AdoptionDoctors.com is an expansive resource for international adoptive parents, useful from the beginning of the process all the way through bringing children home and beyond. Set up to serve the international adoption community with unbiased pre-adoption evaluations, education, and answers to questions medical, legal and more, it offers access to certified pediatricians, psychologists, social workers and Early Intervention Specialists, all with knowledge of birth country languages,... more

Continued from here ...

This story on a large study ... almost 70,000 children of families with depressive parents ... will, I'm sure, be mentioned in connection with adoption in future. This could be a major concern, so I'm hoping the study will be looked at closely from many angles, and that the research gets a thorough... more

From a reader:

Question: Hi, I was wondering, regarding international adoption - which countries allow one parent to have been (in the past) taking anti-depressant meds? I understand China does not allow this. Are all international options off limits to those that this applies?

The upcoming imposition of new adoption regulations in China, starting the first of May, that preclude anyone with a history of... more

Our dear friend, George, has a Christmas tradition -- every year he gives Mark a book for bathroom reading. You don't want to know any more about this ... really, you don't ... but an entry in this year's holiday tome is blog material. "The Book of General Ignorance" is loaded with fascinating facts, all trimmed to perfect toilet timing, and is smartening us up bit by bit.

Lots of little factoid droplets... more

I'm up to the FOURTH wrinkle on my forehead trying to get the book ready for a Friday deadline, so am tossing this blog post together like a last-minute salad for guests I forgot were coming.

Cleaning out the vegetable drawer and nosing around my desktop are far too similar activities these days, and I apologize for the leftovers.

Tidbit number one:

Brian Stuy of China adoption opinion fame published a post on his blog that has folks all over the Web pondering and discussing.

He's taken on the issue of birth mothers and remorse.

When I interviewed the two birthmothers last... more

There's important food for thought to be found in this story out of Pennsylvania today.

In November 2003, Vicki Hummel came home from Russia with her newly adopted baby boy, excited to start a joyful new phase of her life.

Instead, the first-time mother plunged into despair. Even picking up her son, Alex, took enormous effort. She was convinced she could die at any moment.

Today, feeling better, Hummel has hard-won perspective... more

x-posted

The sky is blue, the sun is out, there must be some birds singing somewhere in this huge and bustling city, my arteries are clear, my blood is flowing nicely, and all's right with the world.

Feeling like I've dodged a bullet ... a "we don't need no stinkin' badges" sort of bandoleer-full of bullets, actually ... I am counting blessings right and left today. Always appreciative of life in general and mine specifically, everything is just that much sweeter the day after an angiogram with positive and hopeful results. Even... more

And for the final installment of easy-access info on febrile seizures ...

here's what they look like:

The child having a febrile seizure may:

Have a fever — usually higher than 102 F Lose consciousness Shake or jerk the arms and legs on both sides of the body Roll his or her eyes back in the head Have trouble breathing Lose urine Vomit Cry or moan

And here's what to do:

Place your child on his or her side, somewhere where he or she won't fall. Stay close to watch and comfort your child. Remove any hard or sharp objects near your child. Loosen any tight or... more

The vast majority of febrile seizures are harmless. There is no evidence that febrile seizures cause brain damage.

But ... A history of the cause of fever (eg, viral illnesses, gastroenteritis) should be established. Recent antibiotic use is particularly important because partially treated meningitis must be considered. A history of seizures, neurologic problems, developmental delay, or other potential causes of seizure (eg, trauma, ingestion) should be taken.

In the US between 2% and 5% of kids will have febrile seizures before their fifth birthday. The numbers are about the same for Western Europe. As many of us have kids from other places, it's important... more

I've been writing about febrile seizures ... in general, Sam's and the chances of other parents having kids that have this frightening reaction to fever.

The next three posts consist of the basics. My sources are the NIH, and the Mayo Clinic, although all other information I can find agrees with both of these organizations. I'm publishing this information in back-to-back posts to make it easy to... more