2010 - 2011

August 2011 Update for the year 2010 – 2011:

This post was originally written on September 8, 2011, but
for some reason I was never able to publish it to the blog. Hopefully, it will
this time.
The last year has been a challenge and a time of growth and
change for our entire family. In July 2010, we sold our home in Riverside CA
out of necessity and the bank’s refusal to continue to modify our loan. The losses
were big and real. The fear of having no place to go was even more real. We
prayed hard during those weeks for an answer to prayer. After being told by
family to literally go camping with our kids since we had no home, we knew God
had a better plan. With the help of many friends and with the grace of God, our
prayers were answered as we moved to a mobile home where we have been renting
since. With the goal of living within our means, increasing our means and
finding work, we started unpacking and settling in.
It was a time of pruning, cleansing, and growing a stronger
faith that the Lord indeed had a special plan for us as we let go of the old.
Some things were given to our neighbors, some to ministries for Mexico and the
poor, some to Goodwill and Salvation Army, some was sold at garage sales, and
frankly some was stolen. We practiced forgiving and trusting the Lord to heal
our losses.
In God’s grace, he helped us let go, move on, forgive, and
give thanks for the blessings we did receive. In the most amazing ways, God
showed us his love through others both friend and stranger alike.
We had Christmas December 2010 with a tree, decorations and
holiday cheer. We enjoyed Christmas movies and putting out Christmas milk and
cookies for Santa.
As the new year approached, we new taxes were coming up. With
the new law as of 2011 for adoption tax credits requiring proof and
documentation of all adopted children and receipts, we new we had a lot of work
ahead of us. We were pleased to find out after finally filing that a tax refund
was headed our way. We waited, and waited and waited for monthsw for a response
from the IRS. Did we get them everything they needed? Did we answer all the
questions right? Would they ask for more paperwork? We then sent in more
paperwork, over 100 pages to the IRS examiner. Then, we waited weeks and weeks
more praying that one day the funds would be released and sent to us. God’s
timing is always perfect, though it was hard to see why we had to wait so long.
The children have all grown. Michael grew about 4 inches on
average over the last year with the blessing of Growth Hormone to replace what
his body does not make. Now, Michael is closer to being 5 feet tall than ever
before. Height for Michael is such a celebration, especially after a diagnosis
of dwarfism and knowing how much lack of height can be a disability as well;
Praise God! Joseph grew with Growth Hormone as well, though slower. Michael and
Joseph both gained weight with the additional nutritional support of Elecare
Vanilla (an elemental formula for Eosinophilic Esophagitis) and Boost 1.5
respectively after really struggling and losing quite a bit of weight. It has
been an ongoing fight to prove medical necessity and get insurance to pay for
this expensive but life-saving treatment. Without it, both boys would be much
sicker. We were even more pleased to be able to receive the formulas in
palatable flavors such as chocolate for Joseph and Vanilla for Michael. When
authorization comes through and the formula comes, each time we can see growth
in the boys. Our doctors and nurses have become family. Sandra, a nurse at
CHOC, has made a lasting impression on us for her warmth and caring. Nurse
Practitioner’s like Ellen, and doctors like Dr. Boon and Dr. Chang among so
many others always have the best interest of our children at heart. Connie, the
greeter at the clinic entrance always takes the time to say hi and knows all
the kids by name. Jaime, our beloved lab tech, has a gentle spirit and gentle
touch every time our kids have to get stuck. He always gets it on the first
stick. Our favorite nurse is Sandra, who 3 years later, still remembers us as
we pass her in the hall. Ellen Schonfeld NP is on of our doctors and is as good
as they come.
Joshua has grown quite tall himself, and Shawna has already
grown into size 6’s even though she is only 5 years old. With her long
beautiful legs, she will be in size 7’s no doubt before she turns 6.
GabrielaEileen is tall and slender with an arm span longer than her mom’s,
which is nice when we need to reach things in high places. Both of our girls
have started growing their hair out long again, and now have it just past
shoulder length. Gabriela started back on medication to help with her own ADD,
ODD, and BPD. We have confidence in her
psychiatrist and treatment as it begins to start making a difference in her
daily activities.
We started using a new math program for school this year
which all the children love and are using (except Shawna because of her age)
called Teaching Textbooks. It is a computer based disc based program with
lectures and solutions for every individual math problem. The kids like it
because they can watch and hear and practice over and over again to master new
concepts unlike a traditional lecture based math class. We have seen all of the
kids excel.
We were finally able to get Michael a cooling vest and cooling
neck wraps to help regulate his temperatures. At least he is having less heat
related seizures and problems. Michael did start having seizures again, and we
are looking forward to talking with a new neurologist on Monday, September 12,
2011, whom we have waited literally months for. This follow up was supposed to
be for the seizure he had in February 2011. At least none have been
life-threatening, although Michael did end up in the ER with post concussive
syndrome after a bad seizure in August.
Joseph’s heart has been extremely stable and his ventricular
pressures in his heart, which are measured to determine how well his PH is
doing are on the high end of normal for a change, which is fabulous for him.
These have been the lowest for him ever). Joshua is doing very well in third
grade reading chapter books and making progress in school as well.
Shawna has decided she loves waterlemons (well watermelons
really, but that is what she calls them).
All in all, life is good. The kids all got some new clothes
and shoes since they grew. The best news of all was Scott’s new security guard
job. He is pleased to be with a company who is proving training for a security
license, and hopes to be finished with this training soon.
God bless you on your journey,
Jennifer Richardson