One Less...

Today SJ had a dental follow up @ CHOA

and it just so happened that Donna was also be there

for Elise's blood work.

We were SO excited to meet sweet Elise

just home from China about a week.

She is beyond adorable!!!

Loved meeting for lunch Donna!!!

(shot with my Iphone)

Let Me See...

SJ had a pretty good night

considering what she went through yesterday.

I probably got up with her about 10 times~

only needed a pat or kiss or to be covered up.

This morning she woke up kind of fretful...

not like herself at all and after a few questions,

realized she probably had a sore throat from the breathing tube

and her mouth just plain ached.

After some TLC and medicine,

she got to feeling a little better.

We didn't really ask to see SJ's teeth much yesterday

but today, EK was certainly curious.

Actually it was SJ that asked her sister to see her teeth first.

and then EK wanted to see SJ's...

to which EK says...

"WOW mom, Jing is SO lucky.

She has WAY more silver teeth than I do!"

I had a big chuckle. :)

Yeah, SJ is SO lucky...

And then...

I read this post Uncomfortable.

I began to think about ALL SJ has been through since being home.

Some might think...

How awful that she had heart surgery just 3 days after getting home...

ME: SO thankful she was home when she had the TET spell

and not still in China or on the plane.

How awful that she has had SO many doctors appointments

and then a heart cath

only to find nothing really wrong.

ME: SO thankful to have a wonderful cardiologist

that is on top of SJ's heart care~

even sending us for a heart cath that showed...

NOTHING!!!

How awful that she had to have a three hour dental surgery

and now enduring some pain and discomfort.

ME: SO thankful we were able to have the surgery

so she could have a healthier life and heart...

not to mention mouth!!!

You may be wondering what this all has to do with the Uncomfortable post...

WHAT IF...

I had chosen not to listen to God and Savannah

back in 2005 when we were called to adopt EK?

She would still be one of over 150 babies

spending nights tied to a crib bundled in snow clothes

because there was no heat in her orphanage

or

left in a walker all day with no one to pick her up

and hold her for just a few minutes.

WHAT IF...

we had thought SJ's heart defect was too serious?

She would not have survived without heart surgery

and her teeth would have rotted right in her mouth.

Looking back on all these photos

makes me VERY uncomfortable (especially gotcha day ones!)

and I really don't want

to see and remember their life before they came home...

but I agree with Amy when she wrote...

"When I stop those feelings, is when I am forgetting.

Forgetting means orphans do not exist."

Orphans DO exist

and if you let this all make you uncomfortable,

you may just receive one of the biggest gifts you could ever imagine...

a gorgeous daughter inside and out

full of life and energy...

OR

a beautiful baby sleeping soundly on the sofa

recuperating after major surgery

in her forever home safe and sound...

OR

the thrill to be waiting to travel for a beautiful baby boy!

I pray I am never comfortable as long as orphans

still need a forever family.

Please pray and see just where God leads you...

You WILL be blessed!!!

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:

to look after orphans and widows in their distress

and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Francis Chan~ Crazy Love

"Having faith often means doing what others see as crazy.

Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers."

SJ's Dental Surgery

The very first night we had SJ in China,

we knew she had major dental issues.

Could be hereditary, cardiac related, poor hygiene

probably a little of each.

We also knew once we had the go ahead from her cardiologist,

we would pursue the dental work.

Today was the day

and we left home around 4am.

The littles slept a little on the way

and we made it in plenty of time for our 6am check in.

SJ was all smiles with her doll right by her side. :)

So was her big sister...

A little before 8,

I was allowed to give her the sleepy medicine

and they rolled her away whimpering just a bit.

It NEVER gets any easier!!!

While in the waiting area,

two very funny clowns we met when SJ had heart surgery

came by to share smiles and bubbles.

EK LOVED them

from a distance.

SJ came back to us a little hysterical

but quickly quietened down when they allowed me to pick her up.

She was able to go back to sleep

and pretty much slept the whole way home.

When we were home a couple of hours,

we asked to see inside SJ's mouth and she wanted to see as well.

Believe me when I say...

I can't BELIEVE our sweet baby had

7 crowns, 5 major fillings with restorations,

and a root canal between her front two teeth.

Scott and I both said we would still be in the hospital.

We have pretty much spent the afternoon

on the sofa watching movies.

When I walked away for a minute,

she would say, "I need you my mommy".

She has been the most brave and cooperative little girl in the world.

Just when you think she can't get any sweeter...

she does, and is, and always will be. :)

SO thankful this is all said and done~

hopefully all the surgery needed for a VERY long time!!!

Giving Him all the glory!!!

Tomorrow... Dental Surgery

We have to be @ Egleston by 6am for an 8am surgery...

making it necessary for us to leave home @ 4am. :)

Please pray for this little one as she has dental surgery.

Really not sure what they will do until they are in there

but praying it all goes well and she is able to come home!!!

We had a pre op appt on Friday

and spent some time just playing around...

While we were there she asked me if we were getting her heart fixed.

I said no, we're getting your teeth fixed this time.

Tonight when we went for a walk,

I asked if she was ready to get her teeth fixed tomorrow

and she nodded her head.

What an amazing transformation she has made

over the last six months!!!

