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!
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! 
