New Normal...

We have now been home for just over 7 weeks...

Life is beginning to return to some sort of normal...

Hannes is recovering well from his heart surgery,

Julie has gone back to work,

Therapy is on a bit of a schedule,

And Hannes is a happy little boy...

he LOVES to be out of his crib

exploring everywhere!!

Saturday's are fun days!

It is so awesome to watch this little boy

come to life...

to explore

to like things

and dislike things

to get mad

to be happy

to laugh

to learn things

to grow

Adoption is hard...

But it is also holds the most profound joy...

We are so blessed.

Healed Heart

We had our follow up surgical appointment

this week

and 

Hannes's heart is healed!

The repair at one week post op 

is looking fantastic!

Everything is as it should be

and his heart is functioning

like it should.  

We had the stitches from his chest tubes

removed and his scar is healing nicely.

We are now having PT, OT, and speech

therapy evaluations

for some additional

help in making up for his delays!

He is functioning at about a 12 month old level.

But we know that he is fearfully and wonderfully made.

We will help him to make up for what he has missed.

And become the little man of God he was created to be!!

One Month Home!!

 We have been home for one month today!!

It has been a busy month!

We have seen:

2 Pediatric Cardiologists

Pediatric Heart Surgeon

International Adoption Clinic Physician

Pediatric Urologist

Pediatrician

We have also had heart surgery!

WOW!

We are now going to embark on:

Physical Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Speech Therapy

 probably 2-3 times each week for each discipline

to see if we can't get this little one closer to being caught up!

The changes in him are subtle:

He has now gained about a pound.

He is smiling so much more than when we first brought him home.

He is exploring the whole house.

He loves the outside.

He isn't crying before, during, and after eating anymore, 

just a few whimpers before and after.

He LOVES to watch Jacob and Julia.

He is able to hold his own bottle while drinking - not that he always will...

He took his first independent steps on his own just today!!

We are in love with this little one!!
We love the redemption of a life played out in his life
as he touches the lives and hearts of everyone he has come into contact with
this month.

Happy One Month Home Hannes...

We are home!!

We were discharged today!!

We are a bit weary,

Hannes is a bit sore,

but we are so 

glad to be home!

Hannes has a healed heart!

Hannes had surgery at UCLA on Monday!

They found a bit more wrong than they anticipated - 

but they were able to fix everything

and

they don't believe that Hannes will need any more heart surgery!!

Yay!

His recovery has been really good:

Monday he slept most of the day

Tuesday he was a bit fussy most of the day

Today he had a visit from Jacob (6) and Julia (5)

and was happy most of the day

Tomorrow they are anticipating - discharge!!

Yay!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and

encouragement throughout this journey!

We are so in love with him

and so grateful

that God brought us together!

Yay!!

Enjoying the weekend...

Enjoying the weekend...

Hannes's open heart surgery is

early Monday morning...

We would appreciate your prayers for 

a successful operation,

wisdom for the doctors,

and peace for Mom.

Update!!

We have seen two pediatric cardiologists and had two ECHO's done and have met with a pediatric heart surgeon who is the Chief of Congenital Heart Surgery at UCLA.  Hannes will have open heart surgery on Monday, April 22.  We ask that you pray for his surgery, the surgeon, and for his recovery.  We know that God is good no matter the outcome