Busy day- one year ago the boys meet the girls....Pictures and videos of a wonderful day!

Well Sam is taking center stage around here right now:)  He is pain free although he seems a bit more grumpy than usual (for you all who know Sam...you know how he is not afraid to let his feelings be known LOL)  But he is ok.    After much discussion, everyone feels like it will be ok for us to wait until the first of May to go to NY.  Selah has several appointments I do not want to miss as they would be hard to reschedule.  We also need to get a night nurse started so Jon will have help with Selah.  It looks like one of my friends will be going with me.  That way Jon won't have to miss work.  Steve is capable of taking care of Sarah and Shad and of course we will have a day and night nurse for Selah during that time.  I'm planning on taking the train:)   I certainly don't want to drive all that way and to be honest I am just not up to flying.  In booking flights for my brother in law who came up and stayed right after the accident, I found that only commuter jets go into Rochester from Florida!  I'm too afraid I'd have a stinking panic attack and they'd call the FAA on me!!  LOL  There are no direct flights from this area, we'd have to fly into NYC, Philly somewhere and then transfer to a small plane....NO THANK YOU!

A few weeks ago I was honest about having a panic attack...a REAL one, really thought I was going to die.  Since then, I haven't had one but have almost had a couple.  I can now sense them coming on and I try and remove myself from any situation that is causing it.  I've found I can't watch anything on tv that is stressful.  Duck Dynasty and 19 Kids and Counting are about the only thing I can watch on tv.  (and I hate 19 kids and counting LOL)  I'm even being really careful with what I'm reading, I love mysteries but find I can't handle anything unless it has alot of humor in it.  There's only been a few times I've had to take my "happy pill"   A few days ago I was at Lowes (one of my fav places - the garden center) and felt one coming on,  I knew I needed to get home so I did and sat outside and relaxed myself and then was ok.  It's funny I've not had one about Sam's eye....I probably will once it is all over.

BTW, I wanted to explain a bit about Sam's eye.  He had corneal transplants (from donors) when he was a baby.  His body rejected them.  When he was three we took him to Dr A and he had corneal IMPLANTS or the Boston Kpro.  We knew that his left eye, the smaller eye already had some issues but we had nothing to lose to try the Kpro on it.  While the right eye has done well his left eye hasn't .  Soon after the implant, his left retina detached   It was not unexpected.  That means he has no sight in the left eye.  In fact the eye probably started to die.  His eye certainly has shrunk over the past 4 years, obviously so.  The implant being man made has not shrunk.  So now it is too big for his eye.  That's why I think this is happening.  We won't know for sure until we see Dr A but that is my thoughts.  The implants were still the very best thing for his eye and we are thrilled with the results in the right eye.  but kids with Peter's have "sick" eyes , their eyes are weak and often missing some parts or some parts are deformed like Sarah's retina and optic nerve.    Just wanted to explain some of this.....

Also back when we were in NY, Sam hit his bad eye on a prong at a store and that may have contributed to this.

Selah is doing great, she LOVES that wheelchair!  As soon as she is put in it, her heart rate goes down (and it's been fine anyhow) and she is just amazing relaxed.  It actually fits her perfectly and helps her body.  Her knees are bending so nicely and her feet look perfect.  She seems to not have any muscle spasms unless she is really being stretched out by the nurse or therapist.  But even then she responds well.  She is able to go outside now several times a day and I'm a real believer that kids should be outside.  I know that helps her.  Last night she had heart rates in the 60's!!!  PERFECT!

At night she makes a gurlgy noise in her throat/trach when she needs to be changed.  She does it consistently every night!!!  Is that amazing or what????  It's not a crying noise more like a gurgle but it's not like she has a problem with her trach.  Sometimes she has to have it suctioned out and sometimes she just quits when one of us comes in.  It's really her way of communicating and I'm so thankful for it!!!!!!!!

If you've wondered about my neck, I have to tell you since around Easter, it's been somewhat better.  I really started back walking last week and honestly I can tell a big difference.  It's not quite normal but on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being how bad it used to hurt, it is down to a 3!  After months of being in excruciating pain, this is just great!  Except for the last crazy year of my life, I've been a big walking fan for about 4 or 5 years, during that time, I've stayed pretty healthy, not even having many colds.  Walking, in my opinion, is one of the best things you can do for your health and body.  I'm not in perfect shape but I've kept my cholesterol and sugar perfect (well as of last year...)  my legs look pretty good and it just makes me feel good.  Since I've started back walking, I've felt my stress level drop too, big times, despite the fact the last two weeks have been very stressful, first with Selah in the hospital and now with Sam's eye!

