The Doctor Appointment

Today we went to the orphanage in the morning to take little Kirabo to the doctor.  We couldn’t find him and all of a sudden this little one darted past me and ran straight for James’ legs and hugged them.  I got swarmed by the other little kids who tried to hug me and hold my hand.  It just breaks your heart.  They gave him special treatment that day and got him bathed and dressed in special clothes and he got a diaper this time.  They had told me he was potty trained and at the orphanage he doesn’t wear underwear under his clothes.  But they said he won’t go to the bathroom when he is out so I guess I’m back to diapers!  Ah! 

cool rider, he doesn't know what he's in for at the doctors office!

We were at the Dr. office from 9:30-1:30.  When we were waiting, I picked a flower for Kirabo that smelled really good.  He held it to his nose for hours breathing it in.  He then had his stuffed monkey smell the flowers.  It was so cute to watch him engage in imaginative play. 

He just kept drinking the water and wouldn't stop.  He was so dehydrated.

They took all sorts of blood tests and a chest xray.  Kirabo was so good and calm for all of it.  Then, the needles came!  He let out this baby cry and just wailed and wailed.  They couldn’t find a vein because he’s so dehydrated they kept poking and poking and moving the needle around and those big tears just kept falling and falling.  The whole office could hear his cries!  I was glad he reacted that way.  They say orphans often have sensory deprivation disorders because they aren’t very stimulated as babies and often as a result, don’t react to pain.  Well, Kirabo was wailing and wailing so I was happy to see any sign of emotional expression.

Everything turned out ok.  He is extremely anemic which we already knew and isn’t allowed to fly until his numbers get higher due to such low oxygen in his blood.  So we need to start him on iron supplements immediately as it takes a while to get his numbers up.  They are still testing for other things and we are still waiting on those such as sickle cell anemia and parasites.

my first Ugandan meal, it was delicious!

When we were done, we realized he had wet through his shorts so we ran to the supermarket to buy some diapers and then took him, Sylvia (a ‘mama’ from the babies home who had to come with us), and Francis our driver out to lunch.  We were all starving!  We went to an authentic Ugandan restaurant and ordered Matooke (mashed plantains), with gnut sauce (short for ground nut or peanut sauce, and chapatti (a thick homemade tortilla or crepe).  It was really good.  We got Kirabo some beef stew, greens and rice and matooke and he immediately started eating with his hands so we showed him how to use a spoon.  He obediently used a spoon quite proficiently after that.  I’m not sure how he knew!  I could barely eat 1/3 of the food on my plate as they pile it high and it is so dense but Kirabo just kept eating and eating!  We made sure he ate plenty of greens and meat for his iron.  We finally left and pulled him away from his plate which he was still trying to eat from because we were worried he was going to make himself sick.  That is definitely going to be an issue with him. 

Our first meal together, with Francis and Sylvia

He was very quiet and didn’t speak a lot.  Sylvia, the mama that came with us, said he is definitely one of the quiet ones at the orphanage.  His eyes were constantly darting around everywhere all the time just taking it in the whole time.  He doesn’t speak much but he is definitely alert and aware.  He sits on our laps and runs to us at the orphanage and easily holds our hands but his eyes dart away from us and eye contact is difficult for him.  I’m anxious to take him home, bathe him and rub cocoa butter all over him, wrap him up in the cuddly blanket we brought for him and give him a bottle and just rock him and try to work on the intimacy of eye contact which must be so difficult for him.

As we left the restaurant and he was full, he started opening up just a bit and began pointing to cars and saying a few Lugandan words.  He really knows no English and won’t say words when we ask him too.  I can tell he’ll start opening up when he gets more comfortable with us.   He put his hands together like holding a baby and sang the song with Sylvia to the tune of Frere Jacque

“Baby Jesus, Baby Jesus

I love you.  I love you.

You are my savior.  You are my savior.

Everyday, Everyday."

He easily said goodbye with a wave and was off when we got to the orphanage.  They were setting up for mass there and he ran to get a front row seat.   Hopefully one day soon, it won’t be easy for him to say goodbye and he will begin to form a deep attachment to us.  It will take time and patience, but I know it will come.

Tomorrow is court and we are leaving on our 3 hour drive at 5:30 tomorrow am so I need to get to bed.  We are still jet lagged and exhausted from the emotional nature of everything!  Hope everything is well with you all!  Sorry about my lengthy posts but I'm also using them as my journal so I want to include everything so I don't forget!