1:38pm

Michael's surgery will begin at 1:38pm tomorrow afternoon.  Not a minute sooner, not a minute later. lol.  Just cracking up at that time!  Be there or be square.  If you are local, feel free to run by and sit with us.  It should last about 4 hours. 

Cincinnati

We are in Cincinnati!

''We'' meaning Michael, Kayla and myself because Michael is going to have surgery to correct an anal malformation that he was born with.  It's called Imporforate Anus and it's where a baby is born with no opening for waste to exit the body.

Typically, children who are orphans in the country Michael was born in will die from this condition shortly after birth because there are no funds for such a major operation for orphans.  Michael was one of the few who received surgery because the doctors in his region needed to practice performing this delicate surgery.  I'm sure they did their very best, but they were not able to complete the surgery fully and that is why we are in Cincinnati.

Dr. Alberto Pena is our surgeon.  He is a pioneer in pediatric colorectal surgery and people from all around the world come to Cincinnati specifically for their children to be cared for by Dr. Pena.  Just the other day, we sat in the waiting room with a family from Israel, another from India and another from S. Carolina.  We feel so blessed to be able to have Dr. Pena helping Michael.

Michael was admitted Sat, Sept. 22 to begin 2 days of digestive tract clean-out.  He was given an NG tube and GoLightly was started.  This is a solution that liquefies anything within his system so he can eliminate it and be totally clean inside for surgery.

One word of caution....there is nothing 'go lightly' about GoLytely!  It should be renamed GoAlotly with a cautionary disclosure to wear old clothes if you are the one caring for you child receiving this solution!

Surgery will be sometime on Monday if Michael continues to stay healthy.  He developed a junky nose upon receiving the NG tube and is extremely congested now.  No fever or coughing means he can still have surgery.  We're praying it's just irritation from the tube and nothing more!

We did have a few hours on Thursday after clinic visits and testing so we walked over to the Cincinnati Zoo.  It was mostly overcast with cool temperatures and a perfect day to go to the zoo!

We are so blessed to know several families through Reece's Rainbow who live right here in Cincinnati!  They have all been extremely helpful sharing information and experience about Cincinnati and the Children's hospital.  My friend Jamie even took us to Walmart the other day to pick up a few things that we could not fit into our carry-on bags!!  Thank you Jamie!!!!!

I'll update when I can as soon as surgery is over.  Thank you all so much for covering Michael in prayer.  Knowing he is being lifted up is so comforting.

Jeff is taking time off work and is staying home with our other kids while we are in Cincinnati.  He is settling  into a pretty good routine and things are going well.  Prayers for him are certainly welcomed as well!

The Least of These

Today I'm yelling for Donovan.

Today I am yelling for Sonny.

Today I am yelling for Marla...

Because it seems they are being starved, beaten and/or abused to death while they languash in institutions around the world.  Their situations are extremely critical and their only hope is for us to be their voice and yell for them and pray a family steps forward to rescue them.

They have no mommy and daddy fighting for them.  They have nobody fighting to keep them safe, and warm, and fed.  They have no voice.  They have no one....

But us.

This is Donovan. 



                        DONOVAN

Click on his picture so it will enlarge.  Do you SEE him?  Do you see the plates in his skull?  Do you see his ribs under his shirt?  He is starving to death.  He is not cherish.  He is not loved.  He is not even fed enough to sustain him.  Sweet Donovan.  A child of God.  A child who was born and discarded to be hidden away until death claims him unless someone steps forward and claims him as their son.  Is that YOU?

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This is Sonny.



                SONNY

The picture above was taken of Sonny just after he was transferred to an adult mental institution.  He is bruised and beaten there.  It's no place for a little child but that is where is and will remain until someone sees him as their son and goes to get him.  Or, until death claims him.

Below is a picture taken of Sonny right before transfer.   He still had a spark in his eye and a little spunk.  That spark, that spunk to Sonny's spirit is still within him.  He needs to get out of the institution for it to shine again.  Are you his family?  Do you have room in your life for a lost little boy who needs a family?




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This is MARLA!



Marla has CP and has such a sweet, loving personality according to her profile.  She is in a 'laying down' room since she cannot walk and will spend the rest of her days in that room, in that bed unless he is adopted and taken out.



LOOK at her SMILE!  It just melts my heart.  She is such a treasure.  Such a gift.  I pray that someone will come forward for Marla.  That she will be given a chance to become all that she can.  That she will be taught about our Lord and Savior and His amazing grace.

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I have said that these children have NO hope, NO chance unless they are adopted and that is true for most of them because it is almost unheard of for biological parents of children who have Down syndrome and other special needs to return to the institution and fight to take their child back home.

But, every once is a great while, a miracle happens and a family does return to reclaim their once forgotten child and that is exactly what is happening right now with little Wren below.

SHE was the reason that I called for this Blog Blitz in the first place.   The hollow, scared look in her eyes which are black and blue from abuse.  Her bloodied lips.  Her frail, skin-and-bones frame under dirty clothes.  All sign of abuse and neglect.  SHE has no voice so we all decided to screem for HER today and others in situations like hers.

I asked an fellow adoptive mommy who has contacts in the country that Wren is in to check up on her.  What she found out was nothing short of a miracle.

Wren's bio family is working hard to bring her home!

WOW!  Praise God!  Thank you, God!!  We will pray for this family, that they can get her out of this dire situation and love her and cherish her like she was meant to be from the beginning, before it is too late.

  

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Please contact Andrea from Reece's Rainbow  if you are interested in adopting any of these children.

