Update on surgery

Picutres ...
Our THREE 8 year olds...Happy Bday Selah
Sam waiting for his exam
Sarah waiting for her exam...
Sarah with 'her daddy




Quick update....
We arrived in Rochester NY on Sunday after a long but safe trip!

Sam and Sarah both had EUAs (exams under anesthesia) today.

Sam's was perfect, everything is just right, five years and one day since the implant!

Sarah's was a bit more complicated. First they couldn't do the implant today because her cornea is smaller than normal and she has to have a custom made implant to fit her eye. Also the sclera (the white of the eye) has some issues. There is concern that it may not be able to support the implant and her eye would be like a deflated tire. Also there was some strange things seen on the ultrasound of her eye near the pupil. Soooooo she will be scheduled for a MRI Wed or Thurs and based on that, they will know how to proceed.

We feel they will attempt the implant next Tuesday despite all of this. The good thing is her eye pressure is normal, the retina and optic nerve are there and in the right places and we KNOW she sees because she reaches for light up toys, up to a foot in front of her. We don't know how good the optic nerve or the retina is because they were looking at it through the cloudy cornea and on the ultrasound.

We love our Dr Aquevella and totally trust him in this decision. Please pray for him to know just what to do to help Sarah, that's his heart desire to give children sight! Pray for Sarah!

I have to admit I'm a bit shocked by this. We've felt that she saw more than Sam did before his implant and thought this would be straightforward but we trust that they are gathering all the info necessary to be prepared for the surgery.

Today was Selah's 8th Bday and we didn't spend much of the day with her but plan on doing something special for her tomorrow. She did get a dolly from us and a lion and a dolly from the Ronald McDonald House. So we now have THREE 8 year olds and think that is pretty neat:)

Sarah

Next Tuesday Sarah will be getting her corneal implant, the Boston K-Pro! It will give her sight! Now she sees light & shadows but then she she will see much clearer imagines. We don't know exactly how well she will see but based on Sam's success it should be a lot!

So today as we are getting ready to leave, my heart is filled. The first time I saw Sarah's picture I though "oh my God she looks like Sam!" and my second thought was "she needs the corneal implant surgery!" Now 9 months later, it is happening...God is good! I didn't know that first time I looked at her picture that she would become my daughter!!! But God did!!!!

So that leads me to another thought...does God just love Sarah (and Selah) more than He loves those other 150 children living in an adult mental institution in Ukraine? Does He love them (and Shad also) more than the 100 million orphans in the world that He would rescue them and give them a family??? I don't think so....

So WHY were they rescued??????

They were rescued because we swallowed our fears, swallowed our doubts, didn't listen to ALL the many reason why we should NOT go and get them. Oh we had some fears and some doubts and God KNOWS there were many reasons why we of all people should NOT go and get them ...but we went. We obeyed that small voice knowing that one day we will stand before God and give an account of our lives. Will fear, doubt & reasons why not matter on that day???? I don't think so.....

We are NOT saints, we're not trying to work our way into heaven... we don't have a great amount of patience or virtue...we're just ordinary folks living in this world who want to do all we can....

You can do the same thing we did...even if you are single there are countries that allow singles to adopt...Are you poor? LOLOLOL...we are poor in comparison to most of America, but RICH in comparison to most of the world! God provided. No we didn't have $32,000 in savings...our bank only requires $5....LOLOL The God of this Universe stepped in and made this adoption happen. He will do the same for others too...of that I have NO doubt! Are your hands full? Mine were...and are even more so but it is worth it....

I can promise you that if you trust God and step out in faith He will meet you and meet every need. If you adopt an international child you are rescuing a life that has very little hope. We are so blessed here in the USA, you have no idea. We have foster care and while that might not be a perfect system, I can assure you it is a much much better system than anything I have seen or heard of in other countries....

If you are interested in international adoption, write me, I'll be glad to help you ...

