Before, After and After

Above is a picture that shows Wade's nose/lip (from left to right) when we first adopted him, after his 1st surgery and after his 2nd surgery. Really remarkable progress. We are just thrilled.

Wade Post-Surgery

Here are a couple pictures of Wade post-surgery. He still has tubes in his nose which distorts the shape of his nose a little bit but you can see that his upper lip is really amazing. He still has some scars (will have them for a little while) but is really doing well. He recovered from the surgery in record time - was back to his old self within a couple of days.

Wade is Home

Wade and Shelley came home this morning - exactly 24 hours after we left. They surgery was deemed an absolute success and the surgeons and staff were thrilled with how the surgery went and how quickly he is recovering. (He devoured a plate of macaroni and cheese last night.)

He is allowed to eat anything soft and is restricted to soft for only a week. Plus, they said that he should refrain from engaging in tackle football, boxing or bungee jumping for at least a week. We have canceled his boxing lessons for this weekend.

Thanks to everyone for good thoughts, wishes, and prayers.

Peter

Success!

Wade came out of surgery and Dr. Redett said everything went well, no problems. His lip and nose actually look amazing. As you can see in the picture, there are sutures and some blood but the nostrils are the same size, the lip is totally closed and it appears to be such a huge improvement.

Surgery is Underway

Wade was wheeled via-red-wagon to surgery today a little before 3pm. The procedure is expected to last 1.5 to 2 hours. Wade did incredibly well despite eating and drinking nothing from 8am to 3pm and eating nothing substantial (unless you consider jello substantial) since about 7pm last night.

Some pictures of our journey thus far are included below including Wade in pre-op in his underwear due to unwillingness to adhere to the dress code.

Curious George Goes to Surgery

There is no man in the yellow hat just a 5 year old mischievous little monkey headed into Johns Hopkins for his 2nd U.S. surgery on his cleft lip.

The surgery takes place at 1pm on November 3rd (Tuesday) at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. We anticipate the surgery will take approximately 2 hours although we are not certain. We continue to be under the great care of Dr. Richard Redett - surgeon, humanitarian and matinee-idol.

This should be his last surgery for a couple of years - next one will most likely be a bone graft to support his upper teeth.

Stay tuned for updates as the situation warrants.

Wade's Recovery Continues Apace

Shelley, Wade and Peter visited with Wade's surgeon on Monday, June 15, 2009. Upon looking in his mouth, he declared that it "looks awesome." As the pictures, indicate, Wade was a superstar at the doctor allowing the doctor to poke, prod and investigate with no crying or complaining. You can also see from the party hat picture that he continues to look better and better. Dr. Redett believes that after the next surgery (to be scheduled for some time this fall or early Winter), that Wade's upper lip and nose will look "almost completely normal."

Wade started at the Hill Pre-School this week (his "camp" for the summer) and he has taken to it like a fish to water. After crying the first day, he ran into class on the 2nd day. He has the same pre-school teacher that Clara June had (Ms. Joyce) who is truly a part of our family and also babysits for us on occassion.

Clara June meanwhile did a week of Chinese camp and will start at the Potomac School Camp on Monday complete with to/from bus rides, swimming every day and spending time with old and new friends.

The Amazing Wade

Wade continues to get better everyday and his funny and engaging personality has returned in full force. He continues to be on a largely liquid diet (he practically begged Shelley for Brocoli yesterday) but we have started adding in some very soft pasta (Raviolio's!). He has eaten a ton of tofu and vanilla ice cream mixed with peanut butter plus a lot of smoothy drinks.

As you can see from the picture, the large bump has turned into a short bump. Dr. Redett has told us that the remaining bump is probably mostly swelling and "lip puckering" and that much or all of it will be corrected with the next surgery. As might be obvious, the lip still needs a fair amount of work much of will be completed in 3 months at the next surgical milestone. Needless to say, that will not solve the issue of this picture which is peanut butter smeared on his face.

Home

Wade was discharged from the hospital yesterday morning and we all arrived home at 1:00pm on Friday. He has been doing very well albeit a little cranky and a little fussy. He slept almost straight through from 8pm to 6:00am last night which makes everyone quite happy.

He does not seem to be in lots of pain although there is some. And he has not complained about being in his arm restraints over night. He has been an incredible trooper. The hardest part is the food restrictions - he does not have lots of eating choices, particularly for the first few days.

More pictures later...

Bye bye bump.

