Tuesday Morning

Weilong went outside for a little while this evening. Mostly he sat on some pillows on a chair and complained because he couldn't ride his bike or anything else. But he was soon tired and had to go in. I love to see the normal facial expressions return and the attitude! He's grouchy and bored until the other kids get home from school, then he enjoys playing video games and just having them to hang out with. Sorry, Weilong, that I'm not a good playmate for you!

Today he had a bit more headache than yesterday. Tow ibuprofen and one tylenol. But no vomiting and no lortabs! He has successfully swallowed 3 of the sodium tabs today also. I think he needs 5 a day to get 1 gm of sodium. I'm not sure if he'll ever be able to take that many, but I'll keep trying.

Monday

Another Good Day! Weilong is continuing to improve. He only had two ibuprofen tablets during the day for pain, no lortabs. The salt continues to be a problem though. I got some buffered salt pills at the drugstore and gave him one, telling him it was for leg pain which he continues to have. He vomited about 5 minutes later.

But he kept one down when he took it during supper. I put lots of salt on all his food and try to get him to eat extra salt with fruit, but he gags. I'm concerned because the symptoms of not getting enough salt are fatigue and muscle cramps. He moans about being tired most of the day. He has every reason to be tired, he had 5 different surgeries in the last few weeks. But when they were testing his blood at the hospital, it was low on salt and they kept giving him those nasty pills which he rarely kept down. And I have my orders to make him eat that teaspoon a day. Now I can't wait til the next blood test to see what his sodium level is. Hopefully we can stop the salt pills.

Also he lost half a pound yesterday. I don't know how with all the eating, but he did. I suspect it has something to do with the low sodium. Salt makes the body retain water, and without enough of it he would loose water weight. So, I am on a mission to make him eat salt. Yesterday I made him french fries with lost of salt, and fried rice with tons of soy sauce. Today I am going to make the Chinese dumplings he loves to eat, dipped in soy sauce. I salt his food extra before bringing it to the table. I'm also slipping unflavored peidalite with electrolites into his drinks.

But mostly I'm thankful that his head isn't hurting very bad. He plays normally with the other kids, except he's weak and can't move around a lot. He is bored before they get home from school though!

Sunday

Weilong continued to improve today! His appetite is good, and his pain is controlled with the oral meds. I don't think he's getting enough sleep, but next week while the other kids are in school I plan to make him take a nap every day. Boy will he hate that.

I'm so thankful for the improvements. I can see the love of life returning to his little face. Don't you just love that smile?

Please continue to pray for the headaches to stop. He wakes up with a terrible one every morning. I bring him a drink and an ibuprofen to the bed, he takes it and lays there for a bit. Then I help him up to the couch and bring him his favorite breakfast burritos. If his head is still hurting after that I give him half a lortab. Today he has only taken 1 lortab and a couple of ibuprophen. But last night I had to give him a lortab about 2:30am. His sleep was more restless than it has been. Overall I am pleased with his recovery and appetite. Just a little concerned about the continuing headaches.

My snoring is not a secret any longer

Weilong told me that when the doctors and nurses would come into his room at the hospital and I would be snoring that they would stop in their tracks, turn their heads and give me the longest most amazed look (with their eyes and mouths wide). You should see him imitate them.

I'm completely humiliated. Weilong is laughing. He loves it.

A Good Day

Weilong had a good day today. He has a headache, but motrin and just a bit or the lortabs are making it bearable for him. Sometimes he is pain free for a while. I'm so thankful for those times. No crying today from pain. No vomiting.

He is able to eat and keep down regular food. I'm letting him eat anything and everything he wants. He's the boss.

He enjoyed reading the cards and opening gifts that people have sent to him. I wish I had gotten a picture of all our kids gathered around this big pile of stuff in the middle of the boys' room floor. I could hear them excitedly opening things and reading things for a long time. But I was zonked on the couch and enjoying the sound of those happy voices with my eyes closed. Such a peaceful time it was for me. I loved hearing them all talking and playing together. I haven't been home for a while and was shocked at the number of cards and gifts he had received. I would like to thank everyone personally, but am afraid the kids may have made that impossible by mixing up everything. Weilong asked me how everyone knew he was sick? And why do people in America love him and send him things? I don't think he knows how sweet he is, though I tell him all the time.

I got him into the tub and gave him a good bath tonight. I was shocked at how thin he is. I have never seen a body this emaciated. It really scares me. He looked in the mirror and said he looks like a bone. He's right. His little underwear slides down his hips. You can see every rib and really every bone in his tiny body. I am urging him to eat as much as he can five or six times each day. Trying to get him to eat nutritious foods as possible and giving him drinks that are high in nutritional suplements. I think I'll call his pediatrician Monday and see if he has any suggestions. Tomorrow I'm going to get some boost and mix it with ice cream to make him milkshakes.

Weilong is sleeping now, so I think I will too. I have several pictures I need to upload but am just too tired. I will try my best to upload them tomorrow. I feel worse now than after those long trips to China. Like jet lag or getting over the flu or something. But it is so healing to be home. Weilong needs lots of rest and good food and I am so happy he can get them now. He hated the hospital. It's so nice not to hear him crying to go home.

God is GOOD. He's watching over my boy. He's brought us through a very difficult situation. He's see us through to the end.

Finally HOME

Weilong is so glad to be home. Yesterday was wonderful. He watched some TV and played video games with his brother and sisters. He had headache, but the oral meds controlled it. He and I went to bed about 11 pm (finally) and he was still asleep when I got up at 7 this morning.

He wanted to sleep in, so I let him. Then about 7:45 he started yelling and crying and holding his head. Suddenly his head had started hurting him and woke him up. I was so anxious to help him that I promptly gave him a Lortab. After about half and hour he was asleep again, and slept for about 2 hrs.

Then he woke up and promptly vomited, which made his head hurt very bad again. I think the problem was that I gave him the Lortab on an empty stomach. So, all day he was in pain and I think he vomited 4 times. Once I got an ibuprofen to stay down for about an hour. I have tried to get him to drink all day. He got down some chicken broth about 2 and I thought it was safe to give him half a Lortab. Wrong. He vomited within 60 seconds. Up came all the broth, but no sign of the pill. I think it may have stayed down because he slept for a couple of hours after that.

He began to wake up every once in a while and I gave him sips of pedialite. He didn't like it but I threatened to take him back to the hospital if he couldn't drink a little.

