L.I.F.E

Yes, again I am absent from the bloggy world but with good reason.  I am embarking on a NEW adventure which will require many blog posts to explain BUT...if you are reading this today please be in prayer for something tonight.   It is our annual Pregnancy Care Center Banquet and we are believing God BIG.  On top of our needed funds we would like to raise enough for a new 3d ultrasound machine.    Thru the planning of this event over the last months I KNEW a real life testimony of one of our clients would be HUGE for this evening and our prayer team have prayed for the last 40 days for just that.   10 days before this event we still did not have this testimony.  It is not that we don't have girls who have made life changing decisions but for them to share their story publicly is another thing.  There was one girl who we referred to as "The Christmas Baby" because of the timing of her story.  We had lost track of her and had no way to contact her.    Our tech guy had told us he needed about a week to tape and edit a video and we knew that we were about to duck under that week window.   Our prayer team leader asked me what I wanted the team to pray for the next morning and I said "I KNOW that the Lord could still bring a girl to us, all it takes is one phone call or her to walk thru the doors".  LITERALLY, two minutes later another staff member stuck her head in my office and said there was someone here to see the director.    Our director left and a minute later said "Sharon, you need to talk to this young lady"...in walked CHRISTMAS BABY's mom and grandma.  We had not seen or heard from her in over a year and she  just decided (thanks God) to come by our center that late afternoon.    I sat her down and asked her "would she be willing to share her story?" and without hesitation she said "YES, I would love to"....this is her story:

19, going to college but living hard, sex, drugs and alcohol, an abusive relationship and she found herself pregnant.  The option..ABORTION....... even though she was a Christian, had grown up in the church and had attended a Christian school in HS.   Motherhood was not an option because it wasn't her plan.  Her parents were VERY against abortion but were worn down from her constant talk about not being able to parent and had decided to support her in her decision.  She had an appointment at the abortion clinic for Dec 23.  Dec 22 her parents "just happened" to turn on O'Rielly and he was interviewing Abby Johnson (the director of the Planned Parenthood in College Station who had recently left PP).  They looked at each other and NEW they couldn't be a part of their daughter's abortion.    Lacy didn't let this stop her, her brother took her to the clinic the next day.  Stacey, Lacy's mom called us that morning and asked us to pray for her (Lacy had come to our clinic at about the 6th week of her pregnancy but gave us no indication she was considering abortion).   She told us Lacy was on her way and would we please pray?..OF COURSE!!!!.  Our staff stopped and gathered to plead for this baby and her mama.

Lacy paid her $$ and was on the table having an ultrasound to determine the number of weeks she was.  This is done before each abortion to determine what type of abortion will be done.  Typically the nurse/sono tech during the sono will not show the patient the screen for obvious reasons.  Lacy heard this nurse say under her breath, "baby girl, 12 weeks"...now, MANY of you are moms and know 12 weeks is way to early to determine the sex of the baby BUT...not with GOD.   Lacy was struck with the thought....."its a baby girl?".... she excused her self from the room to use the bathroom and left the clinic..."and LIFE was chosen for Christmas baby"  BUT...that's not the end of the story.  Because of her unhealthy relationship she really didn't think she could parent and was making an adoption plan.  At 24 weeks she went in for another ultrasound and in that picture her baby girl was sucking on her pinky finger, the same finger Lacy had chewed on her whole life.....and in Lacy's words "in that moment she became my daughter"....as Lacy was sitting in my office telling me her story her mom said at this moment.."those ultrasounds are SO powerful, they save lives".......THIS is where my heart whispered.."YOU are SOOOOOO BIG God".....I had prayed and believed Him for a testimony just like this as we are so in need of a new ultrasound machine.  Ours right now doesn't even have sound.  