Today was a gorgeous Florida day.  After I went walking, I went back to Lowe's and got some more plants for my garden.  I actually lost a few plants in the freeze we had in March.  Well I weeded all 13 beds and got sunburn on my legs!  It's gonna be a Noxema night!  (yes noxema takes the pain away and helps me not to peel!)  My legs are on fire!  My garden looks perfect:)  Then we had a nice steady rain late this afternoon, just perfect for my new plants:)  Gardening is also a stress reliever for me!



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A year ago today we took Sam and Steve into meet the girls.  Now I have to say i wa a bit afraid of exposing Sam to germs as he has a low resistance and when he gets sick, he often needs to be in the hospital so it was scary to take him in.  But we wanted Steve to experiences the institution  for many reasons and to be able to bond with the girls.  It turned out to be a wonderful experiences.

Here with are with Director Alexander, who was very kind to our children

                                                                                   

Sam meets his TWIN Sarah!

  

We have twins:)

I love how Sarah looks at me

George our facilitator and one of the older girls

Sam with his booties on

Sam meeting Selah

Selah was more interested in the string

CUTE

Selah was not too sure about this boy

this young lady had grown up in the instituion.  She was over 16, too old for adoption.  Nothing was wrong with her except her legs.  She was in Selah's room and took care of her like a mama.  I think this young lady really helped Selah and kept her sane.

Sarah was starting to roll on the floor, showing more life!

Steve and Selah

Sarah Steve and Selah

Steve with all the little ones LOL....

A baby for everyone!!!!!!!

Sarah and daddy

SWEET boy....he wanted a mommy and daddy so much!

Selah with her angel!

Sweet girl...she is now adopted and home!!!!!!!!

Steve and Sarah  our oldest and youngest together

God bless this girl!

Some of the children...the girl in purple has been adopted:)

we had a full house that day

this sweetie is home now in America too!!!

Loved this little guy wish I could find him a home

hopefully you can see this video.

Lots of pictures tonight.....remembering a wonderful day.....just wish I could go back a year ago today....

 

Henry's legacy

http://reecesrainbow.org/57151/sponsordobrovits-2

This had to be a separate blog so that you all could concentrate on this family's story....

Do you remember Henry?  He died last November following complications from surgery.  His mom Carla has been such a friend to me as we've walked this path with Selah.  We would message each other from different hospitals, as we sat by the side of our children. 

Carla and her husband have chosen not to let their hearts grow bitter but rather let them stay open to love others. 

http://www.bringinghenryhome.blogspot.com/

 

this is what they are doing...adopting a sibling group!  When I read this today, after the day I've had, I felt lifted up just to know this family! 

 

Can I ask you to give to them to make their adoption easy?  I LOVE their hearts!  I love all the sweet comments they have received on FB, even reading what all their friends have written brings a smile to my face.  I love that they didn't let bitterness steal their joy....

 

So go to their page and give...   http://reecesrainbow.org/57151/sponsordobrovits-2

 

go to their blog and read it  

 

http://www.bringinghenryhome.blogspot.com/  

 

They adopted Henry at the same time we saw Sarah's picture and fell in love with her. 

Henry passed away just a few weeks after Selah's accident...I feel a connection with Carla.  While we had children in the hospital we both worked to raise money for a family who was in country and trying to add another child to their adoption. 

 

Their story is amazing and so unselfish...please pray and give towards them.

 

I know I often present different opportunities for you all to give and be a part of changing a child's world...thank you for so many times stepping up and giving!  You are making a difference! 

Thank you!

 

 

Sam's cornea is coming out.....Some more pictures of Ukraine and a video

Well Selah had a wonderful night.  She slept through the night BUT Sarah woke up screaming, not sure if she had a bad dream or if she hit her head on her crib.  She tends to wake up during the night and stand up in bed, she usually is singing a happy song, cooing but she is a bit clumsy so if she got her foot tangled or something...I checked her out and didn't see anything but she was screaming bloody murder!  Once I got her calmed down, I went and changed Selah, this was about 4 am and her heart rate was in the 80's:)  That makes us HAPPY! 

Last night Steve mentioned that Sam's eye looked funny like his cornea was coming out....honestly I didn't pay much attention but thought to look today as I was doing eye drops...We don't normally open his "bad" eye, his left eye as it is small, it usually opened only a slit and we drop in his eye drops.  His retina detected in that eye so he is black blind and sees nothing from it.  The reason we put drops in is to make sure he doesn't get an infection that could go to the good eye...  OH MY LORD....this is what I saw....

