6 months....really??

Has it really been 6 months since I posted? goodness how time flys! I can't tell you how busy I have been...so busy in fact it took me getting sick and stuck on the couch for a few days to make a post.
Lets see...where do I begin? Well, Rick has graduated Nursing school and is now empolyed (thanks be to God) and Eric has been to Basic and most of AIT at Fort Leonard Wood. Just three weeks before graduation he fractured his hip so he is currently on CON (convelesant (sp??) leave). He has to return on January 4th to be re-evaluated medically before he can continue. They will either send him home for another 30 days or let him pick up where he left off. He is doing good but has some pain.
Stacie has just completed her first semester working towards her masters degree. We almost lost her to an elementary school in Texas but thankfully (and yes I say that as a selfish mother) she chose to continue her education.
Ryan and Emma are just being...well...Ryan and Emma. Ryan is now a sophmore and Emma "can't wait" to start school. So much so she has asked me if I can start homeschool so she does not have to wait. Oh I wish I could but work, which is a necessary evil, keeps me from doing that.
Sam is our really big news event. Are you ready? (insert drum roll here) we are now oxygen free!!!! and I mean totally, as in they came and picked it up and carted it away!!!!! He is also down to only one medication a month, of course it is the really expensive one but you wont find me complaining. He is doing good. He is making a transition into the school system as far as his speech and is being referred to them for physical and occupational therapy. We are also checking into taking him to NY so that he can go to a clinic that specializes in DiGeorge Syndrome/ VCFS.
Speaking of which...Me and another mother have started meetings in East Tennessee for DiGeorge Syndrome. It is the only support group of its kind in Tennessee. Its called Little faces big hearts of East Tennessee. I am very excited about that.
I am adding some photos of things that happened the past 6 months and I promise I will really try harder to, at the very least, do a monthly update.

This is the first picture I ever saw of Sam...

Have I ever told you how he came to be our son?

Only 6 weeks after returning from China with Emma I saw a plea on the New Day website for a boy called "peter". "Doctors cant help him here" it said..might someone in the U.S be willing to "take on his medical needs"...It was only than that I clicked the link to his picture and fell in love.

I emailed the foster home in China and asked if we could start looking to find him medical treatment and sponsorship in the U.S. They welcomed ANY help. They were trying to save his life.

We had been trying to find medical help for him in the United States but were not having any luck. Finally (after another rejection) I said "God if you want us to help this little boy you have to open some doors. I cant do it on my own. Tell me what you want me to do" Less than 5 min. later I got on the internet and I had a email from Sam's foster home director asking if we wanted to adopt Sam...I emailed back..."Yes, just let me ask my husband"...LOL..Good thing he is so good natured.

Apparently his file was just being released to an agency and she knew someone who could help us get in contact with the agency, which is not normal by the way. They never know who is getting the files. His story is filled with a lot of "not normals" though.

Anyway... that night as I was convincing my husband that this indeed was our son (which he already knew) I said if we get him lets name him Samuel John...Samuel because we like it and John because it is Rick's middle name. He liked it...Said it was a good name for his new son...and lets go for it!

The next day I looked the meaning up and Samuel means "God Heard". John means "God is gracious or God Gives" so God heard my prayer and God Gave us a son. We knew for sure it was his will that Samuel be our son!

Is this the cutest thing or what?

Ok...here is my picture for today. The bat is as big as she is I swear!

Ok..I am really bad at this picture a day thing!

maybe I will try one a week. Anyway this is one I took on the Great Wall of China. I was amazed at how steep it was. I really want to go back and walk on it again!

Back online...

I am finally back online and trying to get all of my post published. Keep checking back to catch up with whats been going on.
While adding the photos to my post I was able to go thru all of our old family photos...aaahhh the memories!
I have enjoyed it so much that I decided to add a photo a day from the past so here is the first one.

This was taken of my dad and me in Russia in 2004 and while it is not my favorite picture of me it is one of my favorite ones of my dad. He looks so content! we had a great time and I will treasure the memory of our time together forever!!

Did I tell you....

That our nephew is home safe and sound? Thanks for all the prayers!

I recently learned two things...