SO...the taping is done, the tables are decorated, the weather is beautiful and tonight over 300 will gather at a good old Texas Ranch to listen to the story of Lacy and her daugher Madison.  My hearts desire is that they will be moved to ACT BIG as they hear how He WAS SO BIG.....I recently attended a conference in FL and this was a statement I heard that rings thru my ears daily "IT ISN"T ENOUGH TO SAY WE CARE ABOUT THE UNBORN AND BELIEVE IN THE CAUSE, IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING BABIES STILL DIE"   I don't think anyone who reads this does not have a heart for the orphan.  How more orphaned can you get when you have parents who choose to end your life?...I say this with NO CONDMENATION but with pure compassion...I see the pain and torment of those that choose abortion.   It is usually a choice made during a very stressful time when that girl/woman feels very alone.  These woman are victimized and have been lied to.  Along with their babies, our desire is that we can impart LIFE to them...both physical LIFE and spiritual LIFE.....SO...PLEASE PRAY.....I want all those who attend to have their faith challenged!!!!  I will let you know on the other side...

first day of school 2011

I can't believe the day has come to send my sweet boy off to Kindergarten.  I remember the day we got his referral and saw he had just turned 2, knowing he would be coming home at about 2 1/2 I flashed forward to the years ahead and knew they would go too fast.   They have..but knowing how far this scared, sad, mad little boy has come in 3 1/2 years is only the Lord!!!  He lives life fully!!!

Madi started school last Wednesday but we had to get first day pictures with Hudson.  

Madalyn continues to inspire me, she has worked so hard this summer to lost weight and has lost 18 lbs. SO proud of her!!

They rolled out the red carept for the first day.  

Suprisingly I wasn't too teary, because Hudson was so excited it was hard to be too sad.  He is such a brave boy!!  While we were waiting for his teacher to call his name he did hug my leg and say "i will miss you mom.." then the tears came..

...same for dad...

waving at dad as they marched off..

so proud of you my boy!!!

We had to take pictures of Kailee after school since she had to leave the house at 5:15 am for VB practice.  This girl has been going non stop for 2 weeks already with two a day vb tryouts the first week then vb practice in the am and cheerleading in the afternoon.  She will have long days with 5:45 am practices and then vb games and cheering for football on Thurs and Fri nights.  CAN"T believe she started highschool!!!

Hudson had a great first day and was ready to go again this morning.  

..."my own kind of paradise"....

As the summer comes to a close I am finally getting around to posting pictures.  We had an AWESOME family time with Mark's extended family in July.  We rented a beach house and spent a total of 8 days doing a lot of nothing.  My two favorite vacations so far have been this one and 3 years ago when we went with friends to Colorado and rented a cabin in the mountains.  I thought a long while why these two vacations are at the top of my list and they have several things in common.  Great company, days that didn't include watching the time for the "next" thing,  cooking simple meals, staying up late talking, laughing and playing games, which meant sleeping late because we didn't have to rush off to get anywhere and something that I dearly love being a country girl and don't get near enough off..NATURE.....

With this CRAZY HOT Texas summer it was wonderful to have the cool ocean breeze.  The only time we really spent inside was sleeping...and Mark and I ended up spending 4 nights sleeping outside on the deck, it was heavenly with the expanse of stars and the ocean waves lapping on the shore.  I also got in lots of reading which is one of my all time favorite past times. 

It was Hudson's first time to the beach.  He absolutely loved it and told us on our last night, "we need to move to the beach and start a new life"....I agree Hudster!!!

a new season...

I cannot believe I sent my sophomore off to her first day of school today and my last post was the last week of school...WHERE did the summer go?  I have so much to catch up on and so I have decided to go for a new blog design and a new direction with my blog.  More on that later but for now check out this GREAT fundraiser....my favorite thing to give towards!!!

I have missed you my dear bloggy friends.....

WOW!!!!!!!!!  I thought life was busy a year ago....it just keeps getting busier and busier....SOOO enjoy your toddler/grade school days.  If I have said it once I will say it a thousand times.  I LONG for the days of playing in the park, long walks around the neighborhood, sprinkler fun, NAPS, dinners around the table at pretty much the same time every night WITH ALL family members, bedtime before 8:30 and quiet evenings with my hubby...BUT..........I am also so enjoying watching my "teaguelettes" grow up into beautiful people with deep character.  Yes, I have been pretty non-existent on the internet and can't wait to catch up with all of you but for now a quick look at our last 6 weeks in pictures and it isn't over yet.  Jordan GRADUATES this Saturday and then I can enjoy the lazy, hazy days of summer (a girl can dream right??).   Kailee heads off to Florida Tuesday for cheer camp, and so it begins BUT it is the summer play with no schedules that I can't wait for...I LOVE summer with NO homework, studying, projects, games, bedtimes, sack lunches, and all else that a teenagers life consists of....

