Charleston and Open-Heart Surgery on Monday

Torie, Savannah Faith, and I headed to Charleston on Thursday evening.  Savannah Faith had her pre-op appointment on Friday morning.

As usual our family had to " divide and conquer" for this medical expedition.

We met with Dr. Bradley yesterday and discussed surgical options for Savannah Faith's scheduled Monday open-heart surgery. 

As we knew, Savannah's original referral paperwork was erroneous, and her actual heart conditions include Double Outlet Left Ventricle, VSD, pulmonary stenosis, right ventricle hypoplasia, and left pulmonary artery stenosis and hypoplasia.  She also has a unique right/left ventricle configuration which is called upstairs/downstairs vs. the normal left to right configuration.  Due to all of these facts, Dr. Bradley believes the Glen/Fontan route will most likely be the best option for Savannah.  He is probably going to leave an extra inflow tract, in addition to the Glen, to encourage more growth of her pulmonary artery.  The possible downside of this option is she may drain more after surgery. 

Thankfully we have implicit trust, under the guiding hand and wisdom of the great Physician, in Dr. Bradley's decision-making abilities and surgery techniques.  After already completing five previous open-heart surgeries on our daughters', we know we are in capable hands! 

After completing blood work, an regular echo and 3-D echo, an x-ray and visits with the anesthesiology team, surgical team and Dr. Bradley, we left the hospital around 3:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon.  Savannah Faith was never so happy to leave a building.  I wonder what she will think Monday morning when we walk back through those doors?

Today, since nothing medically was scheduled, we decided to head out to Charleston's famous Battery for some relaxation.

The architecture of this southern city has a charm and grace all it's own, and we had a great time strolling down the streets and looking at the homes.

Since moving away from the Low Country almost 16 years ago, two of the things I've missed the most are the amazing seafood and the majestic Live Oaks.  Today at The Battery, I saw beautiful Live Oaks.

I'm not sure Savannah appreciated the grandeur of the architecture, the beauty of the waterway, or the magnificence of the trees...

but she did enjoy playing in the grassy area in the park.

Her favorite game was getting thrown in the air and caught by Torie.

And I enjoyed listening to her giggles and capturing all her expressions!

Tomorrow we rest on the Sabbath and then Monday is the big day. 

We would appreciate your prayers as Savannah Faith heads into what will be a 5-6 hour open-heart surgery.  I'll try to update the blog throughout the day, on Monday, and in the weeks ahead.

Obviously, by now you know we were blessed to welcome home our 7th daughter in March!  Twenty-five years ago when we said "I do", we never in our wildest dreams thought we'd be parenting seven children.  I wanted a career.  Phil thought two children would be nice.  However, bit by bit the Lord changed our hearts and our dreams.  And His dreams for our lives became our dreams for our lives. 

Or family...now plus one more...

By now you also know Savannah Faith, like our last 3 daughters, will need two open-heart surgeries.  Because of her heart condition we were able to expedite her adoption.  Due to the stepped-up time frame and despite Phil's side jobs and my fundraising efforts, we still found ourselves with a financial shortfall when travel time came.  We were able to borrow the remaining funds, but while in China we were blessed to hear from Lifesong for Orphans that we were the recipients of a $2,500 matching grant for Savannah's adoption. 

This is another Ebenezer stone to add to our family's ever-growing pile as testament to the Lord's faithfulness to our family.  (I Samuel 12:7) "Thus far has the Lord helped us."


Every dollar gifted towards Savannah's adoption will be matched dollar for dollar and is tax-deductible for the donor.  As Phil jokingly says, if we are able to match this grant we will have a "free and clear title" on Savannah Faith before we begin the summer medical procedures which will include her heart cath and 1st open-heart surgery.


Soon you may be receiving our adoption announcement in the mail with this same information on it.  We are praying the Lord will move in the hearts of some to come alongside our family, once again, and make a gift of any amount to the Savannah Faith adoption fund.  You can donate by making checks payable to Lifesong for Orphans (write preference: Horton #3362 in the memo line) and mailing them to PO Box 40, Gridley, IL 61744 7b. You can also just click on the "Donate" button on the right of this blog to donate via PayPal.


So many of you have already blessed us by taking care of our children, making meals for us, giving to us financially (either for this adoption or a previous one), and for that we are SO thankful.  It's overwhelming to us how the body of Christ has met us in such tangible ways.


Savannah Faith (2 1/2) is continuing to amaze us with her willingness to love and be loved.  We have a long road ahead of us as she learns to eat food (she will still only take a bottle), walk (she is in physical therapy two days a week) and get healthy physically (she has her heart cath scheduled for May 15th), but her giggle will light up a room. 

