Our Girl

Return of the Green Goo!

I've talked a little about DG's mystery arm infection, but frankly, I've forgotten how much I've really said. Since "It's Back", I wanted to mention it again in case any other Vietnam moms have had a similar experience.

I first noticed a small-(almost pimple)-sized bump on DG's arm on January 1st. (It is in approximately the same location as my small pox vaccine that I got in the early 70's.) I pointed it out to our Dr. in mid-January. At the time it was just a little red bump. In early February it began to swell and develop a center of green goo. It has been lanced, "drained", squeezed, popped and tested for MRSA. We've kept it covered and we've let it get air. We've had 3 oral antibiotics and two topical antibiotic rubs.

Two weeks ago we were referred to a dermatologist. It was a good day for the bump, it looked like it was healing and we were told to just watch it. We stopped the cream at the Dr's recommendation. It took about 5 days for the center to begin growing again, even while DG was on an antibiotic (for her ears) that is also prescribed for skin infections. (The Return of the Green Goo!)

At our 6-month check yesterday, Dr. A. says we need to go back to the dermatologist for a biopsy so we can figure out what we are dealing with. At first, Dr. A felt it was related to a vaccine; however, her last one in Vietnam was in November and the "spot" didn't appear until January. I've seen a similar spot in pictures of one other Vietnam adoptee. And my question is, Has anyone else had this experience?


In other news:

WB was back at school on Tuesday and did well for two days. When I got home tonight and looked into his eyes, I instantly knew he needed to go back to the AM/PM clinic for a strep test. The test was negative, but the Dr. said he had all the signs...including green snot in the back of his throat...so he's back on antibiotics.

Our latest formula has changed out lives. DG is no longer a screaming pooper. It seems she is both lactose and soy intolerant. I’m just glad we figured it out before the GI study.


WHERE THE HECK IS SPRING?

"Everything Hurts"

WB says "Everything Hurts." Obviously, he feels like crap, but what has bothered him even more is the fact that he's lonely. We've kept him away from his sister and he doesn't like it one bit. He sneaks downstairs and appears in the doorway and say, "Mom, can I just stand right here so that I can talk to sis?"

So far, she's looking healthy. I guess the rosy cheeks were a result of my mind racing to the possibilities I thought I was facing with the flu bug in the house.

WB will be home tomorrow with JB. Hard to believe that I'll be taking sis to day care to escape the plague in our house. How ironic is that...she's off to the land of green snotty noses to stay healthy?

What Was My First Clue?

Rosy cheeks...

Watery eyes...

Sore throat...

Headache....

or being unable to wake WB from a Saturday afternoon naps?

We had plans to head to the twins birthday party today. That is, until my sister called to say she had one with "Flu A". We are sad, but we quickly make other plans with the best friends and move on....until the nap. The boy just isn't a napper. When we have trouble waking him, JB takes him to the AM/PM for a flu test.

Flu B....the Dr. writes scripts for the family, except for sister. She's too little.

And now the boy is upstairs, girl is downstairs, and the parents are running back and forth. In the last 30 minutes I've wiped every switch, knob, remote, phone and flusher with Clorox. I've stripped my bed since that was the nap location.

Sister's cheeks are getting rosy...she's napping...HELP! We are hunkered down for the long haul....wish us luck!

This Ain't My First Rodeo...

...or is it?

As a first time parent eight years ago with WB, I remember the growing confidence I felt with each milestone. The first time you figure out what makes your kid tick...the first time you provide the answer, the support, the soothing that makes everything better ignites a warmth in your heart that is unparalleled. Since I nursed WB, I ALONE provided the magic tonic that stopped the crying and calmed the tears. It is a power and purpose that I've never been able to recreate.

I remember watching other mothers and thinking, "how'd they know to do that?" I marveled at the random bits of knowledge they seemed to know and to relay. And, I remember when I was an experienced mother of 15 whole months, my little sister had twins and she actually gave me credit for knowing stuff about being a mother. She asked about brea$tfeeding, about pink eye, about puke and poop, as though I somehow had earned some credential and was worthy of offering advice.

With WB, each Dr. appointment was educational...this is pink eye...watch for nostrils flaring....if he can’t breath, put him to sleep in his car seat...and so on. And then, WB was no longer a baby and his "issues" became both easier and more difficult to address. (But, for this discussion, we'll steer clear of those difficult school issues!) At eight, he can pretty much tell us when he has strep and when he has "squirty poop", and managing his life (again, outside of school) is easy, joyful, and rewarding.

AND THEN CAME THE PRINCESS....

and every day is filled with (as Oprah would say) "Ah ha moments". Even though I'd like to think I know something, truth be told I don't. She's entirely different. I can't always calm her and I don't have the answers, but it does get better as we learn more about each other. Still, it saddens me that sometimes I just can't figure this kid out.

For instance, we're on our 5th formula...and I know she had 3 different ones before we got her...and still pooping = trauma. Trauma like I've never seen in a baby...whaling, thrashing, screaming and tears. (Again the guilt settles in over not nursing this child!!)

Today, we are seeing the Dr. for the second time in two days. As he enters the room I say, "If you didn't know that I had another kid, wouldn't you think that I'm a neurotic first-time mother?" I’m glad he knows me well enough to laugh.

We saw him yesterday for green snot. Diagnosis: ear infection. Great. Two days of day care and an ear infection. We got medicine, but we also talked about poop as we have at every visit. We changed formula and learned about Gripe Water. We were to watch the poop and call if anything changed. So when the day care called me this afternoon about an unusual bloody-looking diaper, I go pick up the babe and the double-bagged diaper and head to the doctor's office.

