Long over due update!

 If you enter our house on any given day, you might find this!  These two attached at the hip laughing and playing, dressed in each others clothes (poor Joseph!) But he never complains, and just goes with the flow.  He has found his voice and sometimes puts in his preference and then wears whatever!  They adore one another.  I was informed the other day they got married, and he was wearing the princess dress and she had his clothes on!  And now he said they were just kidding :)  He has really transformed over the last year.  He has always been accepting of our love but as I have watched him grow to a point where he enjoys freely giving it too.  He says good morning and is the first to say I Love you!  Little things that we might take for granted, but little seeds that show he is feeling secure in his comfort and place in our family.

                                                                      Our heart Duo :)

Even though the snow was sparse this winter, fun was had by all when it was here!

 Many of you know our winter has been filled with event after event. Hence, our blog hiatus. The trials never seems to let up.  Jordan snuggles with Ryan's Dad here at the nursing home, as he has struggled with failing a heart this winter.  We cling to our faith the God is our provider and that he will see us through the trials of this life.

 Our Christmas was filled with family visiting from Florida and fun memories.  The kids got lots of time with the cousins and James and Huahua enjoyed the chicken feet at the Chinese restaurant.

 Some were venturous and tried the Chicken feet....Others watched... enjoyment was not had by ALL!

 James has taking a strong liking to Basketball.  Justin and Jackson's teammates include him so kindly.  We are thankful for a school district that teaches love and respect for those with differences.  He feels proud of himself, even though he doesn't get it just right, he feels a great sense of accomplishment when people treat him with respect for who he is.

 Justin making a pass around the big guy.   Very proud of the boys and their seasons.  During this game the officials were confused on who should have possession of the ball and gave it to Justin's team.  He spoke up  to correct to call and said "I made the foul and it's the other team's ball."  Despite "losing" this game by one at the buzzer, he recognized that the honesty and sportsmanship is most important part of the game.  Jackson's season was cut short, almost as it began, with his broken arm.  He continued to attend practices and games with his team, dribbling around with the other hand.  Quite frustrated with being on the sidelines, he finally has been granted permission by Noonan to start full participation again!  He broke out the dirt bike this weekend.  Strength and stretching are still the focus, as we keep an eye on the lump left on his wrist from a few chips of titanium left in his arm.  We pray his body will adjust to them and no further surgery needed.

  Jordan and her friend Sydney cheering on the boys!  And Joseph wondering
 if this was ever going to be done????????

Jordan took this picture at the school---I don't know if she even understood the significance.  In February, my mother
was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I think children are more keen to what's going on than we give them credit!
We pray and fight with her, as we know the one that Heals will provide what we need.

Ryan and I were able to get away together for a week for his work trip.  This is the shores of Maui.  As I stood on the shores and the waves crashing against the rocks, that's how we feel this winter.  Our family after this week will have endured 11 surgeries in 6 months.  We have rolled three of our children back 9 times and handed them over to a surgical team praying we would see them again; just holding onto to the faith that only can come from knowing the Lord.

But in the fierce waves, there is beauty and rage  The rocks are battered, broken, shaped and there comes dependence, restoration and healing in our lives.  Power and Peace that only comes from an almighty healer.  In the past few months, I have watched too many adoptive families lose their children to CHD and there is always a fear..... if the Lord will
take our child next?    

 As we were leaving the shore on our last day in Maui these two fisherman came up to rough shores to find a perfect place to drop their lines.  I thought how in the world could they possibly find anything in this massive ocean with waves slamming the shore line.  After speaking with them briefly, I glanced down and noticed a small space between the rocks, snuggled  next to the shoreline where the fish took their solace from the relentless waves.  A refuge. Yes, there was peace in the midst of this rough, relentless powerful ocean.  We are in a season of relentless waves. Our peace and refuge can be found in the Faith in the one who created the majestic ocean.

                                Some of God's beautiful creations!  These are the seven pools, which can become raging floods when it storms in the mountains.  People have been swept out into the ocean.  There are many signs saying DO NOT swim in the pools!  As you can see not everyone follows directions well.

 This is after the road to Hana.   The most beautiful drive, and it includes 617 turns for 52 miles along the mountain side.  Lots of blind turns and 56 one way bridges.  Not for the faint at heart!

Jordan and Justin growing up way to fast!!!!  Celebrating Huahua's fifth birthday at the waterpark!

 Believe it or not.....Our decision to adopt a child with severe congenital heart disease was easier before she was home;  Before we fell so in love with her! Our hearts could not live without her now!  She is joy, pure joy!  She is smart, beautiful, intelligent and so creative and we are beyond privileged to be her parents.  For now we live in the joy,  celebrate the miracle of each birthday and life she exuberates in every jump off pool and kiss she liberally gives!

