first doctor visit

I have to start out this post by saying that I highly recommend Dr. Keck at the International Adoption Clinic at Riley Hospital in Indianapolis. We had well over 45 minutes of "face time" with the doctor today. She's very thorough, has a wonderful bedside manner, and is obviously very experienced with preemie issues and international adoption issues.

I'm relieved to know that the doctor says Hannah Claire's right on target developmentally for and adjusted age of nine months, especially as she's become much more stable sitting over the last three weeks since we've had her. We'll be moving to a US preemie formula for at least three more months until she's 12 months adjusted age. Her arm muscles are a little tight, which could be preemie related, so we'll be be doing some physical play that involves stretching her arms all the way out. We'll schedule an appointment with an audiologist to recheck her hearing. We need an appointment with a pediatric opthamologist to check her eyes. Things were looking good with her eyes in Taiwan until the most recent checkup. Dr. Keck said that she was "delightful" and doing great for such a little preemie. We think so too!

We'll need to return to Riley for an appointment with a dermatologist that specializes in hemangiomas. Hemangiomas are blood filled birthmarks/tumors that are the most common tumor of infancy. Because Hannah has a few, there is a risk that she could have some internally. The so called "hemangioma queen" dermatologist at Riley will evaluate the problem areas and will most likely sedate Hannah Claire for an MRI to make sure that she does not have any internal ones that could affect vital organs, the brain, etc. This is all no surprise to us, and we knew all about this when we were presented with her referral. Note that I've debated if I should discuss this on the blog for her privacy, but decided that because they are visible to the world... and there will always be people asking (and BELIEVE me they HAVE asked), "Oooh, what happened to her there?" there's no sense in hiding it.

My only surprise during the visit is that the doctor recommended that she be evaluated by a speech language pathologist that specializes in children and swallowing issues. Hannah Claire does occasionally choke and cough during bottle feedings, usually 1-2 times during every other bottle. The doctor told us that this is most likely preemie related. Of course, I called my favorite SLP Amy on the phone right after we leave and enjoyed a conversation about this in the middle of Nordstrom's children's department. (Oooh! They had a Hello Kitty t-shirt that was pink and white and said "I'm a keeper" that was sooo totally cute and I really wanted it, but Kevin frowned at the $22 price tag for a baby's t-shirt and I didn't overrule him.)

So... after the appointment we go to the lab for all of these titers and tests for our cutie patootie. This was the hard part of the day. I hear about all of these parents that can't stand to watch their children be in pain. That wasn't the issue at all. Hannah Claire is a fighter. We know this from our struggles with the nasal saline and bulb syringe for her boogers. I held her abdomen tightly with one hand, pinned down another arm with my other hand, Kevin's holding her down too... I think her head and neck, the phlebotomist is holding the arm that's getting stuck with both hands, the phlebotomist is getting kicked in the legs from Hannah's little feet. I think they needed like 8-9 vials of blood. One arm pooped out, so she had to get stuck a second time in the other arm. My right arm was sooooooo tired from holding her down, oh my gosh! Because the phlebotomist needed both hands to hold her arm still, Kevin got to hand off multi colored vials to the phlebotomist and even stick the vials into the retrieval section where the blood flows into. It was crazy, and oh man... did she ever throw a royal mad baby fit! Grandma Adrienne could her her screaming through two hospital doors. After we were finished I gave her a bottle and the mad baby tears slowly stopped and her eyes closed into bottle bliss. "Shushhhh, baby. It's okay. I'll take you to the mall and we'll buy you a pretty dress. That will make us all feel better, won't it?" Well, it certainly made Mama feel better after all that drama!

So, we went to the mall, found the pretty dress AND matching shoes, Hannah had her first taste of mushed up french fries, liked them AND didn't puke them back at me, and then she slept in the car pretty much all the way home.

P.S. Oh! I forgot to add, we had our first sighting as bloggers today. A woman at Riley stopped me in the waiting room, smiled, and asked where Hannah was from. Praying I wouldn't have to be on the defensive with lame-o insensitive adoption comments or questions, I answered, "She was born in Taiwan," and smiled. THEN I noticed her CUTE little boy that was most likely an international adoptee as well. Yay! She asked, "Do you guys live near ____________? I know Kelli _______. She told me that you might be here today too." Hahahahaha!!! How funny is that!!!