Reality

I've come to the reality that Twink's appointments will not slow down for some time. Her therapies will not slow down until she is much older. This is our life. I'm OK with that.

We went to the developmental doctor on Monday and we never leave that place without getting a referral to at least one new doctor! LOL This time it is a child psychologist. She still wants to do the stinking autism test and also test her for reactive attachment disorder (RAD). I just wish these people would tackle the sensory issues! I did get a prescription for previcid for her tummy. She seems to have trouble with milk. I am thinking of just switching to rice milk for her and see how she does.

We had our 6 month post placement study done with our social worker today. She does not see why they would want to do the autism test. I say if it gets them off my back then lets do it! She said we are doing a great job with Lia. I wish I had know ahead of time that she was going to want a list of all the doctor's names Jewel sees. That was fun trying to remember 8-10 different names!

Other than that we are getting ready for a busy weekend. Hope everyone has a great weekend! I know we are going to enjoy ours! :)

Prayers for a Friend & Baseball

Please pray for my friends daughter Cecelia she is having surgery on her cleft palate today. I for one can't for them to come home. Please pray that the pain is under control and that she tolerates the restraints.

Last night Dash's team lost their first game of the season. It was the playoff game. All of the kids were very down from the moment I arrived (third inning). Award ceremonies are on Friday and we can't wait to go! From what Dash was telling me they are the first team to be undefeated during the season! WTG Twins!

Never Let Go

When clouds veil sun
And disaster comes
Oh, my soul Oh, my soul
When waters rise
And hope takes flight
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul

Chorus:
Ever faithful
Ever true
You I know
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go

When clouds brought rain
And disaster came
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
When waters rose
And hope had flown
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul

Chorus:
Ever faithful
Ever true
You I know
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go

Oh, my soul
Overflows
Oh, what love, oh, what love
Oh, my soul
Fills hope
Perfect love that never lets go
Oh, what love, oh, what love
Oh, what love, oh, what love
In joy and pain
In sun and rain
You're the same Oh,
You never let go

Chorus:
Ever faithful
Ever true
You I know
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go

This song is from the David Crowder Band and I LOVE it!

Done With Softball

We went to Jewel's softball ceremonies last night knowing her team came in first place for the season! They did not win the tournament but that does not matter because they count the amount of games you win all season as to who comes in first place. There where only three teams and as I said Jewel's team came in first! She received a metal and a trophy! They also give out a special metal to team member who shows the most sportsmanship and guess what? Your guessed it, Jewel was honored with that metal! We had some problems this year with the team but I think this helped Jewel to forget about it. Jewel had to hand in her shirt as she is too old to play next year! :(

Dash has one game Tuesday night and IF they win that they will be playing UNDEFEATED on Friday or Saturday (I think ) the Championship game! WooHoo go Twins!

We have family in town this week and we are so excited to see them! Can't wait! We also are having Twink dedicated this coming Sunday! Our Pastor who moved last November will be up doing a wedding a visiting has agreed to it for us! Yea, we love him and his family! We do not have a pastor yet but we are interviewing one in July! We will have a busy week as you can see!

Letter from Afar

I was talking to Carla yesterday telling her how I wished I'd get a letter back from Twink's foster parents but not really expecting to get one this soon. Well when I came back from picking Taylor up from school I opened my mail box and an envelope caught my eye. It was the little blue box with the words air mail in it! Wow, that was fast. I think I started to hyperventilate as I started to tear open the envelope and then remember the paper they use is soooo thin. I had to slow down or risk shredding the letter inside. As I opened the letter a wonderful sent came out of the envelope, I can't put my finger on it but it is beautiful. I pulled the letter out and in it were to pictures! Very sweet and I believe the last day she was with her foster family(thanks to date stamps). I will not share those pictures because to me they are personal and show deep sadness. Twink was with them for 20 months and had a foster sibling with her. I'm not sure if that little one was or is still there but you can believe me when I say I will try and find out and at least try and get ONE picture of the two of them.

So of course when I first received the letter it was in Chinese. I posted all of the place to find someone who knew someone who could translate the letter for me. My wonderful friend Stacy (thank you Stacy)was able to put in contact with someone and I had it translated before I went to bed last night! I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful gift of known and communication with her foster family. So many are not given this opportunity for whatever reason and I do not think it is right.

So out of all of my pleas I did come across another site that does translations cheaper than the last person I used last month so I will be using Angela from now on!

