Monday, May 18, 2015

Finally healthy!

Back last fall Malachi started complaining incessantly of not feeling well.  He had recurring strep throat.  He was MISERABLE with stomach pain daily, and the horrible pain was coupled with frequent diarrhea.  He also complained of chest pain and shortness of breath daily, which was especially concerning given his heart defects.  He was even complaining of his arms and legs hurting.  He just ALWAYS felt HORRIBLE!  He was also losing weight, concerning for any kid but especially one as tiny as him.

Our biggest concern was his chest pain, but his cardiologist said Malachi had no NEW cardiac issues, nothing that should be causing all the new problems he was experiencing.  He referred us to the pulmonologist.

The pulmonologist didn't really have any great answers, but she did want to put him on a host of new medications, including steroids.  I was VERY hesitant about so many new drugs, especially for a kid with heart defects, when there really didn't seem to be an answer to his problems.

The next step was a gastroenterologist.  That proved to be a frustrating experience!  In the end they said his problems were all caused by food allergies.  We cut nearly EVERYTHING from his diet - they said he was allergic to wheat, rice, corn, milk, eggs, peanuts, tomatoes, and more.  He not only couldn't eat these products, he couldn't eat anything with even a trace of these products such as the small amount of cornstarch in seasoning mixes and many other foods.  Gluten-free products were no help because they usually contain rice flour in place of wheat flour.  There was next to nothing he could eat, which made him even more miserable, and the changes in his diet did nothing to alleviate his problems.

Once I got a copy of the blood work for myself I believed there was no way food allergies could be causing problems as severe as what Malachi was experiencing.  Most of his results were in the class 1 allergy category, with some of the values being just barely high enough to even be interpreted (e.g. 0.37, 0.38 - see the chart below to see how minimal these would be considered).  Of the 2 test results that fell into class 2, they both were on the very low end of that category.  It made no sense that allergies as minimal as these would cause so many problems, and that a change in diet hadn't helped him further justified that thought.


So the next step was to an allergy/immunology doctor.  Here we received confirmation that Malachi's food allergies definitely should not be the source of all his problems.  His food allergies were so minimal they didn't even show up with skin testing.

At this point we were at a bit of a loss as to what would be causing so many problems - stomach pain, diarrhea, weight loss, chest pain, shortness of breath, recurring strep throat, arm pain, leg pain, overall feelings of discomfort, lethargy, etc.  What could we do?

It was about this time we pulled Malachi and his siblings out of school and began to homeschool them once again.  I truly believe this was a tremendous help.  Our kids went from being sick all the time to never being sick.  They also started getting lots more sleep.  The ones who do better sleeping later could do so, and Micaelyn (who is always an early riser) could take a much needed nap during the day.

We also started working hard to ensure a healthy diet for us all with a particular interest in Malachi.  We limit packaged food products, and when we do use them (e.g. dried pasta, tomato sauce) we try to get ones that are truly all-natural.  We're trying to cut chemicals out of our diet.  Even something as seemingly healthy as whole-wheat bread usually has a long list of chemicals in it.  We've discovered some nearby Amish markets where we can get freshly made bread, peanut butter, and a host of other products without any added chemicals.  We've also switched to locally made fresh cheese, we search for apples without wax coatings, and we are very careful about where we go on the rare occasions we eat out.  We've found the very best way to start the day is with a smoothie, and thankfully after years of making them I finally found a supplement for them I feel makes them both healthier and tastier!    The smoothies also work great as afternoon snacks or evening treats so they provide a way to give the kids a snack without resorting to something unhealthy.  Our diet was never bad (e.g. we have never had sodas and always limited junk foods), but I think the added nutrition from the frequent smoothies has helped a lot.

Over the past several months Malachi has gradually started feeling better to the point now where he rarely complains.  He hasn't had anymore strep throat, nor has he had any other illness.  He hasn't complained of chest pain or shortness of breath, and he says his arms and legs no longer bother him.  Most significantly (since it was his greatest and most frequent complaint before), he rarely complains of stomach pain anymore, and when he does it's more discomfort than real pain.  He no longer has diarrhea and has been steadily picking up weight again.

We will probably never know what was causing all of Malachi's problems.  I do not believe it to have been a psychological issue with school because he really loved school.  However, I do think taking him out of school was a big help since he no longer had to deal with the constant exposure to germs and frequent illnesses, and he could get as much sleep as necessary.  I also believe the smoothies I give him has helped a lot.   The supplement I use is super healthy on its own (it's designed to be a meal replacement shake), so combined with the other ingredients I use the smoothie becomes a super nutrient rich food source.  Regardless, we are just grateful for Malachi's better health!

Friday, May 8, 2015

How to save a life...

