Making Progress

Things are going well.  Jonah has been opening his eyes a lot this morning and he's eating jello.  Also when the surgeon came around today he pulled one of the chest tubes out.  So that was good.  He's also been coughing a lot and that is good but you can tell he is in a lot of pain.  Everyone is saying he is doing great.

He asked for ice cream last night but then fell asleep before it was OK for him to have it.  He loves ice cream and it was good seeing his personality come out in that.

When he's been awake and hurting he has raised his hands toward Katie and I while we are leaning next to him near the bed.  He has IVs in both arms so he can't really move a lot.  But I really think he is raising his hands because he wants us to hold him.  We are trying to comfort him by talking to him and rubbing his head and his legs.  It would be awesome to be able to hug and squeeze him.  I can tell Katie is really having to restrain herself.  She's been getting in the bed with him a lot.  Anyway, it was good to see him reach out to us.

Since I've been typing they just took out the neck IV.  He definitely didn't enjoy that.  I was holding his legs down.  I feel like I need to go out in the hall and breathe into a brown bag or something.  I don't know how these nurses do it all day.  He's back to sleep again now.

So we're making progress.  Tubes are coming out.  He's coughing and crying more.  These are all good things.

Here is our room from the hallway.  Note the ice cream cone.

Here is another view of the room.

Breathing tube is out

They were able to remove the breathing tube at 10:30 last night.  He did well with that.  He slept pretty much most of the night.  I think one of the goals today is to get him to eat a little bit.  He woke up a few minutes ago and was really unhappy.  Katie is lying in the bed with him. 

Update on Jonah's bear "Miss Charlie".  She is also breathing on her own now and is ready for some solid food.

Day One update

Surgery-wise things have gone really well today.  One minor issue came up after he was out and that was an air pocket in his lung.  So they put in another tube to drain that.  Right now he is still hooked up to everything that he basically came out of surgery with.  So there are a ton of wires and tubes going all over the place.  They have tried to remove the breathing tube a few times but he’s just not up to the level they want him to be when they do that.  In my mind we can exhale a little bit more when they remove that.

The doctors and nurses at this hospital are exceptional.  They have gone out of their way to make sure we are informed.  And they are taking great care of Jonah.  It is really beyond words how nice and comforting the staff are here.  So thank God for that.

Katie and I have been pretty tense the whole day.  Actually I don’t remember many times in my life that were more tense than today.  I don’t know what else to say about that.  We are still kind of tense just waiting on the breathing tube to come out.  All the doctors are assuring us that everything is normal and I believe them.  But seeing our boy in this condition is overwhelming.

The nurse that took care of Jonah for most of today told us HE was adopted.   And one of the doctors who assisted the surgery was also adopted.  At one point there were more people in the room who were adopted than not.  That is cool any way you look at it.

At a few different times today the nurse would put in for an order of blood product from the blood bank.  That was awesome to be on the receiving end of a local volunteer blood donor.

We are thankful to our parents and Jana who were here the entire day.

This is only day one and it is probably good to remind myself of that right now.  This was the right decision for him and should improve his quality of life.  And thank the Lord this time around he has parents and family who will be here with him and help him along the way. 

He was funny all day yesterday.  He pushed every button on the bed and had it going all over the place.  He did really well even leading up to going back this morning.  He’s a brave little boy.

Update from the hospital - 1

The day is finally here. Yesterday went as expected. They took a lot of blood, put in an IV, did a few chest X-rays, and did an EKG. He did really well. He has been nervous at points. This morning they came and got us around 6:20. We went down with him until they gave him the anesthesia at 7:00. They started the procedure at 8:30. We are doing well. Didn't sleep great but ok. I'm just so glad he doesn't have to go through this without parents. I have planned for this and I will be strong for my baby and get him through this. I kissed him a bazillion times in the past 24 hours and I keep telling him that we love him and God is taking care of all of us. Please pray for his recovery. That he remains calm and understands what is going on. Leaning on Him, Katie

One Week

It is finally here.  We check into the children's hospital Monday.  When we first scheduled the surgery it seemed so far away and all of a sudden it is right here!!

People have asked if he is ready.  Well the answer is "no".  He knows nothing about it.  If he did he would be worrying every day.  Our Child Life Specialist (basically an awesome social worker at the hospital) recommended we tell him 4 days before.  So we will talk to him about it on Thursday.  Then he and I will go to the hospital on Friday and she will explain in more detail and answer any questions he might have.  She will also take us on a tour of the hospital.

Am I ready?  I don't know.  There are definitely times during the day that I just sit and stare at him and wonder what he is going to be like after the surgery.  What I fear the most is that this surgery will change him.  Of course I want it to change him for the better.  I want him to have more energy, more stamina, and hopefully go off the darn water pills.  But I don't want it to change his nature.  I pray he is still as loving and affectionate after this and this does not interrupt our attachment process.  I know that probably sounds like a weird thing to be scared about, but I'm a mom now and I have to worry about something...right?  I'm not worried about the surgery itself.  I'm a little worried about the recovery and how I'm going to comfort him when he is in so much pain.  I'm just praying for God, the ultimate healer, to speak to him in ways I don't understand.

