The Team

The BIG appointment is over!
We have now met 'our team'...the players are:

a neuromuscular doctor
a nutritionist
a genetic counselor
an orthopedic surgeon
a research doctor
a pulmonologist
a physical therapist
and a
a cardiologist
Thankfully, cardiology is not an issue so he stands on the sidelines :)
We think we have a pretty good line up to care for our beautiful gal!

Our sleep study was preceded by an 8 hour long 'Team Meeting' and our gal was the shining star!

She was a dream to entertain and entertained 'The Team' in return! I think she stole a few hearts once again!

Many questions answered for mom and dad.
New ones always on the mind ready to ask.

Daddy the Artist

"That really does NOT look like me!"

"On to another room? Are you kidding me?"

Gathering stickers along the way BUT holding out for the gift shop!

"Finally, I can watch TV in peace!"

But not for long.

Restaurant on the Highway

So we are on I70 heading home from Purdue and stop for a quick dinner.

As we were leaving the 'Truck Stop Restaurant' a woman asks us if we had adopted Molly, where she was from, and what her special need was. I love talking adoption so I stopped to chat. My hubby, on the other hand, is goal oriented and the goal for us was to get home, so he headed to the car with the other kids.
Did I say I love to chat adoption? I could have talked to this sweet woman all night. You see she has a daughter who has an adopted son from China with a limb difference and is in process to domestically adopt a young boy in a wheelchair and...her daughter fosters children. Did I ever say I used to beg my mother to foster or adopt? Did I ever say I loved hanging out at our neighbor's home who were foster parents when I was 10? Did I ever tell you that every time we foster animals we end up adopting a child from China? :) This was my lingo!
The woman was so excited that she had met someone who has the same adoption heart as her daughter, so much so she called her daughter for me to talk to, shared her daughter's blog with me, exchanged phone numbers, and took our picture. Meet Sarah, their daughter, here. A woman with a Godly heart!
I love when God puts you in places where you get to meet other people who have a heart for the orphan and truly radiate such excitement and love!
20 minutes into the 'chat' I see hubby walking back into the restaurant looking for us, he heard the adoption lingo, and headed back to the car to wait patiently with the other kids. Gotta love that man!
Our new friends walked out to the car with us and gave me a gift! Homemade pasta and 2 recipes to boot!

DELICIOUS!

Field Trip

At school Molly is in a class called Adaptive PE. Once a month her class takes a trip to our local university for a morning of swimming. Have I mentioned how awesome her school is? LOVE IT! The teachers are all so loving and have totally embraced our sweet gal!
Swimming was not high on Molly's to do list in America but, once again, she put a smile on her face, donned her swimsuit, and braved the water. She loved holding onto the side and kicking her legs...so much so she did it 3 times!

a little worried...but brave

with her awesome PT

God Bless her sweet aide who also had to don her swimsuit

making new friends

Puppy Lovin'

Our pet loving girl, Lucy, has been begging for a puppy for a long time...not that we don't have a dog, a rabbit, a fish, and foster kittens from time to time. BUT the, "a puppy is so adorable and I just need one" syndrome has taken over our home. I will not cave but she is making it pretty difficult for this puppy lovin' mama!










I WILL BE STRONG!!!

A Diagnosis

We finally have some answers to our sweet girl's muscle atrophy. After four months of doctor appointments and tests we received genetic tests back with the results that we were prepared to receive but praying it was not. Our sweet girl has Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, specifically Collagen VI Muscular Dystrophy. Our hearts hurt for her. Our hearts hurt for her future. Our hearts hurt for what she may have to endure in her life. But, our God is an amazing God. He has removed the anxiety and worry and given us such peace as we begin our journey down this new path of life, parenting a child with MD. When the worry and anxiety about our 'new' normal enter my thoughts our one true God is there, oh so quickly, to wash it away! Our hearts overflow with love for this funny, smart, courageous, sun shiny, Godly gal, our daughter!

We knew from Molly's referral that a form of MD was possible but God's hand was bigger than any words written on a piece of paper. He knew she was our daughter...He led, He guided, and He protected us from the 'fear' of the unknown. He put us in circumstances and put people in our life that confirmed Molly was to be a part of our family. You can read about how God led us down this path here. He knew Molly was our daughter, chosen to be a sister, a cousin, a niece, a granddaughter, and to have a family who loves her dearly on this side of the world.

Through our Molly, God is changing our family for the better. We are learning to be more compassionate, to be more patient, to more fully rely on our Savior, and to put what is important here on earth ahead of those things that are not.

What an awesome gift He has given us!

Scavenger Hunt

Ahhh! Spring is in the air. What better time to go on an outdoor Scavenger Hunt created by daddy.

The rules:
Find the 10 items on your list and get a prize at the store of daddy's choice...CVS!

a squirrel
a punch buggy
say "Hello" to someone you do not know
dog on a walk
an airplane
5 people out walking
a cat
a pencil
a bird
a flower

The girls had a fun time but best of all they had 'Daddy Time' AND...

this mama had 'mommy time'

just sayin'

He know Jesus?

Our God Lovin', Bible Lovin', Worship Lovin' Gal cares so much about the Salvation of others that she asks daily whether or not someone is a believer.


George Washington?
Anna? (her brother's girlfriend)
Orville and Wilbur Wright?
Princess Diana?
Justin Bieber?
Jack? (interpreter at the children's hospital)
Selena Gomez?
Martin Luther King?
Dr. Mullens? (author who visited school)
Erin? (the author's daughter)
Whitney Houston?
ChenChen? (her tutor)
Dr. Collins?
Dr. Wong?

Our People Lovin' Gal has a heart of gold and cares for you!

Do You Like Me?

Molly: Do you like me?

Me: I love love love love you!!!

Molly: But I not you real daughter. How you love me?

The questions so soon. So raw.

My love explodes for her!