Surgery Scheduled

Sam's surgery has been scheduled for August 18th at UNC Hospitals. We'll need to be there around 6am and the surgery will be around 7am. Pre-op is the day before at 10am.

The surgeon's office told me today that this will be an extremely painful surgery, so he will need at least 5 days to recover in the hospital. He'll be on an epidural for two of those days. Dr. Stewart is going in through his side, rather than the front, which is apparently what contributes to the pain.

We're taking one crisis at a time right now, so now that that has been scheduled, we're going to move on to getting Carolina home. Then we'll focus more on the horror of what is about to happen.

Blessings.

Good News and Bad News

Fun cooking

We had an extremely successful night at Perkinsville. Not only did we raise over $1900, but our church reached out to the community and brought in so many new faces!

I have more to say on that, but it will have to wait until later.

The bad news is that we saw Sam's cardiologist today and he has to have surgery to fix a lead (wire) going to his heart. It will be scheduled for late August.

Ups and downs are part of everyone's lives. It seems like ours are a bit more dramatic, but I swear we're not aiming for that! Please keep Sam in your prayers.

Sam was accidentally knocked down last night, which led to a fat lip, road rash above his lip and on his knees and various bruising.

Playing

Result

Update on Carolina

I got an email this morning with a surprise update on Carolina! I had written a couple days ago asking about her updated weight and height, but our translator said the door was still closed and we wouldn't be able to get any more information.

However, something must have changed, because this morning she wrote and here's the report:

Height: 28.7 inches (73cm)
Weight: 16.5 lbs (7.5kg)
Foot: 4.3 inches (11cm)

She's grown almost 3 inches taller, weighs one pound more and her foot size has increased 1 whole centimeter from late March!

I'm really encouraged by this information. It will help me pack better for her and it helps me know that she is still growing, which is obviously a great sign. I still am surprised by how large her feet are compared to her height and weight - I wonder if it's like a puppy? She's meant to be a lot larger and her feet are an indication of how big she'll grow?

We shall see!

Don't forget our spaghetti dinner tomorrow night.

Adoption Fundraiser

At Perkinsville Baptist Church across from New Market in Boone!

We'd love to see you there.

Plane Tickets - Paid For!!

We have been so blessed over our short lives. God has blessed us with friends who are extremely loyal, loving and generous. Our friends will travel anywhere to see us, whether it be in China or in Western North Carolina. Over the last year, since we've been in Western NC, we have seen over five different families from our time overseas. That doesn't even include the friends who have traveled across the States to spend time with us (too many to count).

I have to say, I am always amazed at God's blessings in my life. They really are new every morning.

Doug, Nina, Baby Sam and me

One incredible blessing we received recently was my plane ticket to China and back for the adoption. We met our friends, Doug and Nina, at a big conference in Sevierville and they happened to be our hosts for the weekend. We instantly fell in love with them. They have a huge heart for China. They have been our prayer warriors through difficult times and have helped pray Sam out of the hospital on many occasions.

We were privileged to stay with them on our way to Nashville for my grandfather's funeral. As we were leaving, Nina pulled me aside and said that they would like to become a part of Carolina's story - part of her history with our family - by buying my plane tickets.

Not only did they buy my plane tickets, but they got me First Class tickets ALL THE WAY THERE AND BACK!!

Poor Bill is on the same plane on the way home, but he's going to be in coach!

I just wanted to publicly say thank you to Doug and Nina. They are sweet angels who have blessed one of the most difficult parts of this journey in a way I cannot express.

Those of you who know me well know that I have low blood pressure and sometimes pass out during take off. Knowing that I am going to have to fly all by myself over there has made me quite nervous. Now that I know I will be taken care of in a big way AND at the front of the plane (which sometimes helps my blood pressure) has relieved an enormous amount of anxiety (that I shouldn't have been feeling, I know).

Thanks to all of you who have helped us make sweet memories for Carolina's journey home. This has been an incredible story and I can't wait to share it with her one day.

Nina saved this bird after it flew into her window

We're Featured!!

