I heard him wailing from the other side of the orphanage. I spend a lot of time in the high care nursery and after two weeks in there, I know all my babies by their cries. None of them wail quite like that.
He kicked. He Squirmed. And he would not let the nannies comfort him. They handed him to me. For a few moments, the crying stopped. Our new arrival had never seen such a pale face in all his months on this earth!
The novelty was short-lived. The baby scowled, opened his mouth wide and began wailing all over again.
At 9 months of age he desperately wanted his Mummy. He was sick with gastroenteritis, and had been breast-fed up until that afternoon. The little man wretched when we put a bottle in his mouth. He absolutely refused pedialyte (oral rehydration solution) and was not impressed with our formula milk. Eventually, with coaxing, he took some soy milk from a syringe.
He was not able to keep much fluid down, and within a few hours, was started on an IV.
I was feeling a bit homesick myself. I visited the nursery over the weekend to deliver extra TLC. I wanted to help him through his sadness.
In no time at all, the baby was allowing me to hold him and rock him. He began taking small feeds and to our surprise, sat himself up on my knee and gazed around with wide eyes. We soon learned that he did not like to to be laid down in his cot. Tiny though he is he is able to sit unsupported, and he prefers to be upright so that he can see everything that is going on.
The IV line is out now. our boy is able to suck from a bottle and he loves the high calorie milk we are giving him (it is very sweet.) My little man is still sad sometimes, but he has given us a few shy smiles. How wonderful it will be to see him grow, change and fill-out over the next six months!
I'll update you on his progress
6 comments:
What a sweet glimpse into your life. He is adorable. Thanks for sharing.
Beth
Will he being going home to his family when he gets better or will he be staying at the orphanage.
What a gorgeous little man. I had tears in my eyes as i read about him. Sounds like a little guy who would really benefit from some mei tai time ;-)
This little man is so adorable,I know under your care he will thrive.
Thank you for allowing others to share your journey. I look forward to each new entry.
What a pleasure it is to read your blog. My husband and I adopted a little girl from GLA in Sept. of '06. We are adopting from GLA again and we got our referral last week and I believe it could be for this very boy!! I know it's not really any of my business, but if it is indeed him or even if it isn't, it just fills my heart with joy to hear you speak of him and all of the children with such warmth. Despite the hardships these children have had to endure, they truly are blessed to be at GLA where people like you care for them and love them. God bless you. Lisa
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