Finally about 8 he woke up and was in no pain at all. He came into the living room and wanted a breakfast burrito. We were afraid it would make him sick, but he kept begging so we finally got it for him. He ate it quickly and wanted more. We made him wait half an hour and fixed him another. He ate it all and wanted more food. We said he must wait at least half an hour. He laughed and joked and teased me like normal. I got him to take another ibuprofen.

Then, just as quickly and the pain went away, it came back. Not as fierce, but enough to put him back on the sofa with his pillow and blanket. Now we're all watching the Wiggles with him, all of us. Everyone wants to be right in the room with him and we are all praying that the headache leaves again. I'm afraid to give him another Lortab though he can have one every 4 hours.

If he isn't eating and drinking normally tomorrow I will have to take him back to the hospital. He is so skinny.

What a wild roller coaster ride it has been. The doctor told me he would have headaches for the next month as his body absorbed the blood in and around his little brain. I hope they get fewer and less severe. This is no fun. But at least we're home, much better than that old hospital. God has brought him this far, he will not leave us now. He will complete the work He has started in our boy.

I'll upload the pictures I took of him eating those burritos in a little bit. He even gave me some very big smiles. They are for you, Mrs Wolff. He is sorry he was asleep when you stopped by.

We're going home

Weilong was so excited last night that he could not sleep. Honestly, it was after 12:30 before he finally turned off the tv and tried to sleep. He kept talking to me about what we would do when we got home. And he reminded me several times "I love you mom". I have missed those words from my little boy.

I cannot get him awake this morning. He's as cross as an old bear. He cries when anyone comes into our room and insists that he's sleepy and tired. I'm afraid they'll keep us here all day if he keeps this up!

They said it would take a couple of hours to process the paperwork. I'm watching the clock. But you know they have a whole handful of pills waiting for Weilong if only I can get him awake. I won't mention pills to him til after he eats a little breakfast.

We're going home. We're going home. We're going home. Thank God, We're going home.

Wed Night

We had a good day today! Weilong isn't in the best of moods, but he is eating and taking his meds orally thank God. He had salt tabs today and didn't vomit them up. It took a truly heroic effort on his part though. And he must take more in about 2 hrs, then again at 6 in the morning. He doesn't know yet, I thought I'd spare him the anxiety.

Gary brought the other kids up and we all had a meal together in the cafeteria. It was so good to just eat together. Weilong is much better when the others are here. He talks and plays with them and life seems normal again.

Then we had a wonderful surprise when we returned to our room. Weilong's best friend at school, Zach and his family came to visit. And they came bearing gifts. But the best gift of all was just seeing Zach. Weilong tells me every day that I pick him up from school that Zach is his best friend. It was hard for him this year because Joseph didn't get in his class. I'm so glad Weilong has wonderful friends like those two boys. Weilong shared a secret with Zach. He wants me to take him to school Friday or Monday and shock the whole class. It will just be a short visit, but he has been planning and dreaming of it for days. He swore Zach to secrecy. I will have to check with Mrs Wolff to see if it is ok, but I think it will be fine. I'm not sure if Weilong will return to school much this year. The neuro told me the headaches will persist for the next month, until his body has absorbed (can't remember the word he used) the blood in his little brain.

He has had pain today, but it is manageable. I hate to see him with a headache most of the day. But the doctors think it will be temporary. And I believe they are right.

So, if all goes well tonight, and I believe it will, we are headed home tomorrow. I wonder how early I can get them to release him. Hopefully before the other kids get home from school. Weilong is still saying "I wanna go home" every 5 minutes. Honestly, it's driving me insane. But it is much better than hearing him cry in pain, so I don't think I'll complain too much.

I haven't had the chance to take many pictures over the last few days. I'm utterly exhausted and Weilong is very demanding. I know it's hard to believe, but he is. But mainly it's me. I am so tired that I don't think I could stand to be here much longer. I actually feel like I have the flu. I know I don't, but every bone in my old body aches. I think I just need a few good nights of sleep. And the weekend is coming up so I think I'll get it!

I pray that Weilong gets a good sleep tonight. I just got them to give him a Lortab because his little head is hurting pretty good. If we have to take morphine, then he will not get to go home tomorrow.

Maybe my next post will be from home!

Wed Morning

Wonderful News! Weilong may get to go home tomorrow. He has a headache still, but not too bad. About a 2 on a scale of 1-10. And he keeps repeating "I want to go home".

The PA for neurosurgery came in and was pleased with how things are going. She said that WL can go home tomorrow if he doesn't vomit today and if his pain is controlled with oral meds. But the endocrinologist has the final word. Weilong's sodium (salt) level has been low and he has not been able to tolerate the salt pills.

This morning he ate 3 french toast sticks. Then he bravely swallowed 5 pills, including something for low thyroid hormone, something for upset stomach, something to keep his body from loosing salt, a mulitvitamin, and a motrin. After the nurse left he told me his stomach hurt from all that medicine. I tried my best to distract him. Please God, don't let him start vomiting again.

About an hour later the endo came in and said Weilong can go home tomorrow if he takes all his meds today and doesn't vomit. Oh, Happy Day. He said when we get home I am to give Weilong one full teaspoon of salt a day all at one time. He may eat it on tomatoes, or his favorite, Watermelon. Also he doubled the levoxyl for thyroid. I know it will be hard for a while, but Weilong can surely eat that teaspoon of salt with something.

Tuesday Night

Weilong had a great day yesterday. No pain until about 7:30 last night. He went outside in a wheelchair. He was whiny and bored and kept repeating his mantra "I want to go home". But he was in no pain.

Gary came up and stayed with him while I went home for a quick shower and to pick the other children up from school. I also picked up chicken lo mein for Weilong. We all headed back to the hospital and spent a very wonderful hour and a half as a normal family. Weilong ate and laughed and played with the others. He especially loved the watermelon that Mary brought to us. He teased Gary and insisted that Gary owed him a whole watermelon. So wonderful to see the smile and hear the precious little laugh.

Then his head started hurting and I quickly sent everyone else home. I asked for a motrin, but they only had tylenol. I told them I didn't think it would help him, but they gave it to him anyway, promising to send for motrin. An hour and a half later he was still hurting and I kept asking for the motrin. They brought two tubes of liquid motrin. Now, Weilong cannot take liquid meds, he throws up every single time even at home. The nurse was vexed at him and told him he would just have to hurt until they got time to get the motrin. I lost my temper and told her I would go to the drugstore and get the motrin myself. She could see that I was upset and quickly apologized to Weilong for talking like that to him. And they quickly got him a motrin. But by that time the pain had gotten a little out of hand. I rubbed his little head and tried to comfort him, but at 11 I had to ask for something else. They were still miffed at me and didn't speak, but brought him a morphine shot. I didn't argue, though I would have preferred a vicodin. Soon Weilong was asleep. He slept pretty well for the most part. A little restless, and angry when they would come in for vital checks and a blood draw.

