Update...finally :)

Where oh where have we been??

In the hospital...

5 times...

totaling almost 5 weeks...

over a 13 week period...

all for this incredible, glorious, miraculous gift...our sweet son!

You see....during the first quiet moments we had alone with him, we knew something wasn't quite right.  His breathing didn't seem to be normal.  In fact, when he was sleeping or sitting in certain positions, he would literally stop breathing.

After many tests...

several hospital stays...

It was confirmed that our precious boy was indeed having many episodes where he was not breathing. We are talking like 100+ times an hour when he was sleeping, he would stop breathing.  When giving oxygen while sleeping the # improved but it was still extremely dangerous...20+ times an hour.  Thankfully the Lord had us at the right hospital under the best care.

We were faced with a difficult decision...well...it was difficult at the time but now that we are on the other side, we know it was absolutely necessary to protect his life.

On Feb. 16, little man had surgery...

Yep...he had tracheostomy surgery. His official diagnosis...severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  He has very tiny airways and add some of the complications that come with Down Syndrome....hypotonia, low skull, big tongue...well...they add up to a completely blocked airway. He is doing great...breathing beautifully...breathing safely!

I think the most difficult part for us initially was the lose of his voice.  Because of the trach, we can no longer hear his beautiful cries...his precious coo's...he recently started giggling but there is no sound.  Seems silly to have to grieve that but we did.  BUT my baby boy is ALIVE!!!!  God has protected his little life!!!

I tell you...God has incredible plans in store for little mister.  His precious 4 month old life has touched thousands of people worldwide....has brought nurses to tears...has caused other families to consider adopting a child with down syndrome...has led people to the Lord, including his Chinese mama...YES...YOU READ THAT RIGHT.  Because of Simeon...because of who he is...because of how the Lord moved miraculously....his beautiful, brave, amazing birthmama accepted Christ as her personal Savior.  The entire story of her salvation is precious...miraculous...I'm talking treading-on-holy ground. Some day, with her permission, I will share it but know this......because of her choice to give her son life....because of her & her family's choice to place him for adoption....she found Jesus!!!!!!

Not only have we been given the gift of a beautiful son....we have been given the gift of family....we have also been given the gift of a big "sister" :) You see...Simeon's older bio-sister is living near us while she attends college here.  We all absolutely adore her and LOVE that she is a part of our lives!

It is virtually impossible to put into words how much we love our sweet baby.  He has brought us JOY....glorious JOY....ohhhh....there are no words...he is absolutely AMAZING!!!!! We simply can't imagine our lives without him!