The whole week has gone much smoother than many of the scenarios I had imagined. Bogomila is a delight - very opinionated, very determined - all traits that will make being the instant mother of a teenager interesting, but all very much traits that make me so excited for her potential in the future.
Tsvetomira continues to be more than any of us are exactly comfortable with, but SHE continues to show that she is increasingly comfortable with us. Although there is a lot of wonderful information we are getting from the blood work that Adam is requesting, there are still many things that we are ill-equipped to fully understand. Although we do not expect a screaming ambulance ride to the hospital upon arrival tomorrow, we have multiple reasons to want to get Mira to competent medical care very soon after our arrival. Adam, as an ER trauma nurse, has a decent sense of what needs the attention of someone more skilled than he, and what does not. He has been an invaluable addition to our week, and a delightful person to get to know on top of that.
Today our most important task was to fabricate the chair that Tsvetomira will ride in through the airports. I feel a little bit like we're creating a prop. ;) Her chair has a number of purposes - it provides a comfortable place for her to travel with less jostling as we move quickly than we can do with her in our arms. It also has, intentionally, a very "medical" look about it. We are hoping this will provide a quick visual sense of the seriousness of her condition. This is not just a baby with a feeding tube; this is a child with a delicate medical condition, BUT (and important so we don't have trouble being allowed on the plane) a delicate medical condition that is being professionally managed. Adam's bag of medical supplies fits nicely over the handle, making it clear that all of the supplies in it (many of which are not typical carry-on items!) are intended for her. We also have in the bag a letter from our family doctor, also translated into Bulgarian, stating that it is medically necessary for Tsvetomira to have access to all of her feeding supplies and medications during the flight.
 |
| This captures the spirit of the afternoon. I'm sitting on the floor next to Mira (which is why you can't see her). Bogomila's on the floor playing music on the iPad. We can all practically sing along to some of them! We just have no idea what we're singing. ;) Grandpa is set up on the bed, surrounded by cans of baby formula, and Adam, ever prepared in his scrubs, is making adjustments on the chair, trying to get us as much of a horizontal surface as we can. Leah is busy in the middle. Krassimir's physical therapist gave us three amazing "fluidized positioners" that have been invaluable. That, along with a 2" twin size memory foam mattress, have become Tsvetomira's bed for the week, and transform the chair into just what we need for her. |
 |
| Here it is, all finished (bag and everything), with Mira on the floor in her little corner. The gray cushion that she is laying on (with one of the positioners inside of it to prop her head up and support her chest), gets picked up and tucked in between the arms of the chair, completing the ensemble. I'm delighted that the leftover dark gray top sheet that I used last Friday morning to sew two big "pillowcases" for using with foam cushions this week looks so appropriate to the chair, as though it's a part of it! We plan to lift her bed cushion out when we take her onto the plane so we have an option for laying across the seats, or potentially even on the floor if we get the bulkhead we're hoping for. |
We are all so grateful for your prayers. We serve a God who acts, and we look forward to watching tomorrow unfold.
If all goes well, Mira, Adam, and I will get to accompany Bogomila home and say hello to my other babies for a half hour or so before we have my dad drive us to the emergency room.
No comments:
Post a Comment