I CANT WAIT to sit and write a long post about Jordan and the journey we have been on with him over the last 2 1/2 years...BUT, I will preview it with this.  He wrote on his facebook Mother's Day:

"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it"...thanks for hanging in there mom..."  that says it all.  But that's for later.  

April 25th- Madalyn turns 16 and came home to 250 balloons in her room blown up by her "boyfriend"...It is STILL hard for me to call him that but we have kept the stops on this relationship for the last 1 1/2 years...he has hung in there with our strict standards and been very patient...so 16 marked this new season.  He is a great kid who knows how to treat a girl.....

May 7th-Madalyn's "sweet" 16 party....evening party in the backyard with vb, bb, music, a fire pit, chocolate fountain and lots of other sweet treats...the weather was perfect and the kids had lots of good, clean fun!

 Two of her favorite Sr friends who will be leaving for college soon....sweet, sweet girls!!

some of the girls

most of the crew

May 14th-8th grade Farewell for Kailee AND Sr. Prom for Jordan...can't figure out WHO thought it would be a good idea to have these events the same night, obviously not anyone who has an 8th grader AND a Sr.....

A shot of the two of them before they headed off with their "dates"

 The first half of Kailee's crew...

 ....and the second half....

 Kailee and her four best buds...these five do pretty much everything together....

Kailee's date Clay.  These two have gone to church together since they were a year old and are good friends and classmates.  

AND THEN a mad dash to catch up with Jordan and Bailey before they headed off to Dallas..

 Jordan's girlfriend Bailey...we adore her!!!

 "model" pose..

Hud had to get in on all the pictures..

 Prom was at a local Ranch...anyone my age remember Al Denson?  He has a beautiful ranch here and it was a gorgeous setting for Prom

Their "ride" to Dallas.  Prom doesn't actually start until 10:00 pm as most kids go to Dallas for dinner.  

In between all these events have been post ops, speech evaluations, speech therapy, dress shopping, two large work events, end of the year projects, finals studying,  graduation events, awards ceremonies, spring vb tornaments (for two girls), LOTS of jv cheerleading practice and endless meetings for all the above.  The last two weekends have been spent doing big projects around the house...events like graduation kick you into high gear to finish up all those jobs you find easy to put off.  

Madalyn and Hudson finished school last week.  Jordan had his last day today and Kailee has two half days left.   

Of course I couldn't finish this post without a quick Hudson update.  He is doing great!!  Pretty much healed up and excited about being a Kindergartner....not going to dwell on that though...makes me too sad.   He keeps us grounded and we WILL get in those days in the park and walks around the neighborhood.....going now to catch up with all of you!!! (oh yeah, tomorrow is our 20th year wedding anniversary but  not sure it will get celebrated....but we are BLESSED!!!)  

Bring Me Hope

Post-Surgery Update

We are 2 weeks post-op and finally have smiles back!!  This was a rough recovery and Dr G was right, Hudson was in signficant pain for several days.  We used pain meds much longer than we ever have after surgery and Hudson was not our happy, sweet loving little boy.  He stayed mad at me pretty much through this past weekend as I was the one (and still am) cleaning his incision sights and nose.   I don't blame him as his nose is still so sore and the dr wants it flushed out with saline twice a day and then swabbed inside.  His fistula repair seems to be holding together and we are slowly introducing soft foods instead of all liquids. 

His speech already seems improved which I am surprised about but I guess there was a significant amount of air flow escaping through his nose that this has made a difference.  We are most impressed with his lip and the shape it has compared to the flat undefined lip he had before.  I am sure it will be months to see the full effect of this surgery as swelling can take that long to go down.   He also now has a two clear nostrils.  Before they were so full of scar tissue it took up almost all of his nasal passages.  He is sleeping so much better with no snoring and I am sure feels better being able to breath clearly. 

