Planning for Surgery

Huahua has big plans to be a Doctor!  She's involved in her first cardio internship here (unpaid!)

Yesterday Huahua saw her cardiologist and we discussed the next steps in planning her Fondan procedure.  This procedure is usually done when a child is between 3-5 years old.  Many pieces go together to decide when is the "right" time to move forward with this next step, primarily her heart functioning and daily behavior.  Of concern has been her elevated red blood cell count which  makes them believe she is not functioning as good as she looks.  Her body is for some reason believes it is starving for oxygen and the cells are responding in this way.   There are inherent risks allowing her to continue with elevated levels as she is. So the next step is a cardiac catheterization to access her true functioning of the heart and map out her uniquely formed heart.  It is really amazing to hear how her heart is formed (with single ventricle and one common atrium) with the values coming in at different angles, and wrong positions, yet her heart has managed to work and keep her going.  We praise God for her life and the joy she brings to us! The doctors will then decide if a MRI is necessary for further mapping.  Most likely, but apparently it is not possible to run both tests while under the same time frame (which would be nice) eliminating the need to put her under general anesthesia twice for these tests. But since they both involve different assortments of dyes, they have to run separately.

 So as we hear her breathing more heavily and labored we can rest assured medical treatment is so readily available and we a have a team of doctors working in her best interest.  At the same time, my heart aches for Selah, as she awaits her treatment in China.  This week they found her heart is a "complicated" case, as is Huahua.  We pray they will find value in her life and continue to find the best treatment available for her and not deny her care.  We continue to fund raise for her.  As we never blinked an eye at the thought for Huahua, only that we want the best of the best for her.   EVERY child is valuable in God's eyes and created for a purpose.  Please consider helping Selah bring joy to her forever family and become the daughter she was meant to be.

Donate online at http://unadopted.org/donate-2/

This is through Lifeline Children Services- our adoption agency we used to adopt Huahua.
Follow updates on Selah at http://newdayfosterhome.blogspot                          
For those of you that have met Huahua it's hard to believe she slows down.  But she does and she has been more lately and crashing hard.  Her body is slowing down and she is resting, and sleeping more.  The other day she was passed out asleep on the kitchen floor, face down on the tile floor. As cute as it was ( I snapped a picture).....it was also an eye opener to her true heart functioning.

 But true to her sense of style....even though she passed out in the car, she did it with the shades on....upside down!  She continues to bring laughter and joy wherever she goes.  If she's around there's bound to be someone laughing!   While at the doctors' office yesterday she was sitting at the table just chatting away, having a little self reflection, about her day, a woman commented how intelligent Huahua was. When I told the woman she was only introduced to known English three months ago, her mouth dropped open.  I can't imagine how incredible she'll feel once we have her running with a higher oxygen level.  Watch out!!!

Today while at the doctor's office for Jackson she went up to a little girl with Down syndrome and starting playing with her.  Her heart is so big and sweet for everyone she meets.  Her ability to meet and greet with a smile is going to take her places and share the good news with many.  It just makes me smile!                                                            

Enjoying a little treat with her sister at Culver's

We still have a shoe fetish....even the baby needs shoes!

Happy Birthday & Fundraiser!!!!

Can you say Beauty QUEEN????  She loves to dress up, but more so her siblings love to dress her up.  This was Jackson's design.  Pink, pink and more pink!

It's hard to fathom this whole process wasn't even on our radar last year at this time.  We were just settled in from Jackson healing and we were breathing without Dr appointments left and right.  But adoption had brought so much color to our lives.  A perspective on things sometimes I want to close my eyes and say Lord I wish I did not know that.  But now I do and He has chosen to open my eyes to a world.  A world of hurt and pain more intense than any child should bear and in doing so created a passion in me for these orphans who do not have an advocate.  He walked us through with Jackson and he will faithfully walk us through with Huahua.
Proverbs 24:12 "“Once our eyes are opened, we cannot pretend we don't know what to do.  God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act.”

The weekend was filled with such excitement.  First that Huahua had her third birthday.  Praise God she had received heart surgery in enough time to save her precious life and we are honored to become her parents.  Now we give forward to SELAH.  This weekend we held our Hearts for Selah fundraiser at church to raise money for Selah.  Selah resides at NEW DAY SOUTH foster home in China and needs her heart mended so she can live.  We want to give forward this gift of surgery that was once given to our little girl.  We have raised over $3,000 to this point but need to at least double this amount, possibly up to $10,000 for her surgery.

Her friend, Nathaniel, watching over her. SO sweet!

Would you consider a gift in Huahua's honor?
 http://unadopted.org/donate-2/
Please put Selah in the message area.

100% of your tax deductable donation goes to Selah's medical needs!

Lifeline Children Services is coordinating her benefits.  This is the agency we adopted Huahua through.  They are located in Birmingham, AL.

Wrestling with her cousin, Luke, at church.

Stealing a piece of her brother's cake.  As you can tell, she's spoiled rotten!  Tex here, loves her to pieces and will give her just about anything she wants!

Snuggle time with Jackson!!!

First time at the pool!  Since she loves baths.....why not a big one!  We went to a small indoor waterpark.  She loved it, but did not like when I would make her take a break to warm up or rest.  She was turning shades of blue and shivering, but within a few minutes wanted to hit the pool again.  She tried the slides and enjoyed splashing around.  Can't wait til summer for warmer weather.

Here's she's pointing at the big slides which she wanted to go on.  Not tall enough yet!  She has the
 Oehlhof adrenline junkie gene!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!  By the end of the weekend she really enjoyed all the birthday singing and
would ask for us to sing Happy Birthday to her again!

 A very special someone sent her this blanket  (which happened to match her outfit) and some M & M 's for her birthday.  When I went upstairs for a bit, and  I came down to this....

..........These two partners in crime
Both had evidence  on them....and the M & M's  were all gone.  I asked if she ate all of them and she said yes, but she shared with Bubba.  It was true because he was drooling all over waiting for more.  She did not fall asleep for a few hours then.  Chocolate must give her a kick start :)




GREAT NEWS POST:  Huahua's story is going to be featured in a Birmingham Christian Magazine.  Praise God for her purpose in continuing to reach orphans and ultimately spread the love of Jesus!

Don't forget to send a donation to help save SELAH!!!!   “Once our eyes are opened, we cannot pretend we don't know what to do.  God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act.”  Proverbs 24:12