We are thankful the Lord has changed our hearts and dreams over the last 25 years and is allowing us to parent our seven daughters.  Thank you for being a part of that dream!

It's The Simple Things

In between the Dr.'s appointments and therapy appointments, life is settling back into a routine.  We started back homeschooling, enjoying the farm and even a Saturday of visiting garage sales.


Savannah Faith is taking it all in stride.  It's amazing how quickly she has settled into the rhythm of our family life.

This weekend Torie and Michaela took all the little girls outside and did a photo shoot.  They are relishing the fact that I've loosened my grip on my camera.


Here Lily Rose shows the mark of a true farm girl...sporting a dress but still wearing her cowgirl boots!

The series of next 3 photos is SO typical of Lily  Rose and Isabelle.  What started out as an innocent flower smelling session, quickly turned into Lily Rose twirling a flower and "accidentally" bumping Izzy in the nose.  They both thought it was hysterical.  Lily Rose just can't help herself!

 

While the girls walked from photo spot to photo spot, Savannah Faith hung out - literally - in a baby carrier on Michaela's back.  I LOVE those chubby toddler legs!

Over the years, we have slowly sold off our horse herd.  The expenses of adoptions and open-heart surgeries have trumped the need for horse feed and horse show entry fees.  The older two girls, the true horse lovers, have adjusted their riding careers and are now offering to ride for other horse owners.  The beauty of that arrangement is no cost is involved in riding other peoples' horses. 



We are down to our last two "equine liabilities", as Phil lovingly refers to our horses.  Before I was pregnant with Michaela, we bought Hustler, who is now 30 years old.  Popcorn, our aged eventing pony, was a gift to Michaela on her 7th birthday.  They are part of the family now. 

They have taught the oldest four girls to ride and are in the midst of teaching Izzy and Lily Rose the ropes. 

They need to hang on long enough to teach Savannah Faith the finer points of equestrian prowess. I love how quiet they are with the younger girls.

When not enjoying life on our farm, we love to sneak off and catch a good garage sale. 


Last Saturday Michaela, Savannah Faith and I hit the roads to find some deals at a local neighborhood garage sale.  I had resolved myself to the fact that I was going to have to breakdown and buy a vacuum cleaner at Target over the weekend.  But lo and behold, at the first garage sale we hit, a Hoover Wind Tunnel, my dream vacuum, met my eyes.  I didn't even have to bargain...

Yep...that's $5.00 for the most amazing vacuum I've ever owned.  The Lord meets us even in the little things. 


For now we're going to enjoy the next month until we head to Charleston for Savannah Faith's heart cath on May 15th. 



And Savannah Faith is going to continue to figure out farm life.

We're Home...Medical Updates & Family Traditions

Last Saturday we made it home after saying a sad good-bye to Elvin, our wonderful Guangzhou guide.

Savannah Faith was a champ on the 26 hour door-step to door-step trip.  She even slept part of the time.  I wish I could say the same.

Upon our arrival in Charlotte, we were greeted by Phil, the girls and my mom.  We made quite the sight at the airport.  A mass of screaming, giggling girls, exhausted adults and overfilled luggage.

When we arrived  home, sweet friends of ours had dropped off a "Welcome Home Savannah" cake and balloon.  I was so touched by their thoughtfulness.  When you are bringing home your 7th child, it's not always celebrated...

The rest of this week, we just recovered from jet lag and ran from Dr.'s appointment to Dr.'s appointment.  The most important visit was Savannah Faith's pediatric cardiology appointment.

We discovered that in addition to her diagnosed condition of Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) and pulmonary stenosis, she also has hypoplastic right ventricle.  This means that Savannah Faith is a functioning single ventricle like Isabelle and Lily Rose. 

Dr. Bradley, here we come for another Glen and Fontan.

Of course, this is NOT what was listed on her paperwork or what we had planned, but the Lord had it all orchestrated before the foundation of the earth.  It was no surprise to Him!

We are so thankful that we've been down this road before, and that a first time heart parent did not adopt Savannah Faith thinking she was a TGA toddler.  (That typically only requires a one time surgery and is repairable.) 

Single ventricle children require two palliative surgeries and are just that...palliative.  Long-term prognosis is unknown.  That is our "normal."  So this is not new stomping ground for us. 

Savannah Faith will be in good company and will have two sisters to teach her the "ropes" of Glen/Fontan procedures.  All in a day's work!

Today we carried on a family tradition of dying eggs.  I always struggle with the tradition and how to make it Christ-centered. 

