Another Reunion and Ellie's Recovery

The Barbees came to visit us for the first time since we travelled together to adopt Lilly and Lainie back in May of 2007. Jen had asked me to pick up a few things for Lainie while we were in China adopting Ellie. I told her I'd be happy to do that, but that I would hold all her "loot" hostage until she came to visit us! It worked! They came down last Sat. and spent the night. We all had a blast- the children had fun while Jen and I had a little time to chat and catch up with each other.


Lilly kept saying "Lainie is my best friend" and "I love Lainie" It was so beautiful to see these two girls together again. They began their lives together in an orphanage in China and now are members of loving families who cherish them. Adoption is so miraculous!

Although Lainie is 4 months younger than Lilly, it appears that she is an inch or so taller.

The whole gang- that's 10 kids in all, and they are all smiling and looking at the camera! WOW!

Before and After:

Ellie's bilateral cleft palate before surgery

Ellie's palate 3 1/2 weeks after surgery.

I know the picture is not great, but she has become increasingly less cooperatve about opening her mouth. I guess she has good reason considering what she has been through these last few weeks. However, you can tell that it is now one complete palate- praise God! She had a check-up with her surgeon on Thursday and he was very pleased. She can now eat whatever she wants although I still plan to restrict sharp foods like chips. We also saw her ENT and both tubes are in place and open. Her hearing was tested and it was "superb" despite long-term chronic infection in both ears that was discovered only during surgery. We are so thankful that this step in Ellie's cleft repair was successful and is now behind us. She has already started speech therapy twice a week through Baby Net, our state's Early Intervention Program. She is already making improvements and can say "Bubba" for her brother Fulton, "no", "mama", "baba", and a few other words that are pretty clear. She is so eager and is willing to repeat whatever we ask her. She is puckering her lips well and is starting to bring her lips together more to make sounds like "b" and "m". I feel like she is finally "whole". She was born with 2 holes in her heart, a cleft lip, and cleft palate. Thanks to wonderful surgeons gifted by God, she now is "whole" other than her biltaeral cleft gums. Praise be to God for seeing us all through this surgery and recovery!