Praying for Emma

My fellow RR friend, Meredith, has a beautiful little girl with Down syndrome. Well actually she has two beautiful little girls with DS and a baby boy with DS and a typical little boy. Mike & Meredith adopted Emma and Micah from Ukraine just a short while ago. They spent an extended period of time there with unknown events and occurrences all of the time. They knew they were following God's path and his path led him to these precious babies. Emma Hope is five years old and is in Congestive Heart Failure. They need our prayers for their family and all of the people involved in Emma's prayer. I have a link to their blog on the right, go and visit their family and see what a wonderful gift they are to these beautiful children. Jeremiah 29:11 says "I know the plans I have for you", says the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you HOPE and a future."
Here's the button:



Addy is starting to feel better. She still has terrible tonsillectomy breath and will just start screaming for no reason. Hopefully every day will get better.



Jarika and I watched "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" today together. She came over to me and started crying because she did not want Addy at first. She was so teary through the whole movie wondering how this man could be so mean. I explained that things were different back then and she now loves her sister dearly and she shouldn't feel guilty. Like Dr. Henry in the movie, hers was the fear of the unknown. Now her fears are gone and she realizes that this precious little angel was meant to be ours and we are so blessed and lucky to be given this honor.

Hangin in there

Well we had a really rough night. Addy just screamed and screamed it was pitiful. So hopefully this is just day 3 post op issues and we'll be better soon. I reminded Avery that he needed to put away his clean clothes before going out to play. He thought he was pretty smart with this one I'm sure.There's nothing on my bed.....
Empty laundry basket and closed drawers......
This is what his closet looks like. It used to have a floor.

We're home!

Just chillin before they take her back!
Well we are now tonsil and adenoid free! Addy did great during her surgery with no complications. The bronchoscopy showed just slight tracheomalasia just above the lungs. So slight in fact the doctor really doesn't feel it's significant at all. Addy had a few bouts of screaming crying which was awful, this baby never cries! All of the nurses are like "That can't be Addy, she never cries!" It was nice to see all of those wonderful ladies that have taken such excellent care of our little girl these past few months. Her regular surgeon, Dr. Ford, who we absolutely love, even came by to say "Hi". He saw me in the hallway and he's all "What are you doing here?!?!? What's wrong and why didn't I know?!?" It was too funny, he is so wonderful. Addy's only issue was the IV of course. I have counted over 20 bruises/pokes from where they tried to get it going. Naturally it ended up in her head and she got to wear a fancy little headdress to keep it on. Needless to say that didn't last and she ended up pulling it out last night. Surprise surprise! Well we are home and settled and very glad to be here and on the mend. I thank all of you that have prayed for my family faithfully these past several months, it's so comforting to know that she is being lifted up to our Father all of the time from all over the country! Those of you who read my blog I also please ask that you pray for some of my RR friends that have different things occurring in their lives: Charissa, Shelley, Meredith, Shawnie and many others who I know need prayer too!
Yeah I'm all done! Now what is this business on my head!?!?

This pic didn't come out great, but I wanted to show how sensitive she is to tape. You can see exactly where the tape was to keep her eyes shut! :(

Now how am I going to get this off?
Hey Mommy let's go home! I actually got a pic of signing, yeah! I usually miss it!

Prayer request

I would just like to request prayer for sweet little Addysen. She will be having her tonsils and adenoids removed tomorrow as well as have her bronchoscopy. Shouldn't be a big deal, but this makes surgery number 10 for this little 17 month old angel! We saw the cardiologist and she is doing great with regards to her hole in her heart and pulmonary hypertension! That is such good news! So hopefully we will be weaning off of meds by the fall! So I won't have to explain to people anymore why my female baby takes VIAGARA! Too funny, anyway I'm sure I won't sleep tonight, I'm always afraid I'll be late for surgery and they won't do it! So wish us luck and I'll update when I can!

Family pic

Charissa mentioned to me that I never post a pic of myself. Well, I hate pix of myself but here is a pre-Addy family picture. We have a family one that we had done at church but it's not the greatest and I haven't scanned it but I will someday! So here you go everyone, this is what we all look like!

Surgery date

It's official, Addy is going to have her tonsils and adenoids removed on Tuesday the 8th. She will also be having the bronchoscopy done at the same time. We will be spending the night in the hospital since she is who she is and seems to have issues after the fact! But not this time, no! We are going to be positive and come through with flying colors and hopefully better breathing during sleep!

Woo hoo!

Well, I got word today from Addy's pulmonologist that we can now start weening Addy off of her O2 during the day! We will start at 1-2 hrs a few times a day then go up to two four hour stretches! Once she can do that consistently without falling her sats below 90 we can try to nap without it too! Yeah! I had it completely off of her face for awhile today and forgot to take pix! I'll get some in a couple of days after a bath so her face isn't so raw from the stickies! Also we go to the ENT tomorrow to schedule her T&A surgery and bronchoscopy. They are hoping this will help with O2 levels at night and determine whether or not she has Tracheomalacia. Not that I want her to have another surgery but if it will help her I'm ready now! I know the nurses at the hospital wouldn't mind a visit either!
Jarika made cheerleading again! She's so pumped! Congrats sis!