Grace’s “Fall” Fun

The past fall was pretty eventful for Grace.  We had been planning a big urology surgery for a year.  We made the decision last year to keep Grace in preschool another year because we were told she would probably miss a couple of weeks of school.  Ha! Those couple of weeks turned into almost 2 months.

 Last October, Grace came to me to say that her knee hurt.  I pass out tons of bandaids, so I didn’t think much of it.  I plopped her on the kitchen counter and finished making my breakfast.  I expected to see a scratch but when I pulled up her pant leg and couldn’t believe her giant knee cap.  Grace was still walking around so I figured it must be some type of swollen joint.  Shelby was waiting for us to pick her up at the airport, so we swung by there on our way to the urgent care.  However, thry immediately sent us packing to the ER.  

The doctors in the ER originally thought the same thing I did, because even her knee was gigantic she wasn’t really complaining of much pain at all.  The ER doctors consulted with the surgeon that usually sees Grace at the Spina Bifida clinic and he told them what they were actually seeing on the X-ray was indeed a broken knee cap that was being masked by  Grace’s limited feeling in her upper legs.  They told us she would need a full leg cast, I thought they were joking because at the same time I was having to yell at Grace to stop climbing up and down on the gurney.  I remember being a kid and wanting a cast, unfortunately my daughter did not share in this crazy notion -she was heart broken.  With tears streaming down her face, they put on her purple leg cast.  Thankfully, her big sister bedazzled the cast for her and that really cheered her up.  

Since Grace broke the knee on her better leg, she really wasn’t good at getting around.  We had several appointments that week to get ready for her upcoming surgery and a week of a bowel cleanout anyway - so we decided to keep her home.  Grace “just happened” to have an appointment with one of her orthopedic surgeons for her scoliosis two days after the cast was put on.  We weren’t even through the door, when the surgeon said we needed to talk.  He wanted to X-ray her knee again, so they sawed off the cast.  The results were suggesting she had also torn one of her knee tendons.  If this was the case, she was also going to need surgery on her knee if the tear was bad enough.  This began a flurry to get her scheduled for a MRI and they sent her home in a knee mobilizer.  

So amongst the bowel cleanout, trick or treat, pre-surgery testing, we also fit in a late afternoon MRI.  I will have to say Grace was really a rock star.  She didn’t complain once that she couldn’t eat the day of her MRI.  The MRI did show a tear, but thankfully everything was still aligned in her knee cap and nothing was loose floating around.  Her surgeon felt her knee would mend well on its own, but she would have to get the leg cast back on.  It was decided that the orthopedic team would be paged after her bladder surgery to come and put on the leg cast.

I had been really worried about how Grace was going to do at her upcoming surgery.  Having to be at the hospital most of the week before the surgery, really put her at ease for the actual surgery day.  She was so brave and even went back to the surgery room with one of the nurses.  After several hours, Jeff and I were allowed to go see her in recovery.  It was the saddest thing to see her with the tube coming out of her nose and the tubes coming out of her  abdomen.  Then she had to get that cast on, now my heart was completely broken to have her go through all of this.  

Grace's 3rd Birthday

We celebrated Grace's 3rd birthday at the end of May.  As you can imagine, birthdays are a little overwhelming when you haven't had one before. She enjoyed opening her presents, but I don't think she actually grasped what exactly was going on.   I imagine by next year it will be something that she can even look forward to. She was a big fan of her cupcakes.   We even got to share our 20th wedding anniversary with Grace, what a gift she is!

We're going to China!

One week from now we will be on a very long plane ride!!!  Can't wait!!! I am pretty sure I have been to Walmart or Target a million times these past few weeks for "one more" thing.  I have probably bought out all the remaining Thermacare back heat wraps in the tricounty area to tide me over in China.  They have been really hard to find.  Thankfully my back is feeling a lot better though.  I started physical therapy and it is really helping, too.  Thank you for all the prayers! 

We have big piles of things to be packed, but nothing in the suitcases.  The hard part is yet to come when I have to start pairing things down.  I have a bit of a control issue and would like to have every convenience item, clothes for every season/situation and medicine available at my fingertips, but four suitcases aren't holding all of that.  Suitcases also arrived from Show Hope today, too.  We are able to bring some supplies to China for them as a small token for the amazing care they gave to Matthew in China.  Shelby has being knitting up a storm, hoping to sneak some baby hats into their bags, too.  

All the plane and train tickets are bought and hotels are booked booked!  And when I first announced that we would hopefully be bringing Grace home in the spring, well it will be the very first day of spring/Matthew's birthday.  Matthew will get to spend his 4th birthday on the plane ride home, poor boy!   We also had a minor glitch with plane tickets, they had Grace sitting by herself on the way home.  I guess that wouldn't have helped the screaming toddler on a plane problem, but she was successfully ticketed back with us.  Thank you again for praying us through this journey! Next post hopefully is from China! 

