mortiz007

Huahua wasn't thrilled with her early morning testing; partly because she was asking for crackers on the way to the hospital and she had woke up way to early!  She enjoyed seeing the kids off on the bus and I had warned the others not to eat or drink in front of her this morning. Jackson was very thoughtful and was munching on his granola bars out in the mud room while putting on his boots.  He had been there plenty of times before to know the drill of going hungry before procedures and understood how it felt!  Amazing how God uses our own trials to teach us compassion for others down the road. As soon as we arrived at the hospital I saw our interpreter.  It is helpful for now to have someone be able to explain to her what is happening.  She relates the hospital to experiencing pain.  As soon as we walk into a room she starts to say  "boooo oowwwies"   (no hurt).  I tried to reassure her there would be no pain today, only pictures of her tummy, but she was still very scar

 So I guess this is where they the "honeymoon is over".....Our real life with Huahua really begins. Life with a medically fragile child become reality.  Part of me felt tried to rationalize if you stay away from the doctors long enough maybe she'll never be sick.....right?  And another part of me was waiting for Huahua to adjust and feel safe with us before enduring medical testing.   Instead we jumped right in all at once and got a lot of answers.   Granted she is very bonded and I would say felt very protected during these procedures, but it was a lot for a little girl to process.   Praise God for the bonding we have already secured!  What I have learned during these rough patches is that it's hard to ask for help.  I don't like to ask for help anytime, it's like admitting defeat.  There is this odd feeling when you adopt a child with severe special needs, that you get what you have coming and it becomes even harder to ask for help.  A good friend reminded m

As Jackson once called these a few years ago....we all have hiccups and this was one of Sihua's first hiccups with us.  Minor, and overall not life threatening as it was caught early, and good learning experience for us.  A crash course on her uniquely designed internal body, and a not so intimidating run through at the hospital for her. We received discharge papers and will leave once she wakes from her nap.  This morning she endured through a echocardiogram, (about an hour), a full stomach ultrasound, (looking for any anomalies in her kidneys that might have eluded to this infection and looking for any remnants of a working spleen) and an EKG all without that sedation!  Well a little sedation.  It took the edge off for awhile and she was a little loopy, but then with the stomach ultrasound she liked the hand the controller back to the tech!  She did not mind the EKG because it came with little fun stickers and the tech gave her some to play with and it only took about 10 minutes.

Adoption teaches us so much.  It teaches us that we can love those that did not grow under our heart for months but only in our hearts.  This little person can fill our home with such joy and excitement. She has learned to trust us with such love and endurement, like the love God has for us.  No strings attached.  Adoption teaches us how life is not about what we want, it is about loving and giving to others.  In the process of giving, we receive so much in return.  Adoption teaches us about how precious life is, and to appreciate how much we have truly been given.  Christ sacrificed his life; gave his life so that we might not pay the penalty of death for our sins.  When God asks us to give a little of us to serve the orphans or widows of this world, is he really asking that much? This little spirit is demanding, persistent and strong willed and why not, she survived in an orphanage for almost three years without a mother and father to support, defend and advocate for her.   I admire

Each day we spend with her, is it really possible to love someone more!  She continues to bring joy to our household.  Yes there are moments of chaos, we have four children.  And yes today we drove to school instead of the school bus because we could not get ready in time, but life is so joyful with this little spirit in our house.  She makes us laugh but has begun to form bonds with each of us in different ways.  I know it has been hard for some of you who want to see her and meet her but the best thing is to keep her "cocooned" with our family as much as possible until she knows who her family unit is.  Last night the sweetest bonding moment occurred between Jackson and Huahua.    Many of you know this adoption was first sparked because of our lessons learned through Jackson's leg lengthening process.  We trust God fully and he walks us through this.  But I held back the tears as Huahua pulled up her shirt and showed Jackson her scarred chest.  She spoke so fluently in

Sihua holding her passport in Chongqing. We have been home almost a week and settling in as our new family.  We celebrated our 2013 Christmas together and bringing in the new year in a not so exciting fashion, as we still were experiencing jet lag.  As I reflect on the year I am just amazed on how blessed we have been.   Of all the families...we were given this angel.  She melts my heart.    Yesterday as I lay in bed with our youngest child I just smile as she peacefully sleeps.  How are we so blessed to have been given these four children?  I know there will be challenges ahead and  God has promised to walk us through them.  We humbly walked  into adoption of a child with severe medical needs knowing he will give us the strength to accomplish what his will is.  My heart aches when I look at her purple lips and clubbed fingers; for I am reminded what might happen.  When we accepted her as our daughter we did knowing we would do so giving her life to God's will.   I need to focus on