I will admit that my strength is almost gone. I need some zz's in my own bed and to get away from here for a while. I'm not sure how much longer I will be able to handle this. It has been over 3 weeks now. Please pray for Weilong to get to come home soon. Gary talked with the doctors today and they say he needs to be able to take meds without vomiting, and his pain should be controlled with oral meds.

Tuesday Morning

He feels a bit better today, Thank God.

He actually has the tv on. Yesterday it was a darkened room with no sound at all. And he just complained that there is nothing good to watch on TV! He's right of course.

Last night we both got some sleep. Weilong got morphene about 10 pm, and he also vomited about 10 pm. But he was feeling a bit better because he talked with me until about 11 when we both decided we could sleep a little. He was telling me all about kindergarten last year and remembering the things they did in class. He said they could either have a snack or play on the computers. He said he loved the computers better than snacking. No wonder he's so skinny! He weighed 20.2 k when we got here and about 3 days ago it was 17.4. I tell him he must eat 5 times a day when I get him home.

So, we slept pretty good until about 3am when he needed another dose of pain meds. But that was good because all day yesterday he needed it every 3 hours. Now for the best news, he has not asked for morphine since then and that was 6 hours ago.

All yesterday he had to use the little plastic urinal in bed, but this morning he let me pick him up and stood beside the bed to use it! He was shaking, but he stood up for a few minutes. I was so happy.

I have raised the head of his bed a little bit also. Yesterday he needed it flat with his feet elevated a bit. Read up on low csf pressure headaches if you get a chance, cause that's what he had. So far the raised bed isn't making his headache any worse. He says it still hurts, but doesn't want any meds for it. The morphine gives him very bad dreams and he wants to stay awake.

I made a deal with the PA today. If they will not make Weilong take any meds orally, I will get him to drink and eat a little bit. They came in very early this morning urging him to try and take those dang salt tablets. He is so afraid he'll vomit that he doesn't even want to take a sip to drink. And they have to bring up those nasty old tablets.

Also, they are going to stop waking him so often during the night. He complains bitterly every time they come into our room.

I'm sure this is way more detail than anyone wants to know. But after the awfulness of yesterday, I just couldn't help writing the good stuff.

Counting my blessings

Weilong just fell asleep. And I need to stop a moment and think of all the good reports before the pain of today wipes me out completely.

1) The shunt is OUT. And the doctor is very positive about Weilong being able to do without it. Remember, nothing has drained out of it since last Sunday, over a week ago. And Weilong could not go home until the shunt was removed, so we're one step closer to home.

2) The headaches and vomiting are probably caused by a combination of two things. The anesthesia. He always gets sick after that. And the loss of csf from the shunt removal. The dr told us he is not surprised by the headaches and vomiting because of the csf loss.

3) God is still God and still loves Weilong. Even though I am at my very very weakest point today, HE is strong. I can take comfort from that fact.

4) I am thankful for the love and support of my friends and family.

5) His mercies are new every morning.

Now, I'm going to take a little cat nap while I listen to the soft snore of Weilong. And when he wakes up and needs me, I'll be here, ready to comfort him and pray for him. My pastor stopped by earlier and prayed for us.

Trying to recover

We had a pretty bad night. It seems that Weilong always gets sick after being sedated. And I was a bit upset that the doctor had left orders for only tylenol and motrin for his head pain. We have been in that awful cycle of vomiting and headache all night.

He cannot take meds for the headache because he vomits them back up. I have made an ass of myself again by demanding meds be given via IV so that he can keep them on his stomach. The nursing staff hates me, I can feel it. They avoid me if at all possible. Those who know me know I'm not pushy. But after hearing my boy cry, scream, kick and punch things from pain for a while, I seem to loose control and become the most demanding of mothers. I was able to get him one shot of morphine last night which allowed him to sleep for several hours. Then this morning he woke up vomiting and that gave him a headache and he vomited the motrin/tylenol. So I have been out to the nurses station every 15 minutes or so demanding to see a doctor (nurses cannot give meds without a prescription).

Finally, I got to see the PA and she prescribed anti nausea meds through the IV and morphine for pain. Hopefully we can get through this hard day and be on the road to recovery.

I am "down" today and need all the prayers I can get. Watching your child suffer like this is the worst thing imaginable.

The PA told me that they think Weilong's head pain is caused by traces of blood in his little brain. They were visible near the shunt, caused by the shunt. His little body is having to absorb them. Also, removing the shunt probably caused a little more blood to be released. She said it will just take time.

==============Later 1:30 ==============
Still vomiting and terrific headaches. They have him hooked back up to a monitor because of the morphine I think. Minutes seem to last days. But blessed naps between the vomiting episodes. Dr said Weilong lost some csf during surgery last night and that is probably what is causing the headaches and vomiting. It takes time for the body to rebuild csf. The dr was very positive. And he says the little boy who got kicked in the head by a horse is doing well. Thank God.

Please pray for my precious boy's peace of mind. He keeps saying that his head will never stop hurting and he will never go home. He desperately wants to go home. So do I. I paint word pictures of how it will be when we get home. He wants to visit Nana and YeYe and go to the beach again. I promised we would do those things. We are planning a fun summer.

Shunt has been removed

It was a very quick one this time. About 40 minutes I think. We're back in our room already. Weilong's head hurts pretty bad as you may imagine. He says he is very hungry, but we are on clear liquids for a while.

We asked about going home and the dr said WL's sodium level must be stable. He says he hopes by the end of the week we'll be home. We hope much sooner than that. Weilong has vomited the sodium pills all day long. I'm trying to get them to give it in his IV for tonight because he says he will vomit again if he tries to take pills.

Please pray for the child who had emergency surgery. His name is Cody Long and he is 2 yrs old and was kicked in the head by a horse.

more later.......

Waiting for Shunt Removal

Surgery has been delayed til 8:30 or 9:00 due to an emergency in the OR.

Weilong's head is hurting pretty bad right now. Maybe he's anxious about the upcoming procedure. Also he is hungry and thirsty having had nothing since breakfast.

So we wait.............

