Things I'm Thankful for Today...other days too, but I forgot to mention it before!

I've once again failed to let you in on/remind you of some more gratitude moments over this past week...so here goes... :)

1)  I told you that Zoe's oxygen went from 52 to 82 almost immediately following the balloon procedure...and that her pressures went down from a dangerous 5 to a 2.5! This was the news I shared that was shocking the doctors.  What I also failed to mention was what they found in the repeated echo.  It bears mentioning that the follow-up echo was remarkably better than the first. She just laid there...only getting mildly upset when we had to take away her fluffy pillow...yea, my kid for sure. Because she laid there so well, we were able to get a much better picture of what's going on in her little ticker...well it's actually a big ticker...but you get the point.  Dr. Eden came back with good news! The heart seems to functioning much better than when we first arrived in the states...this would be the overall pumping capacity...WOO HOO! AAAAND...the valve that was basically "pouring" instead of moderating it's flow...it was leaking significantly less than prior to the balloon procedure!!! DOUBLE BONUS!

2)  Hope this doesn't sound too morbid to anyone, but I'm so grateful nothing bad happened with Zoe last Thursday. It was Peyton's birthday, as you know, and I'm just so glad Zoe pulled through on that day of all days...so Peyton wouldn't have a lingering sadness associated with her day. Obviously, we are thrilled for Zoe's sake, too...but we have 5 other children as well...who are no less valuable than Zoe, just because she has critical needs. Interestingly enough, I mentioned this concern to the doctor on Thursday as we waited for results...it was one of the first things Peyton talked about with me once we returned home. 

3)  It is yet another unbelievable miracle to see Zoe running...in her own "hobble like a new walker" way...through the house...laughing. She loves stealing stuff from her big brother Bryce so he will yell, "HEY!" and start trying to get her. She has the best screaming/cackling laugh!!! It leaves you both concerned and overjoyed all at the same time...but mostly thrilled! She's having a blast but to the kids, it seems like she's holding her breath while she's cracking up! (FYI: she's not holding her breath so don't be calling the docs on me!!! We spend enough time with them.  Pretty sure we'll be spending Christmas together.)

4)  After getting complete clearance from Dr. Edens, we were all able to spend Easter together at Harmony Bible Church...so refreshing and uplifting to be back with our church family who have walked every step of this journey right along with us...and prayed Zoe right through this moment. We love all of you! We had a built-in exit strategy for Zane, but he did great! Not a peep! Uncle Steve (my awesome brother who came to visit this past weekend) defended the north of the pew...Bryce held strong at the south. Short of tapping a poor boy seated in front of us...multiple times...he was golden. Zoe just sat on my lap eating cookies and answering all the questions on the kids handout! :) Everyone in the church was so gracious and understanding...allowing us to slip in and out of the service without doing a meet and greet with our sickness/infection-avoiding kiddos.  Hopefully soon, you'll see both Zane and Zoe skipping through the church on their way to class!

5)  I had taken the time to schedule some family pictures right after we got home.  Our friend, Brandy, came to the house and improvised a small studio in our living room! It was comical, at best...you don't want to know what the worst would be. If you would...too bad...and you're a meanie. Brandy was incredibly patient with our family of 8!  Regardless, imagine my surprise when we got the picture file yesterday, and the pictures are so sweet! I'd still like to have fixed my hair more and such...blah blah blah...but I'm so grateful we have these. The candids are my favorite. I'll try to get some to share with the world soon.

6)  Renee once again stepped in and saved the day...offering to host a small birthday party for Peyton. (Well...she graciously agreed to my bold request...3 days prior!) We've been very careful to guard our guest intake at the house as it's too confusing initially for Zane and Zoe to have people coming and going. (My brother even stayed at a hotel to help in this situation.)  The girls swam, competed in the Amazing Race (thanks to Jodi Yaley who put it all together), and ate all sorts of yumminess! The Z's took their naps in some pack 'n' plays after they surprisingly donned swim diapers and life vests so they could play with a bucket of water and squirt guns near the pool. Everybody had a great time.  

7)  We also shared Easter lunch with the extended Davis clan and their "adopted" football players from Iowa Wesleyan and the Helton crew from Indiana...pretty sure there were 27 in all...Renee is Super Woman, I tell you. All 17 kids had an Easter egg hunt...even had to find their baskets, that contained all sorts of goodies! Important note: Steve Davis could be the National Egg Hider...I'm sure there's a position for that...as my kids alone left 6 eggs unfound!  Impressive. Based on the way Zane was throwing down the jelly beans, we learned 2 things...he clearly had not had very much candy before...and we would need to be secret-service-level vigilant about how much he'd get in the future.

8)  When you're quarantined at home with 2 napping toddlers, no one will judge how many cookies or pieces of Dr. Pepper cake you eat...unless it's your kids who are looking for a snack.  It's the little things.

9)  Based on the way Zane and Zoe interact with our family, and new friends, and even strangers, they were clearly loved and nurtured at their home in China. I cannot express in words how overwhelmingly blessed they were. I've heard story after story about the difficulty adoptive families have while trying to love on their adopted kiddos. Our kids completely expect it because they're used to it. This has been such a tremendous blessing.

10)  When the day has been especially trying, God will remind me once again of the miracle it is that these 2 are sitting here at our table...that He has made them a part of our family...that He has allowed us to be a part of their stories.  It is a constant reminder that He has adopted us as His children...He's brought us into His family...He has allowed us to be part of His redemptive story. Dude.