Susannah' Surgery and Homecoming

Susannah's surgery went well today, PRAISE GOD!! Thank you all for your prayers.

Just to ensure you understand what a little miracle this girl is, I must explain a few things.

Before this surgery, her oxygen levels were SOOO very low...like, we would be passed out, or worse! Her monitor read as low as in the 20s while I was in her room. And to add to the miracle, after nearly three years of dangerously low oxygen levels, her organs are all functioning well without sustaining any significant damage. There's just no explanation for her condition, except that God has been sustaining this amazing girl's life.

Her life and the love of her adoptive family is a beautiful picture of God's love for us, even with our broken, damaged, and sometimes hardened heart...He loves us and desires to have a relationship with us even when we prefer our independence and want nothing to do with Him (Susannah is finally coming around to letting her mommy love on her a bit...thank you God for answered prayer!). Susannah's life, just like little Anna's whom we just lost, is a picture of redemption and of life not wasted. Many thought she'd gone too long without the necessary medical help she needed, but God has shown us, it's never too late to come to him with a broken heart. He's always waiting for us to turn to him and open our arms wide. In our imperfections, he sees PERFECTION! Amazing, beautiful perfection.

Susannah's oxygen is in the 90s today...her little feet and legs are no longer blue.
Go take a look at those beautiful, pink toes over at her blog and read how she's doing.
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Here are a few pictures from her homecoming one week ago tonight (9/2). She's only been in the US for a week and she and her family have gone through so much. Please continue to pray for them.

Zoe and Wyatt with their signs. Their mom, Heather, had a picture poster made for everyone to sign.

Mei Lin

We all lined up on both sides of the driveway, anxiously awaiting Charlie, Leslie, and Susannah. It was a beautiful, candlelit homecoming.

Susannah and Mei Lin are from the same orphanage in Kunming, and only three months apart. We couldn't resist the sign (above).

Megan and friends.

Renee holding Miyah (who is wearing a lion mask atop her head) and holding the sign she made herself.

Heather, Stefanie, Angela, and me.

The family arrives home! They have the sweetest photo of Susannah holding her brothers' hands...you can see it on their blog.

Please Pray for Susannah and Her Family Today

Little Susannah goes in for her very complicated heart surgery today. Please be praying for her and her family throughout the days and weeks ahead, but especially today while she's in surgery. It will be a long procedure and I know my friends will be pacing the halls of the hospital until they hear that their baby is okay.

Sunday Night Football

Football.
I'll never really understand it. It's the #1 topic of conversation between Pat and his buddies. Within 5 minutes of walking into church one of his friends will strike up a conversation about it.

It's honestly like a foreign language to me. Tonight Pat invited some guys from church over to watch the game on the screen outside. Apparently the Packers played the Cowboys and that had some significance to the guys.
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Pat sent an email out to his church buddies with this photo and comment:
"Another example of reconciliation. Only in the body of Christ can Cheesehead's and Heidi's get along and embrace our differences."

Ken and my littlest Cheesehead.

Another Birthday

I had another wonderful (?#?) birthday today...stick around and maybe you'll find out how old I am this year! Last night I went out to dinner with some friends, slept until noon today, had a family dinner with cake and then Pat and I went to a movie later tonight. I had a great time! Thank you to all my sweet family and friends.

My family is brave. They gave me a new camera lense (the 50 mm!!), vouchers for photography classes, and a subscription to a photography magazine...surely they must realize this means I'm going to take even MORE pictures! It seems the 50mm lets in a lot more light (I'm such a novice), so I'm trying to get used to it. Here's a few photos (ha!...you know me better than that) with the new lens. I'm getting more anxious for the photography classes...I just need time to take them.

Okay, so I'm 36 this year! I'm now closer to 40 than 30, but I still feel 20...and that's what counts, right?? Somebody??

Cherished Gifts

Sweet Grace gave Miyah and Mei Lin two of Anna's stuffed animals. We'll cherish them forever. They're a wonderful way to be reminded of Anna.
Thanks, Grace...and Anna.

Zoo Day

Today we met up with Anne and Elizabeth for a homeschool class at the zoo. We picniced, rode the carousel, went to the class, and visited the petting area.

Mei Lin, Elizabeth, and Miyah

Mei Lin is a serious student. She kept telling other children, "SHHH!" when they weren't quiet while the teacher was talking....so why isn't she quiet for me while I'm teaching them?? Could it have more to do with her penchant for bossiness? Hmm...
Pretending to be dinosaurs...right up my girls' alley.
Touching a snake. Mommy passed on this one.
I hope you don't mind if I change the subject...here's what I found in my kitchen....Just Kidding!
Beautiful Friends
They are so sweet together.

The Wheels Are in Motion

UPDATE: Leslie is back on the blog and it isn't private any longer!
http://www.roomforatleastonemore.blogspot.com/

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Keep praying for Leslie and Charlie and little Susannah. I know everyone is concerned for them, especially because their blog has gone private. Many have emailed me with questions.

All I can tell you is according to a friend who spoke with Leslie last night, the wheels are in motion for Susannah to get the care she needs, but there are still mountains that need to be moved so this can happen. Bureaucracy is always a huge obstacle.

So please keep praying.

I believe they had to go private because they don't want to jeopardize her care right now. The country they're working with likes to save face and organizations working there have to be careful. I think they're wise to keep things under wraps for a bit.

Thank you all for your prayers.

More URGENT Prayer Needed!

Today, friends, I have another very, very urgent prayer request for you all. My friend, Leslie, is in China right now (Kunming - where our Mei Lin is from) trying to bring her very, very sick Susannah home. Leslie just walked with Jo and Tony a bit during their loss of Anna and they are desperate that they won't lose their Susannah.

I can't begin to imagine how difficult this time must be for them! They desperately need our prayers.

PLEASE find some time today to bring them before God!

Their blog is: http://www.roomforatleastonemore.blogspot.com/

Thank you!

Doggy Skeletons

When Miyah was three, she began asking a lof questions about our bones after seeing a skeleton hanging in a party store at Hallow*een. So I thought my little scientist would love these glow in the dark pajamas...and I was right. They came in the same box as the doggy hats...so, what better combination than skeletons and puppies?

(I actually bought them at two different stores because Gym*boree was out of Miyah's size. $8 at Gym*boree and $22 at Gap!!...BUT, only because I had a Gap gift card!).

This is Miyah's fierce animal face...she was growling at me. I think she morphed into a lion at this point. She's still a new animal every day or every hour as she feels moved, and of course Mei Lin has to be like her big sister and play animal pretend, as well....

....when she's not a ferocious tiger, she's a sweet kitty.

Happy 4th Birthday, Presleigh!!

The girls had a great time at Presleigh's birthday party today. They got to play at the Little Gy*m and they loved every minute of it.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Presleigh!