One more chance for an IPAD !!!!

So, what's this about ANOTHER IPad 2?? Well.... I have mentioned here several times that we are not the only family on our street adopting a little one from China.  We just returned, one family will be leaving next week,  another family  shortly after.  And then yet, another family will be following them.  Crazy huh ?  The Rivera's adoption has gone by super fast, due to a medical expedite of their little Isabella. Sounds great, but the faster the paper chase, the faster the funds are due. They are hosting an Ipad2 giveaway as well, and their giveaway will end TONIGHT. Hop on over to their blog, show them some support, and take another chance at that Ipad2!!!!!!  Go..... NOW!
www.from-this-moment.com

And.... if you didn't read yesterday's post about Pearl's surgery, scroll on down.  We would appreciate your prayers.

Bummer...

     Pearl's heart surgery has been postponed until April 9.  Today after her pre-op appointment, the decision was made by the cardiac team that we needed to wait.  She had a sinus infection on March 15, and had been on antiobiotic until yesterday.  They want her to be off the antibiotic for awhile and make sure the infection is gone.
     So while we are thankful for the precaution, and certainly want to do whatever is best for Pearl, we were really looking forward to having this behind us this week.  Knowing that your daughter is facing a major surgery is kind of like walking around holding your breath.  I am ready to exhale!  But for now, we will wait and HOPE and PRAY that she stays well until April 9. 
     The picture is from her appointment today.  She also had a sedated echo - so we were there for quite awhile and got to check in and visit recovery just like we will for surgery.  Didn't phase our happy girl one bit !

     Apparently no one has told Pearl she is a cardiac patient.  This wagon is to move patients from one place to another.  Our Pearl ran laps around the nurses station pulling it behind her.  You certainly would never know she needs heart surgery.  We are so thankful for that !!!
   Thank you for your continued encouragement and prayers.  Keep 'em coming !

I Am The Only One

Over the weekend I had grown quite weary of being the only person that Pearl has chosen to develop a very close attachment to.......  I had gone to another room to try to just have a little quiet time while she was occupied with her sisters and her daddy.  After not nearly long enough, they came searching for me.  Seems they couldn't figure out what she was saying she wanted and she had become quite upset.  They had tried without success to figure out her babbling and pointing.

As soon as I walked to the kitchen, I knew she wanted a drink.  She says, "way" for drink.

It was in that moment that I realized I am the only one.

I am the only one she can count on.

I am the only one she has chosen to trust completely.

I am the only one that makes her feel safe.

I am the only one she has.

Everything else she trusted and loved is gone.  And I am all she has now.  She chose from day one to trust me totally.  She never looked back.  It took Mia months to trust anyone, but Pearl chose to cling to me instantly.  Needless to say, after realizing all this, I felt over the top guilty for needing to retreat for some "quiet".

I am growing increasingly anxious about her upcoming heart surgery (March 28).  How am I, the only one she trusts, going to hand her over for all that awaits her?   How will she look at me when she wakes up confused and in pain?   I'm hoping that she trust me enough to let me comfort her and help her through it all.

One day, she will know that she has a Heavenly Father she can always trust.  He never leaves.  He never retreats.  He never grows weary. 

In the meantime, may God grant me the strength to be all that she needs me to be.  I am her only one.

More Than A Neighbor

Since 2007 our circle of friends has grown to include many adoptive families.  We've become connected with families in all stages of the adoption process.  We have experienced some of life's sweetest moments as we've watched families step out in faith and follow in obedience......even when it just doesn't make sense to do so.  The faces of these precious children we've watched come home are forever etched in my heart.  There is not greater picture of broken turned into beautiful.

We've been friends with the Hatley family since we both moved into the neighborhood in 2005.  We forged a friendship on the asphalt street between our houses as our kids learned to ride bikes together on late summer nights.  This family along with the Pollard family, who live just one door down, have become some of our most dear friends. We've watched babies turn to toddlers and children turn into teenagers. We've discussed the best brand of pull-ups, and now, the best car for your teenager.  We've made many memories together and there are many more to come.  We have become more than just neighbors, we are all now lifelong friends.

The Hatleys

Now, our dear friends have stepped out in faith to bring home this precious little girl from China.

We've already seen this family's life transformed through adoption and now.......  we can't wait to see Miss Tulah's little life transformed too.  The best part, we will have a front row seat, right here from our very own porch!!!

