Jonah Update

It's been another while since I've updated.  I apologize for that ... I know there are some of you who check in to see how our little guys are doing. 

Friends, below is a photo of Jonah that was taken before we met him ...

Here's a photo of him after his first surgery in China just a year ago ...

... here is a photo of Jonah how he looked just before he started his surgery and treatment

Here's what Jonah looked like just after his surgery.

Here's some photos from just a couple weeks ago. 

In comparing these photos to previous ones, we could see that there really was beginning to be a difference in Jonah's facial features and the location of his lower jaw. 

... AND HERE'S WHAT JONAH LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW!  He is transforming before our very eyes!

The difference is REALLY DRAMATIC now!!

Don't mind the VERY SQUAREness of his jaw from the front view.  

I have been a little anxious about it myself and I have been assured that he has a long way to go and what it looks like now is not how it will end up.

On Monday this week, we were told to stop "turning" the distractors because they wanted to be sure that the space wouldn't become too far apart to adequately allow his existing bone to regenerate and solidly fill the gap.  The plan is to keep the distractors in place for another eight weeks and then Jonah will be evaluated under anesthesia (an x-ray will be taken and manual manipulation will be done) to determine the strength of  his jaw bone and whether it has regenerated adequately.  If it is shown to be weak or still generating, they will leave the distractors on for an additional two weeks. 

While Jonah is under anesthesia, because his upper palate is very short, Dr. Denny said that he could lengthen the palate at the same time he removes the distractors.  Between now and then, they will be trying to expand the palate, to even out the upper and lower jaws, at each of our twice weekly visits. Additionally, Jonah is now wearing elastic bands on his braces that actually caused his lower jaw to move 3mm in just three days.  So, things have been happening.  Our young man has been so brave during the day and then subconsciously fights his emotional battles as he sleeps with his night terrors.

We continue to forge ahead and keep trusting that we are following along the path that God has placed us on.  We are rewarded every day by a smile, a hug, a proud twinkle in the eye for something newly learned and even a wet, slobbery kiss.

Looking Forward to the End ...

The end of a matter is better than its beginning,

    and patience is better than pride.

9 

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,

    for anger resides in the lap of fools. ~ Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

Our little buddy is not happy.

While there has been daily progress with the movement of Jonah's lower jaw, the movement has not been going exactly as was originally planned.  We have been turning the devices for exactly 23 days, which is what we were originally told would be the total time for turning.  So, basically, we thought we would be done turning right about now.

This is an x-ray of Jonah from a few days ago. 

The lower jaw, instead of sliding downward (and forward towards his front teeth), has tilted upwards so much so that his bottom teeth are now pushing against his upper palate expander.

(Here is the x-ray taken immediately after the placement of the distractors)

Due to the way his jaw has moved, it is evidently more difficult for Jonah to talk and eat.  The range of motion in his jaws has decreased and he is barely opening his mouth.  

Yesterday, a new adjustment was introduced.  This is an adjustment that required a special tool and was done in the doctor's office.  The adjustment was to correct the tilt in Jonah's jaw and it was so dramatic that he experienced a great deal of discomfort all evening.

 Jonah has to do mouth exercises to help with the stiffness and his range of motion.  These exercises are so important that if he does not show significant improvement over the next couple weeks, they are considering removing the distractors and then replacing them 6 - 8 weeks later.  Needless to say, we are dealing with lots of tears and frustration as we push him multiple times a day to open and close his mouth.

Since Jonah's surgery, he has also had something similar to 'night terrors' many nights each week.  He cries and thrashes around in his sleep.  He does not realize or remember that he is doing it, even when we have had to wake him up due to the severity of his episode.  This is difficult because we are experiencing interrupted sleep most nights and it is especially challenging on nights when he has several occurrences.

We knew when we began the adoption for Jonah and Rees that it would be a challenge and that we would have situations that would be hard.  We could really only guess as to the specifics of the situation(s).  In the same way, Jonah did not fully understand all that he would have to go through prior to his surgery, despite our preparations.  

We can't really know until we've experienced ...

... and once we're "IN IT", we might decide it's too hard, too painful, too much ... but 

'... The end of a matter is better than its beginning

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning ...

Finishing is better than starting ...

Endings are better than beginnings ...

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning ..."

