Sweet Victory

Yesterday afternoon the girls had tennis matches. Well, two of them did. Clayton banned Grace from playing even though she begged. She's supposed to rest her arm 5 days and today is 5. Unfortunately it still bugs her so we might give it a few more days and have to make the dreaded appointment with an orthopedic doctor.

The reason this is titled sweet victory is not that Joy and Faith won. They played well and they played TOGETHER. Except for one tense moment (and a bad attitude toward loosing from one of them) they actually had fun together. They laughed and the bad 'tude didn't get directed to her sister.

After adopting out of birth order and virtual twinning that my friends is sweet victory.


Then last night I walk up to tuck them into bed and see this sight... Girl Talk

This picture I took Saturday night. Everyone sitting on our bed watching Xi Yang Yang (a popular Chinese cartoon) Notice... Isaac's position... does he think he's the king of the house or what?!

Joy being baptized by Clayton Sunday morning was most definitely the highlight of the weekend. She was SO excited!

Those that she loves remain heavy on her heart even more now. She asked Friday night to call Nai Nai so we tried to call Nai Nai Sunday night and Yi was going to help Joy explain the verses Romans 10:9-13 to Nai Nai. Hopefully we'll get ahold of her this week sometime.

Friday night we also went to a "Revelation Road" put on by a church close to our house. Just the girls, Yi, and I went. I did give Yi fair warning of what it would be about according to the Bible.

My kids are so burdened for her. Grace kept asking me a month ago if I had told Yi about hell. To them they just can't fathom someone knowing the truth and not making a decision to follow Jesus.

Yi has asked me about heaven and hell. We talk so often and are doing a Firm Foundations study together. She'll ask lots of questions and want to understand more, then back off for a little while. We have to trust the One who opens spiritual eyes to do that for her.

Then after Grace and Faith saw the portrayal of Revelation they couldn't sleep. Literally crying for Yi. It breaks my heart for them and Yi.

Please continue to pray for Yi. We see her trying to fill her life with other things other than the only One that can fill her desire for love and acceptance. Some days she seems closer to accepting the truth than others. We love her deeply that's for sure and trust Him to continue to call her name.

A night at the park

We had a sweet night at the park together last night. Clayton has been working, working, and working some more. Since medical bills are mounting with trips to Boston we've had to delve into some adoption savings from Joy's tax refund. Thus more side jobs for Clayton. We are so grateful for God's provisions and it makes family time all the more precious when we don't get it as often.

Grace's arm is in the sling because about a month ago she had a spill on a pogo stick. It has been bothering her and this week it seemed to get worse. Thursday Joshua had an ENT appointment so we went early to go to the Children's Urgent Care to get an X-ray. Thankfully it is not broken so they suggested keeping it immobilized for 5 days. If it's not better we'll have to go see a pediatric orthopedist but we are praying it will be much better after resting it.

Could you love him?

I know you all know I love this place. If there is one place in China I love the most it is here because of the sweet family that God used to save our daughter's life. The same daughter who recently gave her life to Jesus and will be baptized this Sunday. It is amazing what a family can bring to a child. Could you be his? Please help us spread the word about sweet William.

William - Waiting For A Family from Heidi Reitz on Vimeo.
There is also a link to information about Hep B on www.anorphanswish.org. 5 years ago that would have been a scary medical need for me but I've learned alot since then. Please give William a chance at a family.

Stone Mountain

We met some friends from college at Stone Mountain this weekend. Here are the kids hiking up the mountain...

 Yi came with us and decided she loves camping. It was fun to have someone to help with the cooking and cleaning.

 My favorite part of camping in the fall and winter, the campfire...

 Sky Hike was by far the favorite for all the kids. Even Joshua did it, even I did it! I couldn't watch Joshua walk across the ropes and boards. I know I'm a big wimp and way too protective of him but let's face it he isn't the most coordinated 5 year old around. The thought of him falling even though he's attached to a rope was more than my stomach and knees could take. So one of our friends walked it with him instead and Yi and I laughed our way through it.

 Monkeys climbing a rock wall...

 Motivation to help mom clean out the camper and start the laundry. Pumpkin decorating... we have 3 smily faces, a butterfly, and 2 crosses.

We had a fun time and it was beautiful weather for camping!



God is good

I am coming out of overwhelmed mode now. We have a place to stay that sounds great and will only be $30 a night. It's patient housing specifically for families with children having surgeries or treatments. This house has a kids game room, movies to borrow, fully stocked kitchen, and is close to the hospital. One of us might stay at the house with Grace or we might trade off for the two nights Josh is in the hospital. Or we'll be so close we could all crash at the hospital if needed.

