Hospital Day

Yesterday was hospital day.  Besides Cincinnati Children's IAC being absolutely wonderful, it wasn't a very fun day.

Nana stayed with Ana, and she had a great time with her cousins.  Mom came to hold Jacky, and Dad came to drive us around and carry our bags.  We were so thankful that everyone did their "job" so well!  Without them, getting and caring for Niko (& the other 2) just wouldn't be nearly as fun.

Niko is so very nervous around anyone wearing gloves.  So, the nurses weren't fooling him at all.  First came OT.  Developmentally, he's right about 11 months if you average out the milestone's he's "passed" (which is what I've been saying since we picked him up!  Mother's intuition, I suppose).  She accidentally mentioned that he seems more delayed than "just orphanage delays", but Ry and I really don't believe that.  Call us naive parents, but we truly believe his orphanage experience caused all of the things he struggles with mentally, and about 75% of what he struggles with physically.  So,  we are agreeing to disagree, and I don't mind.  Gives this mama bear more fuel for the fire.

Second, a social worker came to visit.  This visit would have been informative and helpful, if our agency hadn't been as thorough through all of our training.  So, since Lifeline really did prepare us as best as we could be, and they provided us with so many resources, this meeting felt more like a counseling session for me, and less about Niko.  Don't like that we had to pay for that, but whatever.  This meeting came in a package with the other consults, so it was worth it in that respect.

Third came in the doctor.  She has adopted internationally herself, and has been working with the IAC for so long.  It was OBVIOUS she knew exactly what she was doing, and exactly what to look for in internationally adopted kiddos, especially those who had been in orphanages.  Niko had fallen asleep, which was a blessing.  He slept through 2/3rds of the exam.  After she talked to us about everything she saw (and didn't see!), she told us that she didn't feel comfortable giving a prognosis.  She saw so much potential in our Niko, that she expects so much change in a year from now. She gave us a plan and sent us down to labs.  We will see her again in 6 months.

We got a nurse that really wasn't very friendly for labs.  I tried to ask for the best pediatric nurse and the absolute smallest needle, since he had been so traumatized by the doctors in BG, but she just stared at me.  Finally I said, "So, is that you?"  She shook her head yes and pointed to the seat.  She really could improve her bedside manner, especially around a nervous mom and an even more nervous little boy.  She tried to find a vein in one arm - nothing.  So, she went to the other arm.  Found one and was able to get 5 vials out of it before it collapsed.  He's just so malnourished - that much blood from anyone is a lot, let alone someone with a body like his.  She said if she couldn't find another vein, she'd have to bring in the IV team.  Thankfully, she found some in his hand and was able to get the other 7 vials out of there.  He screamed and screamed, but calmed down during 2 vials when I finally let him look.  Dad was trying his best to distract, but Niko has learned to ignore so well.  So, he just screamed.  And sweat.  Boy, that kid can sweat when he's nervous.  We were both soaked by the end of it.  On vial 10, she looked at my dad and said, "Ok dad, come hold his arm down so he doesn't move it."  I looked at her and said, "I know this isn't important, but I just need you to know he's the grandad.  We're not together."  She felt embarrassed and laughed.  I just couldn't let her walk out thinking that!  The doctor earlier had already confused my mom and I up, since "she heard I was so young".  Guys, I wasn't wearing makeup that day but COME ON.  I've got 3 kids.

I complimented the nurse on her vein finding skills, and we left.  Fed Niko out of the trunk, and fed Jack out of the front seat, strapped the boys in, and dad drove us back to Lou.  Both boys fell asleep eventually, but it didn't last long.  The last 30 minutes or so was full of fusses and cries.  But, we made it home and they were all happy to see their daddy.

Today, we set up PT, OT, & speech (not necessarily to talk - more to help with feeding and getting him comfortable with his mouth).  Next, we get his TB test checked tomorrow and get a referral to get tubes (the doctor said that was needed ASAP).  Our new schedule is emerging, and it has therapies 3 days a week!  What a change our boy has brought us, and I can't wait to see what he's doing by our 6 month appointment!