Now that his stiches are out and his nose isn't so scabbed over he seems to feel much better about his looks.  He often looks at his baby pictures and doesn't like the look of his cleft so I am sure with all those stiches he thought he had that look back.   His first outing was to church this weekend and then school Monday and he was excited to do both so that was a relief.   We are so grateful to skilled surgeons and medicine and the access we have here in the US but we are SO looking forward to a couple years of no surgeries.  We don't expect another surgery until sometime after Hudson turns 7 unless our next few months of intense speech therapy don't get desired results and then Dr G may do a palate revision BUT....we are confident that can be avoided. 

Thanks again for all your prayers!!!

Before

AFTER

Surgery update

Thank you for all your prayers!!!  Surgery went well.  It was actually about an hour shorter than expected and NO breathing problems.  The ENT/anestiologist did a scope before surgery started and looked at Hudson's airway for any obstructions as the anest thought he felt something.  Although his vocal cord area was small they rest of his airway looked good so they used a smaller breathing tube to cut down on swelling.  We were actually in the recovery when he woke up and he sat right up and started screaming in pain.  They quickly got something in him to calm him down but it was obvious his breathing was fine and oxygen states were 100%!!!!  Dr G warned us he would look very different and he would be in a significant amount of pain as he was "very aggressive".  He has more stiches than they counted, in his palate, nose, lip and under his lip.

In recovery

Our first night went pretty well, he was up like clockwork for pain meds but we were headed for home by 9:30 am!  Last night he slept ALL night, pain meds at 8:30 and then he slept until 6:30 this morning.   He is still in pain but the swelling is starting to go down which has got to feel better.  His face was so tight yesterday it looked as if he might bust open!

The stay was made a bit better as our friends were next door to us throught our 24 hour stay.  I became friends with Melinda through our agency AWAA.  We had a secret pal exchange during our wait time and Melinda ended up with me.  I didn't know who she was but she was SO faithful to send Hudson gifts every month before we traveled and after he came home and I know her family was so faithful to pray for us every step of the way.  When it was revealed who she was she told me she and Darrell had attended a seminar AWAA held at our church when they were doing paperwork and we were waiting for a referral.  We had switched to SN by that time and spoke about our experience and decision.  They already had a heart for SN and traveled shortly after we did to bring home their daughter.  We have celebrated two Chinese New Years with them and forged a great friendship.  Our 14 year olds share the SAME birthday and are friends.    I happened to check Melinda's blog a few day before surgery and saw her son (who came home 10 months ago) was scheduled for surgery the same day as Hudson.  I knew she used a surgeon at the same hospital as us so immediately texted her.  Both boys were set for surgery at 7:30 am so we both arrived at 6 am, went up to "holding" together and were together while the boys were in surgery.  Once upstairs our rooms were right next to each other so we spent time together why boys slept, listening at our doors.  Hudson was so concerned about Ben leading up to surgery and couldn't wait to play in the hospital.  Obviously, not realizing this "play date" was not going to be real fun.  They did get a bit of time together before we both checked out Friday morning.  This is one of the reasons we love the adoption family.  You are so immediately bonded together and those friendships seem to sustain through time and distance!!!  We LOVE this family and their love for the Lord and the orphans!!! They are amazing and we are SO grateful they are in our lives!!!!  Please pray for Ben, this is his 2nd palate repair.

....before sugery....

....the day after.....

The hardest part of this surgery has been Hudson being fully aware of his "look"...he saw his face by accident when we go in the elevator and there was a mirror.  He said "I don't like my face".   On the way home he questioned us as to where we were going..did he have to go to school?  did he have to go our offices?  did he have to go to church?  A friend of mine wanted to stop by and see him and he told me "i don't want anyone to see me like this, I don't like my face".  He asked me again this morning if he had to go to church tomorrow and said "I look funny, I don't want anyone to see me"...heartbreaking!!!  I have tried to reassure him that he would not look this way always but that we would stay home as long as he needed.  We go back on Wednesday to have stiches removed.  They put him back in the OR for this and sedate him (with just gas) as there are so many and they don't want to put him through the trauma...THANK YOU DR G!!!!!!
His swelling is already going down but it is still hard to "see" what his new look is.  I know it will be several weeks  for all the swelling to decrease.  We are on a liquid diet for two weeks...UGH!!  He is asking for tuna soup.... I made that yesterday....YUCK!!! but he loved it!!!  Thanks again for the posts, emails and texts!!  As hard as this is we know it is for his good and are so grateful for your prayers....

