Only 6:55 pm?!

Another long day, but Chip just informed me that is only 6:55 pm. How is this possible? I am ready for bed. Beginning tomorrow we have the boys 24/7, in a small apartment , in Lithuania, where the weather is suppose to be bad this weekend. Eieieieiiii! The boys are good boys, but they are BOYS! Everything is a contest. Farting, burping, running, jumping, hitting....I grew up with sisters, (you know talking and playing Barbies) but Chip assures me this is normal boy behavior. I do not know about that, but I do know boys are exhausting. Today we had a first -- McDonalds! Fries a hit, but surprisingly, the burgers not so much. The boundary testing continues, but we have learned that they do understand , "no." and so far, no ABSOLUTE fits! But remember, especially as you pray that we can not provide man on man coverage, its two on three. Tomorrow we go again to the Doctor for more shots-- no fun there, but an opportunity to comfort. Leaving the orphanage will be more difficult than we first thought because the women there truly love these boys. It is the best orphanage I have ever seen, a million times better than Sam's and much better than the many others I have visited. Tonight my heart breaks for the children we will leave behind tomorrow, especially Laurynas, a handsome, sweet, smart boy who plays with us every day. Please pray for him tonight and for our three boys, who will leave the only home they have ever known. I know I am redundant (and I repeat myself, and say things over and over..) but I will say it again, we are truly thankful for you and your prayers. Now I sleep.

Yea! The judge said "yes" to the adoption and to our request to return home immediately instead of waiting the 40 days. We now get new birth certificates (with parents listed as Harry and Kristin Huey) , passports with new names, visas, and a couple of other details. We plan to travel home next Saturday. Pray no glitches and for the boy's emotions as it will be difficult for them to leave the only "home" they have ever known.

No surgery needed for Sam. We are so incredibly relieved and thankful! Thankful to God, to the Fitzwilliam Family, and to all you prayer warriors. Here, things continue to go well (not easy, mind you, but well) with the boys. Each day they test us a bit more..no translation needed today when one in particular asked, (not in so many words, of course), "Did you REALLY mean it when you said, 'NO?'" And when he learned the answer to this question, again, no translation needed for his next bit of non-verbal communication. It's a weird place to be as an almost-but-not-quite-parent parenting children who have never known parents. (Did that make sense?) Fortunately, frowns and pouts dissipated with big bear hugs, kisses and, eventually, smiles. Tomorrow is court. At this point I am not sure I know what to pray; I'm so glad God has these things figured out and that I don't have to worry about it anymore. I wrote that last sentence for myself!) So very thankful tonight for The Body! (You!) Seriously there is NO WAY we cld do this without all of your support. This isnhow we care for orphans TOGEThER! It doesn't take a "village"; it takes The Body of Christ, His church.

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Prayers needed: Sam broke his femur. In my care, he broke his tibia a few months ago, so this kind of thing just happens with an active boy like Sam, but tomorrow he returns to the MD to determine if surgery is needed. So hard to be away from him during this time, but hugely thankful to the Fabulous Fitwilliam Fam for stepping up to the challenge input absence. pleas spray for them also.

How do you keep three active boys occupied all day in a small apartment? You dont, you go to an indoor playground! FEight bucks an hour is money well and money that will CONTINuE to be well spent as long as we are Lihtuania. We are thnakful that the boy's orphanage, unlike Sam's, is a warm loving environment. Sam only left the orphanage to go to the hospital, where as these boys go to school, to parks, to music lessons, to the movies,...and .......to indoor playgrounds. Tomorrow is the doctor appointment.... Not looking forward to that. Three boys, lots of shots. Prayers appreciated.

To bring you up to date: Chip and I are in Lithuania adopting three boys .below are my FB  posts: 

Jan. 3 

oK, so if yesterday was Mentos and Coke ( describing mt emotions as a spewing mess)  today was that times five. The boys are awesome. They clearly have yearned for a daddy and instantly fell in love with Chip, constantly seeking to hold his hand and his attention. It was fun to sit back and watch (and NOT be the one taking three boys to the bathroom.) The boys are bright, healthy, energetic, and shockingly small. They are little (LITTLE!) boys. They love and look out for each other. Dominykas is easy-going, mature, and obedient, Justinas (pronounced You-STEEN-as) is strong- willed, quiet, intense, and obviously very intelligent, and Deimantas (pronounced DAY-mon-tas), with glasses almost as big as he, is precise, loving and sooo very stinking cute. It truly was easy to fall in love immediately. Mentos and Coke. The orphanage seems to have done an excellent job with the boys to include preparing them to become a part of a family in America; they would have readily flown home with us today if allowed. More Mentos and Coke. Our day with the boys went better than we had dared hope, and yet we were sobered by the presence of the other orphans who witnessed our joyful first meeting. We were especially moved by a beautiful teen girl, who outwardly showed no emotion as she silently watched. (Yet again....Mentos and Coke.) How was it that we packed the EXACT number of extra toys to give to all the other children? And these toys were crammed into an already overstuffed suitcase at the last minute -- an after thought, or some, myself included, would call it a God-nudge... (You guessed it....more Mentos and Coke). Maybe someone reading this post is feeling a God-nudge in the direction of adoption? Is it you?

We have been home a week and Sam is doing really well.  He is only able to sit upright a couple times a day and only for a few minutes each time, but we will gradually begin to build that up over the next few weeks.  This is the first time he has ever been able to sit upright with a straight back.  He looks so tall and handsome, and, as he put it, he feels "like a prince".  We are so very happy with the result and as always grateful for your prayers.  K

We had a very good day here at the hospital.  Sam continues to have minimal pain.  He developed a little pressure area, which we are monitoring, but if that continues to improve, we will go home tomorrow.    After this surgery,  the kids are usually in a body casts for several weeks.  Because of Sam's decreased sensation, the MDs opted not to cast him.  Especially after this pressure area, I am convinced that this was the right decision.  However, the down side is that he will be in bed for the next two weeks.  In spite of this Sam has been a champ and his spirits are great.  I believe this is in part due to the prayers of you saints.

During Sam's surgery, the OR nurse called to update me on his condition.  After the update, she relayed the following to me:  In the OR before they put Sam under he was talking to everyone and asked how many boys and girls were in the room.  After someone gave him the count, he said, "good we got em beat, boys!"  He then asked this nurse her name.  After she told him, Sam said, "that is such a pretty name."  Finally, he started to doze, but twice before he went under he yelled, " Hey people! Over here! I'm not asleep yet!"

Thanks again! K