about the "theme" or what you got, or where you went..........oh, but I do remember my first Burger Chef birthday party and McDonalds party! DOES THAT DATE ME OR WHAT?!?! *Alright, don't answer that!* Your old too because you remembered it!;o)

Charlie is living large! Literally. He's lost weight being in our family! He's gone from 91 pounds, down to 87.5. He's pretty healthy. *yes, he went to the vet last weekend* Just a distemper shot and he was good to go. His hip dysplaxia is present and pretty obvious, but not stopping him from doing anything. We have him on some organic/herbal stuff which is helping alot! He can run with the BIG DOGGIES! We take him for walks just about everyday and he goes to a dog park every weekend and the kids playground park every weekend. The kids LOVE him! LOVE him! He is estimated to be about 6 or 7 years old which makes him getting into his "older years". I must admit, he's a perfect match with our family.

Kitties are good. Driving the dog crazy, or vice versa, but Poodie, Livie, and Oliver are doing just fine.

Did I cover everyone? Oh yeah, Daddy is good. We are moving on our 6 month post placement for Matthew also! YEAH GOD! *very happy about that*

The mommy files

I knew it was bound to happen............

a meltdown. It happened this morning. After we had breakfast, I told Matthew we would go "bye-bye" for a bit. Nothing long, just an errand and home again. Had PLENTY of stares from folks and a couple actually asked me, "What's wrong with his arms?" LOL It's amazing how folks KNOW it's not right to stare, but yet, they do and then ask what's wrong. I just said he had surgery in his mouth and they don't want him putting fingers inside. End of story.

Anyway, Matthew had a major meltdown. I knew it was coming, just didn't know when. It happened today. As I was changing him and putting the medicine on the places "down below"/suture sites. He had had enough! That was it. I was kicked, pinched, you name it. He did it. Matthew was crying/screaming just about as much as Monday evening. But this was different. Different cry. More like, TEMPER TANTRUM time. I let him have it. Literally. If I had surgery, if I had pain like he did, I'd be unhappy and have a meltdown too. I put him on the floor gently and let him have at it. (He couldn't hurt himself. Diaper was on. No-no's were on.) After about 2 minutes, he was done. I asked him are you finished? Matthew said yes. I said good, now can we go "bye-bye"? He said yes and away we went. He's been excellent since then.

Right now, he had a milkshake (that melted by the time we got home) from Burger King and it was CHOCOLATE! He drank that and said he was tired so I put him in bed. He's sleeping. I tell ya, after the past couple of days, for him to have a 2 minute meltdown..........well, BIG DEAL! I asked him later was he hurting and he said no. It was pure temper.....pure I've had enough temper. He gave his hugs and we went to do our errand. Man......what a trooper!

You know? I never said anything until now, but while him and I were in the hospital on Monday night, I asked Matthew (when he wasn't hurting anymore) was it better to be at the hospital with Mommy or back in China. He looked at me and said w/Mommy. Then he put his arms up for a hug. I can't imagine my boy having surgery in China with NO ONE with him. Not one person. He would be there all alone. I know he did that twice, but NEVER again!!!! I promised him that. Daddy too.

So today is an ok day. Just the one meltdown. Who knows when he gets up. I don't tell him no or don't do that. Why? What for? He's had surgery and enough pain for a grown person to go crazy over! He's entitled. As long as he doesn't hurt himself, go right ahead. And when he's done? We'll go do something else. :o)

The mommy files

Hungry!

Our little boy is hungry! Last night it was pathetic. Mom, Dad and Becca ate and Matthew drank. He started crying. I had to remind Matthew that it was only for a short period of time and that I would try and make him soft foods tomorrow (which is today). Soft scrambled eggs should be a hit with him. He's so hungry! A smoothie for dinner was ok, but he wanted FOOD! REAL FOOD!

This morning he wanted to go with his big sister to daycare, but he couldn't. He wasn't happy about that either. He was REALLY upset when it was time to "wash and medicate" the sutures "down below".........we have to do this every time we change his diaper! He cries. It hurts. We know this. But we MUST do it or infection will set in. We don't want that.

