Jet Fighter

When we were matched with Jet, we started a Facebook Group call Jet Landing for friends and family to follow along with our road to Jet (I really much prefer the word "road" or "adventure" instead of "process" or "journey", which I'll maybe explain in a later post.) For obvious reasons, and for our little play on words, we changed it to "Jet Landed" once we were home in the States.

Now, for the third time, we're changing it again. 

Our little guy is stubborn...

July 2016

 Our little guy is strong-willed...

August 2016

And our little guy dives straight into the middle of things, whether it's jam on toast or a crowd of people. This is how he approaches life. Center of. 

July 2016

These are all things we've learned about Jet over the course of the past nine months. His near constant motion, his happy demeanor, his curiosity...these are also things we've learned. We read these things about him in his paperwork when we were matched, but we were finally able to experience all of them in person and every day since our Family Day in May. 

But most of all? Our little guy is a fighter. And that's why we're renaming our group to "Jet Fighter." 

We've had so many tests and procedures. He's been a trooper through all of them. Most recently, we changed up some meds at his regular appointment in the middle of January, and got ready to hurry up and wait. Since Christmas, Jordan has been slowly sleeping more...and then finally the past two-three weeks asks to go to bed or nap before noon or before 7:30...and then takes a 2-3 hour nap plus sleeps a solid twelve hours a night without waking. Considering up to his bad respiratory infection in December he wasn't even taking a nap and just having a "rest time" in his bed for 2(ish) hours with toys and books, this was something we've been keeping an eye on.

Due to J's pneumonia from last weekend (that apparently may not have been pneumonia but we're still calling it that because no one really knows what it was), they discovered while comparing his chest X-rays from December to now that his heart was significantly larger, so last Wednesday we added some new meds and doubled the ones we were on, plus take his oxygen levels regularly, with instructions for labs to be drawn in a few weeks while the doctors conferred about possible surgery this year.

The final straw was we've gradually been noticing his lips being that blue shade you never want to see, and a few lower sats recordings this weekend than what he was previously capable of while healthy (now that his cough was gone). We emailed our cardiologist with our list of concerns. Since Jordan basically has been sick since the middle of December with only a couple of healthy weeks between, there was a good chance that we were worrying over nothing (maybe lips were blue because he was cold? and clearly he needed to catch up on sleep from the multiple hospital stays!), but we wanted the doctor to be aware that we were starting to notice these things. 

All of that background to say...our cardiologist called yesterday afternoon, and without much preamble, stated that we would be scheduling Jordan's open heart surgery as soon as possible, most likely toward the beginning of April. Apparently, our email on Sunday confirmed what he's been studying over the past week(s). To say the least, we were shocked. We assumed we'd be bumping up his next appointment, or maybe adding a halter monitor to the labs in a few weeks. We were not expecting him to say let's get things moving for heart surgery. (Which, by the way, is irony for you: here we've been expecting and expecting and expecting surgery, and the doctors always putting it off...and when we least expected it, BOOM, surgery asap.)

Today, 2/28/17

So that brings us back to our Jet Fighter. All of those qualities that I listed earlier? Those are what have gotten him through his surgery in China, his transition from his other family into our own, from one culture to another, and those are what will get him through this surgery and recovery. The surgery is more complicated than originally thought, but the doctors have a positive outlook on the prognosis. It will hopefully alleviate some of the pressure on his lungs from the pulmonary hypertension, as well as close up a significant leak in his mitral valve. It may decrease the severity of all of these colds and respiratory infections too. Previously discussed was a pacemaker placement, and while no mention was made of that yesterday, we assume that is also still on the table. They will also take a look at his mitral valve, and see if they need to or will be able to replace it some day in the future if it comes to that.

We would truly appreciate your prayers for all three of us in the next few weeks. Specifically, Derek will be traveling overseas for a week or so in March so I'll be holding down the fort and again possibly later in April or May. We absolutely need Jordan to stay healthy so the surgery can be performed as planned. And then for me, as the master scheduler, I have a number of odds and ends to tie up between then and now, such as we received a referral to pulmonology that is supposed to take place at the end of March but don't know if it will still be needed, and Jordan also was set to be evaluated for Early Intervention, also in March (due to a gross motor skill delay) that also might not be needed...as what would be the point of starting physical therapy two or three weeks before open heart surgery? Plus the normal pre-op tests, appts., etc. And pray for Jet...that he keeps his fighter stance, and comes out of this with a new brave scar?