(Ecclesiastes 7:8a)

We tell Jonah that this might be hard and it might hurt but that it won't always be this way.  It will get better and we have to keep working hard and trusting what we're supposed to do so that we can reach the goal, finish the task, ... "whistle".  (Yes, ... we tell him that one day he'll 'whistle'!)

It's hard to see him struggle ... to cry ... be frustrated ... and in pain ... but we know that we have to endure these difficulties to "achieve the END that is Way Better than the Beginning."

I am reminded how closely this resembles our walk in Christ ...

LORD, help me to finish what I start, to stick with it even when I get weary and weak.  Let me not "give up" when things get tough.  Help me to ignore the voices of defeat and despair, that in the end, I may not be foolish, but victorious.

Exciting Changes ...

We are making excellent progress in the granulation and healing of tissue.  We discovered this morning when we cleaned his wound and changed Rees' dressing.  

Auntie JenJen was the official hand-holder as I replaced the dressing.  

We were so excited about what we saw, we rejoiced by taking this photo!

 

Look at this thing!  

It is so GREATLY improved and the actual open part is quite small now.

This mama is just SO GIDDY!!

Rees is scheduled for his next surgery on July 7 ... but we're going to do our best to enjoy the next few months enjoying healing and learning and growing!!

In other breaking developments, we are super excited to share with you that we are starting to really see a difference in Jonah's face since we've been turning the distractors for the last two weeks.  

Here's a photo of Jonah from just days before his first surgery in China exactly a year ago this week.

(such a sweet face)

Then here's is what Jonah looked like a couple months after that surgery 

and what he looks like today!!!

(the difference may seem slight, but it is definitely there)

                                               

Here's a side view from before his April 2015 surgery ...  And then a photo of him from today.

                                                                                     (next time I do this, I'll be sure to have him sit up straight)

In these photos, we can tell the most in the area under his chin.  It is most evident that his jaw is beginning to have more definition and angle.

                                           

The biggest news ... at least for ourselves and especially for Jonah ... is that HE CAN PUCKER!!!  Truly ... he can bring both upper and lower lips to touch one another for a few seconds!

This might seem strange but it is HUGE for Jonah and HE KNOWS IT!

He is quite proud and because of this change, he now REALIZES that there really is a purpose to these awkward chunks of metal sticking out of his face.

  

Continuing on with our happy news and changes, Rees is quite excited about the progress of his seedlings!  They have sprouted quite nicely! 

Jonah, too, is very proud his Easter grass, a lovely gift from Rose.  It's getting to be about time he mows it, don't you think?

And Rees has been working hard this week trying to learn in leaps and bounds.  

He was working on writing his name this afternoon, which made me so proud!!  

He did such a nice job!!

His smile is SO CONTAGIOUS!

So thankful for this great weekend with the boys' positive progress!!

1st Week Back to School ... SUCCESS!!

Yay!!  We made it through the first week back to school ... Rees after more than two months and Jonah after two weeks.  

Rees worked really hard and we have proof THANKS to his teacher and teacher's aide!!

The boys are not able to participate in Gym class or Recess so they get to "play" during those times.

It's great to have them back in school!

One week made a tremendous difference on Rees.  We can already tell he learned a few things!!

PROCESS-ing ...

Today is five months since Jonah and Rees set foot and became citizens in the USA.    

WOW!  

In five months, so much has happened … a year ago, we were only just beginning the adoption process and then just like that, we had two more children in our family!!  Legally, it’s instantaneous but … it’s MORE than just adding a child to a family. With the completion of the adoption process, a new process begins.  I know this, truly, I do … we experienced it with our previous adoptions and I’ve seen it and heard about it countless times with other adopting families.  I’ve seen other families go through months and sometimes years of adjustment and acclimation after adopting a child.  It’s a process and just like any process, it requires “a series of actions and steps taken in order to achieve a particular end.”  While we adjust to having two more children and they adjust to having a family, we are also working at teaching them English, Colors, Numbers, Letters and all the things six and seven year old's should know.  To top it off with whipped cream and a cherry, we are also in full-swing of the medical journey we're on with each of our newest sons.

