NBA

I'm just glad basketball has started.

DURING A SUNDAY WALK

THE APPLES OF MY EYE

A BOY FROM CHINA

I recently got a book from Love Without Boundaries which profiles peoples' journey of adopting their child from China. It's filled with pictures, stories, and poems. So when I ran across this poem, I thought I'd share it here.

I am a boy from China and I am eight years old;
Too long I have been waiting for a family to hold.

I am a boy from China, in my orphanage for years;
I see so many mei meis leaving; why am I still here?

So much talk of China's girls, but we are waiting too;
Can't you see us; don't you hear us calling out for you?

They say I have a special need, and it could take some time,
But my mei mei has a missing hand and her family found her fine.

I am but one of many, a band of brothers, we;
Please tell the world about us-this is our earnest plea.

Boy or girl no matter, both deserve the same:
A home, some love, a family, our birthright to lay claim.
I am a boy from China and I am eight years old;
Too long I have been waiting for a family to hold.

-By Cheryl C.-

84

That is the latest O2 reading at the doctors today (this is also the highest reading we've had since we got Sean). And, Sean's fluid build up has gone way done. He'll continue on the meds that have brought it down, in addition to him not eating too may salty things so he doesn't become thirsty. I may not have mentioned before that he's not to have too much to drink since he already has a lot of fluid in him. This will help "dry up" that fluid. His skin looks like an alligator right now, but that's the way it's supposed to be for now.

Sean has really come around and is doing quite well, and we could tell the doctor was really happy too. So, thanks for your prayers on behalf of Sean this last week. We don't go in for two weeks now which is also an improvement.

MORE APPLE PICKING...AND MODELING

TODAY'S DEFINITION

Pleural effusion: is an accumulation of fluid between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity.

Sean went to see the doctor today and found that Sean's body has not drained this fluid, so his medication that tackles this has been bumped up. He goes back next Monday and if the fluid has not gone down, it looks like he may end up in the hospital again, which would involve placing a chest tube back in him capped by a weeks stay. So, we are hoping this problem goes away significantly in the next week.

APPLE TIME

CHRISTMAS

Tyndale House is publishing a book with Matthew West called Give This Christmas Away, a nice little book with ideas on reaching out to people with the real message of Christmas. He has a song by the same title as the book and it also "appears" on the new Veggie Tale video coming out this all.
Here is a moving video (at least I think it is) that reminds me one thing I can do this Christmas.

DOING BETTER

Sean had a visit with the cardiologist today. Each time he goes in he gets an x-ray and an echo done. Last week Sean had both and the doctor was "concerned" about seeing a plural infusion (not sure I'm spelling that right) in his chest area, which is fluid build up. The treatment was for Sean to continue taking a certain medication to help reduce that. Today, Sean got another x-ray and echo, and the doctor made mention that last week, he was actually "very concerned" about what he saw, but wanted to let the meds do their thing. Had they not, Sean would have ended up in the hospital for at least another week since it would mean getting a chest tube inserted to drain the fluid. Thankfully, the meds have been working, though there is still some fluid in his chest. We will continue the meds.
Also, his O2 levels registered 75-76...so that is encouraging. He still needs to be on oxygen, but is allowed to have it off for very short periods of time if he's playing or something and the hose is getting in the way. Yesterday was the first Sunday we've all been able to go to church as a family in quite awhile. That was nice.

SEAN'S FIRST HOME