2 MONTHS HOME!

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Elliott and Lance have been home for 2 months!! It is really true that time flies when you're having fun. ;)

Elliott:  Elliott is our little mystery still as far as a physical diagnosis.  We drove to Denver for an appointment with the head of the Orthopedic Department at Children's Hospital.  Elliott's scoliosis is over 80 degrees and that is our number one priority right now.  We have very few options for treating the severity at this point and are really praying about the options that are available as both of them require a few weeks in the hospital and some type of surgery.  He is going to see a geneticist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, and have a sedated MRI on his spine before we move forward on anything though.  For now we are researching and praying for wisdom.
Elliott's personality cracks me up. He is BUSY first of all and interested in everything.  His new thing to say is "Look Mom!" and wants to show me anything.  He is a very polite little dude saying "No Thank you" when he doesn't want something and "Please" when he does.  He counts to 10, sings parts of the alphabet and "Jesus Loves Me."  His favorite book is "Humpty Dumpty" and he wants it read to him every night.  He still doesn't like to eat, but wants water constantly.

Lance:  Physically Lance is pretty straight forward at this point.  His G-tube is healing up and he is doing great with it.  We were going to pump feed him overnight to add in extra calories, but he is doing so well with the bolus feeds during the day that we were able to just add two more of those per day and cut the overnight feed out completely.  This is giving both Lance and Mom a MUCH better night's rest ;)  He has gained about 5 pounds since he's been home!! We are working on his hips and tone and our goal for now is still to get him to reach for toys at some point :)
Lance's personality:   He is pretty content and happy to just hang out in the center of things, watching what everyone is doing.  He smiles when mom or sister walk by or touch him and loves to be changed and dressed.

Life in general:  Life is so much different with 5 kids than with 3 and we currently have 3 kids who for the most part are nonmobile and totally dependent: all 3 in diapers, needing help being fed, dressed, bathed etc...  My 9 year old daughter has been absolutely priceless in helping me throughout the day and does everything (most of the time) with a smile and good attitude.  She is earning an American Girl doll ;) We are averaging 4-5 doctor/therapy appointments a week, which means lots of running around and lots of extra time with Nana for those without appointments.   We are still adjusting to our new normal, but we are getting there and I am so unbelievably blessed by all 5 of my children. 

Lance the day I picked him up forever at the orphanage and again last week.  (2 months difference people! Adoption saves lives!)

On a different note...there is a little boy available for adoption who has been regressing severely since he was an infant.  He is now 2 years old and has a diagnosis very similar to Lance, but with an added heart component.  Friends HE IS DYING, not because he can't live, but because he is not getting a chance to live.  I have been to his orphanage, I know the colors, the lights, some of the staff, the cribs, the clothes.  I know this place.  It is gloomy in summer.  Kids don't go outside, they don't interact with one another, they are not happy, and their eyes are hollow.  A little girl died there while I was there and if I were to show you her picture you would be dumbfounded -she shouldn't have, she had a family coming for her, but she never got to know their love.  Please don't let this happen to Samson.