This is our second day back after our two week break up north, and we had an exciting trip to the hospital this morning. Last night Sumathy told us to be up at 6 am to bath and dress 11 of the babies, and to be ready to depart at 8. Baby mayhem ensued, as usual. The infants have been moved down to the main dormitory, where all of the other kids sleep, and so it was extra messy waking up the babies and dodging all the extra waste piles that accrued in the night. Apu, one of the youngest at 10 months or so, was sitting in a constellation of bright yellow mounds of poop, but didn't start crying until I picked her up out of it and Becca dumped cold water on her head in the shower. We got them all ready but then had to sit for about an hour before the taxi showed up.
The hospital was nice, much better than the "Emergency Room" I visited with Sumathy a few weeks ago where we took one of the kids to get an injection of some kind for their cold. Becca, Kate and I took turns watching smaller groups of the kids in a waiting area while they were whisked off to get X-rays done, visit with the doctor, and have blood drawn for HIV, Hepatitus and TB tests. Not surprisingly the last one wasn't terribly pleasant. The other half of the babies had their tests done the day before, and somehow they knew the results the day after. I was a little confused since I didn't think that HIV test results came back so quickly, but didn't have much time to think about it since Sumathy whispered it to me while we were pinning Rupa to the table for her injections. She also said that the family doctor who had visited at the orphanage suspected that two or three of the kids might have HIV. Shortly after telling me that, the nurses screwed up by poking Rupa two times before getting the needle in a vein. I was holding her body still and standing over her head, trying to whisper something reassuring, when the second nurse let go of the arm the needle was in. Rupa reflexively bent her arm, stabbing herself deeper with the needle and causing more bleeding (and screaming). It was a chaotic moment, and even though Sumathy had told me that all of the tests from the day before had come back negative, I couldn't help but feel a little nervous since they didn't even sanitize the table in between children. I'm not sure they even changed their gloves. Thankfully, Kate and Becca took turns with that chore. We all left a little shell shocked and probably just a little less relieved than the kids were that it was over.
Most days are not this intense. It does feel good to be back, plus the kitchen has running water now and the internet is hooked up here, so quality of life has improved a bit.
Here are a few pictures (finally):
This is a group of napping 3 year olds.
This is Sumathy and Ranjith during a badminton break.
Apu, sitting in one of the saree cradles.
At the second wedding we went to. I'm not sure why Indians don't smile for pictures, but they were actually having fun even though it doesn't look like it.
Dolled up in our saree's and presenting the groom's gift from the bride, Vanna White style.
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