Number Game

3- girls with me here in TX
1- baby bear
1- adopted Grammie they have here :)
1- boy Isaac that we are praying for good news about soon- we love you son!
34- times the GPS hasn't been able to differentiate the highway from the frontage road
countless- friends Angeline has made here at the hospital 1- family who has cherished and spent special time with Sophie
2- friends who said YES- lets have a party for Angeline at our house on Sunday- let us know how to help
2- the number of weeks we have been in the hospital
14- the number of days in two weeks
17- the approximate number of runny poop diaper changes per day times 2 children
2- the number of diapers we have to put on Angeline each time (poor honey)
400- approximate number of diapers used in the past two weeks
6- trips to Target for diapers and wipes
3- children's pro biotic pills Angeline takes per day and
2- the number of them that Bear gets
5- the number of items returned yesterday: 3 movies, 1 DVD player and 1 bouncie seat that wouldn't vibrate

30- the number of meals brought to us that were so yummy and thoughtful- thank you
45- loads of laundry we have done
7- the number of awesome women who have come to help with Baby Bear
1- nurse who works here named Sunny
1- green laser pointer Sunny has today to bother all the people with :)
15- the number of nurses Bear has had
4- therapists have come to see Bear
6- specialists have come to see Bear
4- antibiotics that Bear takes each day
5- times the toy cart has stopped at our room
5- children at home I miss
4- adult kids at home I haven't heard from and miss too (CALL ME GUYS!)
1- husband who supports me like no other- and has done a (gulp) just as fabulous a time taking care of the kids and things at home as I would have (I am so proud of you honey- I should have believed in you more a long time ago)
1- sister with a lot on her plate right now who still has my back no matter what- even if hers is all messed up- I love her.
1- loving couple who took Lena home to Haiti who is having a rough time right now (Rick got an infection in Haiti and has been in and out of the hospital since coming home- they could use your prayers!)
2- children who have gone to the ER
65- times Angeline has asked to please go home now because she misses her big TV
4- times Angeline has asked to go skateboarding? (Not sure why.)


12- smiles from Baby bear since yesterday
31- dressing changes for Bear
12- cookies from "Tiffs treats" that didn't last long enough :) YUM.
16- Backyardigans episodes
2- ventricle taps
0- growth from the CSF tap from last week (YEA)
4- occurrences of bickering between Sophie and Lauren
16- love berries consumed
72- times I have thought about going to swim laps but haven't
2- resale shops visited
3- tanks full of gas

24- average daily formula intake by Bear
4- kilos Bear weighs
6- times Lauren has been pooped on
1- knee Lauren has hurt
72- times telling Bears "story"
43- people who have asked "whats the plan?"
16- people who have asked Lauren if she was Angelines Mom
2-mornings waking up in a pool of poop
12-clothings changes daily between Bear and Bean


1- blessing of GOOD NEWS from just now- Bear can leave the hospital room and take a walk outside in the stroller! :)
endless- love for this sweet baby
endless- thanks for your prayers and support

Sometimes

Sometimes when I am in confined spaces it makes me loopy- and silly.
That might even mean that when I go to pick up my scabies medicine I might have to scratch and itch myself repeatedly to save myself from embarrassment- why not make it a little worse and obvious that I have some kind of problem?

This probably isn't that funny- but it certainly was making Lauren laugh- so it was SO worth it. Sometimes she can be a little too serious for her age.

Today we had back to back time slots of lovely helpful kind and wonderful volunteers to come and sit with Bear. The girls and I were able to get some laundry done-scabies treatment involves a LOT of laundry- we aren't itching YET- but last night at midnight when I couldn't sleep because I dreamed about tiny bugs burrowing in my skin- I had to do the treatment- who cares if its poison- it felt SO good.




(The girls will be using what the blog reader suggested if they start itching- a combination of olive oil and a hint of tea tree oil- however thankfully-
they didn't have as much skin to skin exposure to Bear if any.)

So after laundry- we headed out on a little adventure to thrift store shop for a mobile, bounce seat for Bear and back up clothes for Angeline (still having terrible D.)- we realized that our needs would better be served and our time would be better spent going to Babies R. Us. (Yeah for GPS.)

The check out lady at the Babies R Us WAS the Target lady from SNL... I swear...

Do y'all know who I am talking about?

Sometimes when Lauren and I spend time with folks like the Target lady- we start talking like her and get super silly- it happened... and we cried we laughed so hard- brilliant.

Sometimes THANK YOU just isn't enough for the people who stepped in to help us today- and over the past weeks. Sophie is currently over at a "friends" for dinner and this picture is for her Nana- who is very concerned that Sophie isn't able to get enough school work done here at the hospital. (Even though she is trying hard and certainly learning much more than any text book could teach you!)

