Update: Long time coming!

Ok, Jason is overwhelmed with teaching high school, his online class, and finishing his Master's Degree, so I am taking over the updates on the blog.


Last Month: We arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia late Saturday September 6th. We weren't able to see Isaac right away, we had to wait until the next morning. Sunday morning we traveled by taxi (what an adventure!) to the Myungsung Korean Children's Missonary Hopsital. We were able to meet Isaac at that time. He looked soooo small lying in a regular hospital bed. He was all hooked up to an IV for anitbiotics, oxygen, and a feeding tube.


He looked like such a sick little boy. Everyone kept telling us how good he looked and that he would be fine. What we didn't know at the time was that he almost didn't make it. A few days before we arrived his condition worsened and they had lost hope for him. A doctor from Tampa FL was in Ethiopia adopting his own child and made a trip to the hopsital to check on Isaac. He properly diagnosed his condition (pneumonia and a bacterial infection) and ordered a different set of antibiotics. Jason and I firmly believe that God sent this person to save our son. Many people that we spoke to at the hopsital had limited English skills, but one lady said it best when she said "God saved your baby." We know that God loves Isaac and that we are blessed to be able to call him our son.



Over the next week Isaac's condition continued to improve. On Friday September 12, he was completely unhooked from all tubes and we were able to take him back to the Guest House. I think we slept a total of 7 minutes that night because we both couldn't stop looking at him! He did great and continues to thrive today. We have adjusted very quickly as a family. Jason has really impressed me as a dad. He is a natural! For someone who never changed a diaper in his entire life, he is a very quick learner. We have done a good job of splitting the night time feedings so neither one of us are feeling overly tired these days.



We left Addis for home on Tuesday September 16. It was a long 24 hours of travel, but we made it back to St. Louis on Wednesday the 17th. We were greeted at the airport by both of our parents and it was so good to be back. We were tired, but happy to be home and get started on being a family of three.


Move ahead 2 weeks: Isaac had his doctor's appointment today and was such a trooper. We were very impressed with his pediatrician, she seems very nice and personable and was great with a screaming baby. He weighed in a 6 lbs. 13 oz. We were hoping for 7 lbs. by now, but maybe by the weekend. We go back in a few weeks for a weight check. Other than being a small 4 month old, he is doing great. His heart and lungs sound good and he has no visible signs of illness. Which after all he has been through in his short life, that is fantastic! He got a shot in each leg and we go tomorrow to get a heel prick done at the hospital. The dr. has ordered a newborn screening that would have been done automatically if he had been born in the USA. We are going to wait until the 6 month appointment to run blood work to make sure that all of his birth mother's antibodies are out of his system so that we get a more accurate reading.



In the two weeks since we have been home Isaac has really changed. He is more alert now and is tracking with his eyes. Jason and I think he can recognize our voices and he is full of smiles (we are hoping they are genuine and not just gas!) He is getting more control of his head and neck and has found his fists. We are still working on his grip and trying to get him to reach for objects. He was a preemie baby so it will take him awhile to catch up with other kids his age. For now, the main focus is on his gaining weight. He has a Buddha belly! We can't see ribs anymore so we think we are making progress!



I have two more weeks to enjoy this little boy before I have to go back to work. Jason will then take about two weeks off to be home with Isaac and then our boy is off to the babysitter! We are lucky to have found a great one and we know he will be in good hands while we are at work.



That is it for now! This is kind of fun...I might have to post more often! :)