[bdaddy]

Hi,
After 10 months of waiting and not even knowng our referrals were still ours.....we got an update!!!

I am happy to say that the kids are still ours!!!

The younger one is doing great, he gained 3 1/2 lbs and grew 4.25 inches!!!!

Now the older one is not doing so well....all we know is that we only gained 1/2 LB ( not good for a 2-3 year old)
and only grew 1.25 inches

They said he has been very sick with Bronchitis and adenoid problems. We am still waiting for more information.

Has anyone had to deal with reoccuring bronchitis or chronic bronchits with their children?

If so, can you tell me how it was treated, or if it got better once they were home?

We are worried, since he could barely breathe when we were there 10 months ago, and now they are saying he is worse.

Thanks!

[Ktates]

Glad to hear you got an update - you must be relieved to know you haven't lost them! Not to sure about what the weight/growth should be for your older child - if you check the toddler forum - emjay posted a great link to the cdc growth charts...

[amyfk]

hi Bdaddy

I just wanted to say that I'm so glad that you will be able to adopt the children you were referred so long ago. Good for you!

Unfortunately, since I dont work in a health care profession I can't even venture a guess about issues with adenoids or bronchitis. As a layperson I would guess that he would be ok.

Can you check with your IA doctor or start with a local pediatrician? If they cannot help you, perhaps they can refer you on to another doctor who knows.

Best,
Amy K, NJ

[Alison_inPA]

I'm so glad that the kids are still yours!

[HollyB]

So glad to hear you have an update and some peace of mind that these children are still yours. I have not dealt with reoccurring bronchitis. Sorry.

[angelkisses0102]

Glad you got an update...although I am sorry you big guy is still sick.

Arianna was constantly sick while in Russia...she was hospitalized her entire time there. A lot will depend on what they are doing to treat him and what is actually causing his illness. Best advice is to start talking to specialists now, especially an ENT...and then once you get him home...agressively start treating him. Since we have started Arianna on singulair...we have had great improvement and she really hasn't had a bad attack of breathing issues.

It is nothing short of amazing how well Alex is doing now that his adenoids are out...he is a different child...all for the good. He is even getting taller and gaining weight...

All the best to you all...

[Mare1012]

Congratulations! I am very happy for you!!

[heikewould]

It's a great sign that you were able to get updates. I'm sure things will be fine once they are in your loving home.

[Katie63011]

I am so happy for you! I hope that your children are okay.

[kimber413]

Bdaddy, about your older one. I was told by my pediatrician that growth sometimes is slow between 2-3 years old, and normal growth for some kids is only 2-4 pound and 2-3 inches. That said, if your oldest has been sick alot (as ours was), that could have slowed down the growth even more. Kaitlin turned 3 in October, has been home almost 1.5 years, and is just now having a growth spurt. She's put on 3 pounds and an inch or so in the last couple of months. I wouldn't worry too much. Once you get them home, they're going to grow like weeds (it still might take some time, but they WILL grow).

Kaitlin did have a lot of difficulties with bronchitis and constant sinus infections. I'm happy to say, after a year at home, that started to be less and less frequent, and now our only enemy seems to be that ever persistent toddler strep throat. Hopefully she'll get that less as she gets older, too.

[DebiP]

Our Griffin came home with some serious breathing issues. I am happy to report that they are all but gone. He has bronchitis for what seems like everyday of his short life while in Russia. They say that only the healthiest of the healthy can breathe that Russian air. I know from all our walking around that it gets hard to breathe with very little oxygen in the air.


Once we were home Griffin immediatly went on a nebulizer with a strong dose of abuterol and a good strong dose of Augmentin and it worked it really worked. We have not needed the neb in over 2.5 weeks and we have had not a lick of wheezing.

Keep your head high you have gone this far it will be ok!!

[lakimnafite]

Bdaddy,

Yahoo! Congrats on your update.

I had chronic bronchitis as a child. It was in part due to allergies to molds (we lived in an older house) and mostly allergy to dairy. At 30 I figured out the dairy part and have not had bronchitis since.

DS also had multiple infections (bronchitis, ear infections) and chronic cough for the first 18 months of his life. He was tested for allergies, and we stopped wheat and dairy. He's almost 7 and has not had bronchitis or any other infection since. Amazing, not my bio son yet he still inherited my allergies!

So, getting out of an old, drafty, moldy orphanage may take care of it - changing his diet may also be necessary. But honestly, being dairy free is super easy so don't worry about that.

Hope you get over there soon!

[bdaddy]

Thank you EVERYONE for all the wishes and great information.

I feel better now, although still a little concerned, the older one (36 months) is not even close to being on the charts. He is the size of a 24 month old at 5%

[DET62]

I am so happy for you! I have been praying.

Two thoughts:
Russia is very polluted and that is probably affecting the child. My mother has asthma and pollution really affects her breathing.

I have heard cases of adoptions being expedited for medical reasons. If I were you I would hound the agency to try and get that pushed through - if nothing else at least the court might waive the 10 day wait after the hearing. You could get a Russian dr. to go to the orphanage and examine him and perhaps make a recommendation? I know there are folks who get IA doctors in Russia to go see the kids and give assessments.

I will keep praying until the children are safely home. Then I want photos!! Congratulations!!!
Dee

[tchr_678]

I don't have any advice on the health issues, but I'm just so happy for you that you got an update and that your referral is still YOURS!!! Congrats!