This is a life skills class Nana!

Mr. Bear doesn't like to miss a meal- that is a certainty. His little head is getting bigger and so is his double chin. :)

They changed his formula today to soy to see if that helps with his belly ache a bit. We are hoping for a shunt soon. What else are we waiting on?

Well Bear is needing 21 days of the antibiotics to be sure he is infection free. (This might all have to occur before we leave the hospital- some people have asked if we can stay at RMH and come over for the meds- I am not sure about this.) Next week Bear might get an external shunt- or maybe the ID docs will decide when it might be ok for him to get a VP shunt. (The shunt drains the extra fluid from his ventricles- risky when he has so many skin and other infections going on.) A new stool sample was sent off today to see if the meds worked to clear up the poopy bug issues.

It definitely made me smile this morning to hear the doctor ask if "they" just call him BEAR or if we all call him Bear too? :)

Please keep prayers going for Bears family situation- its a long story and one I am not feeling ok about sharing right now- but someday-once the path is clear- we will share.

Busy Bean

Bean is feeling much better today.

Praise!

Thank YOU for all the prayers and well wishes.

We are finding renewed energy.

The DVD player didn't work out so I broke down and bought a portable.

Happy Birthday Beanie. (Her real 3rd birthday is this Sunday) She has been missing her big TV at home- so now she is in hog heaven. (She even likes to hold it on her lap while we walk around and shes in her stroller- classy.) (I would never let my child watch so much TV if we were at home and she were feeling better... :)

Thanks Angela for the Easy Mac and Mini water bottles- Bean is loving BOTH.

We are happy she is eating something. We had one small vomit last night (Angeline) and still are having LOTS of the big D. And some major skin breakdown (Beanies bottom)... which is hard to manage...

but lucky for us we are at a hospital and the hospital pharmacy was able to order us 5 tubes of our favorite diaper cream- and it arrived 24 hours later. Yeah!!

I had a big God moment last night when talking to another Mom at the RMH.

Her "story" and "situation" involved both herself, her husband and their baby (all THREE) in the hospital over the past 8 weeks. (Congestive heart failure, heart attack x2, liver failure and her baby is fighting for his life with a whole separate birth defect- those diagnoses were the parents.) She was staying up late waiting for her friend to arrive from out of state, and her friends teen daughter- they were coming to help her- because you see she also has a toddler- and her husband just got out of the hospital 2 days ago... 2 hours away from here.

She has no family help, and no local friends.

And... she saw the late hour, my tired face, my sickly kids, and guess what?

She offered to HELP ME. She told me- "just let me know if you need any help."

Whenever in life you think your situation is hard and challenging- there are always people who have it SO much worse than you. Its humbling to have to step back,

look at the big picture and see the immense blessings of the past week.

HIS plan is certainly the best plan- even when its hard to keep your chin up!

I have had many offers of help with Bear and am working on lining up one person or "team" each day to take a couple hours with Bear so we can do laundry, shower, nap, or perhaps even something fun like the movies or swimming. Its been awesome to see people coming together to help us and Bear while we are here. And my prayer is that when we are settled in a few days and I will be able to reach out and help this Mom and her situation. Pray for them please.

Thank you.
Sarah

Denial over

I think that I was doing OK until this morning when Lauren started throwing up.

I know that I am next but I am in a deep state of denial that its going to happen.

Just let me continue to be here for a few more hours OK?

There are several vitally important things that I need to do:

First and foremost- figure out what I need to hook up a DVD player at the RMH.

(I need some kind of adapter or something- my girls are laying in bed together miserable- Sunny brought movies this morning for us to borrow and it would be a blessing to get the budget DVD player from Target that I bought late last night hooked up.)

Kim- if you were here you would be able to figure this one out. See I need someone who can read directions with me at all times when I travel!

Secondly- I was in complete denial over Bears scabies.

Last night I bathed him, covered him in the Elimite cream and this morning we washed it all off.

The doctors came around together and saw how close I was cuddling Bear. Although some... well MOST folks have been wearing gloves around Baby Bear- I thought Bear needs some real touch, love, massage and TLC- who needs gloves?

The doctors informed me that I most certainly have scabies that are coming any second now. :) So guess who hasn't been able to stop freaking itching since that time. I wasn't sure how I was going to get the prescription medicine to treat it- but naturally Sunny pulled some strings and now I have an RX to get the meds to cover both Lauren and I in Elimite cream this afternoon... what a nice time for mother child bonding. :)
I think that if they hadn't said- YOUR GONNA GET IT. I wouldn't be itching yet. Typically it takes two weeks to start itching. I will be ahead of the game then... umm... Salem... you might want to watch for some itching to happen- SORRY!