And finally...we'd still appreciate prayer and wisdom for when our next match/referral comes. We truly believe he/she is out there waiting for us as we are for him/her...and life goes on outside of our little red brick house and OSF hospital walls. We want to be ready to say yes when that time comes, whatever our circumstances are at the time, but also want to be able to wait patiently. 

So many verses come to mind, so I'll leave you with some passages that have brought comfort to us recently: 1 Samuel 2, Psalm 46, and Hebrews 11. Please pray them with us, and for us: for patience (again), strength, wisdom, and faith. 

#lethopeshine

Three Birthdays, Three Families

Independence at its finest

It's already the 24th in China, and that means it's already Jordan's birthday! He's officially two! And, boy, is he really two. I won't say it's the terrible twos, at least not out loud or commit to it in writing, because while frustrating it's great that he is developing normally! He's asserting his independence more and more every day, and I don't know where he picks up half of the things he's learning but he does. I stopped counting words that he says and uses correctly, because it would occupy the majority of my day, and since he's been using the "two by two" (two word phrases by two years old) for a few months now I am unconcerned about his language skills. His physical strength is improving too--still doesn't exactly leave the ground when he "jumps" or have the upper body strength to pull himself up and out of his crib (not a terrible thing), but I've found he very much lives by the motto "when there's a will, there's a way." And boy, does he ever find a way (and the will) when he needs to.

We aren't doing much to celebrate; first of all, it was just Christmas so he has lots of gifts and toys to play with (and some yet to be opened), and second of all...he's two. He doesn't really understand what his birthday means yet. But, we did get him a few things and we'll be having his favorite Chinese noodles for dinner plus maybe going out to get cake shakes from The Little Raven Creamery...because Mommy isn't baking a birthday cake and cake shakes are awesome. In the meantime, while he's supposed to be napping (yet I can hear him singing and playing with his animals in his crib), I figured I would write a letter--to him, and to whomever is reading, to understand a little more what birthdays mean to us, and to possibly other adoptive families.

Dear Jordan, 

We have loved getting to know you these last seven (almost eight) months! Every day, you amaze us with something new, and we admire and love your silliness, your stubbornness, and your resilience. Those three things, while at times (quite) frustrating to us, will get you pretty far in life, and we can't wait to see how God will turn your little light into a big light for Him. 

But at some point, you'll understand that although you turned two, your previous "birthdays" were celebrated with two other families. We'll do everything in our power to support you and help you remember them, and the sacrifices they made for you in love. 

First pictures we received of J.
Approx. 1 year old. 

Your first birthday was celebrated with your Ayi and your Morning Star brothers and sisters, where the common thread you shared were special warrior hearts. Some of them are no longer with us, but most others of them are home with their forever families. Hopefully, someday we can all get together and meet and talk about your shared experiences. In the meantime, us parents try to stay in touch with you and your siblings--because that's what they were to you--and talk about your milestones and setbacks and adjustments to life with your forever families. We also will never let you forget the amount of people who prayed for you and supported you during your time at MSFH, before we even knew you were ours. 

And of course, we will work even harder to help you understand your actual Birth Day. How you have a birth mother and father on the other side of the world, who, we believe with all of our hearts, gave you a chance at life because they loved you so much--the ultimate sacrifice. Because of your complicated little heart, it's bittersweet, since we know that without them making sure you were found quickly, you would not be with us now. Birthdays are so hard, because we know that they are remembering you and hoping you received the care they so desperately knew you needed, yet if they were able to we know that they would have done everything to keep you with them--because that's what we would have done in their shoes too. 

You'll hear your whole life how beautiful adoption is. 

One month old 

But don't ever forget that adoption is courage, and adoption is loss too; and it's okay to mourn for that loss. We understand, because we are right there with you. It's so hard to put into words that we wouldn't give you up for anything...yet know that others bravely did just that. 

So please remember, and we'll help you until you're old enough to understand, you have three families celebrating and remembering you on your birthday, every year. We believe that God placed you here for a reason, and we will do our absolute best to help you learn and grow and find your purpose, as we promised when you officially became ours. We love you Jordan, and so many others do too.

