A quick update on this morning...
Norah did great!!!! We were on our way downtown by 6:30am and home by 8:30am. It was such a quick procedure and Norah did SO WELL!!!! The nurse gave her Versed as soon as we went back to help relax her and make her feel "loopy" and that she DID!!!! The picture was taken by our dear friend Heather, who's daughter Lainie had her tubes placed right after Norah. We hung out together before both girls went back, and laughed our heads off at how funny our girls were being- they were laughing, batting the air, restless then limp....it truly was a sight!!! We also got to meet with our surgeon (who happened to be there for other cases) for the palate surgery. He did confirm that he wanted Norah to meet with one more specialist (the one who will decide on the orthodontic device). We are still on course for November 23.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.
Sweet Norah Lei
...is scheduled for surgery both tomorrow and Nov 23. Tomorrow she is having tubes placed in both ears. We discovered this past week that she has 40-50% hearing loss. We are prayerful that the tubes will improve that significantly. There is a chance that some of that might be permanent as she has gone so long with her ears being full of fluid. It is a very minimal procedure and we will likely be home before Nate leaves for school!!! Norah is the first case of the day and Lainie, our sweet friend, is the case right after her.
November 23, 2 days before Thanksgiving, Norah (and Lainie) will have her palate surgery - with the intent of closing it up all in one procedure. This is a more invasive surgery, will be quite painful, and will also be an inpatient stay (one night, assuming all goes well). We were really hoping for an October date, but the schedule is full so this was the first available. There is also a small chance that they will bump it out even further as we are going to try an orthodontic device to help shift the two clefts in better alignment. Most kids that have this appliance are less than 12 months old and tolerate it just fine. Our hesitancy is that Norah will want to take it out all the time and thus it won't be effective. We are going to visit with this specialist this week and make a decision from there. Aligning the clefts now, before the palate surgery, makes things a little easier down the road as we look at further procedures when she is 6, 8, 10, 12.
It is a gorgeous day here. I feel like today has been such an encouragement to me. Maybe it was the Pumpkin Spice Latte (first of the season!!) or maybe that Naomi went on the potty all on her own for the first time, but I feel rejuvinated. Joel is gone all day with 4 back to back football games, so the kids and I are headed to a park later on.
Enjoy your Sunday!! Have a blessed week :)
The men in my life....
Today is a day worth celebrating!!!! Joel is turning 35 and Nate became a "Fenwick" 6 years ago today!! I'll never forget that moment, sitting in the courtroom with our 6 month old precious bundle on our laps. It was highly emotional and we were surrounded by our family as we took an oath and became THE parents of Nater-Bug......God was present in that room, and continues to be the focus of our family. As we have raised Nate (and now 2 sweet girls) our prayer over him has been that he understand and accept the love of Jesus and someday surrender his life to the One who gave His life for him. Nate is such a sweet kid with a heart of gold, an awesome big brother and great athlete. We have been blessed beyond measure!!!!!! There are jewels being prepared in Heaven for his incredible birthmom, whom we have grown to love and cannot wait to see again someday. She has such a heart for Jesus and loves Nate so much. We could not have asked for a more perfect extension of our family. We love you M!!!!!
Joel, my best friend. We have been through the testing as we have added 2 children within 2 years. Life has been crazy, hectic, busy, sleepless, tight budgeted, paper-chasing, a roller coaster of emotions, full of grief as we lost mom, and now as we settle in - full of blessings and hugs and smiles and snuggles (well, and still some stress and tears and sleepless nights, but fewer and fewer as we nestle in). I love you more than I could ever express. You are such a man of God, especially when I am not at my best. Thank you for reflecting His love on our family. I love you.
As I type, the house is quiet and I feel as though I am coming up for air, for the first time all weekend. I am still (daily, hourly for that matter) adjusting to raising 3 kids, 2 the same age. There are moments of pure bliss - like when the girls are playing together without crying or arguing. Then, there (way more right now) moments when I want to run and hide in my closet. Life is busy and unpredictable - 2 things my personality does not often deal well with. But I trust in One who made ME and made each of our beautiful children and His timing is perfect. I know He will supply all my needs. I pray for "my daily bread" and know He will see me through even the hardest of moments.
I miss my mom - more and more each day. Grieving has been a challenge seeing as we left 3 weeks after she passed to adopt Norah. But, again, I know where she is and who she is with - and I could not be happier - for her. As my heart continues to heal and move forward, I pray the Lord will use my grief to help others. Please join me in praying for my stepdad, her husband of 26 years. The loneliness and reality of life as a widower is setting in and he is sad.
I read an incredible book this weekend. Actually, I read the entire thing in less than 24 hours. It is Mary Beth Chapman's new book, Choosing to SEE. I don't recommend books very often, but I think everyone needs to read this. It was so inspiring, insightful, encouraging, and gut-wrenching real. You can order it here.
I hope you have a blessed week.
I am so happy to report that our visit to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital was encouraging and we left the hospital with the decision to wait in any testing. Norah's small size and delays could very well be related to her prior surroundings and we don't want to get ahead of ourselves. In 6 months, if we are not seeing the progress we are hoping for (completely directed by her therapists) then we will proceed with another trip to Cinci and go from there. We are prayerful that she will make great strides over the next 6 months and that by her third birthday she will have caught up developmentally, socially and physically. If however, it takes longer, we already have a program set up for her to continue daily therapy.