What can you do?  Well, because of sweet Tulah, you have a chance to have an iPad!!!  And when you buy a ticket, you give Tulah the beautiful gift of a family.
The drawing is THIS FRIDAY - no time to waste!
Just click on the Tulah button top right of this blog !!!!

and........ We're Back!

After numerous difficulties of all kinds, we are back to the blog! 

First of all, a very sincere thank you to all of you who have loved us so well during this journey.  Every single encouraging word, card, phone call, meal, and donation has blessed us more than you will ever know.  We are forever grateful.

A few updates....

Pearl is doing remarkably well adapting to family life around here.  She isn't sleeping all that great, and that is wearing me out, but other than that, she seems to be pretty happy.  She still prefers me so I feel like I have an extra appendage, but that will improve with time as well.

We have made the whirlwind tour of doctor's offices since arriving home.  We have seen the cardiologist, pedicatrician, ENT and the dentist.  We will see the cardiac surgeon on Friday.  As well as the cardiologist can tell from the ultrasound done in his office, Pearl has typical Tetralogy of Fallot and should be able to have an uncomplicated open heart repair (if there is such a thing).  That was good news to us!  The pediatrician gave us an antibiotic to hopefully clear up this sinus stuff she has going on.  She also sent us to the ENT as she suspected a possible trachea issue, but that was ruled out and we got a precription for a reflux medicine instead.  Long story.  Hopefully Pearl will sleep better with the Prevacid.  We still have a visit to the craniofacial surgeon to discuss her open palate.  For now, all of the dental and palate work will wait until her little heart is repaired.  The cardiologist thinks we can wait a month or so and let her get settled in.  We will see what the surgeon thinks on Friday.  She also has fairly significant delays in multiple areas, so we will be working to catch her up on a few things after her surgery also.  I have seen her make such progress in just three short weeks, I am confident that in 6 months she will be close to where she needs to be.  With the exception of her speech delayys.
I apologize to my faithful followers ( all 3 of you) that I was such a slack blogger during our trip.  I am going to try to go back and document some of our highlights later when Pearl is a little more comfortable off my lap!  We had a very good trip and best of all - no travel issues - that was a first !
We also celebrated 2 birthdays since arriving home.  Pearl turned 4 on the 18th and Lainie turned 6 on the 23rd.  Pictures of that coming soon.  For now, enjoy the beautiful picture of our Miss Pearl.  Taken on our front porch last week.  Isn't she lovely?

Almost That Time!!!

Today we left Guangzhou, and took the 2 hour train ride to Hong Kong. It was a little challenging as Pearl wasn't the biggest fan of the train. Tomorrow we start the long journey home. Thank you all so much for your prayers as we have traveled to bring Pearl home!! Please continue to pray for us as we travel home. Please pray for safe flights, and that Pearl will do well.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

 Today we spent the day at a flower park. I haven't downloaded those pictures

yet, but here are some from prior days.....

Posing by the flowers in the hotel lobby.

Taking pics in the hotel garden. It got dark by the time I convinced Pearl to

put her feet on the ground. I may try these another day. The hotel has a

garden and waterfall of its own.

Pearl fell fast alseep on the taxi ride back from Shaimian Island. It was fun to

walk these familiar streets and visit the shops that we visited in 2007 and

2010.

One of the shop keepers tried to convince us Pearl needed sunglasses.

Look who warmed up to Papa Ron. I convinced her only he could reach the monkey

bars so she let him touch her. It was brief, but it is progress.

There is a new playground that has been built since we were here last. Pearl

was very timid at first. Her gross motor skills are severly lacking. I don't

think she was ever given a chance to run and play because of her heart. She

ran and played here for about an hour and wanted to play more, but Papa Ron and

I were tired. Maybe we are the ones with the heart condition? Pearl always

seem to out last us.

This college student asked if she could make our picture. Her name is Judy and

she is studying journalism. She is writing about the adoption phenomenon  in China. She wants to change the views of the Chinese people about their daughters and their orphans. Someone told her that adoptive

families can be found in Guangzhou so she had traveled here hoping for photos

and comments. Go Judy Go.

Her TB test was negative ! Thank goodness and thank you for the prayers. On

Thursday we have our consulate appointment then our official business here is

done! On Friday we pick up her visa and head to Hong Kong by train. We will

spend the night there and fly HOME on Saturday morning!