                                            The comedian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                The little man.................doing BIG THINGS!!!

 Feng yu can be found within a few feet of his girl!

                 Yes.....we have minions.....Three of them!!!!!  And they love it!!!!!!!, But they are not evil!

Live in the joy!!!

James will be having his orthopedic/ plastic surgery tomorrow at 7:30 am.  He will have an achilles lengthening on the right leg and a tendon moved to help his club foot.  On the left foot he will have a toe removed and some reconstructive work to narrow the foot.  His right hand will also be worked on by a second surgeon who will work on either separating his two thumbs or releasing the skin between his thumbs and fingers.  They will reuse the skin graft area from his stomach.  The surgery is scheduled for five hours, which is his longest procedure with us.  Pray for his ability to wake up smoothly and without fear.  Please pray for this long road of recovery he faces.  Although he enters surgery tomorrow with a great attitude, three of his limbs will be casted, and even to those best prepared, it will be testing on patience.  He will be unable to bear weight for the first six weeks and rely on all of to maneuver him around in the wheelchair.  Pray as our household works out a new normal during this time.  I will post updates on Facebook.

 This little blue bag holds a special token.  More to come on that.....

Preparing for Christmas

As my favorite holiday approaches, I reflect on our family.  A whirlwind year, full of blessings, gifts, expectations, a trip across the ocean, challenges, grief, loss, love, smiles, joy, and undeniable HOPE.

Last night while cleaning up our dinner table, I glanced at James' table spot, littered with rice and meat, and smirked.  I asked him with a quiet smile, who sat here?  He was washing the table anyway. He loves to help in anyway he can.  He smiled back with a grin and said in his big voice, "Me!  and my fork did not work well!"  Oh that perspective he has on life will take him far.  He does not recognize his hands are a setting him back or causing him to be clumsy.  James just goes without complaining and Goes BIG!   Everything James does is BIG!  His VOICE is BIG, actually we find it a bit LOUD!  His actions are BIG!  But his smiles are also very BIG, his enthusiasm is BIG and his fight for LOVE is BIG! His heart is BIG!  He never gave up the HOPE of being loved by a family.  James opened up his present from grandma and the first thing he wanted to do was share it with his brothers and sisters.  A humble heart is going to take him far.  God has so much for him in life.  We have seen his friends and classroom blossom at school.  He is a social entertainer!  So next time you see BIG James coming by I hope you too see the BIG heart he wears on his BIG smiling face.

The little heart duo is doing well.  If their birthdays weren't 5 months apart I would swear they were twins.  They love to wrestle and play everything together.  Amazement strikes me to know they have only known each other for 9 months.  Huahua would give her life for him in an instant!  It's so precious the bond that can grow between our children.  Joseph will have his cardio check and echocardiogram tomorrow.  That will give us a good idea how his true heart function is doing.  He needs to gain weight, that is obvious by his falling down pants!

Jackson is still casted in a hard cast.  He will be until early January and then a "soft" cast/sling of some sort.   He is having a rough time with this break.  Being on the side line is hard-watching is refining and not so easy for a 9 year old boy!  He has had some really difficult days.  Please pray for him to see the good in this time too.

In closing I would like to reflect on a statement I read from another "heart" mother. When we have children with medical needs, life can be a bit uncertain.   As Christians, we have given our lives over to the service of the Lord.  We take Joy in that.  We have many blessings, but also trials of this world that everyone goes through.  We choose to have our focus in the Joy of today and not of the uncertainty of tomorrow.   We know when the trials come, we have the Lord to walk us through, no matter the outcome.  Yes, it does not always turn out rosy, but this world is not the end.  Heaven is--and that is our eternal HOPE!  This Christmas season, see the Joy and the Hope we have right in front of us.  Look for it and see it.  Love and treasure every moment of it, even if it comes in really loud, annoying, messy ways.

These two are chipping out the ice in the dog's bowl that was left outside for the stray dog.  Bubba wants to know what's going on with his bowl?  Would it be easier to just dump out the bowl?  Yes, but not as fun!

Yep, I know I am stunningly handsome!  (even with his shirt on backwards!)  We're convinced it's part of his situs inversus!

She is concentrating very hard on this.....

   That's a .....can I eat more of these ??? See the kid in the background waiting for my response too?

Joseph did not like to touch frosting....so he threw the candy.  Worked good for him

ARTIST AT WORK!  There was not left without a candy when he was done!

The mouth in the background looks stuffed with candy :)

Let the madness begin!!!!!

Poor kid can't keep his pants to stay on!  Trying to get him to put some weight on!!!!  He eats and eats and eats, but nothing!

