Pray for Abby Grace

Abby Grace was Hudson's cribmate and best friend in Pingliang.  We traveled with her mom and dad when we met our sweet, scared babes together on March 30, 2008 in a crowded room in Langzhou.    AG had a cleft lip/palate also and much more serious heart condition than Jenn and Sean knew, requiring unexpected open heart surgery the week she came home.  Yesterday AG had the second part of her open heart surgery and is doing well with pink toes and fingers but please keep her in your prayers.  She recovered so well the first time and we are praying for the same this time.
 

I was able to see Jenn and Abby when I went to Charleston in May.  She has grown SO much and it was amazing to me how many characteristics and mannerisms she and Hudson share.  They both cut their eyes the same way and have many of the same facial expresions.  Hudson is only four months older than Abby but it was very obvious while we were in China together how he "took care of her".  He would feed her cheerios, clue into her cry above all of the other babies cries and Abby told me in Charleston, Hudson would rub her back as they fell asleep at night.  We have always wondered what Hudson remembers, he was only 2 1/2 when he came home but one thing he does say consistently is he "cried and cried at night in his crib"...he says "I would say 'mama, mama' " .  When I asked Abby if Hudson liked their bed she said "no, he would cry and cry".  Jenn told me Abby has asked since she came home for them to "tickle her back like Hudson did" at night.   From the first night we had Hudson in China he would tickle his face at night to go to sleep and refused to let us do it.  It was obvious he needed this self soothing to go to sleep and after Abby told me this I wondered if not having Abby next to him was the reason.  Nights were SO hard for Hudson until  about the last  9 months and he prefers a warm body next to him, no wonder if he spent the first 2 1/2 years next to AG.

We sure hope to get Hudson and Abby together again soon.  We love this girl and she will forever hold a special place in our hearts as Hudson's first sister!!!!