Understanding "The Plan"

Olivia is home and it truly the shinning light in what suddenly has become a very dark time. She is thriving beyond our wildest dreams and watching her transform before our eyes is a gift.








Now for the darkness:( While in Ukraine, some of you will remember that our sweet Chloe Bea was having some trouble keeping her blood counts where they belong. In the weeks since we've home she has been closely monitored by an amazing team of Oncology Doctors. Poor baby girl had a bone marrow biopsy a few weeks ago and the results were not what we had prayed for. She has been diagnosed with MDS which is a form of blood cancer that is evolving into AML (Leukemia). Children with Down syndrome are predisposed to Leukemia and thankfully, Chloe's incredible Dr has always payed close attention to detail when it comes to our princess. We can honestly say that she is responsible for saving Chloe's life! Catching this disease in it's early stages is key and it is why Chloe will have better than a fighting chance... She's a rockstar and will blow us all away with her strength through the next year! Let's hope that Mom and Dad can be half as brave:)
Several blog posts ago, early on in our journey to Olivia, I talked about our Village. I can tell you, our Village has heard our devastating news and has gone into full swing! Prayer chains are connecting around the country, meal plans are being set up, family is making travel plans and even Leukemia walks are in the works! Lee and I are in awe and once again realizing how amazingly blessed we are.
Chloe is scheduled for another biopsy on July 5th and will start Chemotherapy soon after. We will be spending much of the next 6 months in the hospital. She will get to come home after each treatment only if her blood counts are perfect. There is concern with infection during the days after Chemo because her little body will have no immunity and with all of children at home there is a huge risk.
We are asking you all to storm the heavens with prayers for our beautiful girl.. We are going to put this all behind us for the next few weeks and enjoy our summer with our family. We have a lake vacation planned and Chloe's Doctors encouraged us to not cancel.. So we will happily go and you bet we will cherish every moment and not take one ounce of this precious life for granted...
Thank you for you continued prayers, support and love. Now enjoy some pictures of our Angel Girl:












































Love to you all.....
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It's never too late....

How could it be that the most perfect baby girl could miss out on her first birthday party? Not on my watch!!

Olivia's 1st birthday was on February 9th. but we celebrated it today and it was magical!

To think that this is where my sweet baby spent her first birthday breaks my heart:(


Nobody scooped her up on the morning of her birthday, kissed her all over and told her that she is loved more than life itself, but today everything changed! Today was Olivia's day. She was the most important princess in the universe and she knew it!


Today, wasn't "officially" Olivia's 1st birthday, but as far as we were concerned she deserved a do-over and we were all so excited to indulge. Well, maybe not all of us.....



Little miss Chloe Bea was having difficulty coming to terms with the fact that her universe was expanding and there was now another princess sharing the center with her...

She quickly recovered and soon realized that nothing could ever steal her thunder. Especially because soon it was cake time!


We sang Happy Birthday to Olivia and let me tell you I had a hard time getting through it. So many emotions, so many different reasons. How could her mother walk away from this most beautiful gift? Did her parents think about her on her birthday? Do they still grieve? Do they wonder about her? Do they care? If they could only see her now...





What would they think? Would they see her amazing beauty? Would they be sad when they realized that she is truly perfect in every way? Would they be sad when they realize that she is the most cherished baby sister in the world? (Olivia has 4 older biological siblings). Would they realize that cheated their own children out of having a baby sister that would have changed their world in ways they could never imagine?








I don't know where Katie is and yes, Jack is wearing a crown! See how happy he is?

All in all, the day was absolutely perfect, just like it's Queen:


Sweet dreams:)
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If I can.......

Finish this sentence: "If I can do this......................."
Anyone can!!! So cliché isn't it? There is an amazing amount of truth to this and believe me, I have said this to numerous people along our journey to Olivia. Who would have ever thought that this spoiled rotten country girl could leave everything comfortable behind and set out on mission across the world based on faith alone? Looking back at my life and understanding how perfectly God was preparing me for a moment that would literally change the direction of the world. Dramatic, I know, but think about it..... Olivia was born into a world that didn't think she was worthy of being loved. She lived the first 15 months of her life laying alone in a crib waiting for her miracle, for world to change, for her Mother... No matter how you slice it, the world did change direction the day Olivia broke free from the walls of her prison. A life was saved and even though it was just one, it enriched the world in ways we may never understand, but God understands, after all he planned it:). So in a nutshell..... EVERYONE is capable of saving a life and making a change. What would have become of Olivia if we had listened to the voices that told us to "Just send some money somewhere." "Just let someone else save her, she's so cute, someone will adopt her." "Wait a year and see where you guys are financially." the list goes on and on and it terrifies me to think that we almost listened and deprived the world of this:




Olivia brings unimaginable joy to our family and we are happier, stronger, so filled with love and completely complete! Here's some proof:




























Check this out... My beautiful girls are poster children and quite possibly will save the life of an unborn child....


We had an incredible evening on Friday! This time last year all three of these amazing children were wasting away in orphanage #5 and on this night they sat side by side surrounded by people who love them more than life itself! I couldn't begin to put into words the emotion felt by all who witnessed this reunion. Unbelievable!




This is Micah Ray, Olivia and Misha Chellson.. These sweet children will have a lifelong bond as will their Mama's! I love you Shelly and Melissa:)
I'll wrap this post up with just some food for thought. Please, please, please, if adoption has ever even entered your mind, even if for a moment, revisit it! If you think your husband will never come around, he will!!! If you can't imagine raising the money you will need, you will!!! If you think your loved ones won't understand, they will!!!! Listen to Gods calling, he has a plan:).
Remember..... "If I can do it, ANYONE can!"
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