1) When you hand a camera to a 4 year old he will take photos of anyone and
anything.

2) Sam is a boob man

She did it!!

AND SO DID HE!!

Awards Night...

Eric recently had awards night at school and was awarded his educational "check" from his Army recruiter. We are so proud of his decision to join the Army reserve.

The United Tour

Once again this year we voluntered to work the Stevan Curtis Chapman concert and help hand out lititure on Shoahanna's Hope. A foundation that helps orphans all over the world and in fact help bring our own Samuel home.

This was the best concert EVER...not only did we get to speak to him this time and introduce him to Sam but he gave Sam his guitar pick! we told him that Sam likes to "play" his guitar and he just gave it to him!!

Take a girl shoe shopping....

and she turns into a monster!

Valentines Day..

Valentines Day and Pizza...you gotta love the combination!

Happy Birthday Stacie!!

Today was my daughter Stacie's Birthday and I celebrate this day, as all big days in her life, reflecting on our lives together. Most of you who know me also know that I got pregnant with Stacie when I was just 15 years old. She was born just a few months past my 16th birthday. Her dad and I, against everyones better judgement and wishes, tried hard to make it work but truthfully we were just too young. Sadly a few weeks after her 3rd birthday we buried her father. He died unexpectly.

When I became pregnant I was told by many people that I had "runined my life" and today I would like for them know.....my life only began after my daughter was born! she is my heart and soul and my best friend! I love you Stacie...I hope you have a Happy Day!

Happy Birthday "Tall Young Willow"

Our daugter Emma was born on January 26th 2005 and left for the Aiya's (auntie's) in China to care for until we came for her 9 months later. They gave her the name Gao Shao Liu which means Tall Young Willow.
When I think of a young willow tree I imagine a beautiful tree with graceful drooping branches that sway in the wind, delicate like but still strong enough to weather the storms that will come. I cant imagine a more fitting name for her than that. She is graceful and strong, she is all girl and all tom boy all at the same time. She has proven she can weather a storm alone even while at her smallest and weakest and yet shown us that she is joyful that she no longer has to.
Today was the Willow's birthday and she is 4 now. She is growing strong and graceful. Happy birthday Emma Grace ShaoLiu. We love you!!

My daughter the Princess...

Does that make me the queen?
Emma informed me that she is going to marry a prince one day..but "dont tell cause It's a seceret."

These are a few of my favorite things...

Unseasonably warm weather; Watching Emma compete with the dog for the soccer ball and doing a "victory dance" when she wins; Seeing Sam push his bike up the hill and NOT be out of breath; Being able to cook dinner with my window open and hear my children laughing in the back yard; Spending time talking with Eric which doesn't happen enough lately; Watching Ryan do a book report on a book he really enjoyed reading; Listening to Stacie's plans on her future teaching career; Seeing the excitement in Sam's face when he say's "I can't wait for Santa to come!"

We are so proud

to announce that our son Eric joined the Army Reserves last night. He has signed his papers and goes for his physical Saturday. Than on July 21st (he doesn't graduate until May 22nd) he will leave for basic training at Fort. Leonard Wood, MO.
I think he is well informed and prepared but I on the other hand am a nervous wreck! I mean this is my oldest son..the first son..the little boy I carried for 9 months. I have kissed his boo boo's. Held him when he was sick. Helped him thru his first broken heart. What makes him think I can just let him grow up? Just leave home? How dare he think I am prepared for this!

He will be part of the 450th MP Battalion stationed in Nashville TN. His basic and school will take 5 months and than he will report 1 weekend a month for training and for 2 weeks in the summer. He can be called up at anytime to serve and we expect it to happen, in fact his unit is currently in Irag and will just be getting home as he gets out of basic.

He will also be attending college working on his criminal justice degree and than hopefully a criminal law degree will follow.

Please remember him (and me) in your prayers.

Coveting....

The official defination of coveting...

v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets
v.tr.
1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy.
2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire.
v.intr.
To feel immoderate desire for that which is another's.









