November 10

Lina's next surgery is scheduled for November 10th. She will be getting a chin implant, and laser on her scars. We will be there for a week, God-willing. Lina's behavior has been less than desirable lately, maybe regression due to nervousness. I have been praying for the Lord to teach me how to be a better parent to her.

We are home!

Home at last! This was a shorter trip than usual, but it felt so long! Lina is doing great. Her nose looks better with each day. Her eye was swollen this morning, she must have rubbed it in the night. Dr. Rose is very pleased with the way everything is looking and says we are on the home stretch. We will probably go back for in office surgery in September. Mary flew in on Monday and enjoyed her stay. Bill and Susan took us around town so she was able to see the Statue of Liberty, Broadway, and had some fantastic lunches. I know I say it everytime, but I am so thankful for their friendship! Hannah and I leave early in the morning for Tennessee for AAU nationals.

no bed at the inn???

Lina got out of surgery at 4:15 and we didn't get into our room until 9:00. They had to clean the room, and then find a bed??? I still can' t figure out why they needed to locate a bed. Lina is doing great. She is drinking gatorade, and had some eggs this morning. So, maybe the Lord made us late yesterday so that-we would have the LAST room in the hospital and in the rush to find her a bed they failed to notice one of the "old" parent chairs in our room-I got to stretch out and actually got some sleep last night, I am so blessed! Mom and Dad are having a great time with the kids, and I am so thankful they are helping us.

What an incredible dope I am!!

So we got into NY yesterday, no problem, went to the pediatrician, got the ok for surgery. We got Lina her cheeseburger, and I tucked LIna into bed. I couldn't sleep, all of which is very normal. I checked the clock fell asleep around 3:00. I had set the alarm for 6:00 am and had my cell set....but I awoke to the phone at 8:30 (surgery was scheduled for 8:00) it was Nancy from Dr. Rose's office wondering where the heck I was. Lina and I were in a cab in 7 minutes flat. Dr. Rose had arranged to get a surgical suite at 10:30 and when I arrived at the hospital he gave me a hug and said, "The first thing we need to do is settle you down, stuff happens, we were worried about you, because you are so on top of things." I am so thankful he is such a kind person, he really had every right to be angry with me. I called Lea, as she always puts things in perspective for me, and she said God just didn't want us here at 8:00----I wonder when I'll forgive myself for this one...Lina was extremely upset this time. I carried her into surgery and the sleepy machine wasn't ready, so she got even more worked up, and was dry heaving...I settled her down and she went to sleep. Dr. Rose estimates surgery will take about 3-4 hours, very short in comparison, I'll post when she is out of surgery. I read Matthew 24 last night---it will be a incredible day when Jesus comes again...I know Lina will be the first to join him as she most certainly is one of his angels. I am truly in awe of her! Keep praying my friends, and please post a Hello when you read, I really enjoy the notes and need them!

Surgery planned for July 10

Lina and I leave for NY on the 9th. We have an appointment with the Pediatrician on at 5:00, then for the traditional cheeseburger and milkshake dinner. Our family has been approached by a national tv show that is premiering in September, The Doctors, to possibly do a story on us! Please pray that the Lord will use this opportunity to bring others unto Himself. I have not always understood why us, why me...however I have never doubted that this is God's will for our lives. It is my prayer that others would know Jesus because of the work he has done in our family. Thanks for continuing to pray. I have mentioned my friend Susan who is adopting... she finally got her LOI, permission to go to Kaz and meet her new family member, please keep her, Joe and Sean in your prayers. Also, a young lady from my church is having surgery on the 9th, Rachel, please remember her also. Pray is such a powerful gift--thank you for giving to me.

Saturday June 14

Well, I really stink at updating this blog. We are home and Lina is doing great. They moved the pendulum from her nose to her eye-very strange to look at- Dr. Rose fixed the area above her new nose and worked on her back. The back opened up, so she may have to have a graft in July. We are going back on July 9, surgery on the 10th. Lina truly is amazing. I think it is a blessing that she doesn't know she is different. Thank you Palmer family for the wonderful care package, it truly lifted my spirits. Thank you Mom and Dad, you truly know me--the cookies were yummy! I also apreciate you putting your life on hold to take care of the children while Rob was gone. The kids love spending time with you. To all my faithful friends, I can not do this without your continued encouragement, calls, and love. Bill and Susan, my angels--the love and admiration I have for the two of you is immeasurable. Thank you for flying Hannah out. For those they may not know, The Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team was in NY while Hannah, Lina and I were there. This is the charity making everything possible for Lina. Medical assistance is not the charter of the organization. They bring kids from Ireland to NY that are physically challenged, cerebral palsy, deaf, etc and they spend 2 weeks in the US. Then they send kids from the US to Ireland for 2 weeks. For some of these kids it is the only opportunity to be away from their parents, they grow physically and mentally. I was blown away. I know that I WILL be a part of the crew when my children are older. Friends, please be in thought as to a fund-raiser that we can do this year, I really want to give back to this organization and will need HELP.
I am not looking forward to going back to NY so soon, but the next surgery should create BIG changes to Lina's face. I hold firm to 1 Corinthians 15:58-Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

tuna and orange gatorade

Definitely not as invasive as the last surgery...She looks great, a little swelling, there is a bandage over the eye, so I can't tell what it looks like yet...I'm off to find her tuna and gatorade... the food here is beyond awful. Sorry for the short post