Goodbye Vanna and Hello Sylvia! Updated with answered questions!

Hubby drove Vanna all the way to Sioux Falls SD to trade her in for Sylvia!

We decided to not sell Vanna outright but to instead trade her in.

We needed Vanna until Sylvia arrived and we just didn't have the time to sell her. If you are interested she is at the Sioux Falls, SD Mercedes Benz dealership. I am sure they will clean her up and make her look pretty for you!

While in the parking lot I met a couple- the immediately commented on her and I said she's my baby!
Of course the family and adoption story then was told!
They were so kind and happy for our family!

Any time we can plant the seed of adoption we are up for it!
Adoption has been the BEST thing that has ever happened to our family- for us, as the parents and for our older bio kids!
Not to mention, our 13 blessings!
Praising God for HIS goodness!

Hubby drove 4.5 hours there- did all the paperwork and then drove 4.5 hours home!

I was running a few Christmas errands and saw her on the road. 

I knew it was her- she's beautiful!

Hubby and I met at the local grocery store because I couldn't wait until we got home!

When we arrived home all the children hopped in with their pj's on and took a short drive- they were so so excited for her to arrive!

It is wonderful to have a vehicle that we can all fit in… well, all of us except the 5 older kids that is!

Thank goodness they would rather drive themselves!

She is BIG!

Really really BIG!

20 feet long, 10 feet high, 15 seats in her plus space for luggage, groceries, strollers, wheelchairs, you name it!

Hubby is 6'2" and he can stand up in her!

She is fabulous and we are thrilled with her.

She kind of draws a bit of attention where ever we go…

so much for being under the radar!

Sadly, there are no extra seats for more kiddos…

We will be getting more kiddos into the higher booster seats with backs - soon! Ordering them NOW!

Sylvia will be perfect for our daily life and for trips!

She has a few drawbacks-

 she does NOT fit into parking ramps, parking spaces for cars, vans or trucks, it's hard with lots of traffic in the parking lots (such as Christmas time) and medical centers downtown.

I will most likely take a smaller crew during those times and drive the Yukon.

Yes, she was expensive but equal in price to a new 15 passenger GMC van with a few upgrades.

She feels sturdier and more comfortable.

I love her best when she is filled with Happy PRECIOUS TREASURES!

So thankful for all of these children and for this extra large vehicle!

Excited to see and experience North America in her and the children (hubby, too)!

Good question Jessim- Why does she have to be so tall? I really don't know why! This vehicle started out as a Dodge sprinter, then became a freightliner and was recently bought by mercedes. It is popular with many businesses as a cargo van because it is safe, reliable, strong and has a long life expectancy!
We had to get this height in order to get the extended version (long enough)to fit our family and then have it modified by a separate company to get 3 more seats in it so it could fit all our children.
If it were shorter in height we could get it in the garage!
The length would not fit into any ramps.
Being able to stand in it is actually quite nice!

Vickie- there is a slider door on the passenger side by the first row of kids seats. The space to get back to the 3rd and 4th row is small but very doable. We have our able bodies big kids get back there and the children that need help or have ambulating issues are in the first 2 rows (Luke, Joey and Ben).

In Need Of...

 A roll brush!

This little boy LOVES his doggies!

And the doggies are loving him

and all the attention they are getting!

In fact they are getting a bit spoiled!

Because when he is not with them,

they bark for him to come back!

He is usually covered in dog hair!

And of course it took me forever to find a roll brush 

BUT 

finally I found one!

I will be needing a new one soon!

We played Christmas music through the computer while we make the fudge… 

Yes, that would be the fudge that is completely gone now because Hubby and I have no self control when it comes to chocolate!

Ben liked seeing his family up on the screen!

A family filled with Ge Ge's(big brothers), Jie Jie's(big sisters), Mei Mei's(little sisters) and Di Di's(little brothers… all of them without names… except Mark ;-)
There are bonuses to traveling for your new little brothers!
They will always be very attached to him!
( I even get called Jie Jie sometimes… although that is a compliment- I do need to remind them…
that I am their MOMMA!)

Yes, we have a bit of work to do regarding names of the siblings!
(and the Mother)

The boys have now been to the pediatrician- standard checkup and a few immunizations along with the flu shot.
We discovered Joey does not like shots… and that he is very strong for 30 lbs!
The dentist visit went well!
Ben will need a few crowns, an extraction of an extra front tooth, and a few fillings.
Joey's teeth are fine…
I need to repeat that-
Joey's teeth are perfect- no decay or current issues.
Thank you Jesus!

