Yes, well here is Jack's contribution to the Myers stupid family trick album...
This isn't whipped cream....its Desitin.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Mister mischief maker
For those of you who have loved us a long time...you may recall Elise's episodes at about age 2 that included attempting to drink "Shout" stain remover....and drawing on her face with white-out....and coloring in every orafice of her body with blue Sharpie???? Remember those???
Yes, well here is Jack's contribution to the Myers stupid family trick album...
This isn't whipped cream....its Desitin.
Yes, well here is Jack's contribution to the Myers stupid family trick album...
This isn't whipped cream....its Desitin.
Spring Break 2010
Whew!! We made it home after spending spring break in Palm Springs with all the kids. What a fun, fun time!! Jack absolutely LOVED the swimming pool.....I'll see if I can get the pictures uploaded. We had a super suite so everyone had a place to sleep (Jack was in the pack-n-play in the closet). We ate most all our meals in the room to try and save our pennies.
Our kids are so funny....Cole and Elise are deeply bronzed and tan....Emerson is still white as a ghost.....how is that genetically possible? They all came from the same place!! We were curious to see what Asian skin does in the sun...guess what? It just gets darker. Jack doesn't "look" tan if you're just looking at him....but he has a perfect tan line from his swim diaper. Its pretty funny.
The older two swam and swam and swam and swam and swam and swam and swam.....Emerson spent all five days in the 1.5 foot kiddie pool (she is not exactly our adventurous one)....but Jack would walk right off the side of the pool into water five feet deep if you'd let him. He was putting his face in the water and dunking his head underwater...he'd come up laughing. Cole took him down the kiddie water slide probably 100 times....he absolutely loved it.
Jack got a good nap each afternoon and Paul and I traded turns watching him in the room while the others stayed at the pool swimming. His little feet are looking a bit better every day. Physical therapy exercises are helping (but I have tremendous guilt that I'm not doing the exercises as faithfully with him as I should be). We are specifically working on the knees and hips now as Jack has tibial torsion (the bones are curved) and need to straighten themselves. no casting for this repair....just lots of rubbing, stretching, manipulating, exercising. Oh goody. Our goal is to get him sitting "criss-cross-applesauce" naturally. He is just starting to do it on his own and this position moves his hips into an outward V position (exactly what he needs...and exactly opposite what his hips naturally want to do). I don't think I've posted a picture of his brace yet. This is the apparatus Jack sleeps in each night.....
Oh....and as for the gastointestinal issues? We haven't heard lab results yet.....we sent in more poop for analysis. (wow.....is that too much information or what?) Pediatric GI specialist believes Jack may have some fructose malabsorption issues....(body can't tolerate fructose....a.k.a. apple juice, grapes.....all those things he loves and we were giving him freely). So, with limited intake of fructose...I can actually tell you we have celebrated solid poop more than once this past week! Hallelujah!!!
Our kids are so funny....Cole and Elise are deeply bronzed and tan....Emerson is still white as a ghost.....how is that genetically possible? They all came from the same place!! We were curious to see what Asian skin does in the sun...guess what? It just gets darker. Jack doesn't "look" tan if you're just looking at him....but he has a perfect tan line from his swim diaper. Its pretty funny.
The older two swam and swam and swam and swam and swam and swam and swam.....Emerson spent all five days in the 1.5 foot kiddie pool (she is not exactly our adventurous one)....but Jack would walk right off the side of the pool into water five feet deep if you'd let him. He was putting his face in the water and dunking his head underwater...he'd come up laughing. Cole took him down the kiddie water slide probably 100 times....he absolutely loved it.
Jack got a good nap each afternoon and Paul and I traded turns watching him in the room while the others stayed at the pool swimming. His little feet are looking a bit better every day. Physical therapy exercises are helping (but I have tremendous guilt that I'm not doing the exercises as faithfully with him as I should be). We are specifically working on the knees and hips now as Jack has tibial torsion (the bones are curved) and need to straighten themselves. no casting for this repair....just lots of rubbing, stretching, manipulating, exercising. Oh goody. Our goal is to get him sitting "criss-cross-applesauce" naturally. He is just starting to do it on his own and this position moves his hips into an outward V position (exactly what he needs...and exactly opposite what his hips naturally want to do). I don't think I've posted a picture of his brace yet. This is the apparatus Jack sleeps in each night.....
Oh....and as for the gastointestinal issues? We haven't heard lab results yet.....we sent in more poop for analysis. (wow.....is that too much information or what?) Pediatric GI specialist believes Jack may have some fructose malabsorption issues....(body can't tolerate fructose....a.k.a. apple juice, grapes.....all those things he loves and we were giving him freely). So, with limited intake of fructose...I can actually tell you we have celebrated solid poop more than once this past week! Hallelujah!!!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Long time....no update?? Sorry!!
Well, my loving sister reminded me that there are folks who are wanting to keep up with Jack's progress and I have been somewhat negligent in keeping the blog updated. Sorry!!!
