$1,691.00

Day three.  Aaron finally fell asleep last night at 1:30 with both Benadryl and Melatonin to help ease him into sleep.  He woke up at 7:00 crying but we were able to convince him to go back to sleep.  At 9:30 he woke up again.  Miserable.  We washed him to screams of "it's coldna".  So hoping and praying that his day improves.   It does help a bit when Grandad comes over to watch Pooh Videos....  No smiles for Mom but at least he isn't fussing!!

Thank you for all your words of encouragement, stories and personal experiences.  Last night I was overwhelmed as I took Ben and Elijah to drama practice at how many families reached out to hug and encourage me.  We have been especially blessed by all the AMC families and RR families of children with physical disabilities who have come out of the woodwork and hollered words of encouragement our way that we are on the right track with this process.  It is so easy to second guess our decision when our little one's dimples have disappeared off his face!   There is never an easy time to put full leg casts on a child.  Especially when that child uses his feet for everything. 

For those who have asked - it is going to take 2-3 months from beginning to end.  I can't even begin to think about the length of this as we muddle through the hour by hour part of this journey. 

As far as helping Aaron understand - We have tried to explain to him what is happening.  He is six years old.  He speaks limited English. We don't know how much of his native language he understands anymore.  We have explained with pictures and simple language what is happening.  He has seen a video.  I don't think he would fully understand even if language wasn't a factor.  How do you explain to a six year old that he has to wear casts on his legs?  How do you explain that?  I grieve that I have to figure out how to tell him.  Sadly, we will have many more events in his life that we will struggle to explain.  Many more.  For this week we are telling him that on Friday he gets to wear BLUE casts.  We are focusing on the positive.  One day at a time. 

On a happy note.... One that I have wanted to share but have not had the energy over the last few days...

THE ENVELOPES THAT WERE SENT TO ANDREA FOR THE ANGEL TREE....

THOSE ENVELOPES CONTAINED....

1,691.00 DOLLARS.... 

One Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety One Dollars. 

Most of the money arrived in tiny bills.  Ones, Fives, Tens.  That is a lot of envelopes.  That amounts to a HUGE amount of prayers and love for the Least of These.  What fun to look at the different accounts and see how many of the money amounts ended with an odd number (ie - 1,002.00) - knowing that those odd numbers reflected all the envelope gifts.  The widow's mite.  Precious in the sight of God.

I KNOW for a fact that there are a number of families who are working right now towards committing to several of those Angel Tree children.  I know this because I have received e-mails for prayer, advice and encouragement.  Please pray for these families.  They so need us to cover them in prayer as they step out in faith.

Pray too for the children.  So many of them are barely hanging on.  I know that sounds extreme but it is true.  Though most of the Angel Tree children are still in the Baby House orphanages - it is not a life of ease.  Some of those Baby Houses are poor and the children struggle.  Many, many of them are left in cribs - all day - every single day.  Many are neglected  or worse by caretakers who are there only for a paycheck.  It is a sad existence and will only get worse once they are transferred.  Please pray for these little ones.