Happy Gotcha Day Ben

Gotcha Day - June 11, 2010

Can't believe Ben has been ours for a year already! He has grown so much and adjusted so well into our family. He is such a active little boy who keeps me super busy. There are no dull moments in the Pierce household. He has such a great personality and a cuteness that has stolen this momma's heart!

He has undergone 3 surgeries in the last year with no more in store for a few years! He had his check up last week with his surgeon and his mouth has healed nicely, PTL!! He will begin speech therapy next week. He has learned several English words and now knows his colors. He loves to swim (last year he was terrified of water), he has grown 3.5" and gained 6lbs in the last year. He is certaintly healthy!

Tonight we will go out to eat Chinese with some close friends to celebrate his first year with his forever family. We will miss his dad and oldest brother as we celebrate as they are on a mission trip in the Philippines. We will have more celebrations when they return home.

Happy Gotcha Day Benjamen, WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

We're Home

Appointment Day

Hudson and Ben in holding area...it's too early! In his room after surgery

Ben's surgery went well on Thursday. He is now home and we are keeping him loaded down with tylenol and motrin for pain. He slept better last night, only waking up twice screaming out in pain. We are also praying for his mouth to heal correctly and to not have a repeat of his last surgery in December. With his first surgery, which we thought would be his only sugery for now, his palate opened back up with a small hole five days after surgery. By the time a week had passed the hole had grown bigger. Ten days after surgery we knew he would need another surgery and that the first one wasn't successful. Please pray with us that God will heal his little mouth completely and he won't need anymore surgeries. It is such a painful recovery with so many stitches in their tiny little mouths. Hudson is the son of a dear friend of mine,Sharon, who we found out just three days earlier would also be having sugery at the same time as Ben. We first met his family while they were waiting for a referral in 5/07. We had attended an adoption seminar at their church, where they spoke about how God had placed special needs children on their hearts. This was the beginning of our adoption journey for Shayle and God used them to speak to my heart concerning adopting a special needs child. Before the conference, I was very unsure if I would be able to take care of a special needs child. However, through the words they both spoke that day regarding special needs, God began to melt away my fears of a special needs adoption. We were in the very early stages of our paperwork at this time. As I prayed over the next two months, God confirmed to me that none of us are perfect but we are all made in His image and that He would equip me with what I would need to take care of a child with a need. And so our journey began to adopt Shayle. A few months later, Sharon and her husband did get their referral for Hudson. Shortly after, we both signed up for a secret sister gift exchange through our adoption agency. I was given Sharon's name to purchase gifts for her son, but more importantly to pray for their son, Hudson, who would soon join their family. I began to love this little boy and his family very much as I prayed for them over the next few months. I couldn't believe out of all of us who had signed up for this secret sis exchange, that I would end up with Sharon's name, someone who had changed my outlook on special needs adoptions. God had picked her just for me. He's not just in the big things of this life but also in the little things. Only He knew we would end up in the same hospital having surgery together with our little China Princes four years after meeting. God is so good! This hospital stay was so much nicer having these dear friends with us in the waiting room and then we were placed in rooms on the floor right next to each other. The hospital staff were surprised we knew each other, I think they thought we planned our surgery together...no but God did! So as you pray for Ben please pray for Hudson and his healing as well. Hudson will have to go back next Wednesday to have his stitches removed and will be put under with gas. Shayle also had a follow-up appt with the surgeon to see her progress since her second surgery last April. The surgeon was very pleased with her progress which is a BIG PRAISE for her!! For the first time ever she carried on a conversation with him, and he could understand her! She will NOT need any additional surgeries at this time. He will follow up with her again next April. For now, we will continue in speech twice a week. Since she was older when we adopted her and her palate wasn't repaired until age 6, she has had a lot more catching up to do with developing the English language and the fact she didn't speak much at all before age 6 proves how AWESOME GOD is to bring her this far in just 2 years! I'm very proud of all she has accomplished since coming home. Thank you for continuing to lift her up in prayer, it has made such a difference in her life. I am confident that one day you will be rewarded in heaven for praying for these kids who once were orphans, but they are orphans no more!

