Head cheerleader Julia

Joy ... soccer queen ... and gymnast!

and for a breath of fresh air

We are now another three weeks out from Julia's week of hell .... we did have one additional setback -- her palette split open about an inch and she will have another surgery in a few months to repair that. Oy vay ... what a pain in the patootie. Julia goes on Tuesday 9/19 for an EEG to help determine what else we can learn about her siezures ... but

We have resumed life -- it is busy and full and rich. The boys are in their usual stuff -- band and football and cross country ... all great. But the BEST entertainment in our life has to be soccer with the 6 year olds. Let me share a few photos of Joy and Julia last week. It was a perfect day -- the right amount of sun, clouds, grass -- I could not ask for more. Julia is Head Cheerleader and Joy -- well the pictures tell all.

Enjoy.

Jackie

One very long month

The last month has been a whirlwind... or tornado ... or hurricane depending on how one chooses to look at it. Oh ... where to begin ...

I think that rather than trying to recreate the month -- I will share a post that went to several groups of friends and family.

September 1, 2006
I wanted to say a HUGE thank you to all of you who have prayed, wished, hoped and said words of encouragement this week for my daughter Julia. Many know she was adopted from China a little over a month ago and this week underwent surgery to repair a cleft palette (roof of mouth). The surgery went beautifully. However, the next day at home she experienced a Grand Mal seizure and we were taken to Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital /Doernbecker Children's Hospital. We stayed the day, the night, the next day and tested all we could to conclude that she had not tumors, infections or anything scary like that. We came home hopeful that it was a one time isolated incident. It wasn't. Thursday AM she experienced a second Grand Mal Seizure and again, we rode the ambulance back to OHSU. We spent the day yesterday ruling out many other possbile things .... and are left with what appears to be a simple seizure disorder -- commonly referred to as Epilepsy. Julia started anti-seizure meds yesterday and her team of docs is confident that by the time her med kick in full force, she will be seizure free.

Julia is doing well and she spent today just twiddling about the house and clearly feeling better than the last few days.

As for me, I am hanging in there. Many people have asked me if I am upset, angry, worried, or otherwise at the prospect of dealing with a seizure disorder that I did not anticipate dealing with. The answer is No. I am THANKFUL. I am thankful for this beautiful, smiling, calm, warm child that has been given to me to love. I am thankful for incredible medical care -- I had the top surgeons in the area take special trips to see her this week just because they were worried about her and wanted to express their support. I am thankful I live less than 25 minutes away from an excellent children's hospital. I am thankful I live in the same town as my family that took over my roles this week in caring for my dogs, driving my three other children places, and holding my hand when needed.

And, I am so incredibly blessed to have friends near and far who pray, think good thoughts, wish well, and hold our family in their hearts as we struggle through things we did not know we wanted to deal with. Many of you know that Hope Holben is one of my dearest friends on the planet and after her experience with Maureen this month and mine with Julia, we have officially called a moritorium on medical crises! Be forewarned... Hope and I will be at Nationals together and we are planning some much needed laughter and wine.

Thank you all again .... Lauren Julia Hope Marsh ... yes, named for my friend Hope -- is doing well and tonight is snuggled into bed with her favorite brother. Barring any disasters, we might venture out to the local show this weekend 30 minutes away -- and still only 30 minutes from the hospital :) -- and enjoy a little relaxation with the dogs after a very long week.

Again, I sit here in tears to think of the love my daughter has received in her short time here in the US. Believe me, when she is in middle school and swearing that no one likes her, I will be pulling out her scrapbook of your notes and showing her that she has been loved and cared for for a LONG time.