Ahhh...head injuries

We've had a week of scary head injuries!!

#1 ~ Baby S started the craziness. She was in the back of our Expedition hanging over the back seat. I opened the door so I could get her in her carseat and in complete slow motion I watched my baby girl flip backwards out of the car and land directly on her head. I quickly scooped my screaming baby up... hollered for my oldest to get ice and assessed the damage. She was okay...no concussion symptoms. After all was calm we headed to Sam's Club to do our grocery shopping and she kept complaining about her head. I had resolved we better go to the doctor's just in case. As I was loading the groceries and big brother was buckling baby S in the car, she starting vomiting everywhere. I panicked (on the inside of course...can't freak the kids out) and rushed to the hospital. They did a CT scan and checked her out and said all was okay. Daddy & I spend the rest of the day & night hovering over her just to make sure she was really okay.

#2 ~ The next day I got a call from my mom and she said my little sister called frantic saying that the ceiling fan fell (yes...the ceiling fan!) and it hit her and the baby. She said there was blood everywhere and the ambulance was on the way. Mom and I hopped in the car and did everything we could do to get to her as quickly as possible (she's 1.5 hours away from us). By the time we got there the ER dr. had determined that the baby was okay...she had some cuts from the glass and my sissy was okay minus the staple she needed in her head to stop the bleeding artery....uggghh!!! They are well now...still shaken up but healing great. Have you ever heard of a ceiling fan falling...we are talking like 12 FEET!!!

#3 ~ Baby C decided to finish up the head injuries for the week although her's was a different type of 'injury'. Our precious baby C has not been blessed with the best teeth. In fact, her teeth are decaying at a very rapid rate. This is due to her malnutrition and bottle rot while in China. In late November we decided to try going the Nitrous route to help her relax. Well, let's just say...DON'T use Nitrous on a child with severe Sensory Processing Disorder...it was a horrible experience for our peanut. Our only choice was general anesthesia...a choice we did not accept willingly but we knew that the infections starting to brew in her mouth were very dangerous for her on many levels (including her heart).

So we proceeded with her appt. this past Monday. After they gave her the inital shot to sedate her, DH and I looked at each other like 'what have we done?' We were rushed very quickly back to the dental chair where they got her ready for the IV and general anesthesia. The anesthesiologist noticed the oxygen wasn't on and sent one of the assistants to get it on asap. While she was working on the oxygen, the anesthesia was administered via IV and baby C started to gag on her saliva and stopped breathing. The anesthesiologist told the dentist to start suctioning and he quickly grabbed it from her and stuck it down baby C's throat and down her nose to get the fluid out (all the while my baby wasn't breathing). He quickly grabbed a device that he put on her face and started cpr on her. We watched as they worked frantically on her...we watched her little chest go up and down as they pumped air into her lungs and PRAISE THE LORD we watched her begin to breath on her own. We were absolutely terrified as our worst nightmare was happening right before our eyes. Once she began breathing, she was completely stable. We stood there in disbelief at what just happened and wanted so desperately to grab her out of that chair and run. But we knew she was stable and we knew we could never do this again and we knew we had to have her teeth fixed. Let's just say that mommy and daddy stood in the door way for the entire 3 hours they worked on her teeth watching EVERY vital & asking lots of questions.

I tell ya it's been a crazy week but our God is AMAZING. He has protected my family...He saved saved my baby C's life, protected baby S's life, and He protected my precious sister and niece. Thank you Lord for being the peace in the storm...for being our strong protector and healer!!!

Oh, how I love these girls...thank you Jesus for holding them in Your protective hands!!

She needs her FOREVER mama & daddy!!

I wanted to share about the sweetest little peanut who is waiting for her forever mama & daddy to find her! She needs her family!!

Willa was abandoned at a police station in China at 1 week old. Willa is now 14 months old. She is described by her caretakers as lovely and docile. Willa is a beautiful little girl diagnosed with right eye displaysia. She is otherwise reported to have normal physical and intellectual development.

She is absolutely adorable...you have got to see her chubby cheeks and beautiful smile!! I ask that you please pray for this sweet one...I boldly ask you to pray and see if she is your daughter!