Jamie has been such a dear to help line up meals for us and help for us.

Thank you Jamie.

I have already had three folks this morning offer to help

with Bear this week so I can attend to my girls.

Thanks y'all! (Now I have to start saying y'all since I'm in Texas- Jamie said its a requirement.)

My girls are so sad. Please keep praying for us all. We need fast healing.

(Angeline was wearing Laurens shirt taped in the back because the four oufits left clean got soiled before the afternoon! Poor baby- her eyes just look terrible in these pictures.)

I honestly don't think we got sick from Bear- I am just hoping we don't get him sick.

LOVE and Blessings.
Sarah

P.S. I just wanted to add something cute. The "ice tea" cart just came around and handed out ice tea for everyone. This has GOT to be Texas- only here would something like that occur! :)

Pray!

Angeline did a little better yesterday and then last night started throwing up again. The diarrhea has been horrible and her bottom skin is starting to break down. Please keep her in your prayers.

This morning Sophie also started throwing up... then the big D started...

This afternoon I took them both to the ER. They were drinking some fluids but both were looking very pale and terrible.

ER went OK... thank heavens for sweet Emily who came to sit with Bear for the afternoon. (Thank you Emily!)

ER doctor wasn't concerned why they were vomited and had the big D. He gave them an anti nausea pill that will last through the night and said if they spike a fever or have any "blood" to come back and he will treat them for a possible infection like Bear has.

Please pray for Miss Sophie and for all of us. Lauren and I are still doing well- just tired- PRAISE.

Off to give Bear a bath then lather him up with some ELIMITE... you guessed it SCABIES. (It only gets easier to treat all these diagnoses right?)

We shall see- part of me thinks he just has VERY sensitive skin- even his little arm band has left sores. Poor guy.

More pictures soon. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes.

Rough 24

Just a quick post to ask for prayers.
Bear is doing well but had to get a CSF "tap" last night and then had a little "leak" going on (from his head) that freaked us all out- its all ok now and not a huge deal.
Praise is that his poop seems to be a bit thicker and that his bottom is looking better this morning.
Prayers needed because one of the bacteria found is resistant to one of the four antibiotics so he had a change in meds getting rid of one and adding another.
We are able to hold him!! Bathe him!! Love on him!! Yeah!!

Angeline is very sick and has been all night with vomiting and diarrhea. It seems to be of the flu bug sort of thing- and not the crypto thing like Bear has. She has been at the hospital most days this week all over the place playing etc. so its no wonder she picked something up. Just please pray for her fast healing, for lots of energy for Sophie, Lauren and I- and please pray we don't get sick too!! (I am feeling queasy right now but that might be from cleaning up bodily fluids for the past 24 hours over and over and over!) Just pray it goes away for them both- but we have to keep Angeline out of the hospital too!!

Angeline is "held up" at the RMH until she is better so Lauren and I are taking turns going back and forth so no one is left alone.
More soon. Please pray. This is tough.

Sunny

This morning when I woke up after short hours of sleep here and there through the night and learned that today our nurse was "Sunny"- I was thrilled. Not that I don't enjoy ALL the nurses in this section of the hospital- but Sunny was our nurse when we were here with Ella and Bugs several times. He kept us smiling then- and was sure to keep us smiling now.

He was also the nurse who took his time the other day and was able to get an IV in Bears arm.

Sunny likes to say things to his patients and their families like: "Your the boss- how can I help you?" and to the children "if you need popsicles or ice cream- I am your guy!"

We have been treated with so much love here in Texas. Here are some pictures of Bear with his new blue softy blankie. Excuse the lotion- Bear has a rash we are working on clearing up.

Doodles

Today was a real stinky doodle kind of day. I have to say doodle by the way- because I am in doodle-ville. :) Doodle means poo, poopy, stool, shat etc.

It started with Baby Bear not being able to eat for surgery again today. Just a small surgery- but surgery none the less to place a PIC (?) line in and so we could take out the central line in his neck that is pulling on his tender skin. (and he's having some skin breakdown on his neck now)

But Bear doesn't mind what you do- move him, poke him, prod him, etc. He does not want to miss a meal, not at all... and no matter how tired he is- he isn't going to sleep when he wants to let you know how ticked off he is about missing a meal. So it was a long night and a long morning.

Then I woke up to the picture above.

Minky Lena's last pictures with the family.