The picture to the side is a clip from a Chinese newspaper "finding ad" showing the face of a recently abandoned little girl estimated to be 3 years old. Why are we passionate about caring for orphans? Because they are not just pictures. They are CHILDREN, REAL CHILDREN. No child deserves to be abandoned, no child deserves to be left behind, no child deserves to live in the conditions in which many orphans live, and no child deserves a life without love. We live in a society in which many fight for the care of animals but few fight for the care of orphans. Yes, animals are important, but they will NEVER compare to the worth of a child!!! Those of us who have opened our eyes to the plight of these children cannot turn away. We will never stop fighting for them. We will adopt those whom others have overlooked. We will advocate for the ones still waiting. We will encourage and support other adoptive families. We will donate time and money to help children find families and to help families get their children home. And we will pray for others to join our fight, because it is not about us - it is about the children, the abandoned, unwanted, uncared for, unloved, forgotten children. It is a fight we ALL should be fighting. Yes, Christians love to point out the many verses from the Bible that make it so clear of our responsibility to care for these children, but it's not just "a Christian thing." Caring for orphans is the right thing no matter what your religious beliefs. So when you see our posts about orphans don't just skim over them because it's not your thing. Ask yourself what you can do to help. It doesn't take a lot. You don't have to adopt to make a difference, but whether it be advocating for waiting children or the families adopting these children, helping with a fundraiser (and just sharing the link is helping by bringing more attention), donating time and/or money, or praying, YOUR HELP IS IMPORTANT - you really can make a difference! The little girl in the picture - she is our Grace, our almost 10 year old daughter still waiting for us to bring her home. She has been waiting YEARS for a family. There were many who advocated for her. They led her to us. They helped to save a life.
 

Keurig Coffee Maker Fundraiser

A friend of ours is hosting a Keurig Coffee Maker Fundraiser to help us get Grace and Jacob home and help another family (also our friends!) get their precious new daughter home.  Please go check it out and be a part of this fun event!  https://www.facebook.com/events/411608235677768/

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Homeschool Field Trip - Davy Crockett State Park

Several weeks ago we took the kids on a field trip to the Davy Crockett State Park.  We must have chosen the coldest day of spring to go.  Soon we will go back and spend more time there.  At least the kids got to see it, so now when they are reading about Davy Crockett they can picture exactly what his home was like.

Standing on the porch of Davy Crockett's home

The stone reads, "On this spot Davy Crockett was born."  Turns out he was born next to a river in Tennessee, not up on a mountaintop like the song says!










A new name!

We have finally decided on a name for our new daughter ("Yvonne" is the name she has been known by for many years on all the waiting child lists and groups, but it is not the name she goes by in China).  We knew we wanted a name that relates in some way to our Christian faith.  We had a few ideas, and when we received a couple of new videos of our daughter it became clear which one was just perfect - Grace!  The videos showed us that she is a very graceful girl who loves to dance.  We think the name fits her just perfectly!

I will post the first new video of Grace when our FSP on Reece's Rainbow (http://reecesrainbow.org/88887/sponsormurray-2) reaches $1500, and I will post the second when it reaches $2000.  For now I will give you this - a link to a post from 2011 advocating for a family for this precious girl (she's been waiting YEARS for a family!).  Even back then they called her "a graceful girl."  There is a brief video of her dancing.  She was cute back then, but I can't wait to show the new videos because she has truly become a great dancer!  http://holtinternational.org/blog/2011/11/a-graceful-girl-from-china/

Beckwith Weidemann Syndrome

I know many people stumble upon my blog while searching for information on Beckwith Weidemann Syndrome.  Because it's a more rare syndrome it can be harder to find information about it, particularly from a personal experience point-of-view.  Here are my 2 girls with BWS.  They are both beautiful, but they are even more amazing on the inside!  They have endured more than most kids medically, but they are just as happy and loving as can be!  And they both love dressing up as princesses!  (And just in case you're wondering, they are NOT biologically related!  Micaelyn was adopted from China, and Elianna was adopted from here in the United States.)









Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Eye patching

Elianna has had to wear eye patches for quite some time now.  She's really grown annoyed by them and resists wearing them, but on this gorgeous spring day she was full of smiles!






A great gift for Father's Day!!!

We have launched a new t-shirt fundraiser.  This is a shirt that's perfect for any parent.  It would make a great Father's Day present!  It comes in many different styles and colors, including short sleeves, long sleeves, v-necks, women's, and even a hoodie!  http://teespring.com/the-joy-of-a-family

Another chance!

We have relaunched our "Ohana Means Family" t-shirt fundraiser!  Those who have already purchased one have LOVED the shirt.  Join in the fun and get yours today!  https://www.bonfirefunds.com/ohana-means-family