Now, back to the original thought of learning unusual things during your parenting experience and becoming one of those "how'd they know that?" expert, kinda moms...It seems that an extremely rare (he's seen it twice before) side effect of Cefdinir is that it can combine with the iron in formula and cause bloody mucus-like looking diapers.

Didn't I feel stupid? But honestly, this is one that you can only know through experience. Our day care provider changed WB’s diapers and has changed thousands between my two kids and she didn’t know. But now I know, and now you know too.

Unfortunately the larger poop issue will likely take a detailed study to resolve, but every day she smiles when she hears my voice, and reaches for “da mama” to calm and reassure her. And even though I know it is silly, I often feel unworthy because it’s humbling to learn that you know a lot less than you gave yourself credit for. Yet, I anxiously await the next lesson in parenting that I’ll receive from this little girl.

But we are gonna try and give Dr. A a break until next Wednesday when we see him for our six-month check up. Three visits in seven days...God Bless the $5 co-pay!

Catching Up

We're still here!! Honestly, we are struggling to get into a routine. I think we're gonna be OK...it is just gonna take us a while. We have to leave at the house by 7:00 am to get everyone where they need to be on time. Granted, that is only 20 minutes earlier than our one-child routine, but it is exponentially more difficult. DG is still waking a couple times a night but fortunately JB is a big help with that and we try to take turns to minimize the sleep deprivation.

Today was DG's second day of day care. Today was better than yesterday, and I did see improvement, but I know she is gonna take a while to settle in. Fortunately, I am close enough to go and spend my lunch hour with her. All the green snotty noses bother me. I know that happens whenever kids are together in the winter, but I have enjoyed sheltering the princess from boogers so far! At this point, I'm just hoping she stays healthy until her 6-month well-baby visit next week.

Funny, almost every person without fail comments on this girl’s hair. (And they never saw it BEFORE the haircut!) It seems so normal to me now that I almost don't get it.

At any rate, thank you for patiently waiting for pictures. Hope you enjoy the slide shows!

Work

OK...OK....OK.....I still haven't gotten the photos together. I've been running around at a frantic pace, trying to get a million things done before I start back to work tomorrow. Truth be told, I am more than a little sad to be heading back. Of course, since tomorrow is a federal holiday, JB is off for one final full day with DG. Tuesday will, no doubt, be a tough one for me. Getting everyone together and out the door on time, and adding the extra stop at the day care to drop my baby. I don't really remember being as worrisome with WB, but for some reason, I am having a little trouble with the babe. Unfortunately, JB is not about to let me stay home so it is back to work we go...

I am making a dent in getting the adoption announcements mailed and the thank you notes finished. I know I'll feel better with that completed.

I'll also feeling a bit of self-imposed pressure about maintaining some of the good habits I began while I was off. The house isn't perfect by any means, but it is in the best shape it has been in since we moved in. We have been eating at home every night and the grocery bills are WAY down. I've also picked up the habit of playing the CVS game and getting our household goods and toiletries for almost nothing at CVS. (If you are curious about this, check out CVS 101 at www.moneysavingmom...I LOVE IT!) (Sorry, I can't make that a link, for some reason my spell check and link inserter have stopped working!!)

Anyway, I've made progress toward being a more organized, neater person (life-long issues for me) and I don't want to lose that because of the limited time I'll have now because of working.

Anway...5:45 will come early tomorrow.

Pictures soon, I promise....

Updates

So, I am starting to take a little heat for my failure to update this blog more frequently. Who knew I had such a loyal (vocal) following. At any rate, I'll try to do a little better...

Today, we went to the dermatologist to have DG's arm growth evaluated. It is finally looking a little better and this doctor didn't have the benefit of seeing it at its worst so she didn't really have much insight. She thinks it is "on the mend" but if we have any more trouble she'd like to have it biopsied. However, we are thinking it looks good and we aren't thinking this will be necessary.

DG got her first haircut tonight...before you get all bent out of shape, it was just a trim to even up the orphanage cut. Nothing drastic...you probably won't even notice.

Tune in tomorrow for a new slide show with Valentine pictures!

Blessings

We simply have too many to count.

We have so much to be thankful for that JB and I have spent a good deal of time today humbling marveling at our good fortune.

We've had a full weekend. A weekend of friends, family, parties and presents. DoriGrace has been formally presented to our "village." I say village because, while the fire to bring DoriGrace home was originally lit in our hearts, actually bringing her home has been such a group effort. The effort of our "village." The prayers and support of so many loved ones are what really made the difference in bringing us together as a family. This weekend was a time to celebrate that.

One of my favorite things about this weekend was a simple poem, presented in a lovely white frame. My friend, Julie Kiefer, wrote it while JB and I were in Vietnam and she gave it to me today.

Angel Face
12/30/07

For this baby many did pray.
We knew that somehow, someday...
God would make a way.

To bring her all the way here,
And to forever hold her dear.

For so long our hearts with love have grown,
The time has come and across the world the family has flown,
To bring this baby girl home.

We thank the Lord for little DoriGrace.
She is a miracle from God,
A tiny baby with an Angel's Face.

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

Well-said Julie! Thank you!

LTC Booth

Congratulations dear!!

We haven't done a good job of taking family pictures. Fortunately, we have two real photographers at JB's promotion ceremony yesterday so we now have a couple of nice ones to add to our album. (You military-types out there will note these pictures were taken before we changed the rank insignia!)

The promotion ceremony was a nice little affair, very formal though. I'm very proud of JB...Lord knows, he's worked hard for this! The Guard has also submitted a story to the local paper about his promotion being upstaged/delayed by our adoption. Of course, we wouldn't change a thing!!!