Blog Post #2
By: Lisa H
"I was first pregnant a little more than a year after we were married. We quickly found out the baby was not going to survive due to a similar translocation that my sister had. We got pregnant with our oldest son, soon after we lost our daughter. I was devastated with the loss of our first daughter and this helped a little. Though I still think of her often, but know without her we wouldn’t have 3 other children that I cannot live without.
Cole was born in 1997 a healthy 8’ 6” boy at 20 1/2 “ long. They found a heart murmur on day two and sent us to a pediatric cardiologist 5 days later. I thought something was wrong with his heart because they stopped on his heart at his 5-month ultrasound. However, the sonographer failed to tell the obstetrician anything and I thought I was imagining things and worrying for no reason. I convinced myself that I had no reason to worry before the appointment. But, within 20 minutes of that appointment we were told that Cole had Tetralogy of Fallot, situs inversus and dextro cardia. Situs inversus just meant that all of his organs were mirror imaged of a normal human anatomy. As long as everything ‘hooked’ up okay, he was fine. Dextro cardia meant his heart was facing right instead of left. Again, as long as it all ‘hooked’ up okay, he was fine. Tetralogy of Fallot indicates 4 abnormalities. I won’t go into the details, but for him that meant two large holes or septal defects and an artery that had too much muscle in it. He had open-heart surgery on his dad’s birthday in 1997 at 8 ½ months old. The doctor wanted him to have it done closer to 18 months when he would be bigger and better able to tolerate surgery, but he had a minor stroke one morning and required it sooner. So, for the rest of his life, Cole will be seen by a cardiologist for an echocardiogram and EKG. He has been recently released to play high school sports, which is a major triumph! Cole is no different than any other teenager now. He is going to play football for the first time, soon. This is his dream! We know things can change in an instant, but we don’t live watching and waiting for it.
Chase was born in 2000. He was a calm 9’4” boy at 22” long. He too was found to have a birth defect, but not until he was 3 months old. It was very minor in comparison to his older brother, so it was repaired and then a cosmetic fix at almost two. There are no residual effects for him and should never be. I actually went into labor 7 weeks early with him and was put on bed rest until I was in the safe zone of 4 weeks ‘til due date. He ended up having to be induced and was born at 41 weeks. Go figure. He was so calm and such a BIG eater. I remember when he was 3-4 months old he would eat 12 ounces at a time, easily. I always had to do a bottle refill. He was always so somber in pictures, but all smiles without a camera nearby and a huge ham. He had the cutest dimples to boot. Those dimples are still his signature trait and they attract people to him. They are cute! He has not had the easiest road either, but is getting better.
Unfortunately, Chase has my allergies and, in turn, has acquired reactive airway disease. This means that with allergies he can end up with sudden asthma. We had to have a nebulizer when he was younger and used it too many times to count. We had a steady flow of steroids and albuterol for him, to control it. He had RSV when he was almost two, which is rare in that age. He has actually been fairly symptom free for a couple of years now. He only uses his inhaler every once in awhile. He is beginning to outgrow it. Chase is fine in every other way and his breathing does not “yet” get in the way. He plays baseball from time-to-time and is into football.
Kaelin was born in 2002 in Cheju Korea. She was born at 5’. She was actually born 6 years after the due date of our first daughter. She missed the due date by ½ hour. She was born at 37 weeks, so perfect! Kaelin is very healthy. She has had a rough couple of years, but is not normally sick. She was so scared when she first arrived home. Then she became my velcro baby. I couldn’t even walk out of the room or she would cry. She finally attached to dad and things were much better. She always slept fairly well, so it wasn’t a huge adjustment. She is my child that has been fascinated with Korea since she was about 3 years old. After I took her and Chelsi with me to Korea in May to bring home their little brother, it seemed to answer a lot of questions. I think she just needed to see it to process it all a little better. She’s a very average sized girl and extremely muscular and athletic. She wants to do it all! But, for right now she
is sticking to soccer and may try basketball. She has always said she wants to be a teacher too. I can see that happening. She has the demeanor of a great teacher and I can see her going back to Korea to teach there for a time. Of course, I could be wrong, but based on her present personality, I can see it.
Chelsi was born in 2005 in Gwangju Korea. She was born at 3’ 8”. She was born between 10 and 12 weeks early. She had a bit of a rough start and remained in the hospital for almost 1 month in Gwangju before they moved her to Seoul to join her foster family. Though she had pneumonia while she was in Korea, she has been very healthy since. We do have to watch her if she gets a fever though because she has now had a febrile seizure. The doctors assure us this will probably never happen to her again, to which we are thankful to never have to witness again. She was my quiet baby. She came home with the tiniest little cry that rarely came out. I had to actively work to attach to her as she was content to sit on the floor by herself. She loves to cuddle now and is little enough to do so. Chelsi is beyond the average IQ of a 4 year old. She reads 1st grade books and can add already. She has an amazing memory and is very detailed. She wants to be a “kid doctor” (aka pediatrician). She’s a very small, but mighty little girl. Everyone loves Chelsi, but she is reserved and likes to stay close to mom and dad. Chelsi tried soccer and decided she is really interested in being a cheerleader at the football games. So, we’re going to give gymnastics a try.
Jaemin was born in 2008 in Gwangju Korea. He is Chelsi’s biological sibling (half or full doesn’t matter). He was a shock to us since we were done with four, but had room in our hearts and could make room in our house for him. He was perfectly term and 7 pounds. He had a harder adjustment even though we did go to Korea for him. I think it was his age as he was older than his sisters when he arrived home. He has an amazing smile and always has as I could see by his pictures from his foster mother in Korea. He was never ill in Korea, but has had some problems at home. My poor man has had pneumonia three times in four months, so for now we’re watching him before they decide whether to test for an immune deficiency or not. It could just be his body acclimating. He’s a big boy, at least we think. He’s stocky like big brother Chase and can wing toys across a room like nothing I’ve seen. My boy has a great arm! We were in love with him at first sight. He’s quite the handsome little boy. He’s got a stubborn streak a mile wide though. Watch that temper. But, he likes to rub my face and give kisses too.
Read more posts by Lisa HERE.
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