Saturday, October 30, 2010
God delivered a miracle yesterday...
I know everyone of us have days in our life, that are profound. Perhaps the day you got married, or had your first baby... While these are all amazing to me, I believe it was the day that I let my faith become the priority. The day God handed me two little girls in China and said, "their mine, but I have called you to raise them. I have called you to take care of them. I have called you to just simply love them. I have called you to glorify me in it."
I never knew the little girl munching on an apple the first time I saw her in person, full of sugar and Hunan Spiciness, would rock my world so much. I never knew she would be the one to remind me and everyone around us that God does miracles everyday!! That she would be the one to make me cry just looking at how far she has come...
Yesterday, God brought us to our knees in thankfulness. He gave us the confirmation that taking Sienna's spleen out was the right decision for our child. He even had the wonderful doctor Steve smiling and double checking to make sure he had the right child's numbers! You see, our little girl's blood counts were NORMAL yesterday! They told us we would never see her in the normal ranges. NEVER... And, yesterday there she was. On the chart.. right next to the normal Hemoglobin line.. And, right in the normal ranges in Retic Counts! Even Dr. Steve had to smile.. In fact, he told me he doesn't want to see our cute faces for three months.. And maybe in the future once or twice a year!!!! WOW!!!!
I want to clarify that Sienna is not cured. She DOES have Alpha Thalassemia. But, for now God has answered our specific prayer request that her blood levels would stay steady." God didn't just answer that, He blessed us all with a true surprise!!! We will rest in that for now! Praising God for this very special time in Sienna's life today!!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
A Precious Photo Shoot - Part 1
I could not pass up the opportunity to take photos of Sienna and Shaelee during our trip. It is still surreal to see these best friends and neighbors from China together again. Jill blessed the girls with these beautiful dresses and shoes for Shaelee's Dedication day. A special thanks to Jill for humoring me and driving me around as we watched the sun go down so we could find the perfect spot to capture this moment in time for these precious friends.
The next day in much brighter light, we got some more sweet shots of the girls, Ruby and Lexi too. I will share more of those soon. It was a special week, as I witnessed yet another chapter in their amazing story!
Thank you again to Jill and Mary for being wonderful hostesses! We loved spending time with you and your amazing families!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Hengshan Beauties!
A picture that says it all! We are having a wonderful time soaking in the miracle of seeing these two best friends together again... One year ago they were still in Hengshan... Sunday we celebrated Shaelee's dedication to the Lord. It was a very special day where God reminded us of the miracle of how and where this all began.. Today they continue to show us the depth of their very special friendship that began in a small coal mining town in southern China. More photos of these precious friends when I have time to catch up next week!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Busy Busy Busy....
As Ruby would say, life here is BUSY BUSY BUSY right now!!! Which means I need to take a little blog break to get organized!!! We have a very special trip planned next weekend. Sienna, Ruby and Mommy are heading off to be with Shaelee, Sienna's BFF from China, for a very special even in her life next weekend. Jeff and Ainsley are following closely behind to enjoy a few days of vacation with us. We have much to celebrate with this special family!
I am catching up on some work I committed too, along with our normal crazy schedule. Grandpa Al was here for a special visit last week which we all enjoyed!! Sienna is doing fantastic.. One would never know she had surgery ten days ago! Praise God!
We are enjoying the most gorgeous fall on record in Minnesota. Only if it could stay this way!
More soon, including pictures of some very special little girls from Hengshan!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
New Bamboo Babies!
Please go HERE to check out our new additions in Changsha!! We currently have seven sponsorship spots available for our new Bamboo Babies!
If you are a PRO family that has a sponsorship expiring this month, please get in touch with me at diana@pearlriveroutreach.org. Have a great day!
Monday, October 4, 2010
A Photo Shoot with The Littles!
Mrs. Camp H and I had about a 15 minute shoot with Sienna and Ruby last week. It was enough time to get a few cute shots!!! I am so excited to have one of the two of them together... It is already in a frame on our mantle!!! And, as for a photo with me... As you all know I don't often post pics of myself. (I would much rather be behind the camera!) But, I will cherish this one for a long time.. Thank you Liz! I wish they could stay this little forever!
Thank you again for your prayers for Sienna Grace... She is doing great!!! As expected, she wanted to ride her bike on Saturday afternoon. She settled for letting me take her for a walk. Today she is off pain meds, and she tried pre-school for 2 hours. Simply Amazing!!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Sienna is Home!!!!!!
Less than 3o hours after our precious girl had her spleen removed, she left Children's Hospital with her sisters and her very grateful parents!
She fell asleep last night holding her teddy bear from her best friend, Nadi while we were saying our prayers... She only woke up once. We had to use all our tricks to get her to take her pain meds. Finally she did after a promise to call Nadi today! Since Sienna has never been a big fan of oral meds, we may be calling Nadi a lot in the next week and months to come!
As I type she is on the couch sharing her "doctor stuff" with Sienna and Ruby! I can't think of a better place to recover. I have no doubt our tough little girl will be asking to ride her bike soon!
We praise God for the way He answered our prayers for Sienna. She is home!!
Blessings,
Friday, October 1, 2010
Sienna Today and One Year Ago!
Yesterday was not only a significant day because it was the day our baby girl said goodbye to her spleen, it was also the anniversary of the first time Jeff and I ever saw her face. I didn't even realize it until I was walking down the hall of the 8th floor where she is staying. I don't think it is a coincidence that these two major events share the same date, September 30th. It is a reminder of how God is all over the details of our lives. How he places hand prints on things so we remember to pause and give thanks. How when we trust in Him, he blesses us.
Sienna's story has been a God sized story since the day we saw her face. The way God brought us this child, from a tiny village in Hengshan via an email from a Mom whom I have never met that was advocating for her, is nothing short of a miracle. The way she had been on the shared list for over one month, and no one had grabbed her file. The way God introduced me to two families that had reviewed her file, but decided she was not the child for them. The way God revealed his master plan for our family within a week of seeing her picture. If you don't know the story of Sienna and "Lindsey" please read about it here. I promise it will give you the hope never to give up when God calls you! Her story may challenge you to get outside your comfort zone. If you don't believe God has a plan for each one of us, I have to challenge you to re-think that. I know it is hard to believe that God calls each one of us by name, even before we are born.. But, without a doubt I believe that. I know it.. I have witnessed it multiple times in the past three years.
As I sit and watch my daughter eat noodles and broth for breakfast I struggle to find the words for how much I love this child. I would have given her my spleen if I could have. This child had a major (and very large organ removed at 2:30pm.) Since that time, she has barely cried. She has sweetly asked for help, she woke me up with a whisper when she needed attention, and she is fighting through the pain. God prepared her for this. He taught her many lessons while she was in China.. He taught her to survive. But, in six months he has taught her to lean on those who love her. He has taught her to trust and love us. He has allowed her to surrender without giving up the spicy-ness that makes her so special!
Sienna was born to be our daughter, and we were born to be her parents. None of what Jeff and I have done has been a sacrifice. It has been a privilege.
Today we give thanks for a precious photo one year ago and the woman who sent it, and the people that God placed in our paths to let us know without a doubt this is who He called us to!
"For you created me from my inmost being; you knit
me together in my mother's womb,
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame
was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes
saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were
written in your book before one of them came to be."
Psalm 139:13-16
Blessings from Children's Hospital, 8th Floor!
Diana
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