Today I dedicated the morning to teaching Norah how to go down stairs. We have a 2 story home with a basement and we are constantly up and down both flights of stairs. Norah has started getting brave lately so I thought it best to go ahead and teach her how to go down backwards. We are a little concerned as her muscle tone is quite low and she really can't catch herself once she starts falling backwards - but we have to start somewhere. Another goal I have over the next few weeks is to teach her to spoon feed herself. Our therapists will soon be on board and we will likely have a therapist who can assist with this, but I am ready for her to gain some independence. She sees her siblings eating and I know she desires to be more independent. One step at a time. We have only been home 3.5 weeks and I have to step back daily and remind myself of how far she has come already. But, on the same note, we have so far to go and I can't help but see that.
We have a lot on our plate this weekend!!! Here's to a good night's rest.
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.....and this one represents so much. Naomi has never been a fan of dressing up, in any fashion. Last Halloween, her first, she did not care for any of the (many) costumes we tried. And since then we have tried over and over for her to dress up. Today was a breakthrough. I pulled out the dress and she put it right on -saying princess over and over. It was precious. I grabbed the camera a took as many photos as I could - little did I know, it only was gonna last 4 minutes. Then it came off, it was too "itchy".
So hard to believe she will be 3 in a matter of weeks. She has been in our arms for almost 2 years and has come so far. To hear her sweet voice talk and pronounce words and even some sentences has been so nice! The meltdowns are fewer and the progress she has made encourages us with Norah, knowing she will soon be talking and able to communicate better.
Some days are.....well, hard. And today would qualify as one of those. But I am thankful that the Lord's mercies are new each morning and that tomorrow the sun will rise and thus begin a new day. Off to bed....sleep well. Sweet dreams!!
I love Fall. It brings beautiful weather, jeans and sweatshirts and lots and lots of football. The weather has been awesome this past weekend and we were outside as much as possible.
The kids are all 3 doing so well! This past weekend, Joel had 6 football games and so, needless to say, he was gone a lot - but the kids did great and we hung around here most of the weekend - between Nate not feeling too well and Naomi potty training, it was a bit of a long 3 days. But there were glimpses of happiness throughout the weekend that made it all worth it. The girls are bonding more and more each day. They even played together in the bathtub yesterday, sharing water bottles and being silly and laughing. It was a site to behold - seeing as mot of the time they are wanting my lap or the same toy and there are typically lots of tears. Norah is also really taking to Nate. Its so sweet to see him love on her or offer to hold her and she goes right to him. I pray their relationship is one that is always protective and close. Norah is still having some issues with eating and we have had a few instances these past 4 days or so that remind us how far we have to go. She tends to get food stuck in the open part of her palate and is not sure what to do. To be honest, we are not either. We have tried giving her a drink, feeding her a little more to help her work it out, holding her, etc. Once she gets worked up, she stays worked up for upwards of 3o minutes. When we are out to eat, this can be very difficult. We meet with another surgeon next week and are ready to schedule the surgery as soon as we can. We feel she will thrive once her palate it closed and she can eat normally. All that said, she is a great sleeper and loves to sleep in!!!! Today she rolled out bed at 9:30. I had time to get ready myself, get Nate ready for school, make a nice breakfast and clean the kids rooms before she woke up - making for a great start to the week.
Wednesday we head to Cincinnati for Norah to see a geneticist. They will evaluate her and determine whether or not to order testing for any syndromes related to cleft lip/palate children. We are not overly concerned, but due to her delays we are moving forward with the appointment and will go from there. Norah and I are also heading to the GAP outlet - this girl has hardly any clothes. I had bought ahead all last winter for her, but bought 24 month clothing - and she is only in 12-18 month right now. SO I am looking forward to some great bargains!!!
Have a blessed week. I'll post after our Cinci appoitment.
Yes, the girls are pushing a gift bag and an over-sized bear....and they are being "sisters", following each other around the dining room table pushing their strollers, laughing at each other, fighting over "nothing", hugging and saying sorry (well, Naomi does all the talking.
This week Nate started soccer and he scored a goal!!!! It was so fun to see his reaction and he could not wait to tell Joel, who was gone at a football game. Naomi has started singing "You are my Sunshine" and it is absolutely precious. We have sung it over 10 times today and I never get tired of hearing her sweet (on-pitch) voice. Norah is now feeding herself when there is food she can eat. She is also a lot more outgoing, a little more moody (that's good, she shows it!!!), and she 100% not a morning person (just like her momma) - on days we do not have plans, she sleeps til 9 or 9:30 :)
Life is good...we are still adjusting and have a long way to go. We realize that. But we are settling in. God is good.
Sweet Bethel
I'll never forget the look on my dear friend Sally's face as she came into Bible Study with pictures of her new children - her 2 referrals from Ethiopia. We were like school girls, screaming with excitement and passing the photos around. Sally and her husband had waited for so long, prayed diligently and finally the time had come. The Lord had brought 2 precious lives into their hearts. Over the summer, Bethel, at only 4 months old, had gotten sick and became malnourished. Moved from one hospital to the next, one formula to the next, and finally out of the hospital to a new orphanage - she simply had lost the strength to fight. Down to a mere 6 pounds, Bethel went to be with Jesus on September 1. Oh the tears that have flowed since that phone call. Sweet, sweet Bethel, whom her mommy and daddy loved with all their hearts - we all did. The continuous fight they gave to keep her alive and help her thrive until they could wrap their arms around her was one I admired and I believe it brought orphan awareness to the surface for all those who were touched by them.
But the Lord had different plans for Bethel's life. Those plans we may never fully understand on this side of heaven. But one thing's for sure - Bethel, even in her short life on earth, had purpose. Her legacy will live on for many many years to come. May her life bring a new passion to orphan adoption - one that lights a whole new fire in our community. Are you called to adopt? Are you called to support those in the process? Are you called to get on your knees to pray for orphans around the world?
Please say a prayer for Michael, Sally and their 3 children, that God would bless them in such a time as this.
Bethel, we love you sweet girl!!