Jordan, and so many others like him, were given financial and prayer support until they were matched with their forever families. Because of organizations like Morning Star, Jordan, along with many others, was able to receiving his life saving heart surgery through monthly sponsorship and donations. You can check out their website here (and maybe spot a picture of baby J), and if you so feel led to sponsor a child please check out their current Let Hope Shine-China Project. Yet the MSF goes a step further, and has what they call their Love Project. Donations to a project such as this would help families like Jordan's: that they would not have to be faced with the devastating choice of having to give up their child...or just give up. These donations enable Morning Star to come alongside these families, and help pay for life saving surgeries, or medications, or whatever is needed for family preservation.

There are many other organizations such as these, but for obvious reasons, this one is near and dear to our hearts. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates on their current kiddos. Of course, if you know of others to sponsor or follow, please do so! The ultimate goal for all of these types of organizations is to provide support for family preservation until there are no more orphans. Thank you for your consideration in supporting these at the very least, in prayer.

New Years and Red Threads on Red Threads

Exactly two years ago, we celebrated our New Years with what we still affectionately call our "press release." (You can read that here, if you're feeling nostalgic.) We announced to our friends and family our intentions to adopt our first child from China, and although we had no idea of an exact timeline we had hoped and prayed that we would be home with our son or daughter by the end of 2016. Lo and behold, that proved to be true by more than six months!

This post isn't a recap of our adoption process, or a rehash of our 2016--I think we can all agree there are a lot of those floating around and I have no desire to add to that list. However, one thing that I was remiss in showing in its completion was the puzzle piece fundraiser you all so generously donated to in our effort to bring Jordan home. If you want to see it in person, hanging in Jordan's room--and in color--to see where your name is, come on over! Otherwise, here is a photo I took in black and white before we get it framed. (We're very pleased with how it turned out by the way; I was very concerned that the majority of your names or words would be upside down, but they weren't!) I realize it's a little hard to read in the gray scale, but I've never been one to appreciate having my name splashed all over a donation or the internet without forewarning so we kind of made that the rule here too. Plus, again, this gives you a reason to stop on by the house to find your name(s) (and maybe a reason for me to clean it before you come).

You may be wondering though...this looks like the back of the puzzle? You'd be correct. The front of the puzzle looks like this--originally we had an orange one but due to some (ahem) technical difficulties we had to change to the other one we had--which is gray. All 252 pieces were "sold" and have a name, bible verse, or specific wording on the back. The frame will be double sided, so while we will probably display with all the names for Jordan to read some day, he will also be able to choose to view the true meaning of everyone's contribution. Family.
Jiātíng. You helped us build ours, and we're forever grateful, but you also helped a little boy connect with his forever family, which he will also be able to remember for the rest of his life. 

An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch of tangle, but will never break. --Chinese proverb

So where does that bring us for 2017? Well, we aren't sure. But maybe you noticed the new little Jordan at the top of the blog holding up a red heart balloon. He's pretty cute, don't you think? I have an awesome sister who does all sorts of graphic stuff for me...but especially when it comes to her future niece/nephew. We know that this next year will be different and some parts harder than others--but can't you say that about any year? What we do know is this: we have hope. We have hope that we'll have answers to a lot of health questions in the next few months. We have hope that Jordan will continue his good health. And maybe most of all, we are hoping that there is another red thread out there, connecting us with a little sister or brother for Jordan. We've been on the waiting child list since about a month or so after we got home (so almost seven months now), and specifically for another heart baby. We are hoping for a match yet within 2017, with possible travel in 2018. That may sound incredibly far away, but remember, it was only two years ago that we announced our intentions for adopting a child who was not yet even born. 

So right now, please join us in our hope for 2017. And pray with us that God will provide as he sees fit. Health, timing, and finances--and especially financially since we will be starting at basically ground zero. As we've been reminded though, throughout the past two years, God's providence is unwavering. He has provided and will provide, as He sees fit for our needs. And join us in praying for our future daughter or son--Jordan's sister or brother (and let's be honest, this kid NEEDS a sibling), who may already be born yet and facing medical needs we have no way of helping at this time.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3: 20-21