This was her being put into the car seat to leave for the airport with her escort family.

She is obviously unhappy and trying to get back to her people.

Depressing.

I miss her.

Saying "I miss her"-doesn't really explain the way that I feel.

My chest aches for her.

That might seem strange to some of you... but for some of you out there- I know you know just what I mean- its this primitive painful longing that cuts like a sharp knife to the soul.

And here she is with her US Papa- my hubby. Proudly wearing the hat that the "guys" make fun of him for wearing. You rock it honey- I love you. :)

And I had to throw this little Diva duet picture in here.
Sophie and Zoe on Sophie's 11th birthday.
adorable.

Bear has more doodles of a myriad of rainbow colors than I have ever witnessed in my life. He has the camplobactor (sp?) and cryptsporidium- and the nurse explained the green bright doodles could be from some kind of C-dif thing that they might check for. Its imperative that we keep the doodles off his sore bottom and definitely off his back dressing which sits dangerously low to the doodle projector. So its a lot of just sitting, listening and waiting.

Today when the floor doc came to visit- he shared the news that Bear has the cryptosporidium too. This is what Angeline had when she arrived from Haiti. She had water doodles for seven months. And keep in mind the skin on the babies and kids with SB is so sensitive.
So we have to glove up and cover up and wrap up and tie tight and wipe off everything every second of every waking moment around here! Bear is such a trooper though...

I am so in love. Need I say more? Doodles and all.
They are here now to pull the central line out of his neck and Sophie is waiting on me to join her for some Mary Kate and Ashley movies. :) I did just want to share one last doodle:

My sister went to Angeline's preschool meeting today that was giving the official determination on her eligibility for preschool services- meaning- does she get to go to the school or not.

And guess what.

Big stinking doodles.

She doesn't qualify.

Months of preparation, anxiety and prayer for her to transition into the program...

She doesn't have any delays that interfere with her education.

Apparently MOBILITY and WALKING isn't a factor for learning.
(even if you can't get yourself into the building without crawling or being carried)

Silly me- silly family-silly birth to three- silly OT-silly doctor-silly NS-silly all of us...

we thought paralysis and spina bifida was a shoe in for special education!

I am all fired up- can you tell?

So what does this mean?
Headaches, attorneys, appeals, phone calls, letter writing, advocating and more praying

and people ask me why I home school.... HA!

Post op. pics

Morning tidbits

On the way here in various airports with Lauren, Sophie and Angeline- I only had one person come up and tell me something about my childs hair. We do fix Angelines hair sometimes- but she has a VERY VERY sensitive head because of all the scars all over it- so it hurts her to fix it. I just let the comments roll off of me- but apparently I don't deal well with criticism.

(So this was about 4 mins before the comment came- her hair was crazy!)

In Other News:

KIM

My dear friend Kika Kim hasn't been feeling well. She went to the doctor Sunday and they ordered an ultrasound for Monday. Well after the US they decided that she needed to go straight to the ER to have her gall bladder removed. I feel terrible that I am not there to help Kim with her children and to be with her at the hospital- but even worse is the fact that her husband left for work out of town for the week (VERY out of town)... so she is going through this without her entire support system there. Please keep Kim in your prayers. I wasn't able to get a hold of her last night so I assume that she had surgery last night? I know many of you read her blog as well (Kika Kim on the right)- and Momma to five kiddos. (Waiting on Elijah at COTP- Isaac's buddy.)

HOME

I am missing my home, family, kids and hubby left in WA. Kellie S. I accept your apology, thank you. Please understand that I am typically not so sensitive. My children just had to go through letting go of their "baby sister" Lena. My children are well aware of what life in Haiti is like and the struggles that Lena will have in her life. It is hard but definitely the right place for Lena to be is with her Mom who loves her so much. If you have been reading this blog for awhile now- you will read about Ella and Bug (who we hosted) and how Ella lost her life back in Haiti. This is a grim reality of Haiti and I know two of my children in particular are home right now without me- their Momma and they are feeling very lost. Its hard to juggle being here, and being there- I just have to take it one day at a time and do my best. The Lord wants me here in Texas but I am trying to juggle quite a bit all at the same time. (and not let my Mommy guilt get the best of me!)
I do know this is where I am supposed to be right now- so that does give me some peace.

