Catch Up Time!!!!

WOW!!!! Time has passed in a hurry. In September, we were still in Alabama and praying we could move home to Georgia or at least REALLY close to there. Anything would be better than being on call 24/7 365 days a year. It happened!! On October 15th, we moved to Georgia within an hour and half of our home. October 20th, Matt started as a contractor working at Robins Air Force Base. At this job we had some really awesome insurance including disability insurance. It was a provision of God as over the following months it has been an awesome benefit.

End of October we moved into a house which was located in an awesome neighborhood, big backyard and a great landlord. Halloween, we found out our neighborhood was the main area for trick or treaters. Instead of taking Clay trick or treating we went to the bowling alley and Clay loved it!!!!!

November was Thanksgiving and we were able to spend it with family in AL. Right after Thanksgiving, Clay began 2 year preschool twice a week and Clay was just great from day one. He loved his teachers and going to school.

December was spent in AL once again and it was a great day. Clay got Thomas Train laptop, Camera and some extra tracks for his train set. He thought it was the best and so did Matt and I watching him open his gifts and having fun with his cousins. Right before Christmas, Beverly, had a baby girl. She was six weeks early due to pre eclampsia causing seizures. Beverly was able to go home Christmas Day and Maggie was home a couple weeks later.

January was spent getting into a routine and making this area home. Matt's back pain was escalating with the new job and his legs were going numb. We scheduled Epidurals and other treatments as prescribed and nothing was helping.

February 5th, Matt was in so much pain he had to call out for the day and once home his back spasmed and sent him to the ground. Thank God it wasn't at work as he would have had a 70ft fall or gotten stuck in a fuel tank. Dr Easom took him out of work for time being and we were referred to a surgeon, Dr Daxes M. Banit.

During this time, Clay became very clingy to his Daddy and this became the forerunner of what is occuring now. March 11th, Clay was taken to my sisters where he stayed until surgery on Matt's back was over and he was off the walker and steady on his feet. Surgery was done March 15th. My parents came and stayed with me while he was in surgery and until he was brought to his room. I cannot go into details here as the emotions, stress and everything else associated with the surgery was more than anything ever gone through before. To back up, though. Disability insurance came thru end of February and March 8th, Matt was laid off due to the contract being lost. We had no choice, but to move home to survive as COBRA had to be gotten before surgery and Disability was not enough to pay rent and mortgage and live. So March 8th, we moved home permanently.

March 21st, Alice and Russell along with Beverly, Maggie and Emma brought Clay home as Matt was not quite ready to drive long distances. Beverly still has seizures and Maggie is so tiny. Emma has grown so much and more social, also. Since coming home to the restrictions Matt is under Clay is adjusting to them but whenever he gets angry or told no it is taken out on me. Nighttime as long Matt will sit down, hold him, and rock him he will go to bed. He still is not sleeping thru the night but at least he sleeps.

It is now over two weeks post op and Matt is doing well. During Pre - Op, the EKG found something and as of two weeks post - op, he has been scheduled an echocardiogram for Monday and Tuesday is first post-op visit with Dr Banit. Stitches will be removed and we will start scheduled physical therapy for a month or two, twice a week. In total recovery will take 6 months.

I don't know why God has done in such a short time what he has, but I dont need to know. We went to Macon and found doctors that listened to Matt and found out what was wrong. We had a surgeon that God used to fix Matt's back and then he sent us home permanently. We had a church we were going to every time we were in town and as of last Sunday we are going all the time. They stepped up after Matt's surgery and gave us support in so many ways, even though, they did not know us well and we are not members. I have never seen this type support in church before and so now we are in an awesome place. Right were God wants us!!!!!!!! We are home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please, continue to pray as God works in our lives and leads us to what is coming next!!!!! Thank you for your prayers!!!

I will post pictures, soon!!!!!

Good News

We found out last night that we are back in PGN!!!! I am so VERY glad. This whole time of knowing that our case was having to just sit there and nothing happening was extremely hard and the relief of being back in is tremendous. Once again we start the eight week countdown and from what I can figure eight weeks will be December 31, 2007. I was hoping so much for no kick out and to bring him home before the first of the year. We are figuring with the last things to be done to have his visa we will be home with him end of January, First of February as long as no more Kick outs occur. We are praying so much that no more will occur. We know that a miracle can still occur cause with God anything is possible. Is it likely? NO!!! Praise God we are back in and our process will go forward!!!! Guatemalan Congress has put the possibility of a new law to extend the Hague to begin April 1, 2008 instead of January 1, 2008 and work on getting more of the program set up as to protect and allow care for all kids left behind. This is good news!! Will be voted on next week. What a relief!!!!!! Please continue to pray for Guatemala, the children in process and the children that will be effected by the adoptions continuing and the birth families that dont know what to do. Prayers are what is keeping everyone going through this process. Thanks for all your prayers and support in our journey to bringing our son home!!!!!!