We've been featured in a local online magazine called the High Country Mom Squad.

Go on over and check it out!

Special thanks to Sarah for helping us promote our event through her website!

What A Success!!!

Setting up

We had a very long, but successful day today. After a week of folks stopping by to donate items for our yard sale, we woke up at 5:30am this morning and headed out. We borrowed our church's trailer, three clothing wracks, a truck, two tables and one beautiful friend. Everything else was for sale...one of our friends stayed all day to help, one came and helped set up, several stopped by throughout the day to help for an hour or so at a time.

We made a grand total of....are you ready to hear this?? $475 - including two donations made outside of the yard sale and $10o donations from people just walking by.

We sold about 80% of our items, PLUS, some of our friends sold their stuff and then handed us the rest of it AND the money they made.

Talk about generosity. Talk about a community coming together. Talk about God's grace and mercy in our lives. Wow. We stand amazed at His control in this situation. AND, the rain held off with our prayers. At 2:30pm, when I was closing the trailer, it started raining.

Bill didn't want to part with his teddy bear

Sam had a little help from his friend, Trathan, removing his sock and playing

Everybody was really excited with our Fill a Bag for $1 deal

Thank you to everyone who helped make today a success. To Perkinsville Baptist Church, Athalia and Travis, Sarah, Alison, Matt, Casey and Michael (and Trathan), Brian and Trish (and Elijah), Karen, Tiffany, Wanda, Nicole and everyone else. You have each had a hand in bringing our daughter home. We are so grateful.

Teesa and Bill (and Sam)

Great Deals at the Yard Sale

Here are some of the items up for sale at our yard sale (sneak preview):

• 2 electric weed wackers (both work)
• bread machine/maker
• bedding
• plus size maternity clothes
• lots of baby clothes
• toys for all ages
• SO many shoes!!
• Christmas items - some used, some unused and still in packaging
• chairs
• much much more!!!

Don't forget to come out and support us for our adoption tomorrow starting at 8am!!!

Saturday, May 16 YARD SALE

We tried to do a big community yard sale a couple weeks ago, but apparently it ended up raining, plus we had to go out of town unexpectedly.

The yard sale has been rescheduled for this Saturday. Donations have been pouring in for us to sell to raise money for the adoption. I have two cars and an entire bedroom FULL of stuff to sell. And it's good stuff too: beautiful blankets, a toaster oven, great shoes, clothes of all sizes, plus-size maternity clothes, Christmas items (unused as well as used), toys - you name it, we probably have it for sale. The whole community has come out to support us with our adoption.

So, here is the info:

WHEN: Saturday, May 16th - 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
WHERE: Community One Bank parking lot (in front of Coyote Kitchen) in BOONE, NC
WHAT: High Country Mommies Yard Sale

All of OUR proceeds will go towards the adoption. There will be other mommies out there selling too, and they will keep their money.

Bill, Sam and I will all be out there selling. We'll have some great deals, so please come and join us!!!

In case of rain, stay tuned...

Healthy Hearts Reunion

Sam and me with matching
ladybug stickers on our faces

We had the privilege of going to Chapel Hill last Saturday for a Healthy Hearts Reunion hosted by UNC Hospital. It was such a special time of seeing other young children who have survived heart issues thanks to the hard work of cardiac surgeons and cardiologists.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Sam's cardiologist there. However, we did run into Sam's surgeon, who implanted his defibrillator over a year ago. He he knew exactly who Sam was and even remembered very specific details of the circumstances surrounding Sam's surgery. He said his most vivid memory was of coming into our hospital room the morning after the surgery and asking if everything was okay. Bill and I both said in unison, "NO!" Then he learned about Sam's defibrillator shocking him 20 times in 24 minutes.

Sam and his surgeon, reunited

He also said that Dr. Buck, Sam's cardiologist, keeps him in the loop. He said, "I hear it's likely that we'll be needing to do another surgery some time soon," which sent Bill into a tailspin. Bill had heard my report of our last cardiology visit, but he still didn't believe it was "likely" that Sam will need another operation soon. Regardless, Sam's surgeon said that he's been thinking about it a lot and would like to make the incision at Sam's side, rather than through his chest. It will make for an easier recovery and will get the job done.