 evening of day two

(prior to surgery his bottom lip was well in front of his lower lip)

Facial Reconstruction-surgery #5

This sweet face will change tomorrow.
 Hudson is having his 5th surgery related to his cleft (6th surgery in all).  We have been trying for a year to change from his former surgeon to a cleft team.  We were finally accepted by the team last month and we were shocked when his craniofacial surgeon wanted him scheduled for surgery right away.  We were not expecting another surgery until he was at least 7 and since he just had surgery in Oct this took us by surprise BUT....we are thrilled with the team and how hard they have worked on Hudson's behalf in just a month (another story for another day).  This surgery is the beginning of his facial reconstruction.  After closing a fistula in his palate they will begin on his nose and lip.  He has lots of scar tissue in his nose and it is visible at the base of his nose.  One of his nostrils is almost blocked inside with scar tissue.  This will be cleaned out and open up his nasal passages.  Dr G will then do a "lift" on the tip of his nose and bring in his nostrils.  Right now he has a very adult/wide looking nose and Dr G wants to give him a more "true to his age" nose.  He will also create the dimple above his lip that most of us have and bring in the sides around that dimple.   He will also get a 2nd set of tubes which will bring his loss of hearing back up.  The surgery will last about 3 hours and starts bright and early at 7:30 am.  Hudson is now fully aware of surgery and the after effects so this week has been a bit tough for him.  It is so hard as parents to know they will face pain with our permission......but we know it is for his benefit and part of what we signed up for.   His friend Ben is having surgery at the exact time so we will be sharing the waiting room with Ben's parents.   A "small world" story.  

Tonight Kailee, Hudson and I went out to take pictures in the Blue Bonnets.  Hudson has been learning about them at school and although it is a TX tradition to take pictures in the Blue Bonnets I haven't done it in years...and the first time with Hudson.  I figured I better get some pictures of the face that we adore.  It is always sad to know his face will change.  Last night as we were praying I thanked God for doctors.  Hudson asked "why?" and I said "doctors make us feel better and fix things"...he said "but I don't need fixing"....oh sweet boy.....you are right....so perfect in our eyes!!!!!

I appreciate your prayers....it is always a long day and longer night.  PICU is on standby as Hudson struggles so much coming out of anesthesia...we are praying we avoid that!!!

Kailee turns 14!!

This past Saturday, April 9th this cute thing turned 14!!!!  So hard to believe my baby girl is about to enter high school.    

Kailee was breech three times before she burst forth into this world after only 1.5 hours of labor and was delivered by the nurses.  No pain meds and not even in the proper position this little thing introduced herself to us pretty much like she does life to this day.  Determined, hard working and when she puts her mind to something she just does it until.....Her tumbling in the womb has never stopped and she recently made JV cheerleading for next year.  Her gymnastic team days have transferred to tumbling on the field and courts and her small size has her flying way on top...(A little nervous about those 9 high pyramids in highchool  

She began walking at 9 months....such a tiny thing it was strange to see her toddling around.

(yes, she has her arm in a cast here due to soccer and already in a bearcat cheer uniform!)

Kailee has been a trooper this year transferring from her small Christian school to a large public school.  She has reconnected with friends from her soccer days (most of the girls in the pictures below began playing soccer together at age 4 and continued together for several years).   We had a fun night taking them out to eat, ice cream and then home for a slumber party.  They all now play VB together and all but three of the girls below have been cheering together and will continue next year.   I recognize how quickly time goes and in just two short years they will all be driving and days of mom and dad taking them out will be history!

Happy Birthday Kailee!!!  We are so proud of you!