Heading Home!!!!

I can honestly say I have never been so excited about getting on a 12 hour nonstop flight with a 1 year old!We have truly enjoyed our adoption experience here with Catholic Social Services and are so greatful for this precious gift we have received but we are ready to head back home! I think Dorthy summed it up when she said "There is no place like home"!The hardest part of this 3 week trip was leaving my boy's! I cannot wait to see them and for them to meet their new sister. Jake talked to Ava on the phone the other night and she really was excited kicking her feet! Jake has been going around proudly telling everyone about her reaction! She is going to love them both so very much!
We are very anxious to get Ava back home to be evaluated by her pediatrician.The day we received her info at the MOE ,we were told that she has a small hole in her heart and pulmonary stenosis.This can be a scary diagnosis to hear. I left the MOE kind of in a daze and really scared to death. As soon as they placed her in our arms we knew that no matter what was on that medical report we would face it together. I think God blesses you with a sense of peace that only he can provide. So, as we embark on this next stage many prayers for Ava's good health are requested!
Also ,I would request that many prayers be sent up for all the unsuspecting fellow passengers on Singapore airlines on Saturday morning!!!! Hopefully, Mr. Sandman will pay us a visit on the flight!
Paka Paka!
N

Life as we know it!

Well, life as we knew it has definitely changed! As from all of my blog postings you can all tell we have been a little busy!Life with a baby is a lot of work! Being the mother of two boys has definitely prepared me for Ava. It all comes back to you very quickly! Things here are going very well. Ava has done really well considering all of the change that she has been through this past week. She eats anything ! The formula has been really the only thing that she is not 100 % sold on. We have been using her schedule from the baby home with a few minor changes. So, I think the familiarity helps .The only thing that has been difficult is her bedtime ritual. Like many children that have lived in a institution setting, rocking themselves is a form of self soothing. You can read all of the books but nothing prepares you to see your own child do this. It is really heart breaking. We have been very diligent in rocking her and letting her know that this is now our job. Tonight, Ava did not rock herself at all . She crawled in really close and let me do my job!That seems like such a small victory but we will take it!She is beginning to trust us more and more each day. For once, every thing in the day evolves around her and she loves it!Every child deserves to know what that feels like.
Well, that is all for now.I am leaving you with a coule photos of Ms.Priss ! I told you she was a serious eater! We will be returning home on Saturday and I cannot wait to see the boys! I am not leaving my house for a very ,very long time!
N

Gotcha Day!

Okay,fellow bloggers today is the day we have been waiting for! I got up extra early this morning and thought I would update my blog now before I get really busy this afternoon.I am really nervous. You would think that I was a first time parent! I would definitely compare this day to both of my inductions. The doctor set up the appointments for labor to be induced.The first face to face meetings with my boys were arranged... no suprise arrivals! This is so similar but only one real difference. We have already met, kissed and held our newest bundle of joy!I have the same butterflies in my tummy that I had on the boy's birthday.The paperwork and the waiting was my labor now comes the good part...When they hand you the baby!
I have to say how surprised we were when we met Ava. When they handed us her info at the MOE with that little photo we were very shocked. We knew that we were travelling to met a little girl under the age of 24 months,any ethnicity. When they took us to meet her this little lady came out carrying somthing almost half her length. When she was unwrapping this precious little package we realized that she was really tiny! This little blonde head popped up with two big grey eyes looking at us.From the minute we met her we knew she was who God had chosen for us long ago.
Well, here is our little Russian angel!Enjoy!
N

Make a Smilebox photobook

The sun is finally shining!

To all of you who have been basking in the sunlight it might not seem like a big deal but to us in the cold, overcast ...the sun is wonderful!After just a few short days here the weather turned really cold and produced a fine drizzle of rain. On some of the days I have worn three layers of shirts ,a coat, scarf and gloves! I am a true coastal dwelling Texan and I have realized that I flourish in the heat and sunlight! The weather is promised to continue to be good this weekend which is good because we pick up Ms. Priss on Saturday. We visited her yesterday at the hospital and she is so much better! In fact they removed her IV just before we got there. She is being transferred today(Thursday) back to the orphanage, so we will pick her up from there on Saturday. It is amazing to us how different she is after each visit. She now puts her hands out for you to pick her up.She mimics everything you do. Bret would make faces at her and she imitated them perfectly! She also said "mama" yesterday! Now, that really makes your heart smile! It is so wonderful to see what a forgiving little heart this child of ours possesses.
Today, we move into our own apartment. It is located in the same building but different floor.We figured two kiddos in the same apartment could be somewhat chaotic! We have had a great time with our roommates,the Kellams.They have helped pass the time here.We all have approached it with a great deal of laughter. I think humor is a must in a situation like this! So, we are now in the final stretch! I can actually see the "light" at the end of the tunnel.
We are ready to get this little monkey home and see our boy's!!!!!!!So, that is all for now! Check back on Saturday !
N

Answered Prayers!!!

We got the most wonderful phone call today from Violet our translator! Ava is so much better and maybe getting out of the hospital on Monday and going back to the orphanage!Thanks Violet for taking such good care of us and keeping us informed.
We were blessed twice today! We received more wonderful news from my family everyone is okay and my home had no damage. What a relief!
Thank you everyone for the prayers!
N

No such thing as too many prayers!

We were able to visit Ava as she had been released from the intensive care unit. We were very alarmed by her breathing. It is so labored and she is very uncomfortable. Despite how she felt she would reach out for Bret and I both. She would also look at you so sweetly and smile. We requested that she be placed back in IC despite the fact we cannot visit her in there. She will receive a better nurse/doctor to patient ratio.We are deeply concerned about her condition and are requesting many prayers for this little angel.She has a very good team of doctors and nurses taking good care of her
On another note ,we live in Houston and my family is facing Hurricane Ike. We live about 1 hour from the coast. Both of my boys are there with my family. I pray that God keeps them safe while we are away.
Well all I can say is ...When it rains it certainly does pour!
N

Another day without baby girl

On our way to visit this morning our translator received a call stating that Ava was still in intensive care and could have no visitors. So, we traveled to the hospital and spoke to the doctor directly. She said that Ava would be moved to the general area tomorrow and can have visitors in there. It was good to speak to the doctor directly .She said that Ava was better and did not have pneumonia. It was really hard to turn around and walk away knowing that your little baby was just beyond that door and all alone .Anytime my children have been in the hospital, I have stayed with them. I could not imagine being anywhere else.Just the simple touch of another human being has a comforting and healing effect.When we first visited Ava she was in the hospital due to exposure to chicken pox.Isolation had a tremendous effect on her. The child that we met on day 1 was transformed by day 5. Even the hospital staff commented on the change.After next week she will never have to go through anything alone again.When I get that baby in my arms I will never let her go!
N