Tuesday,
June 24, 2008
SUMMER UPDATE ON
LINZHI ROSE AND HER PEEPS ...
Wow! Is it really the end of June??? Where does the time
go? I find myself saying that almost daily but it’s so
very true. Linzhi has been in our family for 7 months
already and what a wonderful 7 months it’s been. Since our
last update not too much has gone on other than more
precious bonding, her first crack at swimming, summer
dresses and long days outside with her sissy riding bikes
and pushing their shopping carts “around town”…Not too
much going on until last week! We had our first
appointment at Shriner’s Hospital in Chicago and finally
have a diagnosis for our girl!
Linzhi has a condition called “Arthrogryprosis”. It
started in her birth mother’s womb within the first 3-4
months gestation. It happens in 1 to 3000 births so it’s
no too rare. Shriner’s was absolutely amazing to us and
gave us so much hope for our little one. The most amazing
part is Linzhi may not need surgery!!! Can I get an
AMEN!!! That is a major prayer answered for our family. We
have been spared surgery at this point but if it is
necessary in the future it won’t happen until she’s closer
to 6 years old.
So, we start with Occupational Therapy 2-3 times per week,
mom and dad have to exercise her 2 times per day (Miss
Linzhi is not liking this too much but she goes with it
anyway) and lastly, she is wearing splints at night to
straighten out her fingers and wrist. This is going to be
major baby steps as it will take months, maybe years for
Linzhi hands and fingers to function enough for her to be
able to be independent in school, play, etc. Hey, we know
it is God’s timing and he has certainly revealed that to
us in so many ways. Linzhi is HIS child more than she will
ever be ours. God gave her to us to help him in his plan
for her and we are the lucky ones to be chosen for his
works. So that’s the plan as we stand. We go back to
Shriner’s in October to have Linzhi’s splints adjusted and
to measure her range of motion. So now it’s back to our
regularly scheduled programming of enjoying our summer!!!
On a personal note, my journey with Linzhi has not come
without challenges. Many have asked me if the bonding is
getting better, etc… I have to say (with tears in my
eyes), the love I have for Linzhi is more than I ever
could have imagined, I now see why God chose me to feel
the way I did in the beginning (as crazy as it sounds), he
taught me about a different kind of love, a love I didn’t
even know existed, especially in me. I could see it in
other people as they fell in love immediately with their
newly adopted child. I saw it in CJ as he instantly fell
in love with Linzhi. I was so upset and angry at myself, I
felt as though I was missing a piece or I was wired
wrong…In fact, I was wired wrong. I wasn’t letting God be
in control of my emotions, I felt they were mine and mine
alone. I was wrong. He took me out of my reality and
brought me into his. It’s a scary place not knowing if
your child loves you, needs you, wants you. My heart was
breaking just as his heart broke when I rejected him. When
I came to that realization I knew I needed to get back in
touch with my heavenly father, back in touch with my
salvation, my hope, my understanding, my all. I ran back
into the safety of him and as I was doing this, I saw my
baby girl for the first time. It took me over like a wave,
I was powerless to it, and it was heaven sent without a
doubt. Now, when I look into her jet black eyes, I see my
life in their reflection and I question it no more. I am
the mother of three. =) |
Mommy getting Linzhi ready for swimming...
goofy face girl!!
I love sun shiny days!
Sissy and Tinker stinker!
My peeps..."Teber" and Rachel
I love my splints and I'm Houdini cause I can get my hands out
of them!! |