Also, please hop over the the other blogs and take a peek at their posts for our Blog Blitz.
 
Heather: http://mt2ia.blogspot.com/

Grace: http://sister-love-blog.blogspot.com/

Sandra: https://www.facebook.com/marlamatters2us

Lydia: http://www.eightisnotenough2012.blogspot.com/

Monica: http://www.xmaswarrior.blogspot.com

SIX years! A birthday story!

Michael turns SIX today!!!

Happy Birthday sweet boy!

You are our amazing son!

We love you so much!!!

Happy Birthday, Michael!

Gotcha!!!

Freedom!

One year ago today, 

Sarah and Sydney left the orphanage 

for the first and LAST time!

Click arrow below to watch video.

After 3.5 years in the orphanage,

 the girls were set free!

Just months away from transfer

to an adult mental institution.

TODAY,

Sarah and Sydney are happy, 

healthy 4.5 year old little girls 

who are love beyond words.

Cherished.

Wanted.

Forever an important part our family!!

Loss and restoration

Remember this little one from an EARLIER POST?

                                                       
                                   Elijah (Waldon on RR)

His family was just nine days from traveling to rescue him when they received the shocking news that he passed away and is now is the arms of Jesus.  The BROOK family were crushed by sweet Elijah's sudden passing but they remain strong in their faith and hold fast that God has a plan.

They are allowing God to work through this tragedy and will be traveling to Elijah's country in ONE WEEK to adopt another child that God Himself will reveal to them once they arrive in-country.  It's called adopting on blind referral.

I call it adopting on blind faith.  Amazing!

The Brooks have been offered a matching grant of $1000 by a generous donor.  Every dollar donated up to $1000 will be doubled, dollar for dollar.  Their Chip-In needs to read $1,995 in order to receive this matching grant.

Hop on over to THEIR BLOG and donate using the Chip-In at the top of the page!

Thank you, friends!

Prayers for Maia

This is our friends, Mark and Melanie, 

with their two beautiful children Matthew and Maia.

We first met Mark and Melanie while adopting Matthew and Michael in 2010.  They were adopting their sweet Maia at the same time and we have been friends every since.

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Four weeks ago today, May 14, Maia was running around, playing with her brother, hopping on the school bus going to school, riding a tricycle and doing all things that little girls enjoy doing.

 

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 Four weeks tomorrow, May 15....Maia's world changed in the blink of an eye.

Mark and Melanie's world changed.

Matthew's world changed.

Maia headed off to school that morning not quite feeling like herself.  Ten minutes after school started, the teachers called because Maia had thrown up, so Mark picked her up and let her rest for awhile in bed.  About 11:30am Maia threw up again and began to have a seizure.  911 was called and Maia was rushed to the ER.

It took the doctors 45 minutes to stop the seizure.  Spinal fluid samples were taken and infection was found.  Over the course of days and weeks, more infection and seizures would come and days of unresponsiveness would take their toll.

Maia has been in the hospital for one month tomorrow.  Literally, one minute she was playing with her brother, going off to school.....and in the next she experienced a seizure that took the doctors 45 minutes to stop and her world changed.

Please pray for Maia.

Maia has been moved to a rehab unit and is slowly making progress.  She is being taught to sit up on her own again.  And to walk.  And to eat.  And to talk again.

She is set to be sent home next week and will continue rehab on an out-patient basis.

 Please pray for Mark and Melanie as they adjust to caring for Maia on their own while taking her to her PT/OT/FT appointments.

Please pray for sweet Matthew as he adjusts to everything that is changing and is getting used to the busy schedule of appointments.

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We do not always know why things like this happen, but we can rest in the fact that God knows and will turn all things to good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.

This family LOVES the Lord with all their heart and they are certainly called and obedient according to His purpose.

Thank you friends for praying for this sweet family and their daughter, Maia.

You can read more about Maia and her road to recovery on Mark and Melanie's blog 

Trusting His Promise 

 

 

We're still here...

I've taken somewhat of a sabbatical from blogging for the past few months.   Actually, I've taken somewhat of a sabbatical from just about everything since Wes' near-fatal car crash in Jan.  I cannot begin to tell you how deeply that affected me.  All of us.  

Deeply.  

Drivers side of Wes' car where he was siting

Drivers side door where the pole caved it in on Wes.
Rachel is sitting where the car hit one of the poles.

Our miracle today!

Wes is completely healed physically, PTL, and continues his long road of recovery from the TBI.

Life goes on and we adjust to what comes our way.  


LOTS of things have come our way since Jan, so I'm pretty much just going to do one long catch-up post in pictures.  

Enjoy!

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Jeff and Jason attended ChaserCon 
in Denver, CO
(National Storm Chaser Convention)

Jason meeting Sean Casey

 

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Happy Birthday, Jeff!!!

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Sarah's FIRST celebrated birthday 

as she turns FOUR!

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

 

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Happy Easter!  

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Happy 3rd Birthday, Justin!!!

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Happy World Down syndrome Day!

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The year-long
Texas drought is broken:

4" of snow in Feb

...And RAIN in April

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Happy Birthday to ME!

I wish I could find the SD card with the

pictures of my birthday. Trust me....it happened.  I'm a year older and I had a wonderful day.

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Happy Mother's Day!

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Happy Birthday, Wesley!!!!

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Yep!  We've been busy around here.  

With 10 kids, it's hard to not

be busy!!!!!

I'm still forever advocating for orphans around the world, mostly through FB, but will start back up on the blog again now.

Thank you for your continued prayers for our family as we continue to chase God's calling wherever He leads.