The Medical Journey Begins....

So, Cori had her first pediatrician appointment and it took over 2 hours. I have to be honest and say that we were not totally prepared for all the "maybes" we received in those 2 hours, but we have been down this road before with Jena. It is lovely to imagine that all is well when you adopt a special needs child from another country but that is seldom the case. You must be prepared for many unknowns. I will not apologize for being somewhat ignorant of all the possibilities because it would be sheer torture to google your child's condition and read everything that could possibly go wrong. Imagine going through your entire pregnancy reading every March of Dimes condition your unborn child might have!

So, now that she is here the tests have begun. Last week was the typical lab work. Those results showed blood in her urine and elevated testosterone. Then there were the spinal x-rays. Today we learned that she has several spinal abnormalities that lead them to use the term "spinal disgraphism" and the possibility of some form of spinal bifida. Now we need a spinal MRI. On Friday she will have an ultrasound to see if she has kidney issues and if she has female organs, ovaries, and/or boy parts. Monday is the endocrinologist to see why she has elevated testosterone and what is going on with those hormonal systems. That practice has already said they will want a brain MRI. Wednesday is the pediatric urologist who told me last May not to worry about all of these things.....

Next Friday is when I have to go to the courthouse to try and convince them I cannot be on a jury right now. Do you think I have a valid excuse?

In the meantime she smiles that million dollar smile and runs around like she owns the house and as if absolutely nothing is wrong with her. She has the cutest smile ever and knows how to let us know exactly what she is thinking with her facial expressions. Today she discovered Fruit Loops!!! Oh, what joy!! Allowed to walk through the house all morning with the entire contents of a Fruit Loop box!

Today she said Bye as I left. She knows what I mean when I ask for a kiss. Grace practices with her every night to say I love you. She knows when I am calling her name. When we tell her that Baba is home she looks all over for him and begins to play hide and chase. When the phone rings she says something that sounds like Who dat?

I will sum it up by quoting a friend who had 5 non-special needs daughters from China before adopting a child with cleft lip and palate. He said, "She is just a little girl who happens to need some surgery." At the end of every day, every doctor's phone call, every appointment, she is a precious little girl.