WHEW!

We have dodged a big one!

A bending big problem....

An "S",  to be exact.

This is Beau's innerds, yes that is the "S" that has terrorized us for 18 months.  

As Beau grew, so did his spine, but in an unconventional way....ummm crooked to be exact.  Why??? Well that is a good question?  NO EYE DEER Y???  He has no limitations or pain with this luckily.  However, the GIANT worry was if it continued to grow, of course crooked, at the rate it currently is....he would have to wear a bulky large plastic brace that encircles him from his hips to his armpits....

Oh and wear it for 23 hours a day!  

Wow, that won't be restrictive for a very active young man or horribly embarrassing for a teen huh??

HENCE, why I have prayed and worried and grayed constantly since the doctors at Children's have began seeing him.

INSERT THE BIG RELIEF HERE!!!!

I really don't remember every word, but here is what I recall from today's appointment:

Whew, glad I found the bathroom(Cindy speaking...always an issue after a 35 minute car ride and a Diet Coke in the bladder)...

Awesome, they have free wifi, shoot my stocks went down a tiny bit (Bryce went with us today, him talking, me ignoring cuz Beau was in Xray.)

Beau returns, "ummm, can I have my phone Mom?" I missed him too, so glad he tells me nice things like that.  OK my paraphrase maybe, not what he meant?

Doc walks in....."Well, It's all good news"  Blah, blah 33%....waa, waa, blah hips are a 4 outta 5 now....spine done growing....blahby, blooo, blah, but arms and legs NOT done growing....bunches of questions and answers.  A referral to a doctor colleague friend at Little Rock Children's Hospital we should seek out when we get settled, for his next 6 month check-up!!

OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!

We will never fear the "S" again!  

Today's blog brought to you by the letter    S!

Mission Accomplished!

REALLY!  We are that exciting that I am blogging 2 days in a row!!!

OPERATION LADYBUG LUCK is

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!!!!

As you will notice on the adoption dates side bar.....

There is an official LID date!  L@@K at the side bar!

Now the long push to letter of approval (LOA) is upon us.  It will be about 3 months until China gives us the thumbs up to adopt.  The US already said it was swell and yes!

If you have not already entered your email address in the side bar box, please do!  You will NOT want to miss anything in the upcoming months.  Much in store for us....

Our 113th move....Ok a slight exaggeration. 

What's it like to be an Arkansian for the second time?

How long it will take before we visit an ER in our new state....join the guessing pool my family has on it, you may win MEGA bucks!

And much more WAY TOO BIG to say right now.  I promise you won't want to miss that announcement coming soon!!!!!

But in the meantime we just praise God for the blessings he continues to give.

A Little Luck!

Well, I know this is getting a bit long.  I truly expected LID (log in date) from China by now.  Appears China is in a move slowly with every ones paperwork phase....and I mean everyone, to include us.  As sad as this makes me, I know to be patient.  This is HIS extreme patience lesson for me.  Despite praying for a swift end to this wait, I have been eagerly waiting for a sighting of one of these!  They are a Chinese symbol of good fortune coming your way.  Terrible picture, I agree!  I stepped outta the car as this lady bug flew right by my head and landed on the car next to us.  This was my hurried attempt to photo shoot it before it got away!  I was a tiny bit excited since I have looked at every bush and tree in the last 24 days while we wait.  So with God and this lady bug's luck I am so certain this will be the week for LID!

I have added a side bar of the adoption dates on the new look for the blog.  As you can see, not to many have a date next to it as of yet.  But we are really at the half way point once LID occurs.  The wait for the next major hurdle (LOA) will be long, about 3 months, so I have decided to fill with just ordinary life stuff.  Cuz we are really THAT exciting!  So what's going on with the Brakman's?

It was Beau's turn to visit St Elizabeth's ER this week.  He awoke with horrible chest pains at 5 am.  Not normal for a healthy 15 year old, so off we went to see about an EKG.  Turns out he continues to have issues with the acne meds and it has once again caused esophogitis.  This is Beau, after the GI cocktail that numbed him from tongue to belly....and after he passed his EKG and chest x-ray!  Back to the doctor some time soon to figure out what to do regarding his acne....sigh!

This is our mortgage!  YIKES, haven't spent this amount of money in a long, long time.  Its been quite the assignment (changed right in the midst of buying another home in another state) and real estate merry-go-round for what hopes to be our last military assignment!  Bryce will head back to flying at Little Rock AFB in Arkansas.  A return to Megan's birth place.  We had very few options for rentals and even buying, but settled on a nice home with a pool.  I'm getting over that last part as I just see money and maintenance when looking at the pics!  But it should be great for the HOT summer and the kids!

Megan and Wes ran their Read Right and Run Marathon on Thursday.  No idea why it's called a marathon?  It's really a 5K.  But I'm really proud of them for sticking it out during the cold winter months and inclement weather.

And Finally..... Someone turned a year older....A hint....

Ummm, no that's NOT gray in his hair...just highlights???  I really don't think Wes believes that...by the look on his face in the shot!  

In closing.  An adorable 4 year old woke and went to sleep already in China.  He has no idea what Mother's Day is or what a Mother is for that matter.  It breaks my heart.  But I have great hope that NEXT Mother's Day he too will know a Mommy's love....his Mommy's crazy, insane love for him.  Timothy Joshua....We love you from the depths of our heart!  I so hope next year you too, will be arguing with your brothers and sister as you all attempt to bake a cake for Mom!  Ahhhh yes, it is after all, a normal day in the bliss of motherhood....and I would only change one thing, having you already here!