Wade was in surgery for 2 hours and 10 minutes. His surgeon reports that it went it exactly as he hoped and expected. He said there we no complications and he is now in recovery on some serious narcotic pain medication that the nurses refuse to share with his parents.

As you can see, he has a bandage on his upper lip, but the transformation of his face is already pretty obvious. He has arm restraints that he made need for as long as three weeks (yikes) to keep him from messing with his stitches, lip, etc.

He woke up and was pretty darn unhappy but the pain medication seems to have solved that problem for now.

Thanks to everyone for thoughts and prayers. We are absolutely thrilled!

Off to the Operating Room

Given that he ate nothing from 5:30am until 12:25pm, Wade really did amazingly well. A little fussing and crying but nothing like we anticipated.

Wade went into surgery at 12:25pm and was asleep within 10 seconds of getting the mask. Peter went with him and Wade was a champ with very little crying. He went completely limp and then Peter almost started crying.

The staff here has been fantastic - very efficient and calming. The surgery is expected to take 2-3 hours so he should be out between 2:30 and 3:30 after which he will go into the recovery room for an hour and then on to his regular room for the night. If he eats tomorrow, then he gets to go home.

The surgeon explained that he will be taking the pre-maxilla and "docking" it into the palate. He drew us a good picture which we can't replicate here but he said he expects the bump under his nose to be completely gone after the surgery which is great news.

I forgot my camera today so no pictures so you will all have to miss out on Peter wearing a scrub gown and shower cap. Your loss.

The Day Before

We are rushing about trying to get prepared for the big surgery day today. Peter's parents are coming in today to help and to stay with Clara June while necessary when we both are at the hospital.

His surgery is at 12:30 on Thursday, May 21st. If there are no complications, then we expect him to come home on Friday afternoon.

Our surgeon is the boyish yet experienced and talented Dr. Richard Redett (see below). See more information him at http://www.hopkinscleft.com/redett.html.

We will try to update this blog on Wade's status as often as we can.

Home

We arrived home on xmas eve after a 24 hour odyssey that included 2 hours in hong kong airport, 14 hours from Hong Kong to Chicago, 2 hours in chicago, 2 hours from chicago to DC and then a car ride home after filing a report one lost bag in DC. The kids did just amazing despite each only getting about 3.5 hours of sleep.

I slept poorly tonight, Shelley seems to have slept well and the kids both seem to have slept well so we can't argue with that.

Guang Jin is terrified of the cat, will almost certainly be more terrified of the dog and otherwise seemed to enjoy the house other than when going to bed in his new room which caused much crying. 

Life begins again, here.

Merry Xmas and Happy Channukah to all.

Peter

Just Another Monday in Guangzhou

Today our paperwork for the U.S. Consulate appeared to be accepted without problem so tomorrow we will go through a very short and perfunctory ceremony and receive Wade's visa and then head to the train station for Hong Kong and what Wade undoubtedly thinks is his third home in 8 days. 

The temperature dropped to a frigid 62 degrees today.  Real bummer.

Merry upcoming Xmas and Happy Hannukah to everyone. Wierdly there are tons of Xmas decorations in China as it is apparently celebrated as a secular holiday. I have yet to see a Menorah which is highly disturbing. How do they celebrate the festival lights in this country?

Shelley May Have Completely Lost It

Guang-Zoo

Today was spent at the Guangzhou zoo - fun and yet depressing like most zoo's. We accompanied the Fraschetti family from Marin County, California (pictured below) who are seriously good folks and have the previously mentioned 6 year old daughter Sarah who has become quick friends with Clara June.

Today also marked some great progress with Guang Jin where he is becoming closer to me (Peter) and just more comfortable in general with change and adversity. I was the recipient of a couple of big and lovely hugs from him which is a first for me. He has of course become very attached Shelley (who wouldn't?) and loves to follow Clara June around. In general, if he realizes he is not where Shelley is he becomes worried, whiny and/or panicky. Clara June has been a dream on this trip, amazingly patient for a six year old and seems to be enjoying her brother despite the obvious challenges of sharing parental attention and toys, and his occassional emotional outbursts.

Sore throat started for me today which other than Dan's bout with the run for the border is the first illness we have been subject to. Hopefully it will be short lived.

I warn you that the last picture below ( of CJ And GJ) will break your heart.

Peter

Guangzhou

Losing a little steam on the blog but will post some pictures tomorrow. We arrived in Guangzhou last night around 8pm with two overtired kids. We are thrilled to be here as Shamian Island is a really wonderful place (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamian_Island) and the temperature here today (Saturday) and tomorrow is 78-80 degrees for highs. Quite amazing.