Surgery Thursday 4/14

Please be in prayer for Ben as he will have another palate surgery this Thursday morning at 7:30am. After his first surgery back in December, his palate formed a fistula, it opened back up. He needs prayer for his mouth to heal correctly this time and for his recovery since he gets really frustrated when he is limited on what he can eat and then when he eats he is in pain. The recovery last time was really bad so I am dreading it this time.

Myranda's 14th Birthday Celebration

My sweet Myranda turned 14 on Saturday, April 9th. Our day was so busy that I am just now getting to post a Happy Birthday wish to her. I took her and a couple of her friends shopping, out to eat at Razzoo's and then to the Rock and Worship Concert that was at the American Airline Center Sat. night. We heard several bands perform and the girls had a blast. After the concert, we went back to our house for a sleepover. Suprisingly, Sunday morning I managed to get a total of 9 kids up, fed and to church while Darrel went to work.

I'm so glad God gave me you as my daughter! I love you so much and I am proud of the young woman you are becoming! HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY MYRANDA!!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Benjamen!!

Today is Ben's first birthday to spend with us. He can't wait to open some presents after seeing Shayle open her's on Tuesday. We are having his and Shayle's party this weekend. He loves to jump in bounce house's so we are renting a bounce house and slide for the party. It should be a great day with nice weather. More birthday pictures to come after the weekend....stay tuned. I've also added new photos to Ben's website and will continue updating it.

Happy Birthday Arron & Shayle

Seventeen years ago I became a mom for the first time, God has truly blessed me with such an amazing and awesome son! Then, in November 2008, God blessed me with a sweet daughter from China who also shares the same birthday has her older brother.

Happy Birthday Shayle and Arron....I love you very much!!

For their birthday we went out to eat at Razzoo's and then to Shenaniganz to bowl and play some games. Everyone had a great time!

A New Smile :)

Myranda looks so grown up after getting her braces off yesterday. She has had them for 3 years and 3 months so she is very happy to get them off! She is growing up fast...she will be 14 in April, where does the time go! Love your new smile, it's beautiful Myranda!!!

Valentine Photos

Decorating The Tree

Ben is enjoying all the decorated trees in our house. He has left them alone, not the typical two year old. He enjoyed Shayle and Jacob's Christmas parties at school yesterday and loves to sing "Jingle Bells". He especially loves to yell "Hey". He also can imitate Santa's "Ho, Ho, Ho" very well as he rubs his belly and laughs. I wonder what he will think when he gets to open his presents and then to see what Santa brings.

He has continued to heal after surgery but with a hole in his palate, so he will have to have more surgery. :( He goes back to the surgeon on January 18th, so we will know more then.

Hopefully I will get back on my blog before Christmas but if I don't get a chance, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and truly remember the greatest gift of all, JESUS!!!

Payton's Birthday

Payton celebrated her 12th birthday on November 18th. Wow, I am really behind in updating my blog! She had a great time shopping, getting nails done and eating out. She's really growing into a beautiful young lady who has the most tender heart. I am so proud of who she's becoming. She wants so much to help us support orphans and foster kids and she can't wait to go on her first mission trip to visit an orphanage and love on those precious kids. She really wants to go to the Phillipines next June with Darrel, Arron and maybe me. (depending on how Ben is doing) I can see God developing her into a child after His own heart. Their are many times I see the face of God through Payton, I am truly blessed to have such a sweet and caring daughter! WE LOVE YOU PAY PAY!!!

Please Pray

Please pray for Ben as he continues to recover from surgery. He had a rough few days not being able to eat as he is used to doing. This boy loves to eat so it has made it a hard recovery. He also has developed a fistula (hole) in his palate. This is not uncommon and sometimes will heal on its own, only time will tell. He may have to go back into surgery a few months from now if it does not heal on its own. We are praying it will close back up with the scar tissue and heal correctly without any further surgeries. Between Ben and Shayle, they together have had 5 surgeries in about a year and a half. We are hoping for a break from surgeries and just be able to have some time to continue bonding as a family of eight and stay away from hospitals.

