Xi'an Children's Welfare Institute-December 2007

Here is some video on YouTube taken by Leslie and Keith Vesper, from TX who adopted Isabel in December 2007 from the Xi'an CWI. Having a few glimpses of Ahn-Bao (in the striped sweater) and his good friends Lu (in the light blue sweater) and Isabel (in the white hooded sweater) are priceless -- talk about your pay-it-forward!

Cribmates Reunion

Then and now . . .

We had a wonderful reunion with two of Ahn-Bao's "cribmates" from the Pink Castle. Ahn-Bao's friends, Lu (and his Mom and Dad and big sister, Clara who live in the Twin Cities) and Isabel (and her Mom and Dad and big brother, Jackson who used to live in the Twin Cities but moved to Texas a year ago) met at Lake Harriet and got reacquainted. Isabel's parents were visiting in MN for the weekend and all three families (and lots of other families as it was an especially beautiful day) spent the afternoon at the park.

Ahn-Bao has had one other encounter with Lu since their time at the Pink Castle and talks about him frequently. He also seemed to recognize Isabel, but hard to tell. Nevertheless, it seems important to make these connections for Ahn-Bao to maintain some memory of his babyhood. It was all probably more meaningful to his Mommy than to him for the moment, but I can only hope we can maintain these connections for him so that one day it might also be important to him.

It was of course an ocassion for lots of photos (what ocassion isn't?) and here they are . . . .

Extreme Makeover-Home Edition

The kids and Mom just watched a rerun of the April 12 episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition online on ABC.com last night. The story of a new home for the Kadzis family. This is a very moving episode about a family that has adopted 6 children from China, making a total of 7 kids in the family. It was a tear jerker to be sure, but a wonderful story of a fabulous family that has such great perspective. We would give it 5 stars and recommend it if you missed it live.

http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/index?pn=index

Click on "Watch Free Episodes" and the select Ep 22, Parts 1 and 2.

It's Crunchy Day!

It's been 6 weeks since Ahn-Bao had his palate surgery and the day he is officially released from the soft diet. He celebrated with crunchies of all sorts -- including taquitos, chips, graham crackers, rice krispies and cheerios! Life is much better with a little crunch in your life!

Ahn-Bao is 3!

The official celebration of Ahn-Bao's birthday consisted of a "to go" supper in the Mayo High School cafeteria, conveniently located near Elias' wrestling practice on February 17, 2009. Cake is not on the post-surgery diet, so Ahn-Bao enjoyed leftover egg drop soup from China Star, and a whole bunch of yogurt mixed with applesauce (one of his favorites). The other kids discretely ate Dominoes pizza (the Tuesday discount-special) in honor of the celebration of his turning 3.

Ahn-Bao had a package from Grandma Hubert including a cement mixer truck which was a hit. He also had a package from Mom and Dad of 200 foam blocks and Yasmin wrapped his favorite stuffed eagle and Webkinz polar bear, which Yasmin was willing to hand-down to him a couple of weeks ago. He was quite pleased with all of this. During supper, we were entertained by the Mayo High School dance team practicing in the cafeteria -- as Bob put it, dinner and a show, a fine birthday celebration.

He was also very excited about a gift a few days before his birthday from his very thoughtful cousins in NE -- a Lightening McQueen car!

Later in the week, Yasmin and Elias both asked why Ahn-Bao didn't get a cake for his birthday, and while they understood that his post-surgery diet won't allow it now, they are suggesting that he have a birthday cookie with Lightening McQueen decorations when his soft diet is over. They think waiting until next year's birthday is not at all fair, and I agree.

Measurements in the garage . . .

Annual photos with Dad's shirt . . .

Apple Juice shots

The last step to take Ahn-Bao home from the hospital is to get his pain controlled with oral medications and get him taking oral fluids so he doesn't need an IV anymore. We're at 14 ounces and counting as of noon today, so we're making good progress. Things are looking up and we're on the better side of the recovery now.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch . . .

Bob is certainly doing his share and then some keeping things with the rest of the family on as normal a routine is possible, under the circumstances. Here's some of what the rest of the family is doing away from the hospital.

Bump in the Road

Early Sunday morning, Ahn-Bao had finally started to sleep well, maybe a little too well and he starting dropping his oxygen saturations just enough that they sent us back to the PICU where they could monitor him a little more closely. We went back to our same room in the PICU and spent the rest of the night and Sunday morning there.