(this picture was taken with him on my lap and upside down so it doesn't really look quite this bad usually.)

My heart dropped and my blood ran cold!  For real!  I called Dr Aquevella and he told me to bring him in....  Well "bring  him in" means going to NY.  We are working on the details and timing, based on his schedule and our situation.  I'll probably be going by myself with one of my other kids or a friend.   It could be as early as next week or as late as the first week in May.  Sam is not in pain and there is no infection.  He has no sight in the eye.  The thing we worry about is if it came out and ripped the eye and hurt him and then that would also be a way bacteria could get into the eye and cause an infection that could spread to his good eye.   I don't know what they will do, maybe take the eye out altogether.   All I can say is I'm glad that life is short, eternity is long and I have a God who walks with me.  Although he has no sight....this was still a sucker punch in my gut....  Please pray for Sam!

Before I noticed Sam, I went walking with my BFF Kandi:)  We have walked thousands of miles together, really, thousands over the last few years.  We've worn out walking shoes.  We both have 5 kids so this is our stress reliever...you can imagine I may need to start walking about 20 miles a day.  We actually usually walk 3-5 miles a day.  Obviously, I haven't been walking for awhile and I'm glad to be back to it.  Our local hospital has a 1/2 mile cardiac walking path that has built in hills.  This morning we walked it 6 times...there have been times coming up the big hill, that we were very glad to be near the ER LOL

 

We have 10 kids between the two of us  ( and we each only have one husband LOL)

 

 

My usual morning walk

 

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From a year ago today.....

 

We left our sleeping boys on the couch to go see our girls.  Look at their sweet heads!

 

Pigeons outside and all over the place!

 

Our 'street"

 

 

 

these are fuel lines connected to the apartment buildings.  We saw them all over the place, instead of in the ground, they were in the air!

 

our neighborhood dog couple.  they sat outside the first apartment door and barked at everyone.

 

Like the little old lady:)

 

She posed for me with the dog, who was growling LOL

 

 

the boys looking out at us waiting for our driver

 

the "Christmas" trees at the front of the institution

 

Sarah up! 

 

 

Here we got a swiss roll at the store!

 

 

 

I made rice with chicken in it

 

Here is a video of Selah and Sarah

yes this is a new day...Selah has on the same dress...

while Sarah is sporting a boy's look

 

Please keep our family in your prayers.....

 

 

I'm going to serve God......what about You?

Selah had another GREAT night!  Thanks for the prayers:)  We only got up with her once:)   Tonight she is already asleep and her heart rate is in the 60's & 70's which is completely normal for a 8 year old girl!!! I don't think I've ever seen her heart rate so low!!!!!   She had PT today.  I am so thankful for Chris who comes into our home and works with our kids.  It makes things easier and so much more relaxing for the kids, especially Selah.  We had her up most of the day in the new wheelchair and even tho I HATE the chair, she seems to like it and she looked wonderful. 

Steve is now on antibiotics so this is a first for me to have FOUR kids on antibiotics at a time.....Shad and me are the only ones still standing:)  Jon has been sick for a week.  I said Shad lived through too much in China to let a little bug get him in America and I'm too mean for it LOL! 

After a full morning of therapy for the little ones, we all went and ate pizza, and Sarah and mom got our hair cut.  Everything is so stinking emotional for me.  The last time we'd gone to the shop we all get our hair cut at, it was right before we left for NY and the girls were finally growing enough hair, they had to have it trimmed.  So the girls in the shop hadn't heard what had happened, and had wondered where we all were at...so I had to go through the story again....it was hard on my heart.  Literally, I felt a weight in my chest, just wishing I could go back to the last time I was in there.....

During my day, I have time to think about things as I am busy with chores.  Today I just kept thinking of eternity.  I'm not one to listen to much christian tv or radio but my husband is....and he listens to it loud.  He had driven my van last night so this morning on my way to walk, I heard a bit of a sermon from the book of Daniel.  One thing that really stuck out to me was the character of Daniel.  He was a Jew, taken from his country as basically a slave.  He became a trusted advisor in various administrations in Babylon.  One thing the minister said was during the various reigns of different leaders, Daniel remained constant.  He was known as a man of God.  He was known as a man of God during good times when he was loved & appreciated and also in times when he was thrown into the lion's den.....  I want to be known as a woman of God who stays consistent through the good times and through the bad times. 