Surgery Update

Ben's surgery lasted 2 hours and by the time we got to recovery he was drinking apple juice. Shayle did not drink until the next day. I was surprised to see him drinking so soon but he does like his juice and milk. He did not require any oxygen once we were back with him and he was alert, very much the opposite of how Shayle does after surgery with her heart. He continued watching Mickey on his DVD player until we left recovery.

Once into his room, he drank more juice and ate jello. He has done exceptionally well. He did begin having more pain this afternoon as all of the medications have worn off. He had a dose of motrin and has finally fallen asleep a few minutes ago. He stayed awake all day until now. He also has kept everything down. This has been an answered prayer as it hurts so much for them to have to get sick after all the surgery in their mouth. Shayle got sick 3 times after her first palate surgery which was hard on her.

Please continue to pray for his recovery and that he will stop picking at the stitches on his lip, as this will increase his scar by not leaving it alone. Thanks so much for your prayers!

Ben's Surgery Today

Ben is in surgery as I type this to repair his palate and a lip revision. He went back easily watching a Mickey Mouse DVD, looked back only for a second but did not cry, PTL! Please keep him in your prayers as it will be a long few days for recovery. He loves to eat so I know this will be hard for him.

Shayle did have a good cardiologist report. She has had no change since last year in her heart. She will see her cardiologist again in a year. She will need a valve replacement at some point in her life. We will continue to pray she will not need one until she is much older. The longer we can wait the better off so that she doesn't outgrow the valve. The best time would of course be after she's through her teenage years and becomes an adult. If God puts her on your mind, please pray with us for God to be her sustainer for many years to come. He has brought her through so much and I trust He will continue.

I have been so busy with 6 kids that I rarely have time to get on my blog but I plan to try to keep up with it. I will post on how Ben is doing later today. Thanks for all the prayers for these two precious kids.

Shayle's Gotcha Day Two Years Ago Today

I can't believe Shayle has been ours for two years! She is doing so well and is enjoying 1st grade. She has a great teacher who adores her and the feelings are mutual. She has such a sweet spirit and she brings a smile to everyone she meets. She is still quiet and petite. Her speech is improving since her second surgery last April. She loves being a big sister to Ben, of course she thought he would be smaller and not so rough. We usually have to pull him off of her, he is a strong little two year old. She only weighs 9lbs more than him. They have lot's of fun together. Happy 2nd Gotcha Day Shayle Bear. WE LOVE YOU!!!

Cardiologist Appointment

We will take Shayle for her annual cardiologist visit tomorrow. Please pray with us that she will have a good report. She has not been gaining weight for a few months now and has been pretty tired each afternoon. She may be still adjusting to being in school all day. This is what we are hoping.

In two days, she will have been ours for two years! Wow, time has gone by so quickly since she came home. I will do a post on her with updates on Wednesday.

Ben and the rest of the kids are doing great. We are busy as ever but at least there's never a dull moment in our household! I will do a catch up post on the rest of the family soon.

Cross Country

Myranda, Ben and I went to watch Arron in his first meet for this year at UT Tyler. Ben was excited to see so many boys running at the same time. Arron did very well, I was proud of his time. He works very hard in CC. He runs every morning before school at 6:20 am, that alone takes dedication. He wakes up at 5:45 each morning to get to the school in time and he really isn't a morning person. During the meet they run 3.1 miles. The Sulphur Springs Cross Country Team has won district the last several years. We have had a great group of kids on the team, both boys and girls. I will be doing most of the travelling to these meets while Darrel is home coaching Shayle and Jacob's soccer games on Saturdays. However, Arron's next meet is on Friday 10/1 and Darrel has taken off to go see him. I'm glad he will get to go watch him. He only has this year and next year before he will graduate and move off to college :(