Oh how I covet this watch for Sam (just not the almost 100.00 price tag). We are constantly saying..."did you give him his meds" or "dont forget to see if its time for his meds" or "I thought you gave them to him"! It is a wonder at all this child has survived having us for parents! Oh Well...I guess I shall survive without this pediatric timer watch with built in Medic Alert...life will go on (LOL)

Chore Charts

What is it about giving a kid a chore chart and stickers that makes them want to instantly do the things you have been trying to get them to do for months?

Emma and Sam have been too picky at meal time for a while now. Like a really really long while! They will tell you what they want to eat and when it is cooked they want something else and will pitch a fit if you dont give in.

We have tried the threats of you have to eat what I made or you cant have any treats today...you have to eat what was cooked or you wont get to go to the park today... you have to eat what was cooked because I am not fixing another meal until that plate is clean...you have to eat what was cooked or I am gonna hang you by your ears upside down!! (ok that is just one I have thought about but would never do...I dont think)

Anyway the other day I was doing some stuff on the computer and Emma was asking if she could feed the dog and it just hit me...DUH, they are old enough for chores and a chore chart.

So here it is...Emma and Sams chore chart complete with the chore of eating what was cooked! and it works!!!! now the only threat I have to give is " if you dont eat what I cooked you wont get a sticker" that usually gets them to shovel it in.

Dental Update...

Finally Sam is pain free. He did end up spending the night in the hospital because his oxygen dropped during the dental work but he is good, home and still a little swollen. Emma also did great and was actually quit funny on pain meds.

The Day has Finally Come!!!

After months of waiting and many tears (mine and Sam's) the day has come to have his teeth fixed!!! I dont know who is more excited me or him.
Tomorrow morning we have to be at Childrens Hospital at 5:30 AM for admission and than Miss. Emma will go first to have some minor work done and than Sam gets his turn. His of course is more extensive and a little more dangerous since anastesia hits him hard and his blood pressure usually drops some. We are hoping that it wont turn into an all night stay.
Please pray for them both, that they handle it well and that they dont have much pain afterwards. Thankfully Emma will be getting some "loopy juice" before they take her back. Were not sure about Sam yet...we have to talk to the anestiologist first. He has had if before but the nurse said the doctor was a little unsure about giving it to him.
Anyway...Praise God his teeth will finally be fixed and he wont be in pain anymore!!

Trick or Treat

Happy Anniversary Boo!!!!

Three years ago today we welcomed our daughter Emma into our family, her forever family. A family she had waited 9 months to find. In looking back it seems impossible that it has been three years since we took our family of five to the airport and boarded a plane only to come home two weeks later as a family of six.

Our family joined many others who had made the 24 hour journey to China with one goal in mind...to bring our children home. We were America World Travel Group 108 and we were excited to be there. The excitement, anticipation, nervousness, and outright fear hung in the air, you could just feel it and it was comforting to know that everyone else around you felt it too. It is a feeling that only those who have experienced this type of adoption will know.

That day God gave us the great honor of watching many families formed. Some children would be joining larger families already made up of brothers and sisters and others would be welcomed home as the first child.

We had arrived in China as one family and had returned home not only with our daughter but also with many extended members as well. We share a "brotherhood" so to speak. We were one big family in a very large delivery room, each of us excited for the other family as they were handed their child and each of us anxious for it to be our turn. I am happy to say that we still stay in contact with each other on an almost daily basis. We have already had a reunion so we could catch up in person. We send each other scrapbook pages, offer each other advice and pray for each other. Our children are growing and today we celebrate the miracle God gave each of us. Congratulation America World Travel Group 108!

Boo...it is a nickname our children gave Emma when we first got her because it was halloween. Our first day with her, a day that in the adoption circles is referred to as Gotcha Day and tonight we will celebrate the anniversary of our gotcha day by dressing Emma up as a cowgirl and Sam as a cowboy and going to our local nursing home to trick-or-treat the residents. The residents love it because they love the children and the children love it because....well...they get candy. We love it because 4 years ago it was just another night at our house...tonight it is full of the excitement of a child.

Tonight as I watch her drift off to sleep I will say an extra prayer of thanksgiving to God for bringing little Boo into our lives. He is an awsome God indeed.

