Update on Julia

Before we traveled we set up an appointment with the pediatric cardiologist for the Tuesday after we returned home. Tuesday, June 11 was to be the day we introduced our favorite cardiologist to our two new blessings and started  the road to a surgery plan for YuanYuan. Although it was difficult, we decided to keep the appointment for our Julia girl and take our YouYou in too (since she was scheduled to be seen in just a few weeks anyways). We have no medical information on Julia, as this information was not transferred when she was moved from her original orphanage to the new one around the age of 4. So we were looking to get some answers on her need of the pacemaker that she has, her corrected ASD, etc. 

Our girls were pretty good travelers. Julia is getting more used to the car seat, although she would love to be running free in the van...I'm sure that is just one of the many things she misses about China. Our precious friend Laine, whose son is also a patient of our cardiologist, decided to meet us at the Dr.'s office. Her hug was such a welcome comfort. She endured the entire office visit, entertaining the girls and filling out paperwork for us. 

YouYou was a great big sister. She went first for every procedure (height/weight check, x-ray, EKG, echo) to show Julia that it was ok. Still though, Julia approached every new event with a loud scream. It actually became quite funny. She would scream very loudly, one time, and then almost willingly cooperate. 

YouYou's heart function is about the same...which is what we want to hear twice a year when we visit the cardiologist. As always, Dr. Romp discussed the unknown future of her unique heart, but at this time there is nothing that needs to be done. She is alive, growing, thriving, bringing us all joy. Oh how thankful we are. 

As for Mrs. Julia. We actually learned a lot about her little heart, and some about her past. We learned that she indeed did have a moderate sized ASD, which was corrected some time before the age of 4. Dr. Romp showed us the device that was used to close the hole and told us that the repair was done well. We also learned that her pacemaker is definitely needed. It is being used 99% of the time. It has approximately 8 years battery life left, at which point it will need to be replaced. We learned the exact date that the pacemaker was put into her body...which was a very special thing to find out. The pacemaker nurse actually made a few adjustments to the pacemaker too. This was amazing to me. All of this information was gained and the adjustments were made through a little piece of equipment that they just held up to her chest. 

The only concerning piece of news we received, was that Julia's heart is in atrial flutter, which means the top portion of her heart is racing. This is not something her pacemaker can control. Dr. Romp has put her on a blood thinner for now (just a baby aspirin once a day) and we will be discussing the possible need for more aggressive blood thinners and a procedure that she will likely need to have to get her heart out of this flutter. This was new news to us, but not to God. And now that I have typed that...I need to remind myself that if this is true for Julia's condition it is true for every aspect of my YuanYuan's short life. Truly believing what you say is sometimes difficult. Living out what you say you believe...this is where I sometimes feel I am failing. 

Thank you all for your concern for our girl. So many of you have asked about her, and I feel guilty that I have not gotten back to you about it. I would love to respond to every single email, text, and FB post...about her and our baby boy. Each word is precious to me and I can feel your love for our family through these means of communication. Right now though, it is difficult to do so many things. Today, for example, I could not even buy milk after turning in a prescription for Julia. I was able to take her to our pediatrician for a quick checkup/parasite diagnosis, although I had to text my sister and ask her to meet me there because I didn't think I could be alone. I locked my keys in the van too. And then, I planned on buying milk after dropping of the prescription...but I just couldn't do it. Doing the normal, just seemed impossible. I thought I was going to fall over from the tears that were consuming me. I am told, by people who have endured this unimaginable loss, that this fog will lift, and that with time, the hurt will heal a bit. I do hope that is true. 

Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your care for us. Thank you for the meals. Thank you for the donations. Thank you is not enough, but it is all I have right now. 

Psalm 31:9 
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.