Month of May's Musings......

We've had a funky spring that was late in arriving here in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania this year.   May brought a wide variety of  weather and temps throughout the month (including thunderstorms, a few days of high temps and humidity, lots of rain and wind, sunshine filled days and even a few 40 degree nights sprinkled throughout the month).  We've taken advantage of the sunny, warm days and have been thrilled to be able to spend time and pent up energy OUTDOORS.  Having over a month and a half of recovery behind her, Lucy's been loving riding her bike on our back deck, swinging often, jumping on the trampoline with the big brothers and eating outdoors when we can!           ------------click on any picture to enlarge-------

Last May,  as I hung wash,  I thought often about hanging little girl clothes
 on the wash line once again, it's a fun reality this year!

Thanks Aunt Rosene for letting us borrow the bike!

Swinging on the back deck

Everyone on the Z Ranch was "on the move" this month with many fun family activities scheduled.  We are so grateful that Lucy seems to enjoy going away together as a family.  Although Mommy has noted that resuming our regular routine after several outings is important as Lucy and some of her brothers do best with routine and home time.

Mother's Day weekend was a full weekend!  We all thoroughly enjoyed watching Emily on stage at her last spring concert in high school (she'll be finishing her high school days in June).

"Big Sis"on stage with lots of music and dance!!
Lucy girl LOVES music and dance too!

Sharing her gift of music and dance

Photo op with the show's star and her B.F.F. 

Between big sister's Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon performances,  Mommy and Daddy were given the honor of sharing God's story in bringing Lucy home to the Chinese Church in Lancaster on Mother's Day morning.

Sharing Lucy's story with the Chinese Church
in Lancaster with the aid of a fabulous interpreter!

Some slides we had in both English and Chinese
(KBS - yes I had to include this picture on a slide :)

It's the Chinese Church tradition to take a photo of all the
Mother's on Mother's Day!

This was my first Mother's Day with Lucy Kim and I asked Merle to snap a couple of photo's before she went to bed on this special day!

A few days after Mother's Day all of my children were home and made a delicious supper that we shared together on a beautiful evening outdoors.

This month we also had the opportunity to have a family photo shoot with a talented local photographer.  This sweet young lady is part of "Red Thread Sessions" (how cool is that name!) that lovingly photographs adoptive families at a reduced cost.  This is their wonderful way of showing their support of growing families through adoption.  Our photographer is currently in the midst of adopting their first child!

Daddy sweetly snapped this picture of us before the
"real" photography session began

Enjoying the slide after pictures

The "BFF's" and their coordinating dresses!

Memorial Day weekend was also a jammed packed weekend with two family picnics and a last day of Chinese school program (the school breaks over the summer months and will resume in September).  Lucy apparently still has her teacher wrapped around her finger.....

Lucy and some of her friends before the program started

The pre-schoolers sang a song about animals,
Lucy was given the "bird" hat to wear (yes it's Angry bird - LOL)

At one of our family picnics, we celebrated Emily's upcoming graduation with a special cake!

With the warm days, we've brought out the sandals.  Seeing Lucy's feet "exposed" in sandals really showed the difference in the sizes of her two feet.  It also appeared harder for her smaller foot to walk in a shoe that was too big.  I realized that her feet are now about two sizes different in shoe size.  I purchased two pair of sandals in two different sizes so that I could have one usable pair for LK's feet.  This would also make her foot size difference less obvious to others (although now that her Mama is broadcasting it publicly on a blog, I'll bet I'll see some of you checking out her footwear :)  For those of you who don't know me in "real time" you need to know I have a thing for shoes and also bags.  Being the Goodwill/Second Hand store shopper that I am, it'll be a rare day to find two of the same shoes in two difft. sizes!
Uh-Oh......this just maybe what it will take for Mommy to keep the shoe fettish in check.

Size 6 on the right foot with a size 8 on the left

A girl needs some variety, right?  This picture will equal three
pair of sandals for Lucy!

We ended the month with taking "big brother" to the Emergency Dept. where he had to get three stitches in his lip.  Of course this topic of conversation was brought up often and each time it was addressed, the little Miss needed to remind everyone that "she has a boo-boo on her back" and stitches too!  

Sporting 3 stitches in the top lip

Not too sure about brother getting all of this attention
over three stitches!

As you can see, Lucy's little life continues to be drastically different from a year ago where she spent ALL of her time behind orphanage walls.  Like spring time, she's blossoming and blooming..  We continue to give God the praise and glory for what He has done and continues to do in and through our family-through the "growing times" and the "blooming times."

We're excited to see how Lucy will enjoy her first visit to our community pool, our first family vacation with extended family and more!

Thanks for joining us in the journey!  