I spoke with our doctor today and here is the basic schedule which could change at any moment while we are there.  We will check in on Monday to the ward (normal hospital rooms).  Then Tuesday we will say good-bye to him at 7:00 for the surgery.  He should be brought to the CVICU (Cardio Vascular Intensive Care Unit) between 11:00 and 12:00.  He will stay in the CVICU for a few days and then hopefully move back to the ward for a week before we go home.  So we are planning on being at the hospital for 10 days.  While we are there we will be updating the blog frequently.  We will NOT be posting anything on Facebook. 

We might post some pictures here.  At first I didn't want to post pictures, but reading blogs and seeing pictures of other adoptive moms who have gone through the same thing has really helped me.  I want to return the favor and help other people who might come accross my blog. 

So since my son will miss out on a lot of summer activities, I decided to try to give him the summer he is going to miss.  We have done a lot, but at the advice of some loving friends (you know who you are) I scheduled in some down time at home.  After all...he really does love that the best! :)

Here is what we have done so far!

First up was a trolly ride downtown (which he LOVED) and his first baseball game.  He was very concerned about the mascot at the baseball game!  He did not want anything to do with him.  He was able to enjoy some of the game though.

Then we met some friends at the zoo on a beautiful day.  As you can see it was a little cold!

Then, on a whim, one day I took him to see the trains on the square.  He really enjoyed going in them.





We also went to the nature center!  It was beautiful.

B took him on the monarail downtown on Saturday and he had a blast!!

Today we went to the Fire Museum and he hung out with his best buddy, Noah!  The thing they are in moved up and down so they could "put out" the fire!  They LOVED it!!







There have also been plenty of trips to the park. 

And the Wii is a big hit!!

Still on the schedul:

The Pink Palace

His first IMAX movie (I hope he isn't scared)

Another trip to The Children's Museum

A trip to see the ducks at The Peabody

And a day at home playing games and eating pizza!!

Please pray that we have a great week and that J stays well so that the surgery can be performed on schedule.  Also pray for his understanding of everything that is going on. 

We have already seen miracles in his life and ours and I know God has big plans for our little boy.

Katie



VACATION!!!

We finally went on our vacation about a week and a half ago.  We really had a great time!

We went to Destin and it was absolutely beautiful!  The water was perfect and it wasn't too hot.  J really loved being in the water.  He also enjoyed the sand.  I think his favorite thing was riding in the elevator at the place we stayed!!!  He is so funny!!

Some friends were at another beach near by so we met up with them one night for dinner and Putt Putt.  J LOVED riding the little rides and the Go Carts!!!

Of course there was some stress at the beginning of the trip and I was a little worried, but it really ended up being a great trip for the three of us to be together.  We all enjoyed ourselves and are thankful we were able to take this trip before J's surgery.  We continue to be blessed in amazing ways.

 

Katie

Thoughts of a mother

As J's surgery looms closer I can't help but think about his birth mother.  I often think of her, but she has been in my thoughts and prayers more often recently. 

When we first received J's referral we were under the impression that his parents split right after hearing all the medical problems he had.  Anyone with basic knowledge of Chinese culture knows about the one child policy and how, because of this policy, most people want perfect (a birth mark is known as a special need) child.  So it wasn't hard for me to believe that his parents left as soon as they heard their son wasn't perfect.  It made me angry and mad until a friend told me that the quality of life had to mean something to them because they actually had him.

We know that he was his parents SECOND child.  He has an older brother.  In order to have a second child they probably had to go into some sort of hiding.  And then to actually give birth to him they had to spend a lot of money to go to Hong Kong (which is not considered China and multiple children are allowed) to have him.  To go through all of that and then find out that he had some serious problems must have been heart breaking.  While in HK we found out that they didn't sign off on him for a month.  My thought over the past week has been..."what were they doing during that month?"

They were in the hospital that whole month.  Watching their newborn son, who they had already sacrificed so much for, go through so much.  What were they thinking?  Were they scared of the family humiliation they might face at home?  Were they concerned about the money?  When did they first think to leave him?  Since they waited as long as they did, I KNOW they must have loved him and I'm sure the sacrifice they made of leaving him there was the hardest thing they have ever done. 

Then I think about his brother.  I imagine that he is something very special if they wanted to have another child just like him.  How did he handle this sacrifice?  What is he like?  Does he look like J?  Does he ever think of his brother?

My mind of course always goes back to the mother.  I can't imagine the pain she went through leaving her son in that hospital knowing she would never see him again.  I imagine that she is still in pain.  Does she think he is dead?  Does she think he is in an orphanage?  I pray she feels a peace that he is loved and being taken care of.  I pray God is giving her a peace now more than she has ever had.  I pray that if she doesn't know Him that somehow through the experience of losing her son, she has come to know His Son.

I know J will ask all of the questions and more when he is older.  We were told to tell him that his parents loved him very much.  I really hope we all one day get see his parents and tell them how much their sacrifice meant to us and for all of us. 

I'm so thankful for this mother.  The woman whose womb God chose to knit my son in.  Because of her I have the best gift God has ever given me.  The only way for me to repay her is to pray everyday that she knows about God's sacrifice for her.  And if I don't get to meet her here...maybe I will meet her in eternity.

Katie