PRAISE GOD!! Great Surgical Update!!

It's 5:15 p.m. and we just received another surgical update. Dr. Bradley is very happy with Sarah Mei's echo and is closing her up. He will be out to speak with us in about 45 minutes. Praise God!! They were able to use her own tissue...NO metal heart valve. We can't tell you how grateful we are for everyone's prayers!!

Surgical Update - 4:15 p.m.

We just received another update on Sarah Mei. The surgeon has attempted to repair her valves using sutures. The surgical team is currently heating her body back up and she's off the heart/lung bypass machine. Once her heart is pumping normally, they will do a 3-D echo on her heart to see how her valves are functioning. Based on their performance, a decision will be made to either close her up (the valves are functioning well) or put her back on the heart/lung bypass machine and insert a metal heart valve. Pray that her heart will be strong and her valves will work well with minimal regurgitation. Continue to pray for strength and wisdom for the surgeon. He has been working on Sarah Mei for over 3 hours and this is his 2nd surgery of the day. Thanks prayer team!!

Surgery Update - 2:45 p.m.

We just received an update from Dr. Bradley's PA. Sarah Mei is now on the heart/lung bypass machine. They do not know which surgical option they will use for her valve repair. Because of her previous scarring from her Sept. 07 heart surgery, it took an extra amount of time to get back to her heart (this is normal.) As before, please continue to pray for wisdom for Dr. Bradley as he tries to determine which surgical procedure to use.
We'll keep you updated.

Surgery Postponed to 12:40 p.m.

We arrived in Charleston on Wednesday, had a full, grueling day of pre-op on Thursday and arrived at the hospital this morning to find out that Sarah Mei's surgery was postponed to 12:40 p.m. today. I just handed her off to the cardiac team for surgical prep. Please pray specifically for her surgeon, Dr. Scott Bradley. He is an amazing surgeon with skilled hands. Pray for his stamina as he already had an unexpected surgery this morning and will now perform at least a 6 hour surgery on Sarah Mei. Pray for God's wisdom for Dr. Bradley as he accesses Sarah Mei's heart and plans the best course of action. The best case scenario is that he will be able to use Sarah Mei's own heart tissue to rebuild her mitral valve. His 2nd choice is to use a cow pericardium to augment her tissue. And the final option is to use a metal heart valve. Pray for the Lord's will to be done!
I'll keep the blog updated today. Thanks for your prayers!!

The Lord keeps bringing to mind the verse He laid on my heart, last year, before we traveled to China to pick up Sarah Mei. Below I've personalized it..

"I (the Lord) hem in Sarah Mei-behind and before: I have laid my hand upon her." Psalm 139:5 There's no place I'd rather Sarah Mei be than in the palm of our Lord's hand. Amen.

Surgery CountDown

While in isolation on the farm, Sarah Mei enjoyed riding horses with her daddy!



In the absence of a riding helmet small enough for Sarah Mei, she uses a bike helmet for her rides with dad.

Sarah Mei exclaims "YEAH" in a loud voice, accompanied by clapping, when we tell her she's going to see the Doctor this week. We thank Dr. Craig Greene (Sarah Mei's pediatric cardiologist), his staff and Dr. Lessaris and his staff for their loving care and patience with Sarah Mei over the last 9 months. Because of their care, Sarah Mei thinks Dr.'s appt. are SO fun! (We'll see how long that lasts??)
Michaela, Sarah Mei and I head out for Charleston today. Sarah Mei has pre-op appointments all day on Thursday. And her surgery is scheduled for 1st thing Friday a.m.
Please pray for safe travel mercies as we drive to Charleston.
Pray that we'll be prepared to give an answer for the hope within us if given opportunity.
Pray that the surgeon will have skilled hands and God's discernment as he performs the surgery on Friday.
Pray for the surgical team.
We're blessed to have friends and family who have prayed for us, encouraged us and come along side of us as we make this journey. Thank you!!

AnnaGrace's 1st Pony

After almost 7 years of showing very little interest in horseback riding, two months ago AnnaGrace became passionate about riding. Given her new found interest and in the tradition of our family, two days ago we presented AnnaGrace with her 1st pony, Lil Bit. We purchased the pony two years ago as a "rescue" pony. She had been neglected and had never had a rider on her back. Michaela has done a great job of training her and now AnnaGrace is doing a great job of "riding the fur off of her." Lil Bit loves her new owner...especially the carrots which she receives each day.



Congratulations AnnaGrace!!

Sarah Mei's Gotcha Day

It's hard to believe that Sarah Mei was put into my arms a year ago today. Torie & I traveled to China last June and on June 11, 2007 a nanny from the Chenzhou Orphanage placed Sarah Mei in my arms for the first time. She cried for about 30 seconds until I pulled out the Cheerios and then all was well! She never looked back.
Following are photos from one year ago and today.

One year ago...June 11, 2007


Today....June 11, 2008


Words can't express our thankfulness to the Lord for giving us Sarah Mei!! She truly is a gift from God.

High School Graduation

We're so proud of Torie upon her graduation from SouthLake Christian Academy. We home schooled Torie from K-5 through 9th and then she attended SLCA for her last 3 years. (Her time there was special since her dad, Phil, is the upper school principal.) She is heading to college in the fall with plans to double major in Biology and Spanish.


The Horton Family


We followed-up Friday's graduation service with a cook-out grad party on Saturday afternoon. The party was to celebrate Miranda (Torie's best buddy) and Torie's graduation.


You've got to love it when your high school senior daughters want a Disney princess graduation cake!!


Blowing bubbles!!