One Month Post Op (recovering at home part 3 of 3)

If you would walk into our home today and see Lucy Kim, you would not guess that one month ago she had spinal cord surgery!  The wheelchair, walker, and pain meds have all been put away.  Aside from occasionally hearing "my back hurts" (and I'll add that sometimes that's thrown into a conversation because she's hoping it will swing a NO response into a YES because of sympathy!)...

My shirt says - "God made me, chose me and brought me home"

The physical therapist that evaluated Lucy was suggesting twice a week therapy to help get Lucy back to her base line.  It took a week and a half for them to process paperwork,  check with insurance, schedule appt., etc. (and during that time period, LK was recovering and meeting goals at record speed).  So, when I got the call to come for her first PT appt., I thought to myself - "this seems silly, but I'd better go in and let them decide if she's in need of additional therapy".

Well  "Little Miss Trooper" strutted her stuff on command - walking up and down the small staircase 4x (while holding a rail and needing minimal help from the therapist), bending this way, reaching and stretching, etc.  And as suspected, the therapist reported there's no need to return until after her next surgery!  She's doing a great.  (or as Lucy likes to say "Tah Dah!!!)

This girl loves lollipops just like her Mom-Mom

On Monday, May 5th we had a post op. visit with Dr. Dias, Lucy' neuro surgeon as well as an appointment with an orthopedic specialist.  Dr. Dias was thrilled with Lucy Kim's progress and said we can check in with him again in one year unless we have questions or concerns in the interim!  AND ..... the biggest, happiest news for Lucy girl is she got the green light to swing and ride her riding toys (YES, I'm going to look for a sale on a little bike so she can ride bike like her big brothers that's she's so excited to do!)

Our appointment with the orthopedic doctor went well too.  While the doctor reviewed x-rays and did a clinical exam, we learned more things in regard to Lucy's foot, knee and hip problems.  These findings will most likely make things a bit more difficult that we originally anticipated in regard to Lucy's next surgeries that will address the issue of correcting her deformed right foot (or congenital vertical talus) and later a surgery to correct her knee contracture and hip.  However that's a discussion for another post at a later date.

While we could choose to immediately start the process toward the next surgery we've decided to give her a break from surgery (and recovery) and enjoy her very first summer home outdoors in the sunshine, swinging, riding that new bike that Mommy's going to get, being poolside, AND hopefully her first visit to see the Atlantic Ocean!  

Lucy and Kimmy during "book time"

Practicing some fine motor skills

Lots of smiles with her best friends!

 We'll resume the continuation of this "medical stuff" end of summer/early fall. 
Thinking about MORE surgeries, recovery and lots of therapy can be emotionally and mentally exhausting.  However, what stands out 1000x more is the blessing that LUCY KIM is and that our good and faithful God in His sovereignty created her as she is  in HIS image.  And in His wonderful sovereignty,  He knew that our lives would be better, more complete and conformed to His will  by walking alongside our sweet girl as Mommy and Daddy during the rehabilitation journey.  Together. As a family.  That blessing is so worth any amount of time and energy it will take to help her live the best quality of life.   Her little life is precious beyond words and she has been a gift to our family.  These are the things that we try hard (but not always successfully) to focus on during the tough medical decision making times, surgeries, etc.

Have you considered the JOY that adding a child with a disability could add to your own family!?

In one of my earliest posts on this blog, I told you about a saying that I love and so believe....

"Where God guides, He ALWAYS provides"

**This Sunday will be my first Mother's Day with our little Lucy Kim!  My heart bursts with thankfulness for the gift of being able to be Mommy to another blessing!  However, right alongside those deep feelings of love and thankfulness reside very deep feelings of longing to express my deep gratitude to Lucy's sweet birth mother for carrying this precious bundle for nine months and choosing life for her, as well as wanting to let her know that Lucy is being loved, cared for and cherished.  But most importantly is the desire for birth mother to know and accept Jesus Christ as her Redeemer, Restorer and Savior by  being adopted by the ONE who can giver her eternal life!  This is our daily prayer for Lucy's birth mother, her birth father as well as our boys birth parents!  In light of eternity, does anything else matter?!

"A child born to another woman calls me mom. The depth of the tragedy and the magnitude of the privilege are not lost on me." - Jody Landers

  As an added bonus -- God has given our family the opportunity to share Lucy's adoption story this Sunday, Mother's Day with the Chinese Church at Calvary.  This is where Lucy attends Chinese pre-school.  Adopting a child with a known handicap isn't "typical" in any way in the Chinese culture (here in the states as well as in China!).  We would covet your prayers for us that we would honor God's story of Lucy's journey home  and show His great love and redemption in Lucy's life this Sunday.

Two Weeks Post Op. (Recovering at home... part 2 of 3)

As I sit here typing this update, I realized that exactly two weeks ago , I was typing from the surgical waiting room at Hershey Medical Center. 

