Playing AWANA Games
Shayle and I were having a conversation this morning about her birthday. I asked her what she wanted mommy and daddy to get her for her birthday. She said, "bubbles and a hot tub." I said, you want a hot tub? She said "yes, a hot tub." I told her that hot tubs cost a lot of money. She then said "I have money, six dollars." So cute, she was so serious about all of this, having no clue that a hot tub costs more than six dollars.
Last weekend, we went to a cabin in Oklahoma, near Broken Bow. She played in the hot tub, so this is where she came up with this idea. I will do a post soon on our camping trip.
This week will be busy with parties. We are having a family party Sunday night with my dad and step mom who are coming from Abilene. Monday, the "Big Day" we will get Arron's driver's license and celebrate some more. Tuesday night all of Arron's friends are coming over to stay and then going to play paintball on Wednesday. While all the guys are playing paintball, us girls are having a tea party for Shayle at our house. I have found some cute princess tea cups and party favors. Everyone will come dressed as their favorite princess. Shayle has been wanting a tea party since January.
Still no word on a LOA for Ben, maybe we will have it for his birthday on Wednesday. Please God, send us our LOA!!! As we are going to be so busy with parties on Ben's birthday, a part of me can't help but to be a little sad to know that Ben is spending his birthday so far away without his family. He should receive his cake and care package on that day. However, due to recent changes in his orphanage, no pictures will be allowed. They will not allow any digital or with the disposable camera included with his package to be used. This breaks my heart, since I have been holding out on getting a new picture of him with his birthday cake. The pictures I have of him are a year old. I'm sure he has grown so much.
Please pray that Ben will receive our package on 3/17 and that somehow we will get a picture. God is bigger than any policies and I know he can change the minds and hearts of people. Also, please pray we will receive our LOA this next week, today is day 65 since our LID.
One more thing, I would like for you to pray for an upcoming procedure for Shayle. She will be having a scope done to determine if she will need an additional surgery with her palate. It has been a year since her palate repair and her speech is still not where it needs to be. Her surgeon has determined that she will likely need a p-flap surgery to correct it and help her develop certain sounds. Of course the scope has to be done without sedation or any kind of medication to relax her. She is not a good patient when it comes to poking and prodding. This scope will be traumatizing for her but it is necessary before making a decision for surgery. They will insert a tube with a camera on the end through her nose to look at her airway and the back of her throat as she makes certain sounds. I know without God's power to help her, their is no way she is going to be still and certainly not going to make any sounds once it is inserted. It is likely we will have to have several people hold her down and then hopefully she will cooperate and speak for them while the camera takes pictures. Once I know the exact date I will post and ask that everyone pray during that time. If the test shows that she will need surgery, she will have tissue cut from her throat and sewn up through the palate to create a flap. This should help her greatly with her speech, which we would like to see progress before entering 1st grade in a public school. She has already been made fun of in her private kindergarten class, which breaks this momma's heart.
I will post some pictures of the birthday activities next week! Have a great weekend.