It's coming OUT

Weilong is waiting for them to take him to surgery and remove this nasty old shunt. They were supposed to do it at 5, but there was an emergency and the surgery room was needed. They say it will be soon.

We are praying for a complete recovery. Weilong's sodium level has been consistently too low and he is still vomiting the sodium pills. He cannot go home until it is normal. Also, he is still having headaches and feet and leg pains. But our family thinks they will go away when the shunt is out.

Of course the dr says that he may have to put it back in tomorrow, or next week, or next month. But we don't think so. Nothing has drained out of it since last Sunday, nothing. And it has been shut off since early Tuesday morning.

So, please join us in praying for a complete recovery.

I will try to post again tonight when we get back to this room. I'm not sure how long we will be in recovery, but they tell me this is a very easy, simple surgery.

Thank you all, especially CFC for all the prayers, love and support.

A few pictures

Weilong can walk slowly down the hall and go to the bathroom by himself! He played a video game today on the big tv in the family room. He likes to look at the fish. He is eating as much as he can so that he can go home soon.

He is very homesick, says he doesn't feel good, and continues to have headaches. Not the terrible ones, but headaches none the less. Please pray that these nasty headaches cease. I want my cheerful happy boy back. I miss him so bad. And I want to take him home.

Here are a few pictures taken in the last couple of days.

A little bump in the road

The neurosurgeon has decided to wait until Monday to remove the temporary shunt. He says there is a little more fluid in Weilong's ventricles than he wants to see there. He also says Weilong has been through a whole lot in the last couple of weeks and he doesn't want to rush things.

Weilong is so disappointed. He's bored, tired, and wants to go home. His head hurts just a little he says. But almost the only thing I can get him to say is I want to go home. Still very whiny. I don't blame him at all. I'd be more than whiny.

I gave him a quick sponge bath and put some normal pj's on him. They took out his IV. Then they cleaned and changed the dressing on the little shoulder port which was pretty painful for him. I had taken him for a spin in the wheelchair earlier, so I have urged him to nap a little bit right now. Then he'll have a bite of lunch and I'm sure he'll feel much better.

Gary stayed here with him last night and let me get a little sleep. For some reason I didn't rest well. I guess I was just concerned about Weilong.

My refrigerator decided to stop working. It did this about a month ago, I called a repairman and when he got there it was working fine. So I got a nice big service call charge for nothing. But this time we unplugged it, waited a while and plugged it back in. It has been over 24 hrs and it still won't run. Shannon is going to sit with him while I look at new ones.

Puppy??

Weilong has always wanted a puppy. He said he had 3 dogs and 1 cat in China. We have resisted because it is hard enough keeping the house clean now and I don't fancy having doggy doo in my floor.

Here's what Weilong did.

While waiting for surgery we watched Lady and the Tramp on the hosp tv. It brought back all Weilong's longing for a puppy. He asked me again if he could have one. I wimped out and told him he would have to ask Dad. I knew Gary would say no. Well, the little stinker waited til after the unexectedly long surgery which required 3 pints of blood. And the first thing he did was hoarsely call for Gary. "Dad, don't go yet. I have a question." Course Dad leaned in close and listened to the whispered question. "Can I please have a puppy?" My tough husband melted like a cube of ice on an August day in Texas. He said yes, if Weilong would promise to take care of the puppy and clean up after it.

Now Weilong is trying to decide what kind of puppy he wants. He wants a small dog which is nice because TX is too hot for a doggy to stay outside in the summer and I just couldn't stand a large dog inside.

Any suggestions on a small dog that is good with children are welcome. My house will never smell the same again. But my boy will be happy.

Better and Better

Weilong is much improved today, except he is still grouchy! He was awake most of the night because he slept the afternoon and evening. But he has only taken tylenol and motrin for pain in the last 30 hours. Thank God the awful headaches have passed. He has a little headache, but not the awful one that wouldn't go away. And no vomiting all day yesterday. This morning he ate breakfast by himself!

We got another CT scan at 5am. I haven't heard from the neurosurgeon yet today, but expect them to take out the temporary shunt tomorrow. Then they want to watch him for a couple of days before releasing him. This shunt is under the scalp and exits his chest so it requires surgery to remove it. That is why they need him to stay a couple of days afterwards.

Weilong and I had a disagreement this morning over his taking the salt tablets. Last night the nurse came in at midnight and I pretended to be asleep. Weilong cried, but he took the salt tablets for him. He complained the rest of the night about his tummy hurting. This morning he flatly refused to take them. He cried and whined and just drove me nuts. They tell me he can have convulsions if his salt level continues to drop. So, I insisted. He reluctantly swallowed two of the huge square tablets. I was so glad. He also had to take 4 other smaller tabs for different things. So, he was left with two salt tabs which he flatly refused to take. The nurse left the room and said she would be back in 15 minutes. Weilong chewed me out, and said he could not, would not take those two remaining pills. I was upset, so I just left the room and sat in the hallway. After about an hour the nurse talked him into taking them and I came back in here. This is a scene that is repeated every 8 hours. I wish he didn't have to take this med. I know it is awful to take and hurts his little tummy.

So, today promises to be even better than yesterday. Gary is coming up and we are going to take Weilong out for a ride in the wheelchair. Gary promised to bring Weilong some kung pao chicken and he is looking forward to it. I need to sneak home for a quick nap, shower, and clean clothes. I feel very tired today. And tomorrow will be hard because of the shunt removal surgery. But after that is over, we'll soon be home!! God has been so incredibly faithful and answered all our prayers for Weilong.

++Just learned that the salt level last night (taken at 4am) is 138. Normal is between 135 and 145. PTL

Small Victories

Weilong is grouchy as an old bear today. It's very hard to be patient with him. But he has a right to be grouchy after all he's gone through.

He has not vomited all day, thank God. But I'm having a very hard time getting him to eat. He's afraid he'll vomit if he eats. He also refuses to take meds by mouth.

In order to go home, he must be eating, drinking, and taking oral meds. They came in today and told me they would take the shunt out if he will eat and take his meds today. But he whines and cries and refuses all but the smallest sips of chicken broth.

Now for the GOOD NEWS. He has had no morphine since 3:30 this morning and his head is not hurting very much at all. Julia and Lisa, if you read this before Mom talks to you, remember that prayer yesterday and know that God has answered it for us.

============
The NP just came in and talked with me. They have a ct ordered for tomorrow. If it looks good, and I'm sure it will, they will take out the temporary shunt on Friday.