Something I’ve learned about myself (or come to admit, rather) is that I like it when things GET DONE!  I like to check things off the working list on which my mind is continuously jotting.  Problem is my mind is full of new prompts which add to my ever-growing list and before you know it, I’m fighting with myself because I have too many self-delegated things to do and not nearly enough time to get any of those things done.  No check-marks equals self-esteem chaos!

So on top of all of my other incomplete tasks (self-appointed I remind myself), yesterday, at Jonah’s ‘Check-and-Measure’ appointment (as I like to call it), the doctor said he looks great and to keep doing what we’re doing but then she said … “You know he’s not going to be done when they originally told you, right? He has a long way to go.”

Yep, I even throw in to my “to-do-list” the things I have no control over.  Silly … but true!

Patience is a hard thing … you know, once I decide something, I do it!  Though, typically, I tend to stay in the shallow waters.  I like to see my feet touching the bottom.  In the past, the LORD has always blessed me with safety, good health and security.  He has humbled me with His provision and with the opportunities to serve and grow.  But I think He thinks I’ve matured … because I have definitely moved into deeper waters.  I’m already there; no turning back!  But I’m a terrible swimmer and treading water, for me, is tough.  I always say that if I had to tread water to save my life, … I’d drown.   I don’t like deep water.  But it’s a long way to the shore.  And I certainly don’t want to drown.  So, I have no choice but to tread … and.it’s.EXHAUSTING. I’d sure like it if someone would come and pluck me out of the water and place me gently upon the warm, sandy shore.

In the meantime, as I strive to check things off my list ...

… the LORD is teaching me every day to ‘be still’,

And to remember that learning colors and numbers and letters takes time.

… to ‘be patient’ …

Especially when I worry that he doesn’t yet know how to tie his shoes and he still can’t remember the color Red. 

… to 'trust' …
It’s going to be okay if they’re 8 and 7 years old and still in kindergarten.

… to be 'thankful' …

I’m so thankful; truly, I am … I’m thankful that the LORD is always patient with me, even when I’m not ... but I do have to make a conscious choice each day to hold on to ‘thankfulness’.

As I do, I’m also learning to live in THIS MOMENT.  Experience THIS MOMENT.  Enjoy THIS MOMENT.

I don’t have to wait until skin has closed and scars are formed to be thankful for our sweet little boy, Rees, who now wants to sit by me during a movie or gives me a hug after each time I clean and re-dress his wound.

I don’t have to wait until we’ve reached 20 mm of jaw movement and zero overjet to be thankful for the progress Jonah has already worked so hard to make.

I’m not able to indicate completion for a lot of the things on my mind’s To-Do-List right now.  ... Every day I have to tell myself “that’s okay.”  ... I will “wait” on the LORD … but that doesn’t mean waiting to live the abundant life He’s already given me. 

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD ~Psalm 27:14

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ~John 10:10

A Taste of Spring ...

 Well, folks ... only in Wisconsin can you jump 30 degrees in one day.  Why, yesterday we were experiencing blizzard-like conditions and today the snow melted as it was nearly 70F!!  So, we, of course, took great advantage of the nice weather and went for a hike in our nearby Nature Conservancy ... especially since the rest of the week is scheduled to be cold and rainy.

We even saw a bit of the wildlife!  It took a while for Jonah and Rees to spot this crane through the tall grasses but they eventually spotted it.  They were amazed at the size of the bird.

This Mama took the opportunity to get several photos of our precious Chinese dumplings!

The boys really enjoy being outdoors ... which is perfect for our family!

There was sweet evidence of spring all around!

We didn't let the wind stop us ... at least it was a warm wind!

The kids were happy to stop at the "lookout" tower.

But their favorite part was likely playing in the creek ...

... water just makes kids giddy!

... and sticks ... 

... and rocks ...

Who needs material playthings, right??

God gives us a playground with limitless options!!

(**disclaimer - no, I am not planning on taking my childrens' toys away ... LOL!)

Best Buds! 

Posing Pretty! 

Tomorrow is a big day for all of us!

Jonah and Rees are going back to school and this Mama is going back to work (in between all of their medical appointments).  

Things are stable with the boys and Jonah now has one week of "turning" complete with his jaw distraction.  Anytime now, we should really start to see a difference, which is very exciting.

Rees' wound is still healing slowly but ever so gradually, we do see changes ... we're happy ... and he is ESPECIALLY happy to be able to go back to school!