Freaky Friday

Just like in the movie, "Freaky Friday", we think that somehow Cai's and Tri's personalities were switched today! Cai has turned into a charming little girl with smiles and giggles, and Tri has become very unpleasant. It was remarkable to see Cai so pleasant, and we think it is because of a number of reasons. First I think her health is getting better, but I think more importantly, she is becoming used to us as her primary caregivers.
Cai was left at the orphanage at about one month of age (first caregiver), then she was in the orphanage for a month and a half (2nd caregiver), and then she was in the hospital for over a month (third caregiver), and now she is home with us. I think she's had a more traumatic start to life than Tri, so it is very nice to see her beginning to settle down.
We think we know why Tri has been so fussy today....his inoculations. While at the paediatrician, not only did they take blood from both Cai and Tri to check their zinc levels, they also gave Tri his 2nd inoculation (for Hep B I think). I took video footage as they took blood from Tri anticipating some very large yells (Virginia told me screamed like the dickens last time), but as you can see in the video he was a real trooper. A little whimper and then he's fine. In fact, you can hear Cai crying in my arms louder than Tri (though this may have been in anticipation of what was to come for her).

This next clip shows a little of what Cai went through. The nurses didn't know where to find a vein. She was still bruised up in all locations from the hospital. They popped a needle into her left hand, and left it in for a while, moving it around, but no blood was coming out (you can see the blue band aid on her left hand). So in this video clip, although there is no longer a needle in her hand, she is still screaming from the pain, as they search for another vein. I asked about putting a needle in her head as they had done in the hospital (and the reason for her previous mohawk), and they explained that here in Vietnam they find it easier to put it in the head, but that at this clinic the doctors didn't like it. They said that it was more likely to result in infection and that the veins stuck out more from the head, and were also more likely to bleed after the needle was done. This may be true, but given the number of missed needles into Cai's arm (it took them three tries), I have to wonder if it wouldn't have been better to go for the head again.



P.S. I forgot to add that the Dr remarked how Virginia looked pretty good for having a little baby, but that she looked GREAT for having two babies!