Items of Business

1.  We have the results of Graci's MRI.  First, let me give you some background.  When Graci was six years old and still in China, she was taken to the hospital with a severe headache, nausea and loss of movement on her right side.  Her paperwork said she was treated for a cerebral abscess and that a follow-up MRI showed that everything was normal.  We hadn't really given a lot of thought to this event (her heart problems were a much bigger issue) and I had just filed it in the back of my head.  Of course, I did let the neurologist know about it and he immediately thought that it might be related to the seizures.  As it turns out, the MRI proved him correct.  Graci has tissue damage in the left frontal lobe of her brain.  The damaged area is about the size of a ping pong ball.  Upon viewing the MRI, the neurologist was quite surprised that she hasn't had other complications (besides seizures) from it, but being as how she hasn't, doesn't expect her to now.  She is now considered high risk for additional seizures, but because there is no way to know for sure if she will have them, we have chosen to forgo preventative medication for now.  After all, she went 8 years without a seizure-- what if she goes 8 more and didn't need meds?  If/when she does have another seizure we will change course and begin seizure meds.   If those don't control the seizures then surgery is an option, but it doesn't really sound like that's something we need to be thinking about at this point.  The initial abscess was likely related to her heart disease-- something I never would have put together.  Overall, I am very peaceful and happy about the results!  We have a reason for her seizures, a course of action, a fantastic neurologist-- and it's not something progressive like a tumor.   (:

2.  This Saturday will be very special for our family!  Lexi, Xander, and Cali have all chosen to be baptized.  We are so happy for them and their decision to follow Jesus Christ.   Anybody is welcome to attend.  It will be held at the Rose Canyon Stake Center on April 13 at 10:30 a.m.  Following the baptism we will have a light luncheon at the church.  Then at 3:00 we will have Cali sealed to our family at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  If you would like to attend any of these events, could you please let me know as soon as possible by leaving a comment or text or email?  I'm trying to get an idea of how much food to make.  (:

3.  I received an email last week from a sweet lady who has a heart for orphans.  I'm going to copy a portion of her email: 

I work with an orphan ministry called New Horizons for Children which brings orphans to America to live with host families for 4-5 weeks several times a year. After 10+ years of hosting from Eastern Europe we recently launched our China program! Our second hosting period from China will be this summer and our interview team just returned from meeting the precious little ones we'll be offering for hosting. We've been blessed to be let in to many special needs orphanages in China, something I know is very close to both your hearts. Our photolisting just went live this morning and when I saw this little boy the first ones I thought of were you!
Cheng Chu was born without arms, just like your sweet Sophi!! I was wondering if you'd be willing to help us advocate for a host family for him? I know how many lives Sophi has touched and thought your blog might be the perfect platform to help spread the word:)
I attached his photo and here is what his bio says: Cheng Chu. What a precious, precious little boy! Don't you just want to pinch those cheeks??!! He was very interactive with the interview team and made great eye contact with all. Though a little shy at first, he warmed up quickly and was great with the other kids. This sweet boy has a rather noticeable physical handicap- no arms- but it doesn't slow him down in the slightest. The interview team has video of him playing with Play Doh with his feet and he can also draw and play games using his feet as hands. He is articulate and smart but was a little overwhelmed at the end with all the attention.

He'll be available for hosting anywhere in the U.S. from mid July to the third week of August. It's $3150 to host a child from China. Cheng Chu as well as most of our other China host children are available for adoption should a family decide they'd like to adopt, but we are a host only agency and are only looking for the 5 week commitment at this time (though we hope and pray that many, many children will be adopted after the host program ends)!!
For more information on Cheng Chu or our other waiting children families can fill out our pre-application to host: http://goo.gl/3oAsa or check out our website at: http://www.newhorizonsforchildren.org/. 

Ok, so I read about this program and it sounds awesome but expensive!  It looks like there are grants you could apply for to help with the cost, so if you're interested but the cost is prohibitive, you should email them and ask.  Wouldn't it be cool if someone close to us fostered Cheng Chu so he and Sophi could meet?  (:  Here is his picture:

--Christianne