We are now back to the regular pediatric floor and Ahn-Bao has taken his first few sips (out of a medicine syringe) of apple juice. A very good sign. He took his first walk to the playroom and enjoyed a few minutes of Bailey's Bookhouse. We're now back to the room for a nap (hopefully) and watching Cars -- #6. It's familiar, comfortable and a decent distraction.
Prior to bedtime Saturday night, Yasmin, Elias, Kia and Dad came for a visit and Dad even produced Ahn-Bao's first smile and laugh in a couple of days. They were a good distraction too.
After the family went home, but before Ahn-Bao decided he was tired, he had a delightful game of "book garages" and hotwheels.

Recovery In Process

We are so glad to be this far and have the surgery completed and so blessed to live in this town and have the medical benefits that we do. It is kind of amazing to experience healthcare as both an employee and patient. The Mayo Clinic lives up to the reputation as the best hospital in the world, at least by our experience!

Dr. Clay says we should not expect Ahn-Bao to want to eat or drink anything until late tomorrow and Ahn-Bao completely agrees with that assessment! He's on an IV for fluids and nutrients until he can swallow more comfortably and start back P.O. He is really wanting to eat and keeps asking for food but when he realizes it's going to have to be swallowed, he gets very frustrated. It's been a tearful night and day but it's going to keep getting better for him.

Thanks to all for prayers - they really make a difference. The photo is of Ahn-Bao being distracted by the movie, Cars, for the fifth time.

Update

He is out of surgery and for the moment has good drugs which are keeping him very comfortable (and asleep). Have moved to Pediatric ICU to keep an eye on him overnight and then to a regular hospital room for a couple of days. Its all up to his little resiliency to get through the recovery now.

P-Flap Day

Ahn-Bao went to sleep at 8 a.m. this morning and his plastic surgeon says he will wake up with the "mother of all sore throats" later this morning. He is such a great little patient and was excited when I woke him at 6 a.m. today - because he knew he was going to Saint Marys Hospital with Mommy - and in Mommy's car (which was the real attraction). He knew we were going to have surgery and the Doctors were going to fix his mouth, but I have to wonder if he thinks we are a little nuts to be fixing his mouth when there is to him nothing wrong with it. Other than a little fear in his eyes when they put the anesthesia mask on him, he was completely calm and he is such a compliant patient (has a little too much experience, I guess).

He had what looked to his mother (I am in the health care field, although I'm not technically qualified to diagnose) like impetigo spots yesterday afternoon (after the appointment with the surgeon of course) and so my biggest fear this morning was that we wouldn't get to go through with it and we were ready! But the anesthesiologist agreed that he'd get an antibiotic this morning anyway and that shouldn't stop us.

The great news from the surgeon yesterday is no casts this time (the surgical site will be too far back in his throat for his fingers in his mouth to be a problem.) But the doc says he will have the "mother of all sore throats," will be in ICU overnight and in the hospital til Monday probably because they've got to keep an IV in because he won't be wanting to drink/swallow, what/with the "mother sore throat" and all.

Here's a picture from the not so steady cell phone camera of him before surgery this morning. Will try to keep all posted via here or facebook as we can.

One Year

It's hard to believe that a whole year has passed since Ahn-Bao came home to his forever family! But then again, at exactly the same time it seems like he's always been a part of this crazy bunch!

Ahn-Bao and his Mom and his Grandma L flew in to the Rochester airport on January 31, 2008 after leaving Guangzhou some 20+ hours earlier.

It was so good to have the family back together. The older 3 were so excited to introduce Ahn-Bao to his new home.

He's Grown!

Photo February 2008

Next week marks the one year anniversary of Ahn-Bao's Gotcha to the Hubert family! Ahn-Bao was in to see the pediatrician today to get an antibiotic for a (contagious) case of impetigo. While there he got weighed and measured. Since he arrived in the Hubert household, he has put on six pounds and grown four inches.




Yasmin is the closest to Ahn-Bao's weight at the same age:
Ahn-Bao 29#
Yasmin 30#
Kia 31#
Elias 37#
Yasmin is also closest to Ahn-Bao's height at the same age:
Ahn-Bao 36"
Yasmin 37"
Kia 39"
Elias 41"

I love when kids are a pound in weight for each inch tall -- wouldn't it be great if we could continue at that pace as adults . . .

Photo December 2008

Surgery Updates

A recheck on the tonsils, ears and hearing tests are scheduled for next week with the ENT. Then a tentative date for a re-repair of his palate of February 6. We're expecting soft foods for 6 weeks or thereabouts and hopefully not more than 3 weeks with arm casts!