Then we went to Ben SB clinic appt.
It was educational for me.
We are switching him to only one new brace on the weak left leg, nothing on the right.
He will have many tests coming up in the near future.
PT will start in January. 
It will be mostly for his good side and other core muscles but not his weak side which surprised me.
Because of the permanent nerve damage from the spina bifida his left lower leg is as it is and will most likely not improve.
He will also have a small lift in his left shoe to even out his legs.
He will be fitted for a wheelchair for long excursions in case he needs to rest.
And we did get our handicap sticker for Ben.
The snow, getting in and out of the car and the fast pace this family keeps is challenging for him.
We are very thankful to have that for safety issues for all the children BUT most importantly to help Ben manage his new environment.

We are done with the first set of DR appts. 
After Christmas we will begin tests, therapies, dental repairs, etc!

Praising God that these two sweet boys are "home sweet home" and that we are all adjusting to family life with 13 amazing children!

Doing It Different In 2013!

It's time for this family to do things differently.

It is partially a necessity due to our very large size but even more than that it is our desire.

I love candles, especially safe candles in glass jars!
I love the smell of Christmas all around us or even the smell of the current season we are blessed with!

I have felt for quite awhile that God has been calling us to 
"do it differently".

To center this blessed time of year on
HIM
and the best gift of all!

HIS SON!

For many years I was unwilling to change from the status quo...

This was how my mother did it and therefore this is how we will do it...

But if I remember correctly my dear Momma was not happy with the status quo...
I think she would have loved changing it up a bit and feeling the love and joy of Jesus at this blessed time!

This is our year to make the changes!
God has set up the perfect scenario for change!
5 new kiddos celebrating their first Christmas.
Two have just joined our family and they don't even know their new siblings names.
We now live in a country setting with no one that cares what decorations are up... or not.

This is an opportunity we do not want to pass up!
A chance to show our children what is really important at this time of year.

I would love to shop and shop for them
BUT
With 2 new treasures and the Holidays among us,
I am not at liberty to leave and shop.
And I do not have a vehicle to bring all of our children in the stores and shop with them.
My time away from the children is taken up with Dr and dentists appointments. 

In fact we haven't even meet Santa Claus because we all can't fit in the car...

This is a special year...
A year to make changes and possibly a year to make improvements!

It is a blessed year
but one would have to look at it through the eyes of GOD to say that!

Because it has also been a very
stressful
year...

Our changes include...
less decorations.

Joey loved that balloon
BUT surprise surprise... it popped one day!
No, it wasn't me that did it BUT I did think about doing it!

We were just happy to have gotten a tree and to have put it up this year!

In the end we were very happy with the results!
Next year we will try a bigger tree ;-)

Melissa's stocking was on back order- it has arrived now and it's up!

I know that is pretty lame garland on the mantle but it was all I could find!

Katie and Andrew sent us an advent calendar from Germany and we are counting down the days!

We will not be seeing extended family this year because our children are too new and excitable. 

Next year all of our big kids will be home and we look forward to getting together with our extended family!

 Baking is at a minimum...

We are just fixing a few of our favorites.

Except we have run into a few issues...

The Hubby and the Momma have been sneaking fudge from the stash.

It looks like we will have to make more!

We went to a few plays before the boys got home but now we do not fit into any vehicle so as a family we are homebound!

The good news is Sylvia will be ready this week or next week for pick up!

Praise GOD!

We will all be able to ride together once again!

We are still in survival mode here at our house and we have found that if the parents are happy the children are too!

So for now we are focusing on just doing what we can do and being happy about it!

I hope that even if next year is an easier year we will keep our new traditions 
and 
continue to simplify! 

Who Do They Love More?

This post in on the No Hands But Ours Blog!

Please click on the link above and visit me over there, 

if you can!

Thank you!

Christmas Blessings to you!

Jean

I'm NOT doing it...

I refuse to do what you may be doing...

I'm sorry to hurt your feelings, 

BUT

it is time to make some major changes...

I refuse to do what I have done in the past years.

Instead, we are  redefining our Christmas...

We have thought about it a lot...
and it is time!
With 13 children at home and 5 of them have never celebrated Christmas

NOW

is our opportunity!

We are rejoicing!

We feel free from what this world thinks we should be doing for Christmas!

We have checked it out with God...

 and 

He is good with with it!

If He is good with it, 

than so are we!

Our Christmas plans include...

peace

smiles

praise

joy

good food

and

family

fun!

Please

join us 

if you can!

And if you are already lost in this world definition of what Christmas really is all about...

Please join us next year.

Same time, 

same place!

(okay, that's from Batman 1960's, sorry ;-)

How Are The Boys Doing?