Lucy’s recovery continues to be going extremely well.  She's making daily forward progress.  On Monday, April 21^st , Lucy, John-Merle and I went to her physical therapy evaluation.  I wheeled Lucy into the building in the wheelchair and big brother kindly carried her little walker.  While waiting for the therapist, Lucy wanted to walk around and check out the toys.  Not wanting to squelch the desire to be mobile, I took her out of the chair and put her in front of the walker.  She was motoring along fabulously and that day was the last of the wheelchair (at least until next surgery), it was put away!

By Wednesday afternoon, she was bravely taking a few steps without her little walker!  This has built her confidence and today (Thursday) she’s not using her walker much at all.  I anticipate it too will be put away very soon.

I’ve only been giving her Motrin or Tylenol a few times each day.   All of her steri-strips have fallen off and her surgery site looks so good.  I’ve been putting vitamin E over it a few times daily.  (hoping this might minimize scarring?!  The incision is about 7 inches long.

The physical therapist told me she's going to be suggesting twice a week therapy to get her "back to baseline."  If she continues making the progress she's currently making each day, I think she'll be back at baseline within the next week!

Picture taken the night before surgery

And......after .....  :*(

On Easter Sunday it was beautiful outdoors and Merle and I took the boys and Lucy to a nearby rail trail.  We put the boys bikes in the back of the Suburban along with Lucy’ wheelchair.  Not long into our walk, Lucy repeatedly told us she wanted to ride bike too.  Without much thought, I replied “you have to walk first, then you can ride a bike.”  LESSON LEARNED.  Don’t tell this spunky little girl “this then this” because she will remind you over and over what you said.  Four year old's have a very different concept of time.  Having almost 100 stitches, the bike riding isn't gonna be happening as quickly as she'd like.  But, no doubt in the near future they'll be a little Asian pre-schooler flying around on a bike in our driveway.  

Lucy is scheduled for her post op. visit with Dr. Dias, her neuro surgeon on Monday, May 5th.  We expect him to be very pleased with his little patient's progress!

More random photos from our week!

A beautiful reminder of the REASON we celebrate Easter

Coloring Easter eggs for the very first time

Sadie was a pro!

Emily was "overseer" of the egg coloring operation!

Big and Little Sis!

Not in the mood!

Recovering at home (part 1 of 3)

Wow, our first days home with a little girl recovering from surgery have been a whirlwind!  The busyness hasn't been solely from caring for one four year old girl recovering from spinal cord surgery but instead from four children who are sick!  Apparently Lucy's big brothers were missing the extra special attention from Dad and Mom.  One brother began running a 103 degree fever another brother topped that with a thermometer reading of 104.4 degrees and the third was diagnosed with strep throat.  Second night home, I had four boys in sleeping bags on my living room floor (my dear 21 year old son voluntarily slept in the room with us) because I wanted to keep a close eye on rising body temperatures and make sure none climbed any higher then the 104 degree mark. So here I was back on a sofa in my street clothes - hmmm.....kinda reminiscent of the five nights we had just spent in the hospital!

Living room floor, a.k.a. "infirmary" 

So how's Lucy's recovery going now that you've been home a few days?

The first night home, our little girl slept 13 hours(only got up once because she was cold and Mommy gave her some pain meds.)!  Apparently, her little body was exhausted from all the interrupted sleep.
We continued to give her prescription pain medication the first full day home.  I decided on Thursday, (exactly one week post op) that I'd see if we could control pain with just using Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen- over the counter pain relievers.  Rotating between the two has been working well AND.....as the day went on, her appetite began to come back some which makes life easier.
Lucy has had ups and downs with standing and walking.  But the past two days we've seen great improvement.  Her right side (side with deformed foot and knee contracture) continues to be quite a bit weaker then her left but we're seeing progress by the day. On Monday, April 21st we will attend our first out patient physical therapy session at a local pediatric rehabilitation facility.  From what I can tell her most pain comes from sitting on the potty.  Something about that position must really aggravate her back/incision.

Rockin' the walker!

Some other GREAT therapy has been being able to soak in some rays and get some a la natural vitamin D!! Oh blessed SUNSHINE!

Who says if you're in a wheelchair, you can't help with the chores?

Mommy took advantage of the sun filled days to disinfect the house and wash everyone's bedding and hang it out on the wash line!

Alas......spring has arrived!!

Other types of "therapy" may look like this......

"Reading" a card

Reading a book with your best friend!

Thanks friends for all the get well wishes!!!

This recovery process is tiring and at times painful but we're sure blessed to have the prayers, love and support of family and friends!!  THANK YOU!!  We covet your on-going prayers as Lucy girl continues to recover over the next weeks.

We continue to give our Heavenly Father all glory, honor and praise in carrying Lucy and our family through this journey!!  He hears our prayers and strengthens us!

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.