CHOP Day 3... And a favor...

So Henry and I spent a LOT longer at CHOP than we planned on today to get him officially "cleared" for surgery tomorrow...

We had an ECHO, EEG, Cardiologist appointment, and blood draw that I did not know about until this morning!

The blood draw was rough (as usual with my little guy), and then we found out as we were about to leave the hospital that the tech somehow "missed" the order for the CBC... Which is possibly the most basic blood panel ordered, especially before surgery...

I was NOT going to put Henry through that AGAIN because of someone else's error...so the anesthesiologist agreed that they could take the blood AFTER Henry was "put under" tomorrow morning...

They are not dealing with some "newbie" special needs momma here anymore...

Will post later tomorrow, Henry should go into surgery about 8:30am Eastern Time...

Now the favor...

Ok I was wrong... favorS - there are 2...

First, please pray for Henry... That there is not a repeat of the difficult intubation from last time and that he has a QUICK and EASY recovery...

Second, go here:
http://onestepclosertohome.blogspot.com/2012/06/racing-for-orphans-with-down-syndrome.html?m=1

Go watch this video of the AWESOME Brady Murray who runs IRONMAN TRIATHALONS on behalf of the sweet children listed for international adoption on Reece's Rainbow....

And then VOTE OFTEN for him and children with Downs Syndrome and other disabilities all over the world...

My Chicago peeps know how to do the "vote early and often" thing, right???

I'll even reward you with a pic of Henry enjoying his pre-surgery "last supper" of his favorite food group...

Thanks for your prayers and support!!!

Day 2 at CHOP

After a bit of a restless night (Henry does not like sleeping in different environs), we headed to CHOP bright and early for a Urology consult...

We had been told that Henry's CAT scan revealed an undescended testicle that would need to be "brought down"...

But 2 different docs confirmed this morning that the elusive testicle is in its proper place... With a minor irregularity that our pediatrician just needs to monitor yearly to make sure Henry does not develop a hernia...

So we are down one procedure but still need a sedated dental procedure as expected at some point this summer...

Still, the testicular appearance deserved a celebration...

Many thanks to a lovely friend who is so supportive of or walk with Henry and who sent me a "virtual" Starbucks gift card...

Here is Henry with my mug and coupon for a FREE cup since they were out of the brew I wanted!!

Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket today too!?!

A big week coming, kicking off with "Monday for Marcus"

I had plans....

BIG plans for Marcus...

You see he is one of the last children who needs to find a family in a very special orphanage in Henry's country, an orphanage with a caring director that actually educates disabled children...

Until they "age out" at 17...

They get thrown out on the street with a handshake OR, in the case of someone in a wheelchair, like sweet Marcus, sent to an institution...

Where learning ENDS and day after day is merely survival...

I BEG you, go here:

http://melissa-roomatthetable.blogspot.com/2012/06/monday-for-marcus.html?m=1

Look at those eyes!

Read where Marcus would not allow his legs to be shown in earlier pics because he is convinced a momma will not choose him due to his disability (spina bifida)...

I wanted to do a "fancy schmancy" blog post with tons of pics and links...

But I had to leave the house at 5am to catch a 7am flight with Henry back here to CHOP... His cleft repair and g-tube insertion is coming up Thursday...

So I am blogging from my phone, which is not conducive to all the bells and whistles Marcus deserves...

But maybe his momma does not needs bells and whistles...

Maybe she just needs to look into his eyes...

Go click on that blog link I posted earlier momma...

Or go to www.reecesrainbow.com and type "Marcus" in the "Search" box on the top right...

Look into the eyes of a smart, sensitive, loving boy (i can put you in touch with a gal who visited with him for weeks and can tell you all about his personality!!) who DESPERATELY wants a family...

Yes, his legs don't work...

Henry's don't either...

And Henry can't sit up...

And Henry can't talk...

But my Henry is AMAZING!!!

Marcus is amazing too...

He needs to be here...

like my Henry...

A newly-discovered Mozart composition...

played on a Stradivarius...

by the first-chair of the Chicago symphony...

would not sound as sweet...

First Mother's Day...

...not mine....

my first Mother's Day was 19 years ago...

but today is HENRY'S first Mother's Day...

here in the US of course...

but also his first Mother's Day HAVING A MOMMY!!!

Thanking God for this great blessing....

and praying that all orphans may one day know a mother's love in a forever family!

Happy Mother's Day indeed!!

A Tale of Two Tessas

Here is my daughter, Tessa Luigina Dobrovits, born in March 2009...

Here is "Tessa" (name is changed to protect her privacy), born in August 2008, an orphan in an Eastern European country listed with Reeces Rainbow (click on this link to see her full RR profile)....

The RR Tessa has Cerebral Palsy - but her info says she can already STAND AND WALK INDEPENDENTLY!!! This is HUGE and means a little bit of PT and OT here in the US would do wonders...

The RR Tessa has rickets  - which means she needs more Vitamin C and D and more exercise and sunlight!!!

The RR Tessa has strabismus (crossed eyes) - she needs glasses, big whoop!!!!

The RR Tessa is listed as having epilepsy - it is hard to say how severe this special needs is, but I personally know several families who have adopted from Tessa's country and their child was diagnosed with epilepsy due to only a few febrile seizures in infancy/toddlerhood and they needed no medication here in the US! One child did indeed still need medication for seizures but is now doing incredibly well here at home with his family!!!

Finally, the RR Tessa has a speech delay.

So does my Tessa. A "profound phonological delay."

Which means that strangers can only understand about 20% of her speech.

We, her family, can understand about 50-70%.

My Tessa goes to speech therapy 2 times a week for 45 minutes each time at our local school. She LOVES it and is making progress!

I will guarantee you that RR Tessa is not receiving any speech therapy.

This video is my Tessa being her sweet self.

I don't have a video of RR Tessa for you.

I wish I did.

While showing children's pictures is a HUGE help to families discerning adoption, videos are even better!

I know that Malcolm's family was greatly influenced and encouraged by the video they were able to see of their sweet boy using a walker and talking to the person doing the taping.

So I am asking you....

look at MY Tessa....

and SEE RR's Tessa....

and someone bring this sweet girl home.

What makes Henry happy??

Chocolate!

Chocolate brownies in this case...

homemade gluten-free chewy chocolate brownies made with Ghiradelli dark chocolate chips...

mmmmmm......

Just wanted to share the joy!!! Do something to make those you love happy today!!!