Update on Jeff and Jake

Yesterday Jeff was able to get out of bed (he had an idea he might be able to less painfully when he was able to roll over during the night without my help) and he was then able to walk around.  He says he felt 500 times better than he had though he was still very reluctant to bend forward at all.  We decided to take him on in to the ortho thinking that some muscle relaxers might still help and just wanting be prudent and perhaps begin some PT with a friend who goes to our church to try and strengthen his core.  The ortho thinks that either he has a bulging disc or severe muscle spasms.  But all in all, he feels so much better and was actually even able to go to work today.  I'm still not letting him do anything at home (Jeff's a workhorse so I'll have to watch him on that).  He started PT today and I'm excited because the friend that Jeff is going to is the one that helped Parker before she was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and a kidney obstruction.  Although the PT was limited in terms of how it could help since we didn't yet know what was wrong with Parker, I really did appreciate and thought the approach, though not conventional, made a lot of sense.  I am excited that Jeff is going to be doing this PT so that he can maybe begin to help Jenna with some alignment issues and Parker with strengthening her right hip (she has a slight bit of fluid in there due to some injury or overuse).  So again, Dad leads the way!!  By the end of yesterday I was so grateful and could see amazing ways that God was working.  Jake had slept better at naptime and just seemed to feel so much better.

And then.........ohhh....last night was awful.  He had trouble going to sleep and then was up again at midnight.  I am thinking it may be a night terror because he seemed totally asleep but with eyes open.  He just wailed for a solid hour and a half.  I just felt awful because there isn't anything that I can do for him.  He kept poor Parker up (she's my sensitive one who just wants things in order before she goes to sleep) and I was exhausted and worried.  Then he woke back up at 3:30am and again, the same thing.  He sort of seemed like he's hurting somewhere.  I ended up bringing him in our room.  Anyway, just keep praying for him.  I am trying all kinds of combinations of milk.  He's a good eater otherwise but can be kind of moody and picky about what he wants.  We had heard this in China.  Normally this wouldn't all be terribly concerning, but with me it always seems there are so many things to worry about.  I know this doesn't come from the Lord and that I am to rest in Him, but my problem is that I always feel that I'm failing all the way around.  Everything seems more intense with him.  Hopefully I can blog about this someday.  I have no idea if any of these things interest anyone.  It seems so self-focused.  But I would like to bring God glory through a very ordinary adoption story. 

One other quick praise......Jake took a tumble down about 13-14 stairs this morning and I felt so sorry for him.  It looked and felt, for both him and I, out of control.  The stairs are carpeted but he ended on the hardwood floor.  I wish I could be in every place at once, but he routinely climbs the stairs and this is his first fall.  I think he got tangled up in his blankey.  But nonetheless, it's a praise that he wasn't hurt. 

I'm hoping to post some Christmas pictures soon.  Please keep praying as the Lord leads you.  I appreciate it!!

Rough few days......

Whew!!!  The last few days have been really tough.  I realized Sunday night that I just was not in God's word like I needed to be so I recommitted myself to study on Monday morning.  I spent a fair amount of time in prayer and study.  Little did I know that the day would bring so many challenges that I would need to remember God's promises, His Word, and that He foreknew the troubles that I would have that day and that it was all covered and under His care.  On top of everyone seeming to fall apart, Jeff came home from the YMCA early in the morning and said that he had done something to his hip playing basketball.  He had me massage it but within an hour one of the children came running to get me and said that Daddy was down in the floor in the bathroom.  I thought for sure that he was just using the hard floor to stretch, but instead he had collapsed from intense pain.  Jeff's a tough guy.  Remember he's a blackbelt in taekwondo and works out at the Y aerobically playing basketball with the guys three days a week (he wakes and leaves by 5am each day...I just couldn't do that).  So when I saw him in that much pain, I knew it wasn't good.  He had several bouts of the worst pain ever and has been nearly completely immobilized since yesterday.  We're going to the orthopedics tomorrow (if I can get him in the car) to see if we can get some muscle relaxer and stronger anti-inflammatory meds.  Everyone else is feeling pretty lousy with colds, sore throats, achy, etc.  So the dishes just piled up today and it was chaotic all the way around.  Jake picked today to lose it over EVERYTHING!  Please keep praying for that little guy.  He has lost some weight and just doesn't seem himself.  I think on top of not feeling well, we've probably overdone it and done too many things outside the home.  Please also pray for my bible study and time with the Lord.  I am often so exhausted that it feels physically impossible to get up at the time that I need to in order to be up before the children. 

Language

Well I think one of the problems is definitely the milk.  We had switched to lactose-free milk when we stopped the formula after 4-5 months home, but over Christmas we ran out of lactose-free milk.  Today Jake had nothing but juice and then some of, as he says, "my kind" of milk.  He knew something just wasn't right about the milk and so last night I just told him that we would get some that wouldn't hurt his tummy.  So today when getting ready to drink it he said "my kind?".  It was precious. 