All in all they are doing very well.

We are in the awkward adjustment phase where they speak Chinese to me and I speak English to them. Neither of us has a clue what the other is saying.

Of course it would be best to know some of the language but we always muddle our way through this phase and somehow come out okay with time!

We do have a few translators in the house (Sarah, Mia and Melissa) but they do not speak Chinese back to the boys very often.

The boys spent the first couple days figuring out our home and going from room to room!

They checked out the all the toys, their closets and the dogs!

We had  balloon bouquets to welcome them home...

They are no longer with us ;-)

At one point in time we had about 8 balloons on the ceiling.

Spiderman is still up there...

Thinking he will start to sink sometime in March!

I did tell hubby that the "singing angry birds balloon" would be dying soon...

He said, "I think it's going to be more like a homicide!"

(Cause this Momma was going after it with a scissors as soon as the cute little kiddies went to bed!!"

The weather has been chilly in this neck of the woods so as soon as we had a break in the temps, we had the children play outside!

They were going a little stir crazy inside the house and yet not ready to conquer the world!

Joey is from southern China...

all this winter gear is new to him and he is tiny!

He lost his mittens quite a few times and needed his big sisters help!

He seems to gravitate toward Ellie which makes her feel quite special.

He was the first to come in and he was chilled to the bone.

He needed his Momma to comfort him!

It was my pleasure!

Ben stayed out a long time with out any problem!

He loved playing in the snow with Sam and all the children!

Since Saturday, it has been much too cold for the children to play outside ;-(

Feeling blessed to have all 13 children home!

I wasn't sure if we should have school or not on Monday BUT we do have 13 kiddos and they all do best when they are on a schedule!

Plus we lost a few days in the fall and we have plans for the late winter so we need to do school whenever we can!

Truthfully, 

I LOVE DOING SCHOOL with the children!

I had Ben do a few math worksheets and then let the 2 new boys play.

I want them to see the others doing school and hopefully in time they will desire to join us.

 I also want them to see what we do each day - our schedule and daily routine.

Joey has been a pretty good boy since they have been home!

We have been pleasantly surprised!

Ben is a very good boy but he only wants to listen to Dad.

If he doesn't want to do something he would wave me off and shake his head no...

Ya'll know me by now...

that does not fly with me!

At this present moment I am probably not his favorite person ;-)

But with time he will learn to listen to Momma and do what she asks!

Both Joey and Ben "recover fast"- which is really nice!

If they disobey and I tell them no they are only disgruntled for a short time.

That is a good quality to have!

All the children are enjoying their new brothers!

They have been watching and reporting to me when necessary!

Sam and Luke had their haircuts done late last week.

Now it was Ben and Joey's turn!

They were both thrilled to have their hair cut!

Mike, the barber cut our oldest son Matt's hair when he was 18 months!

Matt is 30 now!

He still cuts, Hubby, Mark, Johnny and all our younger boys hair!

(Billy does his own!)

Joey was thrilled with the TLC!

Ben watched intently as Joey got his hair cut and now it was his turn!

Both of the boys did very well!

After the haircut we had lunch with Dad and then our pediatric appt.

The specialists appts and dental appts are next week.

I look forward to learning more about the health and care of our two new boys!

We loved our time together!

Just Mom and her two boys!

Tonight Dad brought home a Christmas tree.

We plan to decorate it this weekend!

WE are behind in...

most everything!

But trying to do our best to get back on track!

Please Pray For Joshua! UPDATED! and again! and again! and again! And one last update for this post!

For those of you that have not heard- this dear boy has had a heart transplant.

He arrested 5 hours after surgery and was put on ECMO.

Here is an update from his Momma Monday morning.

Joshua wanted to give you all a quick update. His heart is PUMPING. Dr. Fynn-Thompson said, "It is the best possible outcome." While he is still in critical condition and on life support for one more day, we are solidly on the path of recovery with his new heart.

We will post details tonight as to what the short term looks like. Plans and timelines change constantly here in the CICU.

Thank you for your prayers. We do not know where this journey is taking us but we are willing to follow, giving God all the GLORY!!!!

And this is another update from this evening.

Please pray for this dear child and for his family!

Prayers is powerful and our Lord hears the petitions of many!

He is being weaned off ecmo right now friends...

Please join me in prayer!

About this time last Monday, we were getting in a car to drive to Boston for one of the most important days in Joshua's life. Seven days later, the king has spoken and told us he wants to live!

Joshua will be weaned from his heart life support - ecmo - through the night beginning at midnight. He is already keeping his RT and Nurse quite busy with levels and bleeding and all sorts of fun stuff.