BEAR

Keep following the twitter updates. The biggest things for today are:

1. Prayers for NO growth in his CSF cultures!

(this will tell us if he has any infection in his brain- if he doesn't that means he can get his shunt this week- if he does- then he will need treatment for the infection with heavy duty antibiotics depending on what is is- I think that the cultures take three days total to have to get the "clear")

2. We are waiting on lots of lab results and other tests so I will update those as I have them

(I know there are several folks following Bears journey who are following the medical stuff)

3. Bear is having some trouble with his catheter and they might have to take it out or put a different one in.

4. Bear is laying flat on his belly for the next few days so his back can have the best chance to heal but he has a central line in the right side of his neck- he doesn't want to turn his head because I think its bothering him. Hopefully they can help him want to move his head so his face doesn't swell too bad on one side.

5. Keeping his bottom clean has been a huge struggle and his skin is so sore!

PRAISES

- Bear is eating really well!

- My sister was able to fed ex cath supplies for Bean yesterday so we will have enough while we are here. (thanks Nina- $85 later... sorry!)

-People in Texas are some of the nicest people in the country FOR SURE

-We have had the most wonderful folks bringing us meals and helping with Bear, errands, the kids here etc. We have really enjoyed the visits and the company and getting to know so many wonderful people. We are feeling loved and that means so much. Thank you all!

I will be getting my camera today and posting pictures of Bears new back! AMAZING!!

Happy Tuesday everyone.

Love,
Sarah

To Kellie S.

In response to this blog comment:

I just started reading your blog from reading Lori's. Thanks for your ministry to these little ones. But I have to say how can Obama be a man you greatly admire? Not that there is nothing to admire about him but when you obviously value life so much while he refuses to stnad up for the unborn who have no voice? And even worse supports those who take it?Kellie Shramek

Hi Kellie,
Thanks for your blog comment- what a timely debate to start up in the midst of Bear's big surgery day. Thanks for your Christian behavior and support and FINE tactfulness. I guess that you missed the entire point of the previous post. While I am sitting holding a babies pacifier in his mouth and watching him suffer- I really need your prayers and prayers for this baby.

I am going back to care for Bear now who is very sick... not sure if you missed that from my blog posts- but if you don't like what I have to say- stop reading my blog.

Blessings,

Sarah

MLK-Obama-Baby Bear

Three men I admire the most this week... MLK, Obama, and Baby Bear.

I am seriously going to get better about taking pictures, promise!

I am trying to keep up with documenting what is going on throughout the day. The past few days have been very busy so please check the blog for updates and I am twittering if you want to sign up for updates. I will update throughout today in particular when I have updates from Bear "team" in surgery.

Bear is down in surgery right now. Dr. A. has eight hours blocked off for the surgery room for Bear. I am not sure how long it will take- there are a lot of variables. This morning was a little rough. I am not sure what it was- well of course taking the baby that I am loving down to surgery is worrisome- but truly HE has such a plan for Bear... its awesome.

I think that having a male nurse last not (albeit gender shouldn't matter) but this man spent a great deal of his shift caring for Bear and his sore bottom and it was very humbling seeing how sweet he was with Bear. (He was truly a very skilled and fantastic nurse. I am not sure why I assume less sensitive compassion from a male- but truly there wasn't one second of anything done by the nurse with Bear without complete love!) They had attached a colostomy bag to Bears behind to catch his never ending flow of watery stool... but yesterday when the nursing shift was changing they were concerned about further skin breakdown issues from the colostomy bag and it was starting to come off. They talked a great deal (we all did) about how we were going to best care for Bear by positioning him and moving him, colostomy bag?, air?, diaper?, cream?, powder?, meds? etc. The nurse wanted to try just leaving the diaper off and using soft toss able cloth to wipe his bottom over and over each time he dribbled stool. I was thinking- wow- that's going to be all the time- but ok- we will try it. (And I was praying he was going to help a lot!) So he came in throughout the evening and night to check on Bear and wipe his behind. By this morning the redness has gone to a much more subtle hue and it was looking SO much better.

So in the middle of the night Bear went NPO (no formula or clears to get ready for surgery). As I stood over him and watched his nurse man gently talk to him and wipe his bottom- he laid there naked and his big belly reminded me so much of Angeline in that moment. With her big "bump" on her back and her fuzzy head and rolly poly legs and twisted up feet and beautiful little face...

Bear has little bits of every little Haitian that has blessed my life through MAT- the comparisons with Angeline are profound of course- but he has ella's hair and big belly, bug's eyes, and minky lena's appetite! I just couldn't hold him tight enough this morning. He is so comforted even when hungry, even when in pain and suffering by laying in my arms. He has relied on human touch and love over the past weeks to make it through, and obviously was so loved at RHFH, that just blesses my heart!