So, we go for another appointment with Dr. Buck on May 28th and will learn how Sam's defibrillator is doing. If the numbers are going up, we will likely continue to wait and watch. If the numbers go down, he will "likely" need surgery. The good news about it is that Sam's surgeon has been mulling it over and thinking about it for a while. Plus, he actually seemed excited about it - as though this is a big challenge that he can't wait to tackle. We know that Sam was the smallest patient that this surgeon had ever performed surgery on at that point (by himself). We also know that Sam was the youngest patient he's ever implanted a defibrillator in. So, there you have it. I definitely want this doctor to perform this surgery, IF it has to happen, because he knows us and knows Sam's body well. I remember that he said he "mapped" 40% of Sam's heart while he was performing the last surgery. I realize we could transfer that information to another surgeon, but why should we when we have someone who's already been there and touched Sam's heart. He touched ours too.

China Shoe Boxes

Bill and I spent the Monday after my grandfather's passing (on Sunday evening) in Charlotte for the big press event Operation Christmas Child put on. Sam and I enjoyed every moment of it, from watching the plane touch down and taxi in, to the shoe boxes being placed on the plane, to the plane taxiing out and taking off.

I'm impressed by the video that Operation Christmas Child has completed.

Take a look...see if you recognize anybody.

Family

Despite the sad circumstances, we did have some real blessed time while we were in Nashville. My older brother, Seth,and his wife, Julieta, got to meet their two nephews for the first time.

It's hard to believe that they had never met Sam before, but it's true. We had fully intended on taking Sam through LA to see them on our back to China, but, well...you know that story. Crawford (above) will turn one in a week's time. He had grown so much since we last saw him. Carolina is almost exactly 6 months older than Crawford.



We got to take a few family photos while we were together too. Here is one of my immediate family.

Here is some GREAT news, that I just couldn't wait to share. Our church, Perkinsville Baptist, is going to throw a fundraising dinner for our adoption on May 27th. I will post more details about it later, but I'm so excited that they want to help! There have been so many people involved in helping to get something off the ground, but Casey and her husband Michael are the real heroes.

Bill and I will be in charge of publicizing the event. Other than that, we will just go and participate with everyone else. Things are really moving along!

Just in case someone reading is wondering about why we are doing a fundraiser for the adoption, I'll give a brief explanation. When we started the process, over five years ago, we were in a great place financially. Once we learned of Sam's heart condition and had to be hospitalized eight times last year, we quickly lost our momentum. After we decided to (wisely) stay in the States, new costs came up, like buying two cars and some furniture. Then some of the costs rose (like the orphanage fee went from $3000 to $5000 on January 1st this year). So, we are trusting in the Lord to provide all of the money we need for this adoption. In doing so, we are trying to raise all that we can with the abilities we have. There are lots of people behind-the-scenes helping us too.

More details to come...

Update

Many of you have written and are asking where I am or how I am. I obviously haven't been much in the mood for writing or communicating with anybody.

After my grandfather was taken to the hospital, the doctors quickly realized he was dying. They moved him to the room across from my grandmother's and moved her bed right next to his so they could hold hands. Her family was with him - daughters, sons, grandchildren...They all loved him so much and were able to tell him so before he passed away. They said it was so amazing, because just before he died all of his blemishes faded away. You see, he had melanoma and had many spots on his head and body. My grandmother said he was absolutely beautiful in passing.

What a great relief it is to know that God blessed him with such a peaceful death.

His funeral was also quite beautiful. But, it thundered and poured the whole time. We never made it to the graveside because of the mud and torrential downpour.

During the seven hour drive home, the grief came in waves. I imagine this will last a long time. I have never in my life lost someone so close to me. He was one of my best friends.

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me and my family. We still need it.

Comfort

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones. But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me." Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.

Isaiah 49:13-16

Bill on Camera