Hearts of Adoption: Adoption 1 update and Adoption 2 update

Yesterday we officially re-adopted Huahua as a formality in the state of Wisconsin. Yes the second day we were with her in China she was officially our daughter, so I know it felt very odd and like we were just jumping through the hoops. It felt maybe we should explain we already traveled around the world to find her and had a major heart surgery, etc when the judge asked if we sure we were ready to take on this responsibility. We just smiled and said yes "I DO." Our most pleasant time was with the other families in the hallway celebrating their 1st time around adoptions, despite also having their little ones for 7-8 months too! It's just a different world you become accustom too and learn to abide by the rules when you have an adoptive child. These precious children are ours forever from here on out! For better or worse! But we will are always held to the "extra" rules that tend to hang over your family structure. We understand they are set in place to protect the welfare of the child, but at some point it will be nice just to breathe and be a family without paperwork!

Medically, Huahua is slipping in terms of her breathing/oxygen. Her oxygen stats drop significantly when she is active and of this is concerning. She is more labored and needs to stop and take breaks to catch her breath. She also has more episodes of blue/purple fingers/lips. She was evaluated again yesterday in the cardiac unit and she will be discussed tomorrow in conference with a team of providers, including her surgeon, cath doc and cardio doc, etc We will need to decide which direction will be best for her both in the short and long term in functioning. Please pray for discernment for Ryan and I, as we process this confusing medical information and decide what is best for her. More to come on that....

Adoption process.... Things are moving along.
First pray about the process to go smoothly. We have had really go movement with the paperwork and a excellent USCIS worker today even called me for something she needed...WOW! And then said she would approve the 800a today!!!! She was incredible! Pray that things continue to move along. Next step dossier authenticated and paperwork goes across the ocean!

Next week...Our son (whom we will name after this visit from Katie) will find out he has a family. I don't know how that strikes you, but I swing from fear and panic to joy and excitement for him. He's five, almost six, so this is so different from Huahua who would run around at the orphanage and say I am going to the USA! Pray for him to feel happy and excited about us and having a family. The idea of a family is foreign to him. What is a family? And we don't look like him. Pray for him to remember Huahua! (Reminder they lived at the same orphanage!) Pray for his heart to warm to the picture book that sweet aunt Katie is bringing to him next week, Pray for him to snuggle the pillow case with his siblings picture knowing they love him so much.
And Katie will be able to speak with the staff and see what he likes to be called. I have found it important to keep this so simple, yet vital part of their identity consistent for these children. Everything in an adoptive child's life is uprooted on gotcha day, and we will not just change his name to make it easier for us Americans to pronounce. Our daughter was called Huahua, she likes Huahua and if she desires she can be called by Jessica someday, but until that day comes she will be Huahua. (It means little flower)

Financing adoption- The average international adoption runs around $32,000-$36,000. Travel time really can swing a few thousand dollars (flights/hotel demand) in the wrong direction. When the call comes that you have travel approval from China, waiting a few weeks till flights "may drop" isn't an option in my book when my child is awaiting for me on the other side of the world! We are applying for a matching grant to help cover some of the cost of this adoption. The grant may match the donations we raise. Please pray for the grant to come through. We will update and we find out more. We are also busy selling T-shirts if you are interested please let me know @ lkietzke@hotmail.com

Kid shirt's are $20 Adult shirts are $25 Deal of the week 3 shirts for $60

As we know, God is the ultimate provider and will see this through to the end!

Pray for our son and his academics this fall to receive some schooling....I believe until now he was label not likely to be adopted, physically disabled-- therefore not worthy of education. Not in this household! God redeems, loves and this young boy is now a son and going to have every chance at life we all deserve.

Pray for his physical needs, as we are really going into this with pure faith where he is with his orthopedic needs are concerned. We know he has had 6 previous surgeries and will require additional intervention. Pray for his needs not to progress and just remain stable until be comes home.

The three biggest have started school this week. An adjustment for us all, especially Huahua, as she asks where they are all day along! And when does she get to ride on the bus? We will all start back at AWANA next week and Bible study where she will be involved in "her classes".

Her lastest fashion statement is wearing multiple layers of pants! Like 9-10 pairs, she can puts them all on herself! Not sure if this is regression behavior, but keeps her quite busy. And lots of extra wash when we have accidents. We limit to only 1-2 when leaving the house! It is still summer and hot outside!