As our hearts break for the orphan, I wonder...what exactly are we doing about it....are we obeying God's command to love them & care for them. If she is not your daughter, then you can help by sharing her information with others. You just never know who is being called to be her parents.

If you want to learn more about God's precious treasure, please email Lisa (lisa@nightlight.org)

Just don't get it!

These are the stats for babies placed for international adoption over the last 5 years from China. I had a feeling that the numbers were declining but it is a lot more drastic than I thought. There are many theories floating around on why the huge decline in referrals...I have my own theories but I think I will keep them to myself. My poor husband has heard enough of my ranting and raving about this.

The bottom-line is there are still WAY too many orphans in China...too many treasures that need their families! BUT China has the right to refer as many babies as they see fit...sadly, they are referring less and less :( BUT even if only one more comes home...that's one less baby that will cry herself to sleep...one less baby who will wonder 'who will love me?'...one less baby without hope.

Sooo, I'm going to rejoice that China's IA program is still open and is still allowing these sweet gifts to come home to their forever families! Albeit they are coming home super stupid slow BUT they are STILL COMING HOME and that is a miracle worth praising our Lord for!!!

Fixed on YOU this year, Lord!

MY PRAYER FOR THIS YEAR!!!!! Beautiful, simply beautiful!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May Your voice be louder
May Your voice be clearer
Than all the others, than all the others

May Your face be dearer
May Your words be sweeter
Than all the others
Than all the others in my life

Please keep my eyes fixed on you
Please root my heart so deep in You
Keep me abiding, keep me abiding
Keep me abiding that I
Oh, that I might bear fruit

May Your presence be truer
May Your presence by nearer
Than all the others, than all the others

May Your light burn brighter
May Your love go deeper
Than all the others
Than all the others in my life
~Full Attention by Jeremy Riddle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh how I want my eyes completely, totally fixed on you this year, Lord! I want to bear Your fruit....I want to be fully abiding! Root my heart, Jesus!!

Fixed ONLY on you Jesus!!!

MUST SEE and MUST HAVE!

Our beautiful, precious friends will be heading to Ethiopia at the end of January on a fabulous mission trip. They are selling these amazing shirts as a fundraiser. I just love them...go check out the Shubin's blog & be prepared to be challenged & don't forget to buy your shirts!

Sweet Shubin family: Wish we were going with you guys! We love you and can't wait to see all that the Lord is going to do!!!!

So Blessed!

The BEST gift EVER...my babies!!

More Christmas pictures to follow :)

Who will love me?

"What if you woke up today and discovered you were completely alone? What if you were a tiny baby who was sick, crying out in a crowded orphanage for anyone to comfort you? Or what if you were three years old and had no idea what happened to your parents or whether they were coming back to you? For thousands of children who live as orphans, this is their grim reality. But LWB works every single day to change their futures through foster care, education, medical care, and orphanage assistance."

These are the words from Karen at Love Without Boundaries that I received in a recent email letter. How do they make you feel? They make me feel sad...frustrated...broken-hearted...despairing...these words jab at this mama's heart in the most painful, deep way. Knowing our precious daughter experienced those exact feelings...knowing that 2.5 years after coming home, she is still deeply effected by being abandoned...by losing her family (her foster family). She has a fear of being abandoned that has yet to leave her....but in my broken-heartness I feel challenged...inspired...hopeful...determined...determined to minister to these precious ones.

Show us Lord...guide our determined hearts!!!

Just 2 more nigh-nights

My darling little C woke up this morning with Christmas on her mind....

Baby C: Mommy, can we open our presents?

Mommy: Nope, you have to wait 2 more nigh-nights

Baby C: How Come?

Mommy: Because it's not time yet...just 2 more nigh-nights

Baby C: Mom, I want to go nigh-night right now :)

Feeling...

feeling so unbelievably unworthy.......Lord, you are so amazing....Thank you for loving me!!

Have you???

Have you open heartily asked Jesus what He wants for His birthday this year?

~~Be prepared to be amazed~~