Bribery for a Friday Test

Joshua was scheduled for an upper GI test on Friday. Meaning that he could not eat or drink after midnight. Do you know what it is like to withhold food and water from someone who lived in an institution, recently had his world turned upside down AND doesn't understand English? I cringe at the thought. 

I didn't have any Mandarin speakers this time to I resorted to out and out BRIBERY. I am here to tell you, it WORKS! Joshua has made a huge language leap over the last two weeks and he is chattering away in English and is beginning to attempt to make his feelings known as well. So here is how I laid it out:  

(BTW: Joshua hates milk. Not sure if it is just the consistency of our milk in the USA or if he doesn't like milk. He didn't drink a whole lot in China either.)

ME: "Joshua, we have to go to the HOSPITAL on Friday for a test. You have to drink some milk and then they are going to take some pictures of your belly. No shots, okay?" 

"You can't have anything to eat or drink in the morning but you can play Wii as soon as you get up, okay?"

JOSHUA: Eyes light up, he lives for Wii.

ME: "Yes, no juice or water but you can play Wii until it is time to go."

JOSHUA: Nods. Consider that a deal.

ME: Gulp, here goes the fun part. "Joshua, if you drink the milk stuff at the hospital, you can have noodles, we will stop at the cupcake place, AND you can get rainbow sherbet."

(BTW: If Joshua doesn't want to drink something, Joshua won't. Evidenced by the medicine he spit ALL over the male nurse in the hospital. I respect that he IS eight years old. You cannot make him do anything he doesn't want to do.)

JOSHUA: "Noodles and TWO rainbow ice cream?"

ME: "Two? Okay, two. Whatever it takes, but you have to drink the milk, okay?"

ME: "AND we can bring the IPOD and your movies." I am going all out on this one.

JOSHUA: "IPOD and MOVIES?" Big smile!!!

The stage was set. The deal was ON. I was praying for an easy morning because this test was important and I didn't want to have to do it more than once.

Wii completely distracted him. We had to get all the kids in on the deal and asked them not to eat or drink before we left at 8:15.

 What is that between Joshua's feet?

The only "thing" he has attached to: his flashlight. We brought one to China and he goes to bed with it each night and has a special place for it during the day.

 This boy is HAPPY to go somewhere with just Mom and Dad

even if it means no food or water.

 

Dad is drinking his coffee and made sure things were 

copacetic at work on the way up to the hospital.

 O.K., Joshua. You can use the camera and take my picture.

Do I look as hungry as you?

 First pass on the machine. The ipod was in full use. 

I think he was watching his praise video.

 One of us could get suited up to deflect the radiation.

Joshua chose Dad. Imagine my relief?

He is kind of cute in purple, though.

 

Very brave boy! I was so proud of Joshua for drinking 

his "milk" which is basically chalk and water.

"The promise of noodles and rainbow ice cream kept him on track."

  The bed rotated to a prone position while he was on it

and took pictures back and forth. 

The test was completed successfully in a little over an hour. 

Joshua was a good digester and 

has a lovely although malrotated digestive tract.

Since we got done so quickly, 

we took Joshua out for breakfast on the way home.

 He ordered three "jidan" (accents not included).

That is THREE EGGS, no kidding.

 Joshua has the camera. 

He was H.U.N.G.R.Y. at this point.

 Dad is drinking some more coffee!

Been a long morning for Mom and Dad.

 Later in the afternoon, I went to the courthouse to submit Joshua's re-adoption paperwork. Although our adoption was final in China and recognized by the United States, we will readopt him in our state so that we can get a birth certificate and a US passport. Having those will make the paperwork in his life much easier and simpler later on.

 After the courthouse, we went to the grocery store 

to get the promised rainbow ice cream.

 Boys, you are definitely COOL!

 

Especially holding your ice cream!

Health Update:

Joshua has dextrocardia (heart on the other side) and with that condition, often a bunch of other issues arise. Joshua has no functional spleen, only some scattered splenetic tissue. I feel so technical these days. Splenetic is fun to say!  He also has some malrotation in his gut. When we are in the womb, did you know that our intestines come out, rotate and go back in again? Well, sometimes it doesn't happen that way. We are waiting to find out what we need to do about his malrotation which could be life threatening. None of these things were a complete surprise as our fabulous Dr. M educated us about all of this last December. Still, a lot of medical needs to deal with and watching our little guy submit to test after test is hard but necessary to ensure that his life is as good as it can be.