The only thing they are worried about now is Weilong's salt level. They said I must get him to take those salt tablets today. I am going to try my best. If he refuses to swallow them, then I will secretly crush and add to some chicken broth or something. Please continue to pray for Weilong to be able to take the meds orally. We cannot go home til he does. If he is able to swallow the salt tabs and normalize his sodium, we could go home Monday.

Mary Lynn and I took Weilong to look at the fish again this morning. He wasn't very responsive. Just grumpy and whiny I can't wait until he gets home and is his normal happy self. Oh, I got a laugh out of him earlier this morning. I gave him a good wash and he laughed when I washed his little feet. The laugh was rusty and didn't sound like Weilong, at first I thought he was crying. But he wasn't, it was a sweet little attempt at a laugh.

Another small victory is that he used the potty today for the first time. And no head pain as he "pushed". That's a very good thing.

I'm a bit disappointed that they are wanting to wait til Friday to remove this old shunt, but at least they're talking of removing it. Everyone has been praying that it is not permanent, and our prayers are being answered.

Tuesday Night

What a day of ups and downs. But I think the overall day was very good. Tonight I brought the Lisa, Julia, and Weifu up to visit Weilong. Weilong sat in my lap a while, then he actually walked a few steps with Gary and me supporting him. Finally, he sat in a wheelchair and we wheeled him down the hall and he looked at the fish tanks. He was fascinated by the beautiful colorful fish. I guess we stayed around those tanks a half hour or so. Finally we went back to his room. He was getting tired.

They gave him a motrin and he promptly threw it up. So far he has still not kept anything on his stomach today. We pray that tomorrow will be much better.

==== an hour later =====

Finally my boy is asleep. He just had a very bad hour. Since he has vomited up all the pain meds given orally, his only relief today has come from morphine shots, given only every 4 hours. But they wear off much quicker than that, so he is in pain before the next shot is due.

I tried rubbing his head, back, legs, feet. I tried distracting him with the tv, with stories, with anything. But nothing worked. Half an hour before he could get another shot he was screaming. Loudly. I appealed to the nurses. They came in and offered Weilong a vicodin tablet. He refused, saying he would vomit if he took it. I gave him a sip of sprite and two teddy grahams. The nurse and I both urged him to take the pill to ease his pain, but he still refused. Finally he got mad at us and closed his eyes tightly and refused to communicate with us at all. I think this little tactic helped him deal with the pain. He must have been so mad that he forgot about it because he didn't cry again until the shot was due. He also didn't speak to me until then. But thats ok, I'd rather him be steaming mad than screaming in pain.

Even after all that he's been through, and two days of vomiting every thing he eats or drinks, he still has enough spirit to get mad like that. What a strong little boy. What a little fighter he is. Come on, Weilong, get mad at those headaches and let's beat them!!

Now I'm listening to his gentle snores. I pray that he sleeps for at least 4 good hours. All the lights are out and it's dark in here. They will have to come in at midnight, only one hour away to check his vitals. What a pity they cannot let him sleep while he can.

Tuesday Morning

Weilong continues to have a terrible headache. He vomited up everything he ate yesterday after the MRI and had to take morphine all night.

This morning I got him to eat about 1/4 of an envelope of instant oatmeal and he has kept it down. But he says he will vomit if he eats more or takes meds by mouth. I can see that he is in terrible pain. He is weak and desperately needs to hold down food. But the headache is making him nauseous.

They turned of the shunt today. It hasn't drained anything since Sunday morning. They are thinking of taking it out tomorrow or Wed, but I'm not sure they will with his head hurting so bad.

I refused the salt tablets at last night, and this morning. It does no good for him to take them if he vomits them right back up. We tried the pretzels and gatoraid. He wont eat the pretzels. So we got some pringles bbq chips and he ate 3 of them.

Please pray that the headache goes away. We want to go home so badly.

GOOD NEWS

Weilong had an MRI today at noon. The results are good, just what we've all been praying for. The ventricles are normal sized, the decompression looks good. There has been no drainage of csf from the shunt since yesterday.

Tomorrow they will clamp the shunt off. They will watch Weilong for a couple of days to see how his body tolerates that. Then they will remove it. This will require surgery since they inserted it under his little scalp and out his shoulder/chest area. Followed by a couple more days of observation. Then if all is well he can go home.

I'm so HAPPY and THANKFUL. I cried when they told me.

Unfortunately Weilong isn't having a wonderful day. He is experiencing some pretty intense head pain. And they sedated him for the MRI, so he is vomiting from that. No food today, except a little broth that he threw up when they insisted he take some salt tablets. I must get them to do something about the salt tablets. They try to make him take 3 of them 3 times a day and he almost always vomits them up. This madness must stop. They told me the alternative was a feeding tube to put the salt into his stomach, but surely they can do something else.

He just got anti nausea meds in his iv and is sleeping. He cries with headache every time he wakes up. They have no diagnosis for why he is having the headaches. They say that his little brain has had so much trauma the last couple of weeks that it may be causing the headaches. Gary, Shannon and I think it is the shunt. We believe that the headaches will cease when it is removed. They tell us it is not possible for a shunt to cause headache. Guess we'll soon see.

So, even though it is awful to see Weilong still having headaches, I'm so thankful that the MRI shows such good things. Maybe he can come home Sat or Sunday if all goes well.

I have been too upset with all the things going on to think about my camera. But I will try to get a picture later today if Weilong will let me. Here are a couple from just before the terrible pain started.

God is Good.

Sunday Night

It's a little after 8 and Weilong is sleeping. The gentle sound of his snore is music to my ears. I love the sound of his sleeping now because it means he is not feeling any pain.

Weilng had a good day today, the best since Tuesday. He did vomit once today, but that was because they made him take 4 pills before breakfast. He took them, then ate about half a pancake and promptly vomited it all up. I was so happy that he was able to eat something. That means no feeding tube. Also, I wasn't too concerned about the vomit knowing the cause of it. I talked with the dr and he said we could wait til after breakfast for those pills from now on.

Shannon and Lisa came up to stay with Weilong while I went home and got a little bit of work done. I have not done a single thing in the office in two weeks, so I spent a couple of very busy hours there. I also got to spend a little time with Julia and Weifu which was very nice.

Weilong ate a little chicken and stars soup for lunch and 3 chicken nuggets and a roll for supper. He was in some pain but nothing compared to the last few days.

