A Couple More Pics From Gotcha Day...

We're In China! (In Case you Haven't Heard)

We are in China and things are going remarkably well. What a wonderful time we had had so far.

Today was "gotcha day". The boys were in the civil affairs building waiting for us right inside the door when we arrived, but we didn't know it. When we walked in we heard "mama, baba, mama, baba". The orphanage reps were holding them back. Micah was on the floor trying to drag himself towards us and Noah was kicking and reaching for us and they were both screaming, "momma, baba, momma, baba". It was incredible. They were so, so happy to see us. Micah wanted me to cradle him like a baby and Noah kept rubbing Dick's head.

Needless to say, God has blessed us beyond what we asked for Noah and Micah. He protected them from heart break and opened their little hearts for our love. They are craving our affection and we are absolutely eating them alive.

I'll have to say they are also typical little boys and are testing their limits from time to time, but not too bad yet. It's great to watch their little personalities come out.

Continue to pray for us, the boys, and our children at home. God is good and we are so very grateful for your support.

Love,
Dick, Leslie, Micah and Noah

Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Micah and Noah have Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). It is also know as brittle bone disease and causes weak bones that break easily. Sometimes the bones break for no known reason. OI can also cause many other problems such as weak muscles, brittle teeth, and hearing loss.

Treatment
There is no cure for OI, however symptoms can be managed. Medication, physical therapy, water therapy and a procedure called rodding.
Rodding
Noah has had several breaks. He has had 3 surgeries to undergo a treatment call "rodding". Metal rods have been inserted into the long bone (femur) in both legs to strengthen them and prevent further malformation. Micah has not been rodded and has only had one break (collarbone) in the 2 years he has been in foster care.
Medication
Growth hormone treatment, intravenous and oral medications.
Both boys currently undergo in IV treatment of bisphosphonate every three months. We looking into a possible partnership between Shriner's Hospital and Vanderbilt in order to continue or change this treatment.
Types
There are 8 main types of OI. The type number does not reflect in order of severity. For instance, Type 2 is more severe than Type 6, but Type 3 more severe than Type 1.
Even though the boys have not been "typed", their symptoms would lead us to believe that they are mild to moderate verses severe as in Type 2 which is often fatal.
Prognosis
The prognosis for a person with OI varies greatly depending on the number and severity of symptoms. They can attend school, develop friendships and other relationships, have careers, raise families and participate in recreational activities. We will make every effort to insure that Micah and Noah live normal, active lives and be mainstreamed with their peers while doing so.

Information from:
NIAMS (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation

It's a boy - actually TWO boys!

In March of 2008, I had the opportunity to travel to East Asia on a mission trip with LifePoint Church. A year and a half had passed since my husband and I had left China with our whopping fireball, Addie Mei Huidan Overby, adopted at 16 months old.

It was during this March trip that I first laid eyes upon little Noah and Micah. They were in a wonderful foster home in Langfang, Hebei Province. You can see from the pictures why I was drawn to them. They are too cute, but it was more than that...it was always more than that.

More to follow...

Bynum Photography

If you don't know Alison Bynum of Bynum Photography you'll want to give her website a look. She's an amazingly talented photographer, a dear friend and a beautiful person. (is this considered gushing?) Anyway Alison, thanks for the loving eye you shoot every shot with. We see Addie's personality in every picture. Thank you, my friend.

Out of Africa

These pics are long overdue. After you view, please pray for our missionaries in Guinea, Daryl and Glenda, for the Maninka people and the enormous darkness that envelopes them. Pray that Daryl and Glenda will be encouraged as they continue to served among these mostly Muslim people.

 

In June, I traveled with a team of 5 to Mali & Guinea, West Africa.

We visited as friends among Maninka villages

and shared the Word from the Most High God.

village huts

The savanna 

Richard & Jeanne S., Brad B, Pat H., and our Maninka translators.

Penda Toure, my beautiful translator.

A tribal chief

We were met with wide-eyed wonder & gracious hospitality.

Adam & Cousin It

Adam is the son of my niece, Mandy. So that would make him cousins with you know who...!
They came to visit for a couple of days and we had so much fun watching Adam and Addie play. Sarah reminded me that I was a Great Aunt. Yes, I have always been a great aunt and yes, I am aware that I am also a Great Aunt and have a child the same age as my great nephew. I think it's really cool that my niece and I can watch our children play together. 

Mandy is a wonderful mother and a godly woman. I love how she and Robert parent Adam. I am so proud of them for bringing Jesus to their community in Memphis where they are Church Planters. Check out their website for Neighborhood Church This time next week their family of three will become a family of four when little Micah is born. Here are  some pics from their short visit.