Day 7: Baby steps in the right direction

Today was a day filled with what's become our new norm. Shane, Owen, Cole and Nana Bev grabbed breakfast at our hotel and then ventured out for a long walk in the big city. This morning they hit a bit of rain on their walk so they headed back to the apartment for some electronics/homework time.

Cole begged to go back outside even though it was lightly sprinkling. He sure LOVES running around the courtyard of our apartment complex!!

The temperature in Bogota is the same throughout the year with normal highs around 65 degrees each day. Bogota doesn't have the typical seasons that we are used to. Instead, there are two seasons - wet and dry. Right now it's the wet season and with it comes many sickness (similar to our flu season). That's one reason the hospital that Kate is in is overflowing with patients.

For lunch we crossed the crazy busy road that our apartment is on to grab lunch at Archies. It was pizza and pasta for the crew (and huevos for Cole). Cole was supposed to have eggs and ham, but they forgot to add the ham. Not big deal - he devoured them so quickly that I got him another order. And she brought out two more orders because she was so sorry that the first one didn't have ham. He definitely had his fill of huevos!

Cole likes to be a clown whenever the camera comes out!

We finished up lunch and got Nana and the kids back to the room just in time for Shane and I to meet Patricia at 1:30 pm. It was laundry day, so on the way to the hospital, we dropped off our laundry at Lava Sport to be washed and dried. Thank goodness Patricia was with us! There was quite a bit of talking back and forth and originally she was told we'd have to pick up our clothes on Monday, but by the end of the conversation they said we could pick them up after 5:00 pm. Perfect! As 5:00 pm is when visiting hours end at the hospital.

It's much easier getting into the hospital these days. They allowed both Shane and I into the building together again. When we got there, Kate was snoozing away. But once the FANA nurse saw us, she scooped Kate up and handed her to me. We got lots of cuddle time today!

We spoke to the English speaking doctor and the FANA nurse. They both said Kate's condition is slowly improving. She's coughing less and eating her baby food now. She's always gobbled up her bottles but yesterday she wanted nothing to do with the baby food.

Kate was very alert again today and loved playing with her toys. She even found the tag on her butterfly.

Her breathing rate is still very high. She's breathing twice as quickly as she should be. She's still dependent on oxygen and has a long way to go before she can be released from the hospital, but we are so thankful she is taking baby steps in the right direction!

Today was the first time Shane was able to feed Kate. She caught a glimpse of the bottle in the FANA nurse's hands and started to cry - she really loves her bottles. Shane wasn't quite quick enough to get it in her mouth and she reached out to grab it and do it herself!

It was finally my turn to hold her again! She's getting really strong and basically sat up all by herself on my lap. Just look at those kissable cheeks!

She was happily in my arms when a diaper malfunction occurred. Whoops! Kate peed on me - the first of many times I'm sure.  I got to change her diaper for the very first time!!

She was rubbing her eyes towards the end of our visit and fell asleep in my arms.

We pray that Kate's health continues to improve and hopefully sometime next week she is healthy enough to be discharged so we can start the process to finalize her adoption. Please continue to pray for our sweet little girl! It's so hard to say goodbye to her every day. We can't wait until we are finally together!