You want to know something interesting?
My family has been battling the stomach flu for the last three weeks.
And I have rubbed backs and held bowls for all six of my biological children as they vomited over and over into them.
I have not held one bowl or rubbed one back for any of my adopted children.
They are the epitome of health!
And we all share cups, bites of food, and kisses (except for Caleb of course) on the face----- so I just can't figure this one out.
Interesting, hunh?
25 inspiring thoughts:
I have noticed at our house Stevenson doesn't really get sick (he lived in an orphanage for a little over two years of his life)...
but the rest of the kids do (including the one we adopted but have had since birth)...
I think orphanage life passes the sicknesses around at such an early age... that they kind of have boosted immune systems once they are in their forever homes!
Way back I was taught that it is a lot easier for people sharing the same genetic material to get infections from each other than unrelated people. I will need to dig out my high school biology to remember the details, but it has to do with mutations and resistance and what now.
I call it "orphanage immunity" I think they have built up immunity from being there... not really medical term but makes sense:)
That's so funny! But you know? My 3 Russian kids hardly EVER get sick!! In fact, I'll bet Natasha and Reese have only missed one day of school each, total, due to illness since the beginning. Nikolai's a little more sickly, but he gets over things pretty quickly and easily. Maybe all those horrible germs from their early days did them some good...?
So sorry everyone's been so sick!!
I let my kids chew on sticks and rocks when they were babies just to build up their immune systems. (I am kidding.) But seriously, I never sterilized everything when they were infants. I was told it was pointless as they need to build up a resistance to germs. Obviously we kept them clean and didn't let them get into anything "yucky" but it seems to have worked.
That is a blessing!!
very interesting. I have no real basis for comparison, but my children are all adopted and rarely get sick. Although I think it's more because we homeschool and they aren't exposed to all the germs out there on a regular basis.
Thanks for sharing! Very interesting and so true (on our end too)!
The funny thing too is that we expected our daughter to be sicker since she was put in the hospital often for reoccurring bronchitus. Since home, she has been very healthy. One fever, but no other symptoms.
♥ That's crazy... Makes you wonder?
Very interesting...
I just was reading your recent posts and wanted to comment on Dennis taking out his eye. First though,I thought he looked adorable before his surgeries but I'm so happy for him to be able to get the eye! Although right now he may have some discomfort from the temp. eye or the irritation, it is VERY common for young kids to take them out when there is no pain. It's something new to do or it just feels different. You may be getting lots of good info from your doctors/ocularist and already know this. Our son has had a prosthetic since he was two and we didn't,so just in case, I didn't want you to feel bad for him if it keeps happening later on.
I don't comment really, but I love your blog. Your "realness" is refreshing and I think you do a great job with your kids. The way you dealt with the fire issue with William was helpfull to me with my kids.
ewwwww!
one possible reason is that children living in less-than-great conditions, whether they are in orphanages or in underdeveloped countries, develop resistance to a LOT of things because they're exposed to them early. the healthiest children in the world are in a country (i forget which one) in central or south america that has little in the way of medical care. if you think about it, it makes sense - once you're exposed to a virus, you develop antibodies. your adopted children all (from what i know) started in orphanages... i don't know if rachel was in an orphanage, but she was born in ukraine at a time when they were pulling out of the soviet era, so i'm sure the conditions were less than desirable.
just a thought... as i battle probable swine flu with every medical advantage at my disposal & none of it doing any good! :-P
- michelle
That is interesting...maybe they've had this bug or one so similar that they can't get it. :)
interesting! My little friend that's visiting came down with a runny nose for 2 days then was over it. My bio daughter started with it the next day and had a runny nose, runny eyes, and a fever... hoping no one else gets it, but she got it SO MUCH WORSE.. strange...
I'm from Eastern Europe too and I noticed the same thing about my relatives from there. My theory is that they grew up with more germs and less medical care, and had harder lives... so only the healthier babies and people survived. So after a few generations of that, its probably hereditary to be healthier. Just a guess.
My son Jeff that we adopted from Haiti in 98 has not had one sick day ever since being home.
I know working in healthcare has changed my immune system. The first year was AWFUL; I almost wound up on IV antibiotics at one point after 8 months of solid sinus infections, one after another. I had stomach flu numerous times as well. Now I almost never catch anything.
I also noticed my immune system took a big hit when I moved several states away for grad school. My first year I was constantly sick. There was once I even had bronchitis and was also sick with vomiting and diarrhea at the same time. It was like a whole new world of germs.
That is so wierd! Marina never gets sick either! Poor baby, she must have one killer immune system after the orphanage.
Same here. I have never ever had one of our African sons (from Ethiopia or Ghana)get sick besides an occasional sniffle. I have never had to carry any of them to the Dr. except for well checks.
Last fall we had the most horrendous and contagious stomach flu and every single one of us (even Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents) got it except our 5 African sons. It was wild.
Fascinating that others have the same experience.
OK that is REALLY strange! LOL Hopefully Kellsey will be our healthiest child!
When we adopted Zhen he had a pile of medical records over three inches high....and then they brought in the x-rays! Another three inches! He'd been in the hospital in and out for TB, for other illnesses. If he didn't remember this I'd swear that they'd lied to us about it for some reason. For the nearly four years he has been with us he has not been sick ONCE....nary a sniffle. No telling.....
Same thing here at our home. Our one biological child...catches every bug that comes along. Our three that have survived years in orphanages rarely get sick.
However, when they do get sick, watch out! :-)
My 14 year old son currently has the sniffles (that's all!) and you'd think he has pneumonia for all he is carrying on :-)
HA... my kids are the EXACT same way.
Happens that way at our house too!
I believe it!! I don't have a biological child at home to compare Owen to, but I know he stays much healthier than our friends' biological kids, both those in school and at home!!! A year and a half of living in the orphanage despite his being born 13 weeks early must have done some good for his immune system! :)
I hope your kiddos are feeling better!!
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