And yes the pants are usually on backwards....we gave up trying to keep them on the correct way.  Pick your battles!

 HIS FIRST SNOWFALL.  A MIXED REACTION.  A LOVE-- HATE RELATIONSHIP for him!  He likes to play in it, but does not like the cold!  Sorry, but they go together.

                                 Huahua showed them how to play in the snow.

                                                                This guy loved it too

First time decorating a Christmas tree with his family.

           Christmas ornaments were quite exciting for James!  First time for him.  As he made more at school he brought them home and continued to decorate the tree.

The youngest always gets to hang the angel.

Jackson hanging out with his friend, Nolan.

Jackson's district 16 awards!

Justin's District 16 awards!

ONE FINAL exciting thing happening this Christmas season.....We had the opportunity to share our family story of adoption and children with special needs with the WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL and the story is to run on CHRISTMAS DAY!!!  Praying that many hearts with be touched, God will be glorified and next Christmas there will be less children wondering who will be their mother and father and a few more children snuggled in their homes!

The Oehlhof Roller Coaster--Raising Boys

Ecclesiastes 3:11-14New International Version (NIV)

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

Raising children is a gift from God.   It took me a few years to accept that this is where God wants me to be and to find true pleasure in my new "occupation".   Raising children is a blessing from God and treasured gift but let's face it sometimes really hard.   And while I enjoy most days, I am reminded, we purposefully chose really medically needy children because that's where God called us!  Our faith has been tested to the max at times, but today as Ryan and I sat awaiting another child to come out of surgery, all I could do is be thankful.  I am thankful my son could fall break his arm in two places and I did not falter.  My faith did not shake.  Yes, I was sad for him and the basketball season he will miss and the hard lessons he will have to learn again from the sidelines.  But this is the season I know he will also grow the most.  Jackson had surgery, top notch medical care, pain relief, a family to walk beside him, a church body praying for him, an extended community body rallying for him to get better.  He is safe, He will live.  I never feared for him and how would we handle this.  Would the hospital have room or how would we pay for this, never crossed my mind?  We are privileged.  Not only in a monetary sense, but also in the sense that we know the One who orchestrates the plans for our lives in that we have faith and can calmly enter into crisis knowing....no matter what happens.....God is in control.  This same boy, a little over three years ago (Sept 2012), said the most powerful wisdom filled words "God has a reason for me breaking my leg" after a long nine month process to lengthen his femur.  Six months later we would realize God was calling our family to special needs adoption!  He was using our really hard times to point us to HIM and children with really special needs-like single ventricle hearts.  Who knew in the next three years we would have three special needs children from China?  Well you know the answer to that!   

SO please do not feel sorry for us in this situation.  It's just part of life orchestrated by the Mighty One.  Yes, part of it sucks for Jackson, but part of it will be glorious, as we see what comes out on the other side of this.  As we endure and watch in anticipation miraculous things, Jackson will come out on the other side stronger because of it, because he too has faith.  And for that I am immensely grateful.

So medically speaking--Jackson broke the radial bone near the tip of the socket and the ulna bone mid way down while attempting a jump off the swing.  Yes, we have boys and apparently we're safer on dirt bikes with protective gear!  So many things have pointed to God being in control of this situation.  The first plan last night in ER was to move the radial bone back into place.  He already had his light sedation and then his surgeon (yes, we call him our private surgeon)  Noonan called in and said don't touch him and scheduled his surgery for 7:30 am.    We are very thankful for this, as we trust Noonan with Jackson's care.  This morning two rods were placed, one in the ulna bone going towards the hand and one in the radial bone going towards the elbow.  He has compartment syndrome, which is a rare swelling complication where they had to releave the pressure with an incision and put in a suction device and drain the excess fluid.  The device remains in with the open wound site until Wednesday when they hope to close the site in surgery, if the swelling is down.  Pray that he does not need a skin graph to cover the wound and infection stays at bay.  He will remained hospitalized until then.  Ryan has been staying with him overnight.

 Tonight he went for his first walk to the play room with Dad.  He said he went bowling right-handed.  Yes, he is left handed, so writing will be out for awhile.  Although he did figure out how to play the sony playstation one handed.   He is also the kid who they said would not be able to get around with a body cast on or that fixator on, etc and where there is a will, Jackson finds a way!

 Jordan so thoughtfully packed up his bag with me last night.   She picked out all his favorite cuddle things and books to read to make his hospital stay better.

Dad and Jackson playing Playstation.  Dad was steering and Jackson was ALL GAS.  Go figure!    Good to see him smiling, even if it's drug induced.

His little siblings were at the hospital part of the day.  A good friend took them for awhile to play.  Thank you to everyone who has offered to help out.  We truly appreciate and feel the love and support of our friends, family and church!