                                

Final update and provisional i800 approval!

Today we got what will probably be our final update on Grace before we travel.  It sounds like she is doing well.  She is walking up and down stairs, can climb out of her crib, likes dolls & children's songs and is affectionate.  They say if someone cries, she will give them a tissue or try to comfort them with a toy. She can also say mama, baba, older brother (Gege) and older sister (jiejie).  This leads me to believe they haves shown her the photo album I sent which has these four words listed with our pictures.  Her caretakers report that Grace is also an extrovert, guess this family is finally due one, sorry baby girl.    They also were able to answer some of our questions regarding her medical condition, it was very reassuring.  Grace is now 26 pounds and 34 inches tall - still a little on the small side for her age, but ok. 

We also received our provisional approval for the next round of immigration.  Travel looks like it will happen in March.  We have been busy getting Matthew and Grace's bedroom decorated.  Shelby and Robbie helped take down the old border and Jeff and I patched and repainted the walls.  Big surprise, we went with a Disney theme! Since Gracie is climbing out of her crib, good thing we went with the twin bed, too.

We have also been doing a little shopping collecting items for our trip (lots of Pepto bismol) and a few cute girlie things.  Still completing paperwork, but knowing it will end soon.  I have been able to take a Chinese class and I really love it.  I am hardly fluent, but trying to learn a little bit so I can communicate with Grace.  " are you hungry? It's time to go to bed.  Do not hit ;) " I have been wanting to take a chinese class for a very long time and just not had the time to do so.  God provides and how awesome that sweetest lady offered to teach free beginning mandarin classes within walking distance of our home.  Matthew has really enjoyed learning with me too and singing songs in Chinese when I practice at home.  

This is getting real!!

Merry Christmas and Happy LOA!

While we were in Frankenmuth, we received our Letter of Approval from China for Grace - this is a huge step and will have us in China within the next few months!  We also spotted a picture of Grace from our agency's newsletter.  Baby girl is front row center.  She is looking very healthy and such a blessing to keep seeing her face.

More Pictures and Reviewed!!

A few weeks ago a fellow adoptive mom spotted our Grace in some pictures.   It turns out a professional photographer went with our adoption agency to China this past spring and snapped several albums of pictures of the care centers our agency runs.  They just happened to go to Grace's.   We were able to download all these amazing photos along with dozens of other pictures of her nannies and friends.  With Matthew we waited forever er to ever get a picture of him.  I am savorying and so thankful for every little glimpse we get into Grace's life.  

We found out today that our file is currently under review, which means that next big piece of paper should be on its way in a week or so!!! This is good because the government computer system is shutting down for a week at the first of the year.  Grace we are getting closer!!

photos are compliments of Sandy Puc Photography

Updates!

New pictures!! Since we were able to take over Grace's sponsorship, we were able to get pictures from all of her reports this past year.  Little miss is growing - in fact the update indicates she is about 5 pounds heavier than we thought.  They describe her as strong, sturdy and naughty! She will hide her favorite toy in her crib to keep it away from others.  It was also neat to hear that she was speaking and imitating more.  C'mon paperwork - we are ready to bring our Grace home! 

    January 2014

   

 (we have the matching pants to the above outfit- Matthew wore the pants the day we met him)

July 2014

Gracie's first outfit

Couldn't resist and bought Gracie her first outfit.  It's starting to feel real,  hopefully we hear some news about our paperwork soon! 

Care package

Next set of paperwork is done and I finally got Grace's care package sent off to China.  When I sent Matthew's, I had such a grand notion about his care package.  I figured the nannies would sit with him and show him his photo album of our family pictures and that the lovey-blanket I sent would be his new favorite security item.  I even pictured all the photos that would get taken with the camera I sent.  None of that happened, the photo album and blanket were untouched and the camera never yielded a picture.  So this time I am a little more in reality.  I know now that the nannies would love to sit with each child, but there usually just always isn't time to share albums and take pictures.  Kids don't usually receive the play things, because it's too hard to keep them clean and sanitary in an institutional environment.    I do pray Grace gets to see pictures of her new mama and daddy and somehow she can process that we are hers, but it would be even nice if just one of her caregivers gave her just a little more attention for the day.  Everything else I hope blesses a little one that needs them the most.

                                    

This adoption process as a whole, is a lot more surreal than last time.  This time I know a little better the sadness and anxiety that awaits Grace.  Ripping someone from everything they know is devestating.  I also know how hard and tiring it can be to adjust your life and family to a new little one who is grieving and doesn't usually understand you.  All the new medical stuff that awaits - ugh... 

However I also know the joy that is coming.  Waiting till we get to finally have Grace in our arms.  Getting to watch her blossom into our family.  Getting to hear I love you for the first time.  Dolls and hair bows ❤️❤️❤️ Best of all, seeing God's hand in her life as her story unfolds in her new home and family.