I'm not perfect by any means but if you take anything from this blog, take this....trust God and live for God through all the seasons of your life.  God will give you the grace to do it, if you will ask Him.  He has given me that grace....because I asked him.  On the days when I get really down, I ask Him to give me the grace so I won't bring reproach on His name.  Believe me, there are days when I worry about that!  I am not known for meek & mild spirit LOL.....so I worry....

We are living in eternity now.....often we think of eternity starting when our life here is over, but actually eternity had no beginning and has no end.  You will exist forever, according to the Bible.  It is up to you where you chose to exist at.  You can chose to serve God, or you can chose not to serve Him.  If you chose to serve God, you will go to heaven when this life is over.  If you do not chose to serve God, you will go to Hell when this life is over.....according to the Bible.  It's up to you, God gives us free will. 

Life sucks....bad things happen...God is not a genie....but He is a God who walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death.  We are all going to die one day.  Whether you are a great woman like Margret Thatcher, or a unknown on the street, death comes to us all.  We will all stand before God.  Hearing of various famous people who have died this week, knowing that a country is making threats against our country...it all makes me think of eternity. 

Through everything that has happened to me, I can sit here tonight and tell you that I still believe firmly in God and in His goodness.  He doesn't always deliver us from our trials.  In the book of Daniel, Daniel was thrown into the lion's den...but God shut the mouths of the lions.  In that same book, Shadrach Meschach  and Abendego were thrown into the fiery furnace.  They replied to the king "Our God is able to deliver us but even if He doesn't deliver us, we will not worship or serve your false gods."  They were still thrown into the fire, but God delivered them out of the fire and  then the King acknowledged God. 

I love the statement they made that God was able to deliver but even if He didn't they were not going to serve a false God.

So I say that to you tonight....even if God doesn't deliver Selah and us FROM this trial, even if my heart breaks...I'm going to serve God and not turn to a false god of my own making.  I will not turn the God of this universe into some feel good god.  I'm not going to turn to sin.  I'm not going to blame God foolishly,  I'm not going to turn my back on God.  I'm not going to let bitterness be in my heart. 

So I encourage you, whatever you are going through, turn to God.  He will light your path. 

When I was a kid growing up in church, I'd hear all these great testimonies of folks delivered from sin.  Man they could tell their testimonies so well!  I thought many times "well I have no testimony, I'm just a church kid"  LOL  I was too afraid to sin too much because I was afraid of going to hell.  (btw, that is not a bad thing to be afraid of)   Well I certainly WISH I didn't have a testimony now...but I do.  Not quite the same but I can true testify to you that God is a very faithful God.  

Daily about 3000 - 4000 people take the time to read my blog.  That blows my mind that people care enough to read this.  I get hits from all kinds of different countries including a few I've had to look up to see where the heck it was (the Isle of Man -an island off the coast of Ireland)  I'm sure there are folks of various faiths and I know some folks who have no faith.   I'm sure that everyone is at a different place in their lives.  But I can promise you, even if you've never experienced it, hard times will come to you.  Find your Anchor NOW, so you are prepared for the storms of life.  I was prepared that day when I ran down the street to the emergency vehicles.  I knew the God I cried out to as I was running....and He was there. 

Be prepared for eternity, we don't know what the future holds.  We live in uncertain times.  No one is promised tomorrow whether you are a wealthy famous person or just an average Joe.  I feel strongly tonight that I should encourage you to turn to God and if you do know God, to hold to Him tightly. 

You guys know I don't usually get too preachy, I let Jon do that....but this is just stirring in my heart tonight. 

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Here are some pictures from today!

 

 

Home schooling at its best.....

Steve & Shadrach (love the story and the name)

 

Selah in her chair

Look at her nice legs and feet!  The surgery was such a success!  No more "ballerina toes!"  And we have knees:)

 

my garden

Okra and lettuce

 

 

collards (on steroids- I can grow them!)

 

potatoes....

 

 

 

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So please keep praying for Selah.  I don't know what the future will hold but my prayer is that our family can glorify God through whatever happens.  If Selah isn't healed, I pray our family's trust in God will encourage others to trust Him.  If she is healed I pray God and ONLY God gets the glory!  (you can be sure it won't be because we are some spiritual giants!  and all my friends said a BIG AMEN! :)

 

 

This is a video of Selah and Sarah a year ago today..... I took videos that day...tried to load some more but couldn't...hope you can view this!

 

 

 

this video shows how weak Sarah was and the sores on her little head.

And it shows Selah being a bit put out by us for some reason.  there was a lot of noise and she hated noises....