Monday, August 27, 2007

Update

Just first wanted to let everyone know that Cainan had a fantastic night last night. Thank goodness! The middle of the night was not the start of something! Yeah!
Well, today was Cainan's first doctor's appointment. We went to the pediatrican. We were there for 2 hours! I am glad Cainan is a good boy - he behaved the whole time. But it was good that we got a nice long appointment in, so that we could get him all settled.
Cainan is really tiny. He is 17 pounds, 4 ounces. He is average height, though, at 31 inches. His weight is well below the percentiles, but that is too be expected. After I feed him enough McDonalds, he will get bigger! (ha) The doctor recommended him to be on pediasure to help him catch up in calories and vitamins. So we are going to start that. Right now he has been drinking a mix of Chinese formula and American formula, and we have been weaning him off that. So I am sure our super good eater will take to the pediasure just fine! His head circumference was also small, but we think that may be due to the fact that his head is flat in the back. The doctor wasn't concerned with that either. Mat thought he had a big head - he was wrong!
We also found out that Cainan has a slight heart murmur. The doctor wasn't that concerned, but wants us to take him to a pediatric cardiologist just to check him out. Since we don't have any history on Cainan, they will probably do an echocardiogram (won't hurt) to see what is going on in there. It is probably benign, but now we know about it.
Cainan also has a double ear infection. Not that we knew it, but with his cleft lip and palate, itis to be expected. So he is on antibiotics for that.
It sounds like he is a mess, but he is a typical orphanage kid. He has already made great strides in his physical development, and we see improvements every day. He will probably get some physical and occupational therapy to help him catch up, and he will definitely get speech therapy after he has his surgery. By this time next year, Cainan will be a very different boy!
So that is the update!

4 comments:

Dianne said...

So good to know he's adjusting well! Please keep the updates and photos coming!

Dianne (from the JuneDossierDance group)

Anonymous said...

He makes Shane sound like a Giant! Well, Everything will catch up when he starts eating good American fat... sounds like you guys are all adjusting well! Hope to hear from you again soon -- and we'll let you know when Sylas arrives, could be any day now....

Cammie said...

How awesome that Cainan's journey to join the Pletcher clan has been so smooth. It is amazing that he has bonded so well with you all so quickly and that he has adjusted incredibly well to so many life changes. I teared up and got the chills when I saw how happy he looked in the picture of him laying on the floor, smiling from ear to ear.

You are all in my prayers.

Love, Cammie

E R I C A said...

I'm sorry to hear about his ear infections. My first daughter had that when we first got home from China and the antibiotics cleared it right up (the antibiotics gave her thrush though).

My Sophie is from the same orphanage and she too is very tiny. 18 pounds at 16 months. I too give her Pediasure and the occasional McD's to fatten her up. The Pediasure is expensive, but I get the Walmart brand and it tastes just like the regular Pediasure but it costs less.

Good luck! I've enjoyed reading your blog.

Erica