It's Sam's Happy Day!!

Today is Sam's Happy Day!! he has waited for it for a long time and he is so excited. Now for those who dont know what a happy day is, it is simply your birthday. Apparently, when you sing Happy Birthday to a certain 1 year old little girl from China all she hears is "Happy Day". It has since and will be forever called happy day in our family.
So, today is Sam's Happy Day. His fourth to be exact and our second with him. We are so excited, mainly because we have been feeding off of his excitement for days. He will tell you he is gonna be four and that he wants cars (as in Disney's Lighting McQueen) and he wants tools so he can "work" on his bike.
We, as a family, are having some cupcakes today after dinner and he gets one or two presents and if its not raining going to Boo at the Zoo where he can dress up and trick-R-Treat at the zoo and than on Sunday at Grandma and Grandad's he gets his party with cake, family and more gifts. Usually when its your Happy Day party at Grandmas house you get to choose what everyone eats for lunch but with Sam we knew we would all be eating Romen Noodles so we opted to just cook out hamburgers and hotdogs and let him choose next year when hopefully his taste have improved a bit (:
He did pick out his birthday cake at the bakery the other day. A cupcake cake shaped like a race track with Lighting McQueen on it. Emma had told him when we went in that she would tell him which cake he wanted! sooooo Emma, always wanting to be in charge.
I have found myself these past few weeks thinking about the time Sam has spent with us. Last year was his first Birthday with us and we had a party at the church with family and friends and sang Happy Birthday in Chinese thanks to his Aunt Donna and Uncle Joe taking the time to learn it and teach it to everyone. It was just a few days before we left for his third heart surgery. He has gone thru so much in the short time we have had him (not even two years yet) and still he feels comfortable, safe, loved and just plain Happy about his Happy Day. I can't thank God enough for blessing us with this little boy. He is such an example of true love for us.
I also find myself thinking about his birth parents. What are they thinking of as the anniversary of his birth approaches? do they think of him? I am sure they must, how could they not??
He was found after being so sick. The doctors told the orphanage staff that they recognized him from just a week before when, at age 6 months, they told his birth parents that he would most likely die without care he could not recieve in China. I am convinced they left him at the orphanage because it was his only chance of survival. It was a true test of Love. Keep him and he will surley die, abandon him and he might survive....how hard it must have been for them than and even now, never knowing if he survived or not, never knowing where he is...I pray God give's them peace in their hearts about him. I pray to one day take him to them and show them he is alive and well. I also thank God we may have that opportunity....an opportunity most parents of adopted Chinese Children will never have.

Decisions....Decisions....

I have been having trouble making a decision about this whole "blogging thing" after getting a few emails from friends in other countries that are having a hard time accessing the site and want to check on Sam.
For now www.samuelsheart.com has been opened back up and post I make about him on this blog will be duplicated over there.
So now you can decide which on you want to follow. This one will continue to have our everyday family stuff (including him) and samuelsheart will just have his stuff.

To all Sam's friends....

2 John 1:12 (NIV)
I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.


Those words express how I truly feel about all of you. So many of you have emailed and prayed about Sam. Past and present, illiness or financial.. it never mattered, when I have requested prayer you have offered it on his behalf and how I wish I could meet each and every one of you so that our "joy may be complete" but since I can not (at least not at this time) I wanted to take the time to write to you and tell you that your prayers have worked again and when our good Lord pours blessings on you he does it in abundance.

Just a few days ago I told you that we had a dentist offer to repair Sam's teeth for us with no worry of finances. What a blessing that was and now just today we were informed that we were finally approved for our states version of Medicaid for him!! now medical bills will not be a worry for him again (at least not for the next few years). Whatever my private insurance does not cover we will no longer have to worry about. Dental, Vision, Health, Medicines, therapies, surgeries, shots....everything!!! This will save our family about 350.00 a month just in copays and medicine and will also back pay about 7500.00 in medical bills!

Now we can get on to the business of just loving this little guy without worry or concern. This is how it should be!

We now have options in his dental and I cant ask this dentist to donate his time and money when he could serve someone else with those resources so as soon as we have a surgery date with our local dentist we will let you know. Hopefully in the next week or two.