Right now Matthew is playing with legos and watching Lilo & Stitch. He likes both. He has his no-no's off for the moment. He KNOWS the rule! No touch mouth!!! He hasn't really touched it, or come close, but even when I just leave the room for a minute, I put the no-no's back on because we don't want to go through all of this again!!!

Charlie the doggie is watching over Matthew pretty intently too. I think Charlie knows Matthew is "sickly" for the moment. It's interesting to see.

The mommy files

Last 24 hours..............HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

As of 9:30am this morning, Matthew was released from Children's National Medical Center. (Thank God) It took quite awhile to get to this point though.

Yesterday around 5:30pm:

Matthew was sleeping pretty much until about 5:30pm.....about 3 1/2 hours after surgery was completed. His "coddle of pain blockers" (for "down below") was starting to wear off and OH MY GOSH WERE WE AWARE OF IT! We were in a room in which they call a holding room. (1/2 way from operating table to regular room, sort of) Matthew woke up from a sleep just screaming for all he was worth! Apparently the block wore off, he wee weed and that's what started this. From 5:30pm to 11:30pm, different pain meds were tried.....fentanol (sp?), then Tylenol 3 w/codiene and finally morphine! Thank God for the morphine!!!! It kicked in and Matthew ended up falling asleep, as he was crying. All the walking, craddling, holding, hugging, riding in the radio flyer wagon in the world wasn't enough for our son's pain! God did we feel it, in many different and horrible ways! (Not like him mind you, but watching your child in pain and there isn't anything you can do about it is SOOOOOO VERY hard to watch! Especially as the nurses try to work on him because every bell, button, flashing light and knob on the IV thingie is going off!!! That and your child's heart rate fly from 95 to 185 at the drop of a hat and the IV thingie says in bright RED/yellow lights TACHY.) Blood oozing out of his nose and mouth because of being so upset as it is plus the palate doing this on top of it and your son panicking over that! OY!

TODAY:
Anyway, the nurses changed shifts and helped us so much! All the nurses helped us alot but the night nurses helped us greatly! It was just Matthew and mommy by then. Jackie and Rose helped us move to an isolation room for more privacy and to be closer to the nurses station. By midnight, Matthew was sleeping, semi tolerating the pain and going in and out of sleepyland. Mommy got some much needed sleep finally until more alarms went off when Matthew occluded his IV lines. After that, Rose was on board then and said for me to sleep and she will look after Matthew. It was hard to trust anyone with your child, but Rose was a mom too. A nurse and very forgiving and graceful with her child patients. (and parents) I said yes. 6am rolled around and Matthew was already up and "flirting" with Rose! Yep, my son was back! The nurses coming on at 6am were so funny towards Matthew. Said he was a little cutie! Yep, that's Matthew.

The breakfast of choice was apple juice and milk! For Matthew, this was a good feat for him! He drank both. Tried melted ice cream, but nope, didn't work. The doctor came in at about 9am and took out Matthew's "pack" inside his upper palate and it was sutured to his teeth to keep in place! Matthew did NOT like having that removed but he just kept saying OUWEE, OUWEE mommy. 4 clips and it was over! We could go home!!!

Surgery:
(His palate looks GREAT! NO HOLE! Matthew's palate has a VERY new and innovative graft inside it (grafting of a new plastic piece). Only a hand full of patients have this at CNMC! Matthew's fistula was definitely MORE INTENSIVE than anyone knew. His hole was a finger's worth from what you could see inside his mouth. BUT, once the surgeon got past that, he said it was HUGE and wide open! What China did? I have no clue, but I know what is there now!!!! He closed up the first layer of soft tissue, put the plastic in and then put another layer of skin. He said the body would absorb the plastic with no problem. This is why this part of the surgery took longer than expected.)

(The second part of the surgery took longer because Matthew's hernia was much more bigger than the urologist thought. She had to put it all back where it should be. More intensive then she thought as well. The rest of the urological issues went just fine.)

So, we are home, we are ok. Matthew is doing ok. He's on meds. Pain is there, but much better than before. Mom and Dad are ok. Becca is trying to be calm around Matthew. (easier said than done)

The mommy files