Then they came in and got him up and into a chair. That's when his little head really started hurting. So, a couple of hrs ago they gave him morphine, and he fell asleep. But they keep coming in to check things every few minutes and wake him up. Why don't they just leave him alone til he wakes up on his own??? Just now the nurse woke him to check him and he's crying again.

Sunday Morning

Weilong is finally out of ICU! He got moved into a regular room yesterday. He is having a problem with some pretty tough head pain, please continue to pray for him. He is sleeping well right now

So many things have happened and I am so tired that I'm afraid I'll never remember the sequence of events. But I'll take a stab at it.

We tried not to re do the temporary shunt last week. But it was very obvious that WEilong was in distress. It has been heartbreaking to see him in such pain. I hope I never have to witness anything as heartbreaking again. It is the worst thing imaginable to see your son screaming in pain and there is nothing you can do.

I was a bit relieve to know that the bleeding from his little scalp was not the reason the shunt failed. The ct scan revealed that there was bleeding inside, around the shunt site. We were assured that it was impossible for this to be caused by pulling the outside of the tube. This blood had stopped up the shunt. So, Weilong was rushed back to surgery. But not before he was screaming with pain and vomiting. Gary and I stayed in Weilong's room while the surgery was performed. They decided to put the tubing under his little scalp and make an exit point on his little chest. They also inserted a feeding tube. I was so upset that I could only sit beside him, hold his little hand and cry quietly. I'm glad he was asleep and in no pain.

The main reason I was so upset was that the surgeon said he was displeased with the new shunt placement. He said it just didn't feel right to him and that he would probably have to replace it the next day.

Sorry, gotta take care of my precious boy for a minute. Will continue later.

Wednesday Night

Wei Long just got out of surgery. They had to replace the shunt again. He's in recovery now, and is doing well. I've lost internet access at the hospital. I'll update as soon as I can.

Wed 6am

Weilong slept thru the night with morphine at 12 and 4:30 am. He is allowed shots every two hours, so they said he was doing good. His vitals are good, but his head hurts very badly. And the pain seems to be getting worse. He talked in his sleep, calling for Julia and Lisa.

They came for us at 5 for a CT scan. We're waiting on the surgeon to come in and look at it. They are usually here by 7:30, sometimes 7am.

My unprofessional opinion: Weilong needs that shunt a while longer. I am greatly encouraged that his body seems to be dealing with the csf as well as it is, but that swelling and blood clot need to go down more. He cannot live with pain like he's had this night. I'm grateful that the morphine is working, but he cannot live on morphine for the next few days. And it is pretty bad when it wears off. I'm concerned that the pressure is too great and may cause damage if left in there.

If they decide to put in another shunt, I will not be able to update this blog until afterwards. Please keep Weilong in your prayers. God has promised never to leave us or forsake us, and never to put more on us than we can bear. I feel His strength within me this morning, but I long for Weilong to be well and at home. He keeps begging to go home.

Tuesday night 11:30pm

Weilong is still sleeping peacefully. He did have morphine at 7:30. His head and his hand where the iv site is were hurting. I sat beside him just after the shot and he said a couple of times "Don't go to sleep". Finally I said, Don't worry, Weilong, I will stay awake. And he said "Not YOU". The silly thing was trying to stay awake. I laughed and he could not understand why.

The nurse just came in and checked his vitals again and everything is fine. An hour or maybe two ago she came in and cleaned the shunt site. There was lots of blood there and on his pillow. My heart sank. The blood was from his scalp, the stitches were still firmly in place so the shunt did not come out. But the blood from the scalp must have seeped down into the skull and gotten into the shunt tubing. There has been no csf draining from the shunt since about 3 or 3:30 pm.

Weilong's little body must be handling the csf on it's own. Last time the shunt was obstructed he was screaming in pain and projectile vomiting after about 6 and a half hours. And in bad pain long before that. That was Friday night/Sat morning. And we had emergency surgery to put in a new shunt.

Don't you know I'm having a hard time sleeping? Gary called me and insisted that I lay down, so I'm going to do just that. Gary is sure Weilong will be just fine, why am I so afraid?

Something strange is going on in the other wing of the PICU. They are doing emergency surgery on someone. I know because they have shut picu down. If you leave here to go to the bathroom, you cannot get back in. I know this because I did just that. No one is telling us that we can't get back in if we leave. The hall outside picu is full of scared, angry parents most sitting on the floor. After visiting the ladies room I buzzed the door and they refused me re-entry. I was pretty short with them and said they should have told me I could not reenter if I left. If I had known I would have held my urine. Don't laugh, I really yelled that in front of a crowded hall full of people. A couple of minutes later one of the doctors came to the doors and let me come back in, just me. I told the other parents I was sorry, and went meekly back to Weilong's room. But I explained to the nurses and doctors in our area that the parents were scared and angry. And they were going to go out and talk with them. I am not sure why I was let reenter and no one else, but I'm very grateful to be in this room. I won't leave again until all is clear no matter now urgently nature calls.

So, please pray for the child who is having emergency surgery. That's what I'm doing.

Leaving No Doubt

Tuesday night

Yesterday Weilong slept all day and it was hard to wake him up. I, of course, was very concerned. But about 11:20 last night he woke up and felt good. I didn't get a lot of sleep as you can imagine.

Today he has been better than before, just tired and weak, but trying to eat. And talking and watching tv.

But I am afraid I have done something terrible. About 3pm I finally went down the hall and showered. When I got back he was slumped into an awkward position so I supported his head and back and gently lifted him up onto the pillow again. The tube that goes out of the shunt got caught on the pillow or something, and Weilong said it hurt a little bit. I wasn't concerned because I have lifted him like this a thousand times this week.

But about an hour later I noticed blood in the tube. And it has stopped draining. I think it is stopped up with blood again. No drainage since 3pm and it was going at a pretty good clip before this. I cried my eyes out for about an hour. Then Gary brought the other kids up and Weilong really enjoyed having them. He looks good, his stats are good. His head hurts a little around the incision, but not more than usual.

It is now 8pm and there has been no drainage at all since about 3 or 3:30. If the tube is plugged up again with blood, he will start developing a headache and nausea very soon. And we will have another emergency surgery.

Please pray for us. I am almost sure they will have to redo the shunt.

This morning the surgeon came in and said Weilong is making progress, it is slow but he does see progress. He said we will probably be here in the icu until the temp shunt is removed. I think if he still needs a shunt by next Wed that they will put in a permanent one. I do not want this. I am praying with all my heart that it is not in Weilong's future. Please read Matt 18:19 and pray in agreement with me for this.

