Blood drive was a great success

Our homeschool friend Stephanie with her daughter.

I'm going to start a new blog for our daily homeschooling journey. First day of school is tomorrow. Stay tuned for announcement as to the title and address of the new blog. Joseph will be in 1st grade this year.

Under construction. Working on getting blogging again. 

Jewel 7 months home

Jewel is developing so quickly. And they are both super smart. Jewel has still not decided to talk yet. If she doesn't talk by the fall we will enroll her in the early intervention program for some help. I can't believe how girly she is already. Jewel loves to get dressed and try on clothes. She brings us her shoes all the time and I've caught her putting on extra bloomers when she is already dressed for the day. And laundry, how many children want to help put up the laundry? She is very specific about her food now. Most fruits and meats are desirable but her love of vegetables seems to have waned. We no longer offer Chinese noodles every day since the kids are eating many American foods.

Joseph home 7 months

Joseph and Thalassemia
The biggest question most prospective adoptive parents have is what its really been like. Well its been way less of a big deal than we were expecting. I blogged my friend's experiences and ours have been very much the same. We schedule for a hemoglobin check 3 weeks after his transfusion. At the same time we schedule his transfusion for 3 weeks and one day and also a HGB check and transfusion days for 4 weeks after last transfusion. Sounds confusing? Example: If his last transfusion was on the 1st then we would book appointments for the 21st and 28th for hemoglobin checks and on the 22nd and 29th for doctor exams and transfusions. If his HGB is 9 or above on the 21st we cancel his 22nd transfusion appointment and return for HGB check on the 28th. At that time his HGB has always been below 9 and we use our 29th appointment for transfusing. We do not check HGB and transfuse the same day because there is a long 2-3 hour wait to get the blood ready. So the nurse calls me in the afternoon with the HGB results and at that time she orders the blood for tommorrow. Type and cross match is very detailed. Not only do they get his correct blood type but they are matching as closely as possible his antibodies which change daily. A blood draw to match blood off of is only good for 48 hours in our hospital. For that reason we will never be transfused on Mondays.
HGB checks are taken from his inner elbow just like from anyone in the US. On transfusion day we go downstairs to the Children's Day Hospital where he is given a private exam room. The nurses start an IV and hook up the blood. Not so fast... Joseph completely freaks out if they try anywhere other than his wrists. We assume from scarring and his attitude that is where they transfused in China. Back of the wrist, front wrist and just last time his pinkie knuckle. Ouch. In between the transfusion days I don't even think about Thalassemia. He has just as much energy the day before as the day after so its not noticable to anyone. He's even been playing Tee-Ball right after leaving the hospital as well as the day before his transfusion.

Yum!

Just 6 months ago our little girl had only eaten baby formula and Congee. (rice soup) As she has learned about other foods and textures there is no going back. Congee? Ha! Never again!

Port Placement

It was a short surgery 30-40 minutes. After waiting 4 hours to get started due to emergency surgeries bumping us back. Waking up was a little rough. He just kept screaming. In China the orphans have no one to stay with them so he was justifiably scared when he awoke without us. I'm not sure he remembered the English words to express his pain either. But now we are settled in a regular hospital room getting his already scheduled 3 week transfusion. His veins were bad so they put his IV in his foot. No surprise. That's why we were getting the port. After the transfusion we get to go home without an overnight stay. It has made for a long day but I think it will be worth it now that we won't have multiple tries to get the IV started in the future.

Port

Talking

Jewel has spoken. And what words of wisdom has she spoken? Night Night. That's right. Telling the family goodnight is her first statement. Does that mean she will remain a great sleeper?

Billboards

Check out this news story about the billboard slogans currently in use in China. Can you imagine having your family threatened if you didn't do something the government wanted?

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/china-soften-one-child-policy-slogans-not-law-200726036.html

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/7741198.html#liuyan