Wade Guangjin had his physical exam today. To say that he enjoyed the exam would be similar to saying that George W. Bush has enjoyed high approval ratings over the last few years. We discovered he is quite strong as he cried and threw one helluva of a fit on just about everything including (but not limited to) the heart check, feet check, hands check, privates check, ears check, eyes check, nose check, weight check, height check, hair check and coat check. 

We purchased a cheap stroller for him today and he very much enjoys riding around like a prince surveying his lands, serfs and other subjects. We also enjoyed one heckuva tasty meal at La Dolce Vita, a surprisingly tasty italian restaurant.

We met a great couple from Marin county California adopting a 16 month old (Leila) and with a beatiful 6 year old daughter named  Sarah who Clara June has become fast friends with.

We handed off all of our paperwork and fees to our guide today and thus await the arrival of WGJ's visa on Tuesday. We then take a train to Hong Kong for yet another hotel and fly out on Wednesday morning for the trip home from hell.

Our son is very active, funny and learning some English. He is quite alert and knows what he wants for sure. Getting an active toddler to bed in strange hotel rooms is becoming an interesting lesson in the battle of wills,  yikes.  Tommorrow we are off to the zoo, which will either delight or terrify Wade, stay tuned.

Last Full Day In Nanjing

Some sightseeing, some shoe shopping (prices for things made in china but not shipped overseas - incredibly cheap).  We are awaiting notarized documents for our adoption, ones that certify Wade Guang Jin's abandonment, etc. etc. Wade is so enthralled with Clara June that he always gives/offers her part of his snack when ever he has it. Peter bought 2 chocolates and asked him to take it to her which he did and then bowed!  Hilarious. He is now running and walking much better now that we got him sneakers which light up....good for Shelley since this means less carrying and for Peter since when he got carried, CJ wanted to be carried too.

Overall, Wade Guang Jin is a lovely boy and doing very well for having his whole world turned upside down.

We visited a confucian temple and a beautiful park in central Nanjing where you can see that Clara June is standing with a 600 year old Wisteria!! (Only 350 years older than our country!)

I forgot to write down all the breakfast items in our hotel buffet but I will leave you with only this one:

• Steamed Chicken Feet (Don't fill up on them because you will just be hungry an hour later.)
  

Just Another Day In Nanjing

Sorry - no pictures today other than two of CJ and WGJ eating fruit rollups. Forgot the camera in the hotel although we did have a lovley day of sightseeing at the Mausoleum of Sun Yat San. Amazingly beautiful and here is a link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Yat-sen_Mausoleum.  It is situated in the mountains that surround Nanjing. At this tourist site, we had a most unusual experience of having army men asking us to pose for pictures with them. Very fun and interesting.

We also made a visit to the Nanjing Museum which had some amazing brocade and jade. It also included a lesson on how to determine what Jade is high quality with frequent pop quizzes adminstered in rapid fire and without mercy. That, thankfully, was followed by a great chinese lunch and some hanging out in the hotel.

Standby for a list tomorrow of buffet items from our hotel breakfast buffet. You will not be dissappointed.

Tonight we eat at German restaurant called Paulaner. Stay tuned for gastroestinal updates as the situation warrants. 

Adoption is Official

So, yesterday, we basically checked Guang Jin out of the orphanage library for a 24 hour test period. Rather than return him, we decided to go ahead and make it official as it is clear he is a keeper.

We brought big sweaty wads of Yuan to the Civil Affairs office for the orphanage donation, notary fee and passport fee.

We also had the great fortune of spending some time with Mama Zhang (pictured below) who is director of and the force behind Guang Jin's orpahanage. She is a powerhouse and really friendly. She brought us more pictures of Guang Jin, a brochure of the orphanage (quite impressive) and a framed chinese opera mask for Guang Jin's room.

We then spent a couple of hours at a beautiful park in Nanjing. Guang Jin appears to be taking to us very well although he clearly has a mind of his own and opinions about many things. Among them is a very strong attachment to his spiderman backpack which he stuffs everything he owns (and some things he doesn't) into. He carries it around despite the fact that he teeters when he walks even without it. With it on, he lurches from side to side.

Our nephew Dan had an unfortunate bought of Mao's Revenge for which a remarkably stern-faced doctor gave him antibiotics, rehydration salts, etc.  From the look on the doctors face, you would assume that Danny either (1) was near dying or (2) smelled bad. Fortunately, neither was even close to true. He is now making a full recovery and just had his first meal in a day and a half.