Samuel Update!!

 

Some have emailed wanting a update on Samuel so here it is.
We are STILL trying to wade thru a mess on his dental issues. He is STILL having pain and is STILL taking antibiotics.

I dont know if you recall that I had taken it upon myself to email a gentleman that Katie Couric once interviewed about the dental crisis in America. I told him our situation and asked if there were ANY programs he knew of that could help.
As it turns out he knew of no programs but was going to check with friends and see if he could find a friend of a friend of a friend...who lived close to us that might be willing to help.

No such luck but the first person he contacted to ask (a dentist who serves on a charity board) wanted to help. So.....drum roll please........

We have had a WONDERFUL dentist (who I have since learned is susposed to be the best in the whole midwest) who has offered to donate his services to Sam!!! No Charge just bring him and we will waive that 5 or 6 thousand fee!!! (Did I mention how good God is???)

BUT...our only problem is our insurance company because we would still have to be admitted in a hospital and they of course will want to recieve pay. Our insurance did contact the dental office on Friday to see what was going on. I think at worse they will only pay out of network which is fine with us. As crazy as this system sounds if they only pay out of network it will put us at the income spend down limit which would make Sam eligable for our states form of Medicaid. Which would be a Blessing. Medicaid would pay anything our insurance didnt.

The only hard part is I am now trying to save for a trip to Kansas that we werent expecting. A trip, of course, will be nothing compaired to having his dental work done here and having to pay 5 or 6 thousand up front in cash!! Please keep this in your prayers for us. God has always answered our prayers for Sam, not always in the way we wanted, but he has ALWAYS answered and I know he will this time too.

Now...all this being said I have to say that I am so dissapointed in our dental society that there is not any programs to help people in our situation. At the very least I wish there were more dentist (and please dont get me wrong when I say this) with a heart.

I know that we are talking about their livelihood. I get that. I know that if left to payment plans a LOT of patients would get the work done and than not pay. I get that also but how could someone turn away a three year old in pain that runs a great risk of heart infection (ie. DEATH) if they dont get their teeth taken care of. That I dont get.

I know we are not alone. We go to church with a dentist (not pediatric and no privlidges at a hospital so please dont think bad of him, he CANT do the work) who tried to help us by making a few phone calls. He told us he had spoken with an office manager who said their office would be more than happy to work with us. Great, we thought, finally someone willing to let us make payments! we called them and was told..."we will be glad to work with you as soon as you get the money up front!" and later in the conversation "I understand, we have little girl with CANCER and it took three months for her family to raise the money for her dental surgery"
UGH...three months for this poor little girl who was battling cancer to get her teeth fixed!! its not right.

I wish God would send me to dental school. I know I would help EVERY child that needed it that walked into my office.

Danny and the Dinosaur

Here is another great book that the kids LOVE, Sam even sleeps with it. It is an oldie but goodie and the best part is it only cost 3.99 at Amazon.

How many of you remember this book from your childhood? I know Rick and I do. Danny was right up there with.........



Cap's for sale (also at Amazon)

Our Nephew and our Hero...

Our Nephew and our Hero will leave this morning for Iraq. We are both proud and scared for him. He is an incrediable young man who decided to join the Marines right out of high school. He is brave and loved and we would appreciate any prayers you want to offer up for him for his safe return which is expected sometime in April.
Regardless of your personal thoughts on the war our young men and women need your support, love and prayers.

Taking Grandma to the Zoo...

Emma and Sam just recently started go to bed on their own. In the past if we wanted them in their beds we would have to lay down with them until they fell asleep but lately they have started doing this on their own without us. After all, that is what BIG girl's and boy's do!
They have been so good at it that I told them for a special treat that we could go to the zoo and take Grandma with us. They were very excited to go since Grandma doesnt usually go places like that with us.
On Wednesday we went and had a great time. Grandma had not been to the zoo since her and I had taken my niece and nephew about 10+ years ago so a lot had changed.
The weather was beautiful, most of the animals were out, we had a great picnic in which the kids got to feed some birds bread scraps and we got to see the new baby gorilla...it cant get better than that!