He's also sitting still a lot longer to listen to me read to him at nighttime.  After we read a few books, I sing to him.  Of course, I sing Jesus Loves Me, and so a couple of nights ago, I started each line but left off the last word...which he then filled in.  Cracked me up how much he knew.  The only mistake he makes is that he wants to say "they are strong (instead of weak), but He is strong".  Hmmmm....very telling of us all isn't it?  We just think that we're stronger than we really are.  But yet we are so weak.  We desperately need Him.  The last number of months has shown me more and more how much I need the grace that comes from and through Christ.  Without Him, there is no hope.  But with Him, all things are possible.  I'll try to record Jake singing this and post soon.

The other thing that Jake is saying right now is "mean".  Everything is "mean".  He's just a reflection of us it seems at times and I certainly have heard a number of us say things like "don't do that; it's mean".  But he is saying it about everything and then laughing and laughing.  He thinks it's hysterical.  Kind of like when he first got home he was fixed on "Bop it" which was "Stop it".  I must have said that a lot.

All in all his language skills amaze me!  He is starting to speak in short, but full sentences.  Please pray that I will use my words to encourage him and the others and that I will be always mindful of the power of words. 

My little man's not feeling well

I am so sorry for not posting as I said I would a few weeks ago.  Last night I sat down and typed and typed, but still no post.  I don't know what the Lord wants me to say.  It's the strangest feeling.  I have so much to say about adoption, but I just don't feel fully released to share my thoughts just yet.  I will say that it definitely ranks right up there as the hardest thing that we've ever done (right alongside watching my oldest struggle medically for nearly 2 years) but it is also one of the best decisions that we've ever made.  It is changing us!!  By the way, have I ever mentioned that I am married to one of the best men ever?  I know many of you would say the same, but I just can't say enough good things about my husband right now.  He is my rock!  And it is so neat to see God doing so many things in and through him.  I am so grateful that God blessed me with him.  I have so much to say about my man and especially about his relationship with Jake and Andrew, but that is the subject of another post I'm afraid. 

For now, if you're reading this, please pray for my little Jake.  In many ways I feel like a first time mom.  Things are the same as with my others, but in many ways they are so different.  A couple of weeks ago Jake started blinking especially hard.  He's continued to do that.  With his slightly abnormal CT and diagnosis of CP (and with my background in clinical research on epilepsy), it has been a little concerning to me.  The last couple of days though I think it may be more allergy related or pink eye or something like that.  I'm just not sure.  He also just doesn't seem to feel real well....cries a lot throughout the day and then is awake off and on through the night.  Andrew did have a really bad stomach virus on Christmas Day so maybe Jake has a touch of that.  I don't know.  I'm just tired and thought if you feel led, you might pray for my sweet little guy.  I also think he might have an issue with milk. 

Merry Christmas to you all!

Distracted

Please, if you have been following along and are either praying for us, curious about adoption, considering adoption, please stay tuned.  I have so much to blog about.  I apologize for leaving you hanging but I have been terribly distracted.  Please forgive me and check back for an update either tomorrow or Wednesday.

Some pictures

Well, things continue to go well.  I just can not put into words how God is using little Jake to change our lives.  He was using Jake even before we knew him.  Just the thought of adoption some ten years ago was beginning to change us. 

 

I've included some sweet pictures.  Tonight we went trick or treating which is a pretty new thing for us.  Earlier in the afternoon the children (minus Jake) along with a couple of their friends passed out invitations to our church's walk through drama.  They did this without me as I stayed back and prayed, worked, etc. while Jake was napping.  So we then followed this up by going to just the few doors on our street and one street over tonight for goodies.  It was a good time connecting with neighbors and a precious time watching Jake receive (hmmmm....take might be a better word...but with a smile) some candy.  For the first time he said "thank you" just as clear as day.  Don't get me wrong.  He totally knew what thank you meant and when he should say it, but for some reason he always choose to say that in Chinese which was "gum" (just spelling it phonetically).  He beamed ear to ear as I strolled him about.  It was precious.  His favorite goodie by far was gummy bears.  I've included a couple of pictures.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 Jake thought smashing up his three Ritz crackers (which then looked like 30 or so) and riding his car through them was a great way to finish off his lunch today.

 

 Getting ready to go out the door trick or treating.

 

 My sweet older three just love their little brother and are happy to experience everything again with him.  I am really looking forward to watching them with him over the holidays.

 



 Jake has had a couple of haircuts but got this one day yesterday.  He is so agreeable when it comes to things like that.

 

Jenna is helping Mommy with Jake. 

Beach fun!!

We just returned from a 3 day trip to the beach.  We had a great time....though it was a lot of work since we went without Jeff.  We had such awesome weather and just enjoyed being together so much.  Enjoy the pictures!!