Christmas 2007: Gabriella's First Cristmas

One year ago today, my mother and I were saying goodbye to Gabriella after our first time meeting her. It was the hardest day of my life and I was not sure how I was going to stay strong enough to make it through the remainder of the process. I don't typically drink alcoholic beverages, but I remember boarding the airplane to come home with swollen eyes from crying and I immediately ordered a Bloody Mary with a double shot of Vodka! Last Christmas was the saddest Christmas of my life knowing that I would not be able to celebrate Gabriella's first Christmas with her. I am thankful, though, for the time I got to spend with Gabriella one year ago when she was only four months old.

The past few months have been filled with many "this-time-last-year" memories. It's hard to believe that we've been home almost four months and at the same time hard to believe that I've ever been without her...

The Day We Adopted You

Author: Unknown

If we had it to do over again
Adoption is what we'd choose
We got more than we had hoped for
The day we adopted you.
For you have given us more in life
Than we could ever want or need.
You made our house into a home
And made our family complete.
We love you more than life itself for all the things you say and do
And if we had it to do over again
You'd be the only one we'd choose.

Polar Express Train Ride

The Wakefield Music Boosters (through the Wakefield, MA public schools) hosted a 70 minute Polar Express train ride with Santa and his elves from Boston directly to the North Pole! We decided to brave the ferocious weather and join the fun.


Gabriella was not a huge fan of the costumed entertainers. She clung on to me and would not look at them, but did not cry.
The littlest train conductor!:

Getting ready to board the train:

Gabriella with her cousin Vinny:

Gabriella with her cousins:

She enjoyed the train ride and chatting with her family!:

Enjoying a snack of grapes (with no skin, of course!). Gabriella LOVES grapes and would be happy if they were a part of every meal!:

Gabriella is not a big fan of Santa Claus. Notice the focused look on her face. As Santa came close Gabriella clung on to me.:

It was a fun time and Gabriella enjoyed it.

Gabriella HATES the Snow!

It began snowing here in Massachusetts on Friday at about 2:00 PM and pretty much has not stopped since. We showed Gabriella the snow from inside the house, but she did not act very enthused. She did, though, enjoy picking up the tiny snowballs that the dogs tracked into the house after they came in from the outside. She enjoyed holding the snow until it melted and looked at the remaining water in amazement. We decided to take her outside to play in it yesterday afternoon. The minute we began bundling her up, she started to look unhappy!:

We only got one glimpse of a smile from her...:

...but that was the only smile we saw while she was in the snow! The remainder of her facial expressions indicated thoughts such as, "Why on earth do you have me outside in the cold when we have a nice warm house only a few feet away?!"

"Are we having fun yet?"

"I can't move my hands in these stupid mittens, but even if I could, do you actually think I would want to touch that stuff?!"

"They didn't have this stuff in Guatemala and I preferred it that way!"

I am sure that she will enjoy the snow better next year, especially when she is more mobile and when she can understand what the strange white stuff falling from the sky is.

She's Feeling Better and I'm Home

So, as you know from my last post, Gabriella had a stool sample that tested positive for a bacteria. The bacteria is Clostridium Difficile or C. Diff and causes antibiotic-associated diarrhea. She began treatment on Monday with Metronidazole. She seems to be feeling much better, less fussy, and we have not had any major episodes of diarrhea like we had been battling with for several weeks.

I, on the other hand, feel completely wiped out! My job requires business travel but I have not gone on any business trips since January due to the injuries associated with my auto accident that month. I had to, however, go on my first business trip since January on Monday afternoon. It was only for two nights and it was only to New Jersey, but it was so difficult having to be away from Gabriella, and even harder being away from her with my concerns for all of her recent health issues. Ken, my parents, and Ken's mother held down the forts tremendously and Gabriella did not even seem phased when she woke up and saw me this morning!

Another Evening in the ER

Due to her recent illnesses, we kept Gabriella in the house all weekend to rest. All of the stomach issues seemed resolved but but she had been fussy all day yesterday (Sunday) which was unusual because Gabriella typically doesn't fuss much. We put her down for bed at her normal bedtime which is around 7:30 PM. She cried a lot going to sleep and then kept waking up through the night crying. Finally at 12:30 AM, Ken and I decided to bring her in to the ER. I suspected that the fussing was from another ear infection. When we were checking in at the ER, Gabriella had a major episode of diarrhea that went through her diaper, her clothes, and my pants. After five hours we learned that Gabriella has a urinary tract infection. When we were in the ER last week they had wanted to catheterize her to test her for a UTI, but I would not let them. She was already going through so much and I did not want to induce more pain and stress. I wouldn't let them catheterize her this time, either. They were able to collect a urine sample in a bag. The doctor also pointed out that the results were back from Gabriella's stool sample that her pediatrician ran the day after she was in the ER last week. It showed a bacteria that may be causing the diarrhea. The doctor said that he has never seen this bacteria in a pediatric patient. We do know, though, that it is a new bacteria for her because she was tested for it previously in November and it was negative. We have to follow-up with her pediatrician tomorrow for that.

Feeling Better

It has officially been a full 24 hours with no medical issues! The vomiting and diarrhea have completely ended. The vomiting ended after we left the hospital and the diarrhea continued through 3:00 AM last night. She is back to being full of life as opposed to the limp, weak little girl from 48 hours ago. We kept her on clear liquids and minimal foods all day yesterday. She had stopped drinking Pedialyte, and though not ideal for a baby, we had switched her to Gatorade. So, her diet yesterday consisted of Gatorade, dry Cheerios, Saltine crackers, apple sauce and a banana. We are going to slowly add more options to her diet tomorrow. Ken and I are complete wiped out and Gabriella cannot afford to lose anymore weight, so we are being extremely cautious.

First Hospital Visit

After another evening of more vomiting and not being able to hold down liquids, Ken and I brought Gabriella to the hospital at 2:00 AM. The second they began the fluids intravenously we noticed a change in her almost immediately. She obviously did not do well when they were setting up the IV line and she was curious to pull at it once it was in, but did better when the newness of it wore off. At the end of the evening the doctor reached out to shake her hand and she shook his pointer finger! It was precious.

Hopefully she will be less nauseous now that she is re-hydrated and will be better able to hold down liquids. We have another day (hopefully the final day) of clear liquids and no solids.

During the exam they also noticed that her right ear appeared dark (her previous two ear infections were in her left ear) so I am hoping it is not another ear infection. We will be following up with her Pediatrician later today about the stomach bug and her ear.