The Medical Stuff

So far this week, we have tackled bloodwork, the dentist AND the ENT. Bloodwork went as smoothly as it could though we haven't gotten the results back yet. This is routine. The comparison, because there is always one, is that with MK - even the lady doing the blood draw from Maddox noted that she remembered MK, who doesn't? - I digress, MK took three trips to three different facilities when we finally ended up at the hospital where three adults as well as myself held this poor little, screaming-her-head-off soul while they TRIED to get a vein. It was literally blood, sweat and tears at its best. Maddox - one facility, lip poked out at the site of medical gloves, tears flowed openly, and the screaming began when the needle went in and continued until it came out. She sat on my lap the entire time and the draw was over, I turned her around, she placed her pitiful little head on my shoulder, clung to my neck and the screaming ceased. They took one.two.three.FOUR tubes of blood. As little as she is, I wondered if she had any left inside.

The dentist. The comparison. Actually, the girls both get a thumbs up on this one. MK, from what I do remember, handled this one well though I do believe we didn't take her until well after her palate repair due to there not being any real concerns. Maddox, well, there were concerns so off to the dentist we went. Again, she handled it well, cried at the site of the dentist and the medical gloves but overall she was a sweet little trooper and had the staff eating out of the palms of her hands by the time we made our grand exit. Maddox does have a few cavities - this we knew. She will have those filled. Even though they are baby teeth, we want to fill them so that they do not cause her any serious harm in the near future.

The ENT. I just love our ENT. He is a patient, personable man and talks to the children, plays with the children and engages them so that they are not frightened by his white coat. Love him! I took both girls. MK asked to be first so she could "show Mady not to be scared of him." She is taking her big sister role so seriously and we love seeing this quality in her. She is the only one in the family who consistently calls her Mady. We will call her Maddox but we think MK's nickname for her is a special thing for the girls to have between them. At the end of the day, Maddox's ears will not get a break until tubes are put in during her upcoming surgery. Maddox tested as having "mild hearing loss" due to fluid build up. MK had fluid in both ears and walked out of the office with a big prescription to take care of that. There were tears from Maddox during this visit as well but she snapped right out of it.

Three things I learned yesterday during our ENT visit. One, MK is a great big sister. I attribute this to "her boys" and the fact that they have doted on MK for countless hours since she joined our family. MK has soaked that attention in and is now sharing what she has witnessed with her little sister. Two, Maddox was so shut down in China. She continues to get more and more comfortable at home....she is so easygoing, so happy, so loving. Yesterday, though, I saw a glimpse of her China personality when we were in the doctor's office....she was quiet, she was scared, she wanted to sit in my lap, she turned away from the dr. when he spoke to her, she was sad. It is part of the process, part of the adjustment and she is taking it all in stride. And third, I am officially dreading her palate surgery. Seeing her so sad yesterday gave me a reality check as to the pain she is going to endure in less than three weeks. I already hurt for her.