January 13, 2011------------ Becoming a family of 7

        Wow, does time fly by.  Elijah's surgery is done and he has no pain.  The boy is tough as nails!!!Yesterday he went a part day to school and was up and going in good shape today.  We are hoping that the tendon transfer and skin tightening on his left hand will help with control and grasp.  For those of you who don't know Elijah had a massive stroke on his left side as an infant.  Since it happened when he was so young his brain rewired it's self a true miracle.  As a result he does have left sided weakness.  He wears a foot brace to help his foot drop and his left hand doesn't have fine motor control.  This surgery should help with grasp and grip.  Hopefully his thumb will be more stabilized and the joint won't pop out.  Three surgeries in almost 3 years and he is such a good patient.  Start with a huge surgery like a cranio-plasty with 46 staples across the top of the head from ear to ear and other surgeries seem small.  Shriner's Hospital in Salt Lake City was soooo good to us.  I have to say that they are better with children than Children's Hospital in Denver and they were wonderful.  Every step was taken to make us both comfortable and to ease his nerves.   The smallest details for children before surgery make all the difference.  I am so thankful that another step is almost complete is helping Elijah's quality of life to improve.  I now know why I worked in surgery admit and post-op care to prepare me to take of my children for surgery.  Four children and everyone has had surgery to date and I am so thankful we live in the USA.

    Looking to future is what we do in New Year and we looking forward to adopting from Accra, Ghana.  If it is His will we will be approved to adopt a 6 year old little girl waiting in Ghana.  She is hearing impaired and will either need surgery, hearing aides, or implants.  At least here in the US she will have options for help.  She has been lovingly cared for by sisters in a convent for the last four years and I am so thankful that she has been loved.  A simple need such a sight impairment or hearing impairment are very limiting where resources do not exist.  I know that without my glasses I couldn't even go out side, drive, or do anything.  The sisters have been praying for a family for her since she arrived at their convent four years ago, exactly when we started to consider Ghana adoption.  It just took us time to find her.  God's timing is always right!  We know that this seems crazy to many, but we must follow the path that God places before us and we are ready for this adventure.  Hopefully by New Year 2012 we will be a family of 7!!!