I will try to upload a picture or two in a while. I'm a bit tired today. It has been a long week. Weilong wants to go home so badly. He asks me a million times a day if we can please go home.

We continue to be thankful for the love and support of our church family. I don't know how people get through something like this without such support. This place is very heart wrenching. I hear babies crying all night, and little children crying out in pain. We are in the surgical picu.

Leaving No Doubt

Monday Morning

Well, we're stuck in ICU for at least another day. Weilong is resting right now. They made him take an anti nausea pill this morning and he promptly vomited it up. He told us that pill made him sick, but they insisted.

We waited about 15 minutes and he was able to eat about half an envelope of oatmeal and a piece of bacon. The doctors and nurses are not impressed and there is talk of reinserting the feeding tube. But I'm resisting for now. Let's wait til lunch and see if he can eat more. He was such a little trouper yesterday and ate a lot. I think he may have overdone things because he is so tired today.

The output from the shunt was pink all night, indicating blood from somewhere. But just now it is turning back to it's normal color. Weilong is always in pain when the fluid is pink, the darker it gets the worse his pain is.

We asked if he could get up and into a wheelchair today, but the neurosurgeon said absolutely not. He must stay in the bed for now.

I'll update more later. I like having internet access in this boring old room.

BTW, Weilong didn't go to sleep til 3:30 this morning.

Sunday Night

Weilong had a great day today. He wanted that feeding tube out so badly that he ate three meals. And drank everything they asked him to drink.

He was a bit grouchy, well more than a bit, but who wouldn't be. Shannon and the girls stayed with him while I went home for a nap. He wasn't very happy with me for leaving him, but an old woman needs her beauty rest. The girls played video games and cards with him and kept him occupied. He also had a few visitors from church and loved seeing them.

He ate the two required meals and started demanding the feeding tube come out. They waited hours to remove it, sometime after supper. He said it hurt real bad. But he was glad to get it out.

They brought him a large milkshake that he had to drink before bedtime. He bravely drank most of it. Such a sweet good little boy.

Then he said the shunt was bothering him so they wanted him to take liquid motrin. I don't know why I let them give that to him. He has never been able to take liquid meds without vomiting. And sure enough, he vomited as soon as he swallowed that motrin. A lot. And it made his head hurt terribly. He cried because he thought they would put the feeding tube back in. But I promised him I wouldn't let them as long as he could still eat and drink. They had to give him a little morphine because of the terrible headache and he slept for a couple of hours. Morphine gives him bad dreams, so we are awake now. He's feeling fine. I'm putting up several pictures of him. Notice the big smile on the one without the feeding tube.

The days are beginning to run together for me now. I cannot remember what day things happened on. I talked with Shannon on the phone and he said I told him the same thing 3 times. Maybe I'm getting alzheimers.

Maybe we'll get out of ICU tomorrow? Weilong wants to go home very very bad. So do I. Please continue to pray that the shunt is temporary.

OK, Weilong just cracked me up. He's talking 90 miles an hour while I'm typing. He said "Yesterday the said you're not eating eating. And I said, Why are you not giving me food?" We both laughed. It's true, they had him on a liquid diet and he was in surgery three times so he really had not had a chance to eat. Such a smart boy, you cannot get anything over on him!

Leaving NO Doubt

Sunday Morning

Weilong ate nearly a whole pancake for breakfast! He keeps repeating his new mantra "I wanna go home". Very little pain today. He wants the feeding tube out NOW. They will remove it if he eats well today. The shunt is working well. Please pray for the csf to flow normally so that the shunt is only temporary. God has been faithful and answered our prayers.

We have internet access in our room! I have my laptop. Will post pictures later.

God is good. Wish I could go to church this morning.


Leaving no Doubt.

Crashing Waves

I only have a minute, I need to get back to the hospital. Weilong is calling for me.

Weilong had his third "surgery" today in less than a week. Last night the temporary shunt clogged up with blood and refused to work. This morning they rushed him to the OR and put in a new one. Also a feeding tube. Very scary for us all.

Jesus brought our boy through with flying colors. But if you know Weilong at all, you know that he is not very happy about having another surgery. And he is not at all happy about the feeding tube. At 8 they are going to give him some nourishment through it. Please pray that it stays down and he doesn't vomit. The tube didn't go down as far as they wanted, so there is still a risk of vomiting.

Yesterday we had another "wave" crashing into our boat. There was a big csf "dump" into the tube and a big pressure drop. Weilong was screaming with a headache. They rushed him for a ct (We've had one every day for some emergency or other.) Thank God there was no damage. The good news is that the ct showed that the swelling is going down in the back of Weilongs brain.

I need to remind myself of the good things right now. Also to remind myself that God has never yet failed us. He has been with us through all life's joys and sorrows, and he will not abandon us now. OK, the Good things.

1) The swelling is going down.
2) Weilong will be getting nourishment, even though he is fighting it. So he will be gaining strength which he desperately needs.
3) He is alert and talking with us today. Begging to be taken home.
4) There is no permanent brain damage.
5) Weilong hasn't thrown up in over 24 hours.
6) God is in control, He knows everything that is happening, we are not alone. We continue to receive incredible support from our church family. How could we ever make it through without them.

Gotta rush back. Thanks for all the love, prayers, and encouragement.

Leave No Doubt

Through the Valley

Has it only been two days since I posted last? Seems like a lifetime.

This has been the hardest day of my life, well except for yesterday. My faith has been sorely tested, and I ache body, soul and spirit. But we do not walk through hard times alone. No. We have an advocate who ever lives to make intercession for us. And we have His family here on earth to bear us up when we are weak. I'm so thankful for that.

Yesterday morning Weilong was just feeling bad. He kept vomiting and his head was hurting very badly. He is very weak. And it seemed that he couldn't wake up. So they decided to do a CT scan. This showed he had developed hydrocephalus. They had to rush him to surgery immediately to relieve the pressure on his sweet little brain. Thankfully this was a short procedure. It involved putting in a temporary shunt. This is a tube inserted through the skull that allows the csf to drain out.

Weilong was in so much pain, he doesn't even remember the surgery. It makes me cry to write the description of this event. His little head was hurting so badly that he was hitting on it with his little hands. All we could do was cry and pray for him. It was actually a relief to have the shunt put in, knowing it would relieve the pressure and pain.