So pray for my sweet sweet Sarah! Pray that the surgery is a complete success, I have to admit I am nervous, nervous about her being put under and nervous that something will go wrong...Sam will be put under first for an exam to check his Kpro and then she will go in for the operation, all on the same day. Pray for the hospital because I am a crazy MAMA! Pray for a safe trip for all of us. Our oldest son is having some major issues and may end up with appendicitis as he has pre condition for it. He is ok to travel, but we are having to watch him closely. This is our first road trip with 5 kids, so it should be fun LOL espicially with all the medical drama thrown in!

Thank you all for your prayers for our family in the past and now as we go on this next step!

Just a few more...

See how Sam & Selah are together? It's so cute they really like each other

Sarah and her teacher from Lighthouse for the blind....

Selah is so cute, love her smile!

Some more pictures:)

Here's our backyard playground and Sarah on her horse! I love the picture of her from the baby orphanage riding on a horse. She had not forgotten how to ride! As soon as I put her on it she shrieked with joy & started riding it:) I've got to get her a bigger horse as her legs are a bit long for this one but she loves it!!!!!

Pictures

I can only add a few pictures at a time and I wanted to share some cute ones of the past month. I am a very blessed woman with my sweet family!!!!

We are all having a great time together:)

Update on Sarah and Selah

We've been home with them for 2 1/2 months and it's been wonderful! We adore these little girls so much!

Both girls have had their evaluations for Physical therapy, Occupational therapy and Speech therapy! They will be starting soon! They each will have 9 hours a week. Sarah also has Vision therapy an hour a week and loves it. At the evaluations it was determind that she only has muscle atrophy and should be walking soon. She is crawling and pulling up and starting to get into everything! We are waiting for a date for her eye surgery. One of the doctor on the team had a family emergency out of the country & it pushed us back but hopefully by next month we will be on the schedule! We are looking forward to getting it done!!!

Both girls are just doing so great. Sarah is a love bug and Selah is reaching out more for love. It is harder for her but it 's very evident that she is bonding as she follows me around the house all day:) She wants to cuddle at night, Sarah loves cuddles ALL the time!

I have most of their appointments with the various specialists set for the fall. We dealt with the most important stuff first. Sarah has a ski condition that we are dealing with & maybe just maybe finding the victory thanks to a new cream!

Just want o tell you all that we couldn't be happier with these sweet girl, they were so meant for our family & bring us much joy! Their transition home has been a breeze & such a sweet time. So thankful to God & to all who helped us bring them home!

Hope you enjoy the pictures from our first beach trip to Honeymoon Island, Sarah LOVED it, but it took Selah awhile to get use to the vastness of the beach.

SALLY

This little face caught my heart from the moment I met her at the girls' institution. Immediately I asked if she was available for international adoption but there were some questions about her status. Evidently we found she was available. We thought about adding her but were a bit overwhelmed with the girls plus we'd had to gone back to the capital city and started all over and we weren't sure if we had the money to do it. It just seemed too much...

We think about going back and getting her and two boys that we also felt drawn to but we have some great big mountains in the way. For us to even adopt one more child we'd have to get a bigger van, ours' is filled, we'd have to have another bedroom, our small house is filled and we'd need the adoption expenses.... Plus we do realize we are only two older (late 40's) people! We have three handicapped kids now who are all about on a 1-2 year old level which means we do everything for them. And we do it GLADLY! We adore our sweet children but we are only two people....and these three will need life long care... So will the three we are drawn to...But then my heart says what will I do when I stand before God KNOWING there was at least one more I could have rescued....I take that seriously!

What am I asking of you? Get her picture out, she is not listed with any organization at this time, pray about including her in your family... Pray that if God wants us to adopt her and the boys that He'll make the path straight for us. And relatively easy. I don't think that is too much to ask this time around... We shown God we would be faithful in our adoptions. Adoptions are not easy, it's emotionally taxing, lots of paperwork. the trip is hard...there are so many aspects where you just have to surrender to God...I know from experience. I do NOT look forward in any way to the process...I know it all too well!

She is on my mind constantly...her face comes before me and my eyes are flooded with tears for her...she needs a family NOW! Please pray that God will provide one!!!! Whether it is us or another family.....