Another Thanksgiving List

I've had a little more time to think about what I'm thankful for the last two months, so here's my more detailed list.

Things that I’m Thankful For

JESUS CHRIST

JAMES STEPHEN MA

Because James was diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction, we knew he would come early.

People were praying for James even before he was born.

I was able to freeze some meals before James arrived.

When my water broke at home, I was able to reach John and my mom.

John got home pretty quickly.

My mom came over pretty quickly.

Ti and Albert volunteered to watch the girls in case my mom was going to take longer to get to our house.

Dr. Montgomery made the wise decision to do an emergency c-section. I was having an abruption, and if we had waited longer, things could have gotten worse for both James and me.

James has cute brown hair with blond highlights. Some Asians pay a lot of money for hair like that!

Our family and friends have been praying for us and James so faithfully.

The doctors, nurses, and therapists at Cy-Fair Hospital’s NICU were excellent. We are especially thankful for Dr. Chamkur, Dr. Baker, Lori, Gayle, Marissa, Kimberly, Grace, Julie, and Bridget.

Cy-Fair Hospital is only ten minutes away from our house, so going back and forth to the hospital was easy.

My mom and John’s mom came over and stayed with us to cook, clean, and take care of the girls.

Because James was in the NICU that first month, I was able to recover from my c-section fairly quickly and easily.

God blessed me with an abundance of breastmilk.

Our faith in Jesus Christ carried us through the roller coaster of emotions when James was in the NICU.

James was diagnosed with PWS early so that we can begin early intervention.

God really comforted me through His Word that night after James was diagnosed. Verse after verse spoke to me of God’s love and care of His children.

As soon as we received the news of James’ diagnosis, we found out that Texas Children’s Hospital has a PWS clinic. How blessed we are to live in Houston!

A few days after James was diagnosed, the girls got to meet him for the first time. They fell in love with him. It was a precious moment that we will never forget.

John made a comment that I will always remember. “James should be able to understand that Jesus loves him and died for him, and that’s the most important thing.” How true that is!

John has been such a great husband. I’m so blessed to be married to a godly man.

I went inactive as a PT this year, and now I know why God called me to do that. He knew I would have a special needs child, and He knew that I would need to be at home full time to take care of my children.

Now I also know one of the reasons why I became a PT. God knew that, in the future, I would have a child who would need therapy. God is truly all-knowing!

God tested our faith through this experience with James. Do we really believe what we say we do? Is God really God? Is God really good? Is God really sovereign? The answer is a resounding YES!

James made really good progress in the NICU with his feedings. He was able to come home at one month on all oral feeds. Some PWS babies are tube-fed for months.

We were able to schedule our first appointment with Dr. Scheimann at TCH before James even came home.

James is such a good baby. He rarely cries, and he loves to snuggle.

Everyone has been so caring. We have received too many phone calls and emails from people checking on us to even count. We feel extremely blessed by our family and friends.

Because James came early, we were able to attend two weddings in December that we wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

The girls love their baby brother, and they shower him with kisses and hugs. Elisabeth has been particularly helpful.

I get to be Elisabeth, Abigail, and James’ mommy. What an awesome privilege and responsibility!

Our Christmas Picture

We just had to share this with you all! It's our new favorite picture of the kids.

James' appointment with the specialist at Texas Children's went very well. She spent over an hour talking with us, answering our questions, and planning for future treatment. We feel so blessed to live in a city with a big medical center that has a clinic specifically for James' diagnosis. God is so good!

FYI, James is now 7lb 7.5oz. We praise God for our growing boy.

Flowers of the Field

Elisabeth's favorite lullaby lately has been a Chinese song called, "Flowers of the Field." It was written based on Matthew 6:25-34, which has been a great reminder for us that we are not to worry about the future, not for James, not for Elisabeth and Abigail, and not for us.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

James had an evaluation with Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) on Monday, and he only qualified for OT once a month. The reason he qualified for so little therapy is that he is doing so well! He kicks his feet, he turns his head to both sides when he is on his back, he brings his hands to his mouth, he makes eye contact when we talk to him, and he is beginning to track objects visually, which are all things a 0-2 month old should do. Praise God for this great progress!

James has an appointment with a specialist at Texas Children's Hospital tomorrow afternoon. We are praying that it will go smoothly and we will have some direction about further treatment. Thank you so much for your faithful prayers. We love you all dearly.

The Godfather

We have asked our good friend Swaroop to be James' godfather. He came to hang out with us this weekend. Here are some pictures of Swaroop, James, and the rest of the family.