It is beautiful the way God worked things out for me. I was alone at the hospital with Weilong, and just minutes before the surgery Gary showed up, then our Pastor and Weilong's chilren's Pastor. They were with us through this whole trying ordeal, just as they were with us through the surgery on Monday.

After the surgery was over, I sneaked into the ICU. They had just brought Weilong in from the OR. There were six people in the room working on him and the surgeon and another nurse were standing outside the room looking in through the glass. I was allowed to stay. Weilong was having difficulty breathing, struggling for each breath. They were helping him and very gentle with his tiny little body as his little chest heaved for each breath taken. The sound of those breaths was heartbreaking. I called the waiting room to get the others to pray, and stood silently praying and looking on. They kept suctioning him and called someone to bring a nebulizer. The breathing treatment helped. Finally he was breathing on his own, but very exhausted.

Our precious boy was so tired, he slept and slept. I could see that the surgeon was a bit concerned that he wasn't alert. After several hours passed, I just broke down and cried. The nurse caught me right in the middle of this bout of tears, and she, Gary, and I gathered around Weilong's bed. Somehow, the sweet little thing was able to wake up and talk with us. I think because the nurse kept telling him I needed him to talk with me. Oh, what a blessed relief. His spunk was showing. I told him I needed him go get well because I had no one to give me hugs and kisses. He said "You can go home and get Weifu, Julia, and Lisa to hug you". I laughed out loud. He was able to do all the little things that showed his brain is still functioning normally. I was ecstatic. I cried with relief this time.

When our good friend Mike came up to see us, Weilong was alert and even joking with Mike. Oh, how sweet it was to see Weilong acting normally again. I stayed with him last night and slept the sleep of the exhausted. Weilong was doing well.

This morning Weilong was in a little pain, that was to be expected. He is stil unable to keep anything on his stomach though. The hospital brought him an x-box to keep in his room. He tried hard to play a game, but soon became tired and had to stop. But it was good to see him play. I was a bit concerned because he is so weak.

We were a bit concerned because the front of his head began hurting. He vomited any meds we gave him by mouth, so they gave him morphine in his iv and he fell asleep. I did too. I try to nap when he does so I can be awake when he is. About an hour later he called to me and I went to him. The fluid coming out of his shunt was red. Mostly red, mixed in with the csf fluid. I quickly called the nurse and soon had a roomful of concerned nurses. Weilong said his head was hurting very badly and he vomited several times. Not good. Quickly they decided to do another CT scan. I called Gary and Shannon to come. Honestly, I feared the worst. I could only imagine brain bleeds. Weilong was lethargic and in pain. Ok, I'll admit I was so filled with fear (that my body was shaking and tears were streaming down my old face. (I look like a 100 yr old hag, have been at the hospital for days in the same clothes.)

They let me go down with Weilong for the CT. Thank God, they could find nothing wrong. The surgical area is swollen a lot. Weilong lost so much blood on the surgery, they think maybe some of it is breaking loose from the surgical area and getting mixed in with the csf. I don't know if this is good or bad. The tell me we are just taking one day at a time and keeping a close watch on Weilong.

I left my boy for a couple of hours. I need to grab a shower and clean clothes. I am taking the other children up to see Weilong for a few minutes. I believe it will do him good to see them. When he is awake he keeps begging me to come home. I would give anything to bring him home right now.

The surgeon told me that we will have ups and downs. He says we need to look at the overall trend and it should be an upward one. Weilong will be in hospital two weeks, in ICU at least through the weekend (per the surgeon). They will make a decision in about two weeks on whether the shunt will be permanent. Please pray that it is only temporary.

It's hard to share my fears and doubts with you, my friends and family. I wish I could say that I am strong and full of faith. The only thing I can say is that when I am weak He is strong. I have come to the very end of any human strength, and must rely totally on God.

I may look at this pitiful post next time I log on and delete it.

To my dear family at Christ Family Church, thank you for your love and support. It brings much comfort to know that you are praying for us. There have been times in the last few days when I couldn't pray for myself and I knew you were there praying for us. Words cannot express our gratitude and love for you.

Leaving no Doubt

Surgery

Weilong is doing fine. He really had a tough time though. He lost a lot of blood and had 3 pints transfused. The surgeon said Weilong had a lot of veinous tissue. I hope I spelled that right. When they cut into the dura they hit this tissue and Weilong started to bleed. The doctor said this was one of the difficult surgeries he has ever had, if not the most difficult. We had to be at the hospital at 5:30 and surgery was supposed to start at 7:30. They did take Weilong back on time, but I believe it was nearly 8:30 before they actually started operating. I think the surgery took three hours total.

Here's what the surgery did. They took a little more bone from the back of his skull. Then they cut into the dura and put in a patch, making more room for Weilong's brain. And they also took a little bit of his brain out, called the tonsils. We did not know they were going to do this, but they found that there just wasn't enough room in the back of his little head. It sounds so scary to me, but some surgeons routinely remove this part of the brain for Chiari decompression surgeries. It is the part that has been seeping into his spinal column and stoping the CSF flow.

Weilong is awake today, and everything looks good. His pupils are equal and reactive, he can move everything and even turn over a bit. He answers if I ask him a question. But he is unable to stop vomiting. They have tried 3 different meds and so far nothing works. After surgery on the back of the brain, this is often what happens (so we're told). But he has really been sick. I don't know how many times he vomited. He is in ICU and will be there at least another 24 hrs.

Gary is there with him now. I came home to grab a shower and nap. I did sleep some at the hospital when Weilong slept. After each dose of morphine he will sleep for at least an hour, so each time I lay down too and grab a nap while he is asleep. It's hard for both of us to sleep with all the noise in the icu, but we manage somehow. I will go back and stay tonight with Weilong, we will not leave him alone.

Weilong is the bravest little boy in the world. He has not cried a single tear yet. I cannot say that for myself. I wipe the tears from my face as I wipe the green bile from his. I hurt for him. I wish I could have the surgery in his place.

I don't know how we would have gotten through this without God and our church family. Go to our church's website and listen to my pastor's sermon for 3/30. Never has a sermon spoken to me like this one. I want to write a big long thing about it and the peace God has given us through this word, but I'm so tired and don't think I'll be able to put it into words. Go to christfamilychurch.org then click on listen online.

I'm posting some pictures of Weilong before and just after his surgery. I can't wait to post one of his sweet smile again.

Leaving no doubt.

Joseph's Birthday

Weilong had a great time at Joseph's birthday party. It was at Chuck E Cheese. And then Joseph gave Weilong some balloons. Look at that smile.