God has blessed BIG!!! )

Valentine's Night

Today was a full day~

I had a follow up test around lunch

which turned out to be a wonderful blessing.

About six months ago,

my doctor found a lump and sent me for a diagnostic mammogram.

It was confirmed there was some kind of tumor

but looked to be benign... come back in six months.

Today was six months

and when I went in the lady said,

"Let's take a look to see if it's no worse or maybe smaller."

I said, "Or GONE!"

She smiled.

Guess what?

It was no where to be found...

Our God is greater!!! :) right Donna???

Scott and I decided since I was in Atlanta for that

we may as well spend the night at Ronald M. house

since we have to be at the hospital with SJ @ 7.

We had a couple of reasons to celebrate tonight...

my great report and

Valentine's Day!

SO... where else to go but~

And it was de-li-cious!!!

Best part... toasted pound cake!

Took a couple of photos out front...

and then we were off to the RM house.

The girls played a little while

and then it was time to get everyone in bed.

You can be sure I will fall asleep

praising God for this blessed day

and praying for this precious baby as she has her heart cath

in the morning at 7am.

I am confident He will take care of her too!!!

PS!!! We missed the originals like crazy!!!

We also miss them so much

and hope we are all home in the nest tomorrow night!!!

Love you sweet big girls of mine!!! :)

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.

An Excellent Report

One week ago today Jing had open heart for a TOF repair

and we had our follow up appt @ Egleston today.

Scott and I wondered how she would react...

as soon as we got to registration,

she started the whimpering so I tried to divert her attention.

When we arrived upstairs for the echo

(and saw all the white coats)

she began full fledged crying.

I was finally able to quiet her down by singing all our songs~

her favorites being...

Twinkle, Twinkle

The Bear Went Over the Mountain

Eensy Weensy Spider

Jesus Loves Me.

We then moved to x-ray with the sweetest tech

and that went off without a hitch.

Next was our surgeon appt

and we had to wait just a little while.

We were finally called back and again~ the white coats.

I mentioned to them about her 'phobia'

and you know what every one of them did?

TOOK THEM OFF~ even the surgeon.

The nurse practitioners came in

and took out the stitches and pulled off the steri strips.

The incision looks GREAT!

Jing didn't make a peep.

Our cardiologist and surgeon came in to check her

and she didn't make a peep.

Echo and x-ray looked perfect~

except for a watch they have on her pulmonary arteries.

Dr. Kanter actually said,

"Let that girl do whatever she wants except drive a car."

We couldn't have asked for a better report!!!

You can see from the pics below...

Jing was happy when we were back downstairs

and on the way home.

Once home, the girls were off to play...

the piano,

and watch a little tv...

When I tried to take a pic~ this is what Jing copied EK doing.

They finally gave me a little grin.

We also came home to a big surprise

by our outside door...

a cookie bouquet from my sweet friend Ashley!!!

Jing LOVED the packing once again. :)

Can't wait to try one of those cookies with my coffee.

I think coming home today really was a happy day for Jing!

SO THANKFUL!!!

First Cardiologist Appt

For the past 24 hours,

Jing has had some chest pain on the left side.

She would clutch herself and look at me with a hurting face.

You can well imagine all the things I feared

and called Sibley Heart Group to talk with a cardiologist.

Dr. Lindsey called me right back

and spent a long time with me on the phone last night

and again this morning.

Finally he said he thought it would be good

if she came in for a check up.

I couldn't agree more!!!

After an EKG and Echo cardiogram,

he confirmed what he suspected:

reduce meds, maybe a little dehydrated,

and post surgery pain.

I just needed to hear it in person I guess to feel at ease.

There is one other issue we may have to visit

in the coming weeks

so we will be seeing him every week for a while.

SO thankful for Dr. Lindsey!!!

We stopped at Chick-fil-a on the way home

and grabbed lunch~

this is the happy girl eating her chicken nuggets.

One of the other things Dr. L recommended

was keeping the pain meds steady through the weekend.

Not a fun task but when all is said and done,

we are off to play outside...

and the jeep was the first toy they run to!

Needed to stop for a little hydrating break.

Looking forward to a wonderful homecoming weekend~

both high school and our family.

We will all be together

and hopefully get our first family pic made!!!

ALL the chicks will be in the nest tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Home!

We finally got word around 11am that we were going home!

I gave Jing a sponge bath while waiting for our release.

Clean and patiently waiting...

Dressed the girls in matching dresses

and they were so happy to be alike once again!

Jing may be a stuffed animal fanatic just like her big sis.

She was given several from special visitors~

thank you all!!!

I wheeled Jing down to the car~

she wasn't thrilled about it at all...

would rather be in my arms.

Can you tell I was happy to be getting out of there?

We stopped on the way home for Happy Meals.

EK and Jing ate their whole meal

and then made themselves hats.

Silly girls!

Once home, Jing seemed a little weak

and had me hold and carry her for a long while.

But once she was down,

she and EK had a ball.

EK even said Jing was her best friend!

That was the sweetest thing ever!!!

Scott made dinner and Jing worked patiently on stickers!

We can't even describe how GOOD it feels to be home!

Thank you all for every

call,

text,

comment,

email,

visit,

and most of all prayers!!!

Phil 1:3

I thank my God every time I remember you.