Been a Long time!!

Hello Friends!
Wow!  It's been a long time since we posted! Sorry!  Not that I think anyone really reads this too much or sits on the edge of their seats waiting to see what we have to say.  BUT, here goes.

We have been home with Claire for almost 4 months!  Holy Cow!!!!  These last four months have been wonderful!  Lets start by saying that God is faithful and daily showing us that He alone is on the throne and writing Claire's story.  We brought home a 19 pound, 30.5 inch four year old, that could not crawl, walk, stand unassisted, talk,  or much else.  Well, now we have a 25.5 pound, 32 inch little girl that can crawl, walk, climb the stairs, climb onto the couch and chairs, with a head full of hair!!! She eats table food, and no more formula!  She is a miracle!!!!  She is happy, healthy, and blossoming right in front of our eyes!  She had tubes placed and her tongue "clipped" along with a sedated hearing test.  She was not hearing much.  BUT, after two weeks, and one amazing prayer meeting, we took her back to have her hearing re-assesed, and she can hear just fine!!  Oh, God is good!  So, now she babbles and laughs all the time.  She knows her name, will respond by looking at us when we call her, and is going to start communication therapy soon.  She also has sugery scheduled for the 16 of January to close two large fistulas and possibly remove some of the thickness of her upper lip, and pierce her ears!  Yay!!  Our doctors are amazed by her growth and change.  Both of them love her dearly!  And......so do the rest of us!! We are in love!!  Evan is wrapped so tightly around her little finger!  He totes her around and plays with her, and HAS to see her first thing when he gets home from school or work.  He calls her his "doodle".  Pretty sweet. Grace is wonderful with her!  She is my right hand for sure!!  Cate continues to be Jack's favorite person, so she has been so sweet to share her time and attention.She is great with Claire, too, but totally understands that she can't jump ship, or Jack will be devestated.  And Jack....he loves Claire and being a big brother so much!  He kisses her and tries to play with her and gives her his toys, it melts this moms heart!  Can I just say, again, that we are all madly in love!!!

Now, the sad stuff.....the stuff that's hard to admit.....Claire is severly delayed.  When we had her to the doctor the first time on 9-19, our pediatrician said we brought home the equivelent of a 9 month old...so, today, she functions about like a 9 or ten month old. Less than that in some ways. We had her eyes checked out with Opthalmology at Mercy, and they are great, but they still don't always track well.  Why?  Because the brain and muscles involved weren't properly nourished.  So they have to get stronger.  We give her salmon once a week for brain development.  She still doesn't speak at all.  Sometimes she babbles and says mama, but it's not purposeful, it's just babbling.  She was very confused over the holidays when we traveled as to if we were going to leave her at family's homes that we were visiting.  She would scream and rock.  She still rocks herself sometimes.  She still grinds her teeth pretty bad. The fact that she survived what she did is wonderful, and we thank God for that.  But, the effects are very very deep.  They are never far from the surface.  They are lingering and deep.  What she endured I will never know.  Part of me wants to know every detail.  Part of me thanks God that I will never know, for I don't know if my heart and mind can handle it. We are working hard to meet her needs, and will have her evaluated for OT and PT at Children's Mercy on the 10. This child is technically kindergarten eligible in August......yeah, not so much!!!  She still wears diapers!  She is a baby in every way.  BUT, we see the most precious baby ever!  And we are working on getting her birthday changed to 2010 instead of 2008.  We have talked to our pediatrician, surgeon, and all three social workers.  We all agree that this is in her best interest in all areas of her life longterm.  Now to get the $1000.00 is takes to get it done!  BUT, we will!

Friends, this is a long road for our sweet girl.  She has been damaged at the hands of those who did NOT have her best interest at heart.  BUT that is no longer!!!  We know that daily God is restoring what the locusts have taken away!  Daily, He is creating her anew!  Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!  His mercies endure forever!  If we ever have the financial and spacial ability to adopt again, I think I want to go back to that orphanage and save another sweet, beautiful, precious treasure of God.  Claire's story is shocking, sad, and even sickening, but sadly, it is NOT unique!  Many little girls are leaving there in similar condition, with similar damage.  PRAY!  Pray that the director will either be romoved or have a total heart change!  There is money, they have resources, really great medical resources, and he just WON'T take care of these children.  I feel that this is CRIMINAL!  Please make a note somewhere in your homes to remind you to pray for this situation.  Only God and those of us committed to change and helping can solve this immense crisis. 

Happy 2013 to all of you!  May health, prosperity, blessing, and joy be showered on each and every one of you.  Thank you, again, for every call, text, prayer, financial blessing, toy,meal, piece of clothing, help with the other kids, and other endless kindness that you have bestowed to our family.  Please know that each of you are special to us in a unique way.  We love you all, near and far, stranger and close friend. 

In Him,
Leslie