I didn't have to worry this year.  My "big" girls had it all figured out.

With pens poised...

they began writing praises to Him in the languages they know.

From left to right...Michaela put to use her Siswati which she learned recently serving in Swaziland for three months (you can read about it here http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2919769437313367323#editor/target=post;postID=4205469893230608187 ). 

AnnaGrace wrote in Mandarin.  She purchased a side-by-side Mandarin to English Bible while in China and began teaching herself some Mandarin. 

Next is Farsi.  Torie is taking Farsi in college this semester.  She hopes to go on the mission field to the middle-east, sometime after graduating from college and Paramedic training.

And finally, all our girls know some Spanish, so they included Spanish as well.


"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb....
And they cried out in a loud voice:  Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."  Revelation 7:9a,10


So thankful that Christ not only died on the cross for my sins, but conquered death and rose again and now sits at the right hand of God our Father and intercedes for me!! 


So thankful it's a message for all people and all nations.


Cause for celebration this Easter Sunday.  He is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!



While I pondered the spiritual truths of Easter, and the older girls were concentrating on getting their translations correct, let's face it....

our younger girls were just making sure they got their squiggly lines and their colors just perfect!

Beautiful!

Photo Shoots: Models and Brides

When Phil and I Skyped yesterday, he asked about the model and wedding photo shoots I mentioned. He hasn't been back to China since our first adoption in 2001 and couldn't picture the photo shoots on Shamian Island. We thought it would be fun for me to post a Day on Shamian Island.

 

This morning was a typical day. First we saw a Chinese sports model posing in her different athletic outfits.

 

It seems that each model on the Island typically has a specialty...shoes, handbags, sports outfits, regular clothes. You get the idea.

Next we saw the line of purses. We never did see the purse model. Maybe she was finished with her photo shoot before we arrived on the scene. They looked like they were inventorying the bags as we walked by the area.

 

After passing the typical female models, we saw a first. A male model. He had a great sense of humor and even posed just for me.

 

 

Next we passed multiple bridal photo shoots.
 

 

Our guide explained to us that brides and grooms contract with photographic studios as far as twelve months in advance of their wedding. The studios allow the brides to borrow dresses for their sitting portraits. Strangely (to us in the States) these are NOT the dresses they will actual wear on their wedding days. The photos are taken and if for some reason the engagement is broken, the bride and groom split the photo package. Evidently this is not uncommon. 

Another interesting departure is many times the dresses are not white.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the photo shoot day, the bride and groom may pick a traditional package which includes just photos in their wedding dress and tux, or a complete package which includes non-traditional photos. We saw one bride, earlier this week, in shorts, combat boots and her veil. We're assuming this was part of her non-traditional package. Today we only saw traditional dresses.

 

 

I had to laugh when I saw this bride taking a break for lunch. Who can blame her. These photo shoots can last hours.

 

The highlight of the day was our first sighting of a Russian model. Elvin, our guide, told us that Shamian Island had become a popular place for professional Russian models. We saw that first-hand this morning.
 

I'm sure we've seen this model on the front of some magazine. Although the other models we've seen on the Island looked like professionals, this model clearly worked on an entire different level. Instead of traveling witht just a few "helpers", she traveled with an entire entourage.

 

Not only was their a photographer and light crew...

 

but she also had a complete wardrobe, 20+ pairs of shoes, jewelry and a wardrobe changing crew to help her.
 

 

She knew exactly how to pose with no coaching.
 

 

And after a 5-10 minute shoot in each outfit, she did a quick change right there on the street behind her handy, dandy black curtain that her assistants held for her.
 

 

She knew how to pose as if she was walking in a door, walking up stairs (foot in mid-air without looking awkward), leaning on the wall, etc. Just like you see in the professional magazines.

They touched-up her make-up after each outfit change which took an amazingly short time...maybe 2 minutes. It was astonishing.

 

Although I admit it was fascinating to watch, I couldn't help but think of the verse in Proverbs...

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

I pray that Phil and I will not be influenced by the world but instead will train our daughters' to pursue beauty as they run hard after the Lord and His truths. Only then will they truly be beautiful as they shine His light to those around them.

 

After watching the hoopla, we set out to take a few last photos before we leave the Island tomorrow.

 

 

After just two photos, our little princess fell fast asleep in MIchaela's arms.

 

Trying to decide what to do next? Well you didn't have to ask me twice. We went to my favorite spot, Starbucks, and got a nice cup of coffee to relax and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.
 

 

Tomorrow we head to Hong Kong on the train for a quick night's sleep in the hotel. Then on to Chicago for a connection to home sweet home in Charlotte.