Just to think about how far Bear has come over the past weeks makes me weak in the knees. It is truly awesome. The amount of people who helped and advocated was unreal. And Dr. A.- what a fantastic doctor she is. The thing that I admire the most about her is she would do anything for her patients. Truly- upon commitment- she becomes an advocate and she loves and cares for them so well. It gives me great peace to be here and to be working with her once again. I adore her.

So to talk more about the medical stuff going on with Bear- here is what we know so far:

Bear has Spina Bifida and everything that can come along with that (hydrocephalus and chiari). Bear will need a VP shunt placed in his brain to drain the excess fluid. He will likely have this surgery done on Thursday.

Bear also has bilateral club feet. He will have care and surgery for this later on- he has several more urgent things going on. He is paralyzed from the spina bifida- we don't know how much- but likely he is paralyzed in his lower legs. This means that Bear- like we did with Angeline- might need to use a walker or wheelchair for mobility. He will also wear AFO orthotics on his legs to help keep his feet straight once they are repaired. (Through a combination of serial casting and surgery I would assume- his little toes are misplaced a bit- almost above the fourth toe- so I am not sure how this could affect things or if it will.)

Bear also has a neurogenic bladder and bowels. We aren't sure yet about long term CIC (clean intermittent catheterising) and such. He had his kidneys and bladder ultrasound done and has had a foley catheter (one that you leave in) for the past few days. He has a hernia in his boy parts and it is making his pee tube (real technical I know) a little "different" so they had the urologist put the catheter in. The tube is being pushed by the hernia. The hernia might be getting repaired on Thursday when they do the surgery for the VP shunt. Bear also has a thing- campo (something or another) from Haiti that is giving him terrible diarrhea. They are giving him medicine for this. Later on, when Bear doesn't have diarrhea, he will be on some sort of bowel management program that will keep his stool regular.

There are several blood tests, stool samplings etc. that are still pending so we will know more soon if there is anything else going on there.

Bear has a really hard time burping (like he doesn't hardly burp at all) and was really FULL of gas the past 24 hours. So they did an xray to make sure that was all it was. But it made his belly big and his breathing harder because his diaphragm had less room to move!

He also has a rash that is eczema and fairly significant on several parts of his body. This could be from dry skin or perhaps an allergy of sorts. We are putting stuff on it and keeping an eye on it.

Bear has a lot of skin breakdown on his bottom from the diarrhea so we will have to be diligent about keeping his bottom clean and dry until he can get over the diarrhea.

So for now- that's all. I am sure that there are things I have forgotten. It's a lot to think about all at one time!!

I will update twitter throughout the day to let you all know how Bear is doing in surgery. Please keep those prayers coming!!

Love,
Sarah

Yesterday

Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away... now it looks as though they're here to stay- oh I believe in yesterday.

Why'd she have to go, I don't know- she wouldn't say...

Minky Lena went home to Haiti yesterday to her Momma. My dear friend Kim had kept her for the two nights before she left to give her a little trial run away from us- and to her used to the idea that she was leaving with Darla and Rick on the plane Friday morning.

We heard word last night that Lena did great the whole trip. they left Seattle on Friday, had an overnight in Florida, and arrived in Haiti yesterday morning. I can't wait to hear from Darla how it all went- but for now I have peace knowing that she is likely with her Momma and they are staying at Angel Missions for the night and going to check in at the embassy to show she is "back home" tomorrow. Then she will be off to her home with her family and her new lease on life.

I miss her like crazy and I know that my family does as well. I do believe that the things saving me emotionally right now are:

1. Being really busy with Bear

2. Being out of town

3. Praying a ton :)

(Just taking things one day at a time and praying for a picture of her smiling and happy with mom sometime this week! That would be such a blessing.)

I will try to give an update (medical stuff too for those interested) later on Bear. Yesterday was full of tests- bloodwork, IV's, MRI, Ultrasound, urology, xray and meeting Dr. A.

Today he might be getting a "tap" of his ventricles so that they can see if his CSF grows anything.

Tomorrow he will have his first surgery.

Thanks for the continued prayers and out pouring of love for Baby Bear.

If you are waiting on an email or phone call from me- I will get to it soon- I promise.

Love,
sarah

Bear has arrived!

So lets just share the short story.

Today was a really long day. Actually the past 24 hours were really long.

Exciting, scary and long.

I only cried twice. :)

Bear's flight from Haiti was canceled. (of course)

Every flight after that today was FULL.

Bear's escort from Haiti to Miami was put on standby after many phone calls from here by Salem and I and lots of pleading on her part in Haiti. (Not sure what helped!)

She was able to find someone who was flying on a later flight who she knew who would take Bear. She hand wrote a quick escort permission letter and handed Bear off. The flight was then delayed. So that put Salem missing her flight from Miami... the time had now passed that she was supposed to be on the flight to Dallas with Bear. We were able to find her another flight....

