What a difference a year makes...

A year ago yesterday, our sweet Ava was pretty sick. The above picture was taken when she was admitted to the hospital. Last year our vocabulary consisted of the following "new" words to our house: Asthma, RSV, Pneumonia, nebulizers, pulse ox readings, oxygen tanks/tubing, stabilization, co pays, more hospital stays, xrays, the list could go on. We spent the next month as a family apart from each other on various hospital visits and we became pros at living with oxygen tubing all over our house. (Not my favorite thing.)

I remember Adam and I feeling completely defeated in life. We were exhausted. Physically and emotionally. I cried a lot. We felt like walking zombies at times. We grew a lot and were (are) such a team. We just didn't know the why's of everything. We didn't have the energy to figure it out. We were literally just in survival mode to the next hour. Sometimes we'd just hold each other and breathe. A couple of months after Ava was better, we said that we had no idea what the Lord was preparing us for with all of Ava's sickness-Maybe it was nothing. Just bad luck with some sickness for awhile. But we know now, that He was preparing us for the emotional journey of adoption. So much with Ava was out of our control. Just like this adoption.

In 2011 at this time our vocabulary now consists of other new words: Adoption, baby brother, caseworkers, agencies, notary, fundraising, immigration, USCIS, PAPERWORK, "what if??", I600A, home study, dossier, travel, passports, ETHIOPIA, court, I171H, visa, immunizations, shall I go on?

It's amazing what a difference a year makes. I'm thankful for Ava's hospital visits because it brought a new level of faith and trust in our life. It helped us feel solid in our foundation. This adoption is increasing our Faith even more. Here is Ava now. A feisty 2 year old who won't sit still enough for a cute picture. She keeps us on our toes....Just like this adoption is.