Grace, Clayton, Joshua, and I will go for the first week. We hope to do some site seeing in between the pre op appt and surgery day.

Clayton will come home for the second week (somebody's gotta work to pay for all this) and my mom will come to help in Boston.

All the kids at home have a place to stay. I have great friends and we have very helpful parents for which we are very grateful! It's humbling and nice to have friends that are not only willing to take more kids in but that insist on it.

Now it's time to just enjoy the next 6 weeks of school. We get to go camping at Stone Mountain this weekend and everyone is so excited to get a much needed break... especially me!

Surgery

It looks like we will be in Boston December 5th through the 15th with surgery scheduled on the 8th. (Insert loud groan here). Because it is a major surgery we have to go to a pre op appt. on the 6th.

It's almost more than I can think about to be honest. Planning to be gone that long, the details of the surgery, recovery, all of it is just so overwhelming.

Dr. Meara will take Joshua's entire palate apart. Skin, muscles, even nasal cavity, and then put it all back together correctly, making the palate longer. The reason why is because when he had his palate surgery in China they didn't put it together quite right nor long enough. The surgeries on his palate here weren't really what he needed but should ultimately help him get the closure he needs when his palate is put together right and made longer.

Then he will also do a lip revision which won't hurt as much as the palate but will be hard to look at for quite some time nonetheless. Not to mention the normal feelings of changing my babies face that I am having. I am trying to get lots of close up face pictures of him before changing the way he looks.

It is common to do a lip revision about this age on cleft affected kiddos it just makes me sad to think he'll look different. Glad to know so many other parents that have walked that road before me.

If you could just pray I don't have an anxiety attach between now and then. I know totally super spiritual but I'm just being honest. Surgery is NO fun! Increases Joshua's anxiety problems and just plain old stinks!

It's like knowing that you are walking into a hot furnace in a few weeks and there is no way around it other than through it. I do have some hope that this time will be different. I'm more aware of how to help him and everyone tells me that Boston Children's is great at looking at the whole child for pain management. I think that narcotics generally don't work on Joshua and increase his anxiety because all of his levels like serotonin, adrenaline, etc. are low and high anyway. Hoping and praying we can find a drug that can help him this time.

On a more fun note, here are some more fun pictures in Boston and my efforts at close ups of a constantly moving child....

 Waiting for the doctor appointment.

 Our new friend. They were so generous in letting us stay in their home during our stay.

 We went to the Children's Museum while waiting for our flight home. Joshua loved it and it was a great way to release some energy before sitting on an airplane.

Love

We got home from Boston last night. Joshua got a warm welcome. His brother and sisters are so sweet. Well, his sisters prepared gifts for him. His brother reminded him that he would share his new toys with him. ;)

Then as we are all standing in the kitchen talking Joy came up to me and hugged me and said, "I missed you, I love you."

That was the first unsolicited "I love you" she's ever given me. She says it every day after we say it to her but has never said it first.

Reminding me yet again what a long road grafting into a forever family is. It takes place when you don't even realize it's happening. In just the sharing of lives day after day.

Finally... answers

Joshua had his tests done today and does not need to have any tomorrow because they got everything they needed from the tests today. He did great… thanks to the Lord’s peace and comfort. A camera up ones nose wouldn’t set well with anyone.



He’ll be having reconstructive palate surgery with a nose job toward the end of November/ December. We will find out tomorrow exact dates. It’ll be major surgery but will finally fix everything. We are so blessed to have these doctors and be in great hands (theirs and the Lord’s).



Thanks for your continued prayers… unfortunately for a child who has had 6 surgeries in just 5 years of life- 2 surgeries without a family, surgeries don’t sit well with him or me for that matter. We’ll need to stay in the hospital at least 2 nights and in the Boston area at least a week post op. Ugh... oh well... maybe I can put him in a stroller and finally do some siteseeing!

Boston

Joshua and I arrived in Boston this afternoon. We are staying with a friend that is on one of the adoptcleft yahoo groups. She so nicely offered for us to stay when I was asking about things in Boston to that group.

Tonight we went to the park. Her little girl and Joshua had a wonderful time playing together.

This afternoon he goes to have the tests done. Please pray!

A Fall Field Day

We participate in field trips with a group of families in our area that also homeschool. This one was such a fun and creative idea we had to join. It was so simple but the kids had a blast (and too much candy!)

It was a nice relaxing afternoon. Great to chill a bit before heading to Boston with Joshua on Sunday :( Looking forward to some answers but not looking forward to another drs. visit for my little man. Please pray God would calm his spirit as they do the nasal endoscope Monday around 1 or 2 in the afternoon... nothing like a camera up your nose while you try to talk for a child that already has doctor issues!