With one catch.

It was from Miami to Dallas- and Bear needed to get to Austin.

ugh.

And the 2nd catch- was that the flight out of Haiti was delayed- so the Haiti escort was only going to have 45 minutes to get through customs and bring Bear to Salem in time for Salem to jet off to her flight for Dallas. All we could do was wait and pray. (Lots of praying happened today.)

Salems flight was delayed and she was able to get on with Bear just in the nick of time.

Naturally. That is how Bears entire journey has been so far.

So we still had to get Salem and Bear from Dallas. So Sophie and I grabbed some stuff and got in the rental car and started driving. (3 hours and 15 mins later...) We arrive in Dallas at the airport and find Salem and Bear... one dressing change and clothes change later (for Bear)...

and we were back in the car- Salem driving the way back to Austin. Now its 7am here. Bear is clean and ready to go to the hospital for admitting and testing. He is snoozing on Salem and she might pass out shortly. We are exhausted but running off of adrenaline.

We just know that God has awesome plans ahead for Bear.

Thank you thank you thank you for your prayers.

More soon.

Love,

Sarah

P.S. Bear is adorable!!

Tomorrow

Late in the day tomorrow- I will finally get to meet Bear.

Ahhh....

The Passport and Visa both were issued for Bear today.

Wow.

I feel this intense sense of relief and a very settled feeling.

It is my hope and prayers that Bear does well tomorrow with all the traveling and that he recovers from his busy day at the passport and visa offices today. This is a lot for his

little body to go through. But he is a very strong little man.

I am anxious to tell you the rest of the story as it unfolds... thank you for your prayers- I truly believe that they made all the difference. And thank you to the folks in Haiti- all of you- who came together for this baby in God's name- just in the nick of time- and moved mountains.

To God be the Glory.

More soon.

Love,

Sarah

Baby Bear Update Update Update!!

THEY GOT THE PASSPORT!!!

I am going to get the full story and post about it later. I have heard bits and pieces and it was definitely a lot of people coming together just at the right time for Baby Bear.

Right now I believe that they are applying for Bear's visa so that he can leave tomorrow.

Keep praying for everything to go smoothly there!

Praise the Lord for the passport!

Thank you all for praying!

I am here in TX, about to finally get some sleep, and I will update as soon as I have one!

This has been an exhausting couple of weeks seeing how this has all come together. I am anxious to hear from Lori because if I have been this emotionally exhausted- I can only imagine what a relief that was for her to have the passport today. PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE.

(Just in the nick of time. PTL.)

Tears of joy!

Sarah

Leaving shortly

Ok-so we still have no passport.

By now, I am pretty much packed. It was a busy day of pray... phone... email... pack... pray... pray...phone...pray... pack... email... pray more...

Bear HAS to leave Haiti on Friday- no leaving is NOT an option.

Tomorrow there is a load of folks headed for the passport office with Bear first thing in the morning. Please pray for them all, especially for Lori that she has wisdom and patience to say the right words to get this done. It is going to be a BUSY day because as soon as they have the passport- they will run over to get the Visa.

We have two great Congressman's offices helping us with US portion and the passport side- we do realize that it is difficult for them to have any control over the Haiti side of things. We must have the passport early enough to be able to get the Visa done tomorrow... or at least applied for tomorrow and ready first thing Friday morning. The escorts leave Haiti early afternoon on Friday- and Bear needs to be with them.

So I am stepping out in a leap of faith. I am turning it all over to HIM and I am leaving shortly for the airport with three of my children for Texas. We will write tomorrow as we get the updates.

Now I have to figure out how to say goodbye to Lena... and to my five "younger" children I am leaving here- and my husband who has to keep it all together- with the help of one busy sister Godsend. We have one way tickets and no plan.

Thank you for praying- keep it up- pass it on!

Kindred spirits

These pictures are of my kindred spirits.

Other folks who are a part of my church family- and a part of my passion for Haiti.

They leave Washington this Friday on a 2 week mission trip to Haiti.

The other night the team got together and gave a little talk for a group of folks.

Each person went around and shared why they are participating in the mission trip.

Darla and her husband are going to be with Lena over Friday night and they will be bringing her back home to Haiti and to her Mom. Darla and I clicked right from the start. Her husband is wonderful with babies and so is mine- so we share that in common as well. Darla and her family might be adopting from Haiti. They are going on the mission trip and keeping an open mind that to see where the Lord leads them. I am so excited for them all- and I am so thankful that God placed Darla and Rick in our path and that they are the people

caring for "our" precious cargo- Lena.