A Good Treat For A Good Cause

This weekend, you can help support Foster Care Adoption just by buying a Frosty! Participating Wendy's will donate 50 cents from every Frosty purchased on June 14 and 15 to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Their goal is to raise $1.3 million to support the Foundation and Wendy's Wonderful Kids, which funds full-time adoption recruiters to match parents with waiting children.


Since 2004, Wendy's Wonderful Kids has helped 3,500 children in Foster Care, and more than 500 of those children now have finalized adoptions.
So share a delicious treat with your family, and help children in the U.S. Foster Care system find their own forever families!

Neurologist Appointment

I called the office last week because we had been waiting three months just for an appointment only to find out our paperwork was sitting in a pile waiting to be looked at! Grrrrrr I was then told the doctor that we were referred to only works three days a week and it will take some time to get into see her. I asked to be put on the cancellation list so they put Twink on. Well I received a call that they had TWO openings in one day! So of course I took one.

Guess what - It was not the doctor we were suppose to see! They have two doctors in the practice and we actually see the "other" doctor for my son. We really wanted to see the doctor we were suppose to see because I could understand her better. Don't get me wrong, I like this doctor. Sometimes it can be hard to understand him and with Twink's case being a little more complex I was nervous. It all worked out though. He told me that if Twink was to have another seizure that she would have to be put on medication. He did tell me that febrile seizures do NOT usually last 60+ minutes. So only time will tell and I do feel better now that I've talked to him. Praying it was a one time event.

6 Months Together!

Today marks 6 months since we received Twink in China! The first picture sums up how Twink felt most mornings in China. She use to wake up and look around wondering what was going on. Many times she'd lay back down. I wonder if she was thinking if I close my eyes will these strange people will be here when I open them again.

Look at her today! Only six months with us and she is so different from when we met in China. There are days that it seems like she's been with us for a lifetime and other days not long at all. Twink is making huge strides in attachment and slowly progressing with sensory issues. Only time will tell what she will be able to say and do. I beleive with all my heart this sweet child will overcome many things. It just takes time and I need to remind myself of that.

Twink had a note attached to her on our Metcha Day. It was from her foster parents. Talk about being in shock. We had it translated and in it we received their mailing address and phone numbers! So two weeks ago I sent off a letter to her foster parents via Adell Hall They received that letter and some pictures last week. We were blessed to also receive the camera back from her orphanage director and some addition pictures. So here are the people that took care of Twink until her mommy and daddy could come and get her!


This is her foster mom! Our first clue that she took a passy also! Thank heavens for these pictures! They did not send her passy with her so we had NO idea. Life may have been much easier had we known.
This is her foster dad. This was the day we received her in China. I don't have any of the foster mom on this day, I'm sure she was pretty sad.
Here they all are together. I'm so greatful for these picture! I do have more but these are the ones I love.

Sweet Girls!

About that video

Sorry for those of you who may be looking for the video I had up. After seeing what other video's came up for the person who uploaded it I decided to remove it. That's the problem with Youtube, you never know what other video's may appear under the main video. We saw a funny video and wanted to share it with all of you but I don't want to link to something that is offensive. Sorry!

Update

First of all a big thanks to all of you who have replied to my "Mixed Feelings" post. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. It really is good to know that in this wonderful adoption process after all is said and done - We are not alone! I'm so grateful for each of you who spoke up to tell me that you too are/were having issues (major-minor- does it matter?) or just wanted to tell me they were thinking of us and praying for us.

Twink went back to the audiologist today and will have the fluid drained on July 22nd and as soon as that is done they will do the hearing tests to determine hearing loss. She may or may not receive tube, depends on what the fluid looks like. I say if your in there you ought to put them in anyways! Our luck we'll be back to do the whole procedure over in 2-3 months! We will find out the results of the hearing tests that day! So after July 22nd there will be no more guessing on whether Twink has any hearing loss. I hate to rush away all of your summers but I sure hope the next couple of weeks go by fast.

Twink has started to improve in a few areas that have been huge obstacles for us. She has started to come to me and lay down for her diaper changing. She does not mind getting in the bathtub but getting washed is still another story. She is also giving kisses! Not just to me anymore but to everyone and she does the cutest pucker! She was so proud of herself the other night, screeching and jumping up and down after each kiss. (Could it be because her mommy made such a big deal out of it?) :) She is just so sweet! I thank Jesus for her and I know one day she will surprise us all, in one way or another!