Around 8:00am, they will "clamp" off the machine and let Joshua's heart take over for several hours. If he passes that test, they will remove the ecmo from his body and he will be on his way!

While this is the biggest hurdle, there are many to come during an intense and most likely long recovery. We know Joshua is strong and mighty and ready for the challenge. We cannot say enough about the all the doctors, nurses, and staff here at Boston Children's Hospital. They are truly outstanding and amazingly family centered.

Prayers:
1) For a peaceful and uneventful night of rest for Joshua.
2) That his heart tolerates the wean and decides/remembers how much it likes to work.
3) For Joshua's heart to conquer the world tomorrow and honor his donor family!
4) That those who have chosen to fast and sacrifice for our dear boy are drawn closer to the Lord in their own walk.

Great things we ask.
God is able.
I believe.

Here is an update from this morning!

Big morning for Joshua. They have technically taken him off the heart machine and his new heart is chugging along nicely so far. They are bustling around getting him ready for his third bedside surgical procedure to take away the ecmo tubes. We are celebrating but a little anxious. The nurse and I agreed that today is a "do-over." Joshua is starting from a better place and as long as things remain stable, we can begin the process of healing. They are watching a bunch of other things and we do have a long way to go but moving forward at a steady rate.
Giving God the glory. Thank you for your prayers.

Last update-
Praying, praying, praying!

Monday morning in Boston bedside in CICU with Joshua after a quiet and stable night.
At 10:15am EST, Joshua will undergo a surgical procedure in his room by Dr. Fynn-Thompson. Then over the next 24-48 hours, his new heart will begin to be challenged and asked to do some work. They have let it rest as long as they could. Still not a whole lot of recovery signs yet so there is some anxiety.
If his heart does not show improvement, there is a Plan B provided Joshua remains stable and relatively healthy in all the other parts of his body.

We really need this heart to pump.
Thank you for your prayers.

More thoughts from Jennifer, Joshua's Mom.
4:26pm Tuesday, December 10th

My son had a heart transplant. I can still hardly believe it.
Today the heart machine was removed about the same time the new heart began beating exactly one week ago. Joshua has aced everything they asked of him. The surgeon was very pleased and the doctors are using words like "terrific" and " very good" when they look at his numbers. Our nurse is vigilantly tweaking his meds and temperature to find the best place for him to begin his healing journey.

Can we say hallelujah?
You bet.
Only God could have ever written this story.
Thank you, faithful people.
Thank you.


Keep Praying! HE hears YOU!   


Update for Wednesday Morning 12/11

Froggy is on foot duty. Oh friends! Joshua has made it 24 hours without any major blips. We are breathing just a tad bit deeper this morning. They are chasing a few tails like bleeding, fluid levels, and learning what  makes our boy most comfortable.
The big news is that our surgeon is planning on closing Joshua's chest today. We are so ready for the zipper. With that comes signing yet another consent with all the associated risks. This will happen in the OR so Joshua will leave this room for the first time in ten days.

Some other procedures are planned for the end of the week and barring any complications, we may see those beautiful brown eyes early next week. Two weeks is a long time without our king of spunk ordering us around. We miss him.
Please pray for:
An uneventful chest closure and a stable heart. Also, Joshua has been crying a little and they are going to try and make him as comfortable as possible.
Be blessed. Today is what you have.

An update for this evening!
Praising GOD!


Joshua rocked his chest closure today. His numbers are stable. The doctors continue to use words like "terrific" and "fantastic" and "superb."
I am realizing how the victories are as important to these doctors and nurses as they are to us. Living in the CICU is super intense where life and death are but moments apart and the people who work here choose to live this day in and day out. The people who commit to caring for our kids will always be the superheroes in my book.

Tomorrow and Friday will bring surgical procedures for Joshua and then we can think about getting his breathing tube out and really waking him up.
I cannot wait to tell him he has a new heart.
Today was a good day. We pray that we can continue on this road to recovery.
We are specifically praying for:
1) That cloudy part in Joshua's lung to clear up. He only had half a lung under his very enlarged heart and it needs to get up to speed.
2) That Joshua stays comfortable and will not get stressed out over the next few days.
3) That his heart continues to find its beat and settles down to do the work it was given to do.
4) For the family who gave us this gift of life. After hovering for a week between life and death, I cannot imagine. I cannot.
5) For Bob and I as we allow ourselves to look ahead and figure out how to balance home and hospital life over the coming weeks. (We will definitely be here through the end of December or longer).
Thank you seems inadequate.
From our hearts to yours, good night from BCH.