It was awesome to gather around these folks and Lena and pray together for their journey.

I know that the first time I went to Haiti (to meet and bring home Angeline) it changed me a great deal. I don't think that there is any way to send a baby away without feeling sadness. But in all honesty- God couldn't have made a more graceful plan for her departure-

with more wonderful people. For that I am so thankful.

Thanks Darla and Rick and the mission team!

PASSPORT

Still no passport.

We are calling everyone we can think of.

This HAS to happen TODAY.

We have to get Bear to Texas on Friday.

Pray! Pray! Pray!

No Passport today

No passport for Bear today.

Everyone is very upset and frustrated.

Please pray for all of our hearts to remain steadfast and strong.

Please pray for the passport people to get it done TOMORROW.

Please pray for us to all forge ahead with plans and not let anything stand in our way.

Please pray for Bears personal round the clock caretaker (shown above). And pray for the people at RHFH- they are more busy this week than their normal BUSY life. They are swamped truthfully. They had hoped like the rest of us that Bear was in TX- two weeks ago-

and seeing him wait and suffer has to be a great burden to bear.

We have tickets to leave WA tomorrow night for TX. If we have no passport, the tickets will be canceled once again. Salem has tickets on hold for Friday to pick up Bear in Florida. And we have two different groups of people willing to bring him from Haiti to Florida on Friday.

This is it. This is just in the nick of time.

It HAS to happen tomorrow.

(Then he will get his Visa on Thursday and travel on Friday.)

Please pray and please pass this on to everyone you know to have them pray.

Bear continues to eat well, gain weight, and is doing OK.

His bump is still changing and thinning in some parts.

He has been fever free.

His head circumference is getting larger...

He is a strong baby and fighting so hard.

Psalm 107:1-4 (The Message)
1-3 Oh, thank God—he’s so good!

His love never runs out.

All of you set free by God, tell the world!

Tell how he freed you from oppression,

Then rounded you up from all over the place,

from the four winds, from the seven seas.
4-9 Some of you wandered for years in the desert,

looking but not finding a good place to live,

Half-starved and parched with thirst,

staggering and stumbling, on the brink of exhaustion.

Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God.

He got you out in the nick of time;

He put your feet on a wonderful road

that took you straight to a good place to live.

So thank God for his marvelous love,

for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.

He poured great draughts of water down parched throats;

the starved and hungry got plenty to eat.

School Review

I wanted to give a little update about Beanie and her school day.

When we first arrived at the school we waited in the office for them to come and get us. Angeline was very nervous and asked for her "bottle" and her "po blankie". She was even sticking her lip out as far as it would go and Nina, Grace and I were looking at each other like- oh no this isn't going to go over well. Keep in mind Angeline has never seen "school" other than on TV- she sees her siblings having school at home- so the whole idea is a new thing to her.

We then were taken to the preschool classroom- where we were met by- the school counselor (who coordinates the IEP meetings and evaluations and such), the OT, PT, Speech Therapist, teacher, assistant teacher and then... there was someone else but now I can't even remember- it was a lot of people for one little girl! Amazingly enough- Angeline made herself right at home.

The speech therapist quickly realized that she wasn't needed there. (Angeline was talking up a storm and even mentioned some of her favorite Chinese words from her favorite cartoon!)

They couldn't tell me for certain that she was going to qualify for preschool services through the local school- but I am fairly sure because of her physical delays- she will qualify. This means that Angeline will be going to school four mornings a week for 2.5 hours a day. While at school she will receive the therapies that she needs to help her become more independent.

Angeline has since asked to go back to school four times- she really did love it there and make herself right at home. Now about the rest of the kids going back to public school... I am still debating and waiting to see what is going to work best for us in the upcoming weeks.

I am always open to all my options and I am so proud of Angeline for adapting so well to such a new situation. We are praying that the rest of the transition to school goes as smoothly!

P.S. We are hoping that Bear's passport is ready today. Please pray.

Birthday Girls

Sophie turns 11 today.

And Lena is having her first birthday in two days.

We are doing a dual celebration today.

Sophie wants to see Bride Wars and Lena wants to eat lots of cake and make a mess.

We will gladly honor both requests.

Happy Birthday beautiful girls.

Love,
Momma Sarah

Walking

Guess who took her first steps?

(Just days before her 1st birthday.)

Minky Lena's a walking girl now.

What an answer to prayer...
I wanted so badly to be able to send her back to Haiti and home to her Momma

with her being able to walk. So truly- this was just in the nick of time.

What a sweet girl she is.

we are going to miss her like crazy