GUESS WHO'S ON HIS WAY HOME!

 

We have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving week!

 

Welcome home, Beck!!

 

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Psalm 107:1

UPDATE ON BECK

We spent the day yesterday visiting Beck in the ICU.

 

 

It was sweet to sit and just be with my little guy. It was also good for Brodie to

get out in the sun a bit and hang with the other kids while I took the day shift with Beck.

(Our tired little tiger)

 

He was so excited when he woke up to discover his siblings had come to visit!

 

 

He called for each one by name and of course gave out lots of smiley hugs and kisses.

 

 

The good news is now that he's been seen, we will start meeting with the cardiologists to get both Bea and Beck the surgeries they need...starting early next week. This is what we signed up for when we adopted these precious children with critical health issues.

The reality has hit home and it's absolutely our privilege to give them the love and medical help they need, one step at a time.

 

Our hope and prayer for Beck today is that he makes a turn for the better and may even come home. Our house isn't the same without our happy little guy. He brings such fun and laughter to our family and even under the circumstances he maintains his Beck-like JOY!

 

 

 

WE LOVE YOU, BECK!!!

 

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."

Romans 12:12

BECK IN ICU

It was just a cold...the same one our other little ones have and are working through normally.

But for our Beck, his frail heart and lack of oxygen just can't handle "just a cold".

 

 

And so, to the ER they went two nights ago, Daddy and Aida, with little Beck wheezing dangerously. Not knowing his heart condition and history, we chose to play it safe, and it's a good thing we did as his regular cold was developing into pneumonia.

 

 

They transferred him to the children's hospital ICU where he's been since. Though he's ill, he's still in

good spirits, blowing kisses to the nurses every chance he gets, charming them with his Beck smiles.

 

(Never mind the bump on his forehead...just a memory from our last trip at the library.)

 

His body currently doesn't handle these things well, not like a healthy child would. But now after extensive testing we have more answers, a short term plan, and a long term plan to help get Beck the medical attention he needs to live a healthy life.

 

 

With his loving big sister by his side,

 

 

and Daddy holding him, caring for him, reassuring him continually,

 

 

it's hard to imagine Beck's last heart surgery...alone in China.

 

But he's not alone anymore. He has us. We've got him. Our great God has tiny Beck in the

palm of His Hand and we're praying for complete healing and restoration for our son.

(Look who woke up happy today! We can't wait to have you home soon, Beck!)

 

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Psalm 147:3

TEN

 

Ten.

 

We used to (half) joke there would be ten...and now that there are, it feels just right.

 

Ten.

 

It may seem like a lot, but when we consider each individual we can't imagine life without any one!

 

Ten.

 

It's a good number. Round. (Though we never have stayed round for long.)

 

Ten.

 

Ten lunch plates all lined up in a row. Ten rows of laundry folded fresh, covered in prayer. At least ten hugs per day!

Ten best friends. Ten life partners. Ten chisels sharpening my heart. Ten cherished gifts from God.

 

Ten...and baby makes eleven. (So much for round.)

 .

And there is joy!

 

"Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.

How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!"
Psalm 127:3,5



BONDING WITH BECK

The first few days were strictly Daddy only! Beck loves his baba.

 

 

But we're making progress, he and I. The bonding has begun. He holds on tight and snuggles in. He kisses loooooong (like 20 second smooches) and flashes heart-melting grins. He cuddles close all curled up small and smushes into my neck, just like my infants did.

 

Mothering Beck is very much like mothering a newborn baby. We're going back to the beginning. He gets the right to a re-do.

He gets to learn his mama. Attachment is clearly his highest need, so I 'm teaching him day by day to know me more and trust,

to come to me for comfort, to believe that I'll be there for him. He's learning that I'm safe and it'll take some time...which we have.

 

With Bea this bonding was immediate. She was so hungry for her mommy. She got me. She has me. She doesn't let me go far. 

The bonding for us was as instantaneous as Beck's was with his daddy and I've waited patiently for him to let me in.

 

It was a victory, Daddy's first day back at work, as Beck looked to me for everything.

He didn't cry for his baba once (a huge surprise and praise)!

 

And we made it! Day one under belt. We bonded all the more. We made strides in the right direction, Beck and I. I'm his mommy.

He's my son. He's soaked his way well into my heart already and I love him with deep, indescribable, supernatural, maternal love.

 

"As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you."

Isaiah 66:13