Dr. Bob returned safely from Africa and Jack had an appointment last week. After 8 weeks of castings, Bob says its time to move to phase two. We have special ordered orthotic shoes (unfortunately they are at least a week out on orders....) In the mean time, our "poor man" orthotic shoes are really a pair of Cole's old Nike's from when he was a baby.....except on the wrong feet. Jack doesn't seem to mind this and it keeps his little toes pointed outward. The orthotic shoes will do essentially the same thing, but they also have a bar that attaches to hold the feet steady while Jack sleeps.
Jack was walking really well in the flat-bottomed casts, but he has really not walked much at all in his bare feet or in the Nike's. I think he is favoring one of his ankles but Dr. Bob assures us he should not be in any pain. I'm wondering, if after 8 weeks in casts, the poor kiddo just needs some time to build up some muscle tone again. He's very happy and is in great spirits. He crawls or "hops" everywhere he wants to be....so again, this is not slowing him down. It was just SO great to see him walking....that its a little hard to go "backwards" again.
on top of the casts / shoes issue....we are still having significant digestive issues with the boy. We've been home three months and the boy still has diarrhea every single day. We've done stool samples (all of which came back normal) and we've completely removed ALL dairy from his diet for two weeks...no difference whatsoever. Pediatrician says the next step is the pediatric gastroenterology clinic at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. Ugh. We have an appointment, Thursday, March 11. We covet your prayers. Jack is not bothered by any of his symptoms. He doesn't appear to be cramping or in pain. But his diapers are NASTY!!!! And they are nasty FREQUENTLY!!! I'll spare you any more information than that!!
Praises are plenty over the last few weeks.....Jack's social security number arrived literally without a glitch. I went to the social security office in Albany (Thanks Lory Roth for the heads-up!) and waited a mere 30 minutes. The entire process was less than an hour....we've heard HORROR stories from other adoptive families who have waited hour upon hour, only to be told to return another day with another form, etc, etc, etc. The Lord paved the way for us on this one...no doubt!! So, our taxes are almost complete.....praise the Lord for the federal adoption credit! It will certainly help replenish the next-to-nothing savings account. yikes!!
Jack's transition home continues to amaze and astound us. There are literally days when I can't remember not having him here. He is such a part of who we are as a family. He spent the afternoon with a friend of mine (it was his first time "away" from family or extended family) and he did just super. Thanks for fabulous friends who are willing to take the risk to be the first babysitter for the China boy!! We are blessed by an amazing support system....at work, at school, at church, even the community. When you hear it takes a village to raise a child...this kid's got the cadillac village!! :)
Thanks for all of you who continue to read this and for those who keep praying. We feel you and are sustained by God's grace because of your intercession!! Our love to each and every one of you.
Dr. Bob returned safely from Africa and Jack had an appointment last week. After 8 weeks of castings, Bob says its time to move to phase two. We have special ordered orthotic shoes (unfortunately they are at least a week out on orders....) In the mean time, our "poor man" orthotic shoes are really a pair of Cole's old Nike's from when he was a baby.....except on the wrong feet. Jack doesn't seem to mind this and it keeps his little toes pointed outward. The orthotic shoes will do essentially the same thing, but they also have a bar that attaches to hold the feet steady while Jack sleeps.
Jack was walking really well in the flat-bottomed casts, but he has really not walked much at all in his bare feet or in the Nike's. I think he is favoring one of his ankles but Dr. Bob assures us he should not be in any pain. I'm wondering, if after 8 weeks in casts, the poor kiddo just needs some time to build up some muscle tone again. He's very happy and is in great spirits. He crawls or "hops" everywhere he wants to be....so again, this is not slowing him down. It was just SO great to see him walking....that its a little hard to go "backwards" again.
on top of the casts / shoes issue....we are still having significant digestive issues with the boy. We've been home three months and the boy still has diarrhea every single day. We've done stool samples (all of which came back normal) and we've completely removed ALL dairy from his diet for two weeks...no difference whatsoever. Pediatrician says the next step is the pediatric gastroenterology clinic at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. Ugh. We have an appointment, Thursday, March 11. We covet your prayers. Jack is not bothered by any of his symptoms. He doesn't appear to be cramping or in pain. But his diapers are NASTY!!!! And they are nasty FREQUENTLY!!! I'll spare you any more information than that!!
Praises are plenty over the last few weeks.....Jack's social security number arrived literally without a glitch. I went to the social security office in Albany (Thanks Lory Roth for the heads-up!) and waited a mere 30 minutes. The entire process was less than an hour....we've heard HORROR stories from other adoptive families who have waited hour upon hour, only to be told to return another day with another form, etc, etc, etc. The Lord paved the way for us on this one...no doubt!! So, our taxes are almost complete.....praise the Lord for the federal adoption credit! It will certainly help replenish the next-to-nothing savings account. yikes!!
Jack's transition home continues to amaze and astound us. There are literally days when I can't remember not having him here. He is such a part of who we are as a family. He spent the afternoon with a friend of mine (it was his first time "away" from family or extended family) and he did just super. Thanks for fabulous friends who are willing to take the risk to be the first babysitter for the China boy!! We are blessed by an amazing support system....at work, at school, at church, even the community. When you hear it takes a village to raise a child...this kid's got the cadillac village!! :)
Thanks for all of you who continue to read this and for those who keep praying. We feel you and are sustained by God's grace because of your intercession!! Our love to each and every one of you.
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