Appointments that need prayer.

I am just writing to let you know that we could really use some prayer over the next 48 hours and again next week.  Tomorrow (6/13), we will be taking Mercy to CHOP in Philadelphia for her first of many doctor visits.  We will be meeting with a small team of doctors tomorrow so that she can be checked over for overall health, to begin assessing her development and current delays and discuss what the next steps of action will be to help her progress forward.  Mercy has already had blood drawn five times in the past two weeks and she will have more blood drawn tomorrow.  Most of the blood work tomorrow is more extensive and our local lab could not do the testing so we have to have it all done in Philly.  Most of it is genetic type testing specifically related to her Albinism.  There are a few types of Albinism and there are also a three "syndromes" that are specific to Albinism.  The albinism expert at CHOP is seeking to find which type of Albinism Mercy has, as well as rule in or out any of the three syndromes.

Many of you may know that CHOP has had concerns dating back to her Chinese Medical blood testing in regards to two of the three associated syndromes.  One is Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) and the other is Chediak-Higashi Syndrome.  Please join us in praying that they are able to rule out both.   While we are fairly confident that they will rule out CHS, we have a couple concerns about HPS.  But we are not experts and we are thankful for CHOP who can determine everything for us.

Then on Friday we have our first post-adoption home visit.  The social worker will be coming to our house at 9:30 am.  In my heart I know this is probably not as big a deal as my head tells me it is, but I'm very anxious about it.  Mostly because tensions are high here this week as the kids and I adjust to being together all day every day now that summer vacation is in full swing.  The kids are also still adjusting to having a new sister and there seems to be some sibling competition going on for her love and attention.  Add to this that Mercy has had a few bad nights again so lack of sleep and frustration with her are adding tension as well.  Being gone all day tomorrow at CHOP when I need to be home cleaning and making sure paperwork and such is ready is not helping.  And finally, Scott is leaving for California on Sunday, which is why we are cramming this home visit in on Friday in the first place.  It was scheduled for next week, but thanks to an unexpected trip and a specific deadline that our post adoption visit needs to meet our appointment is now Friday.

That leads to the last request, and that is for sanity next week as Scott is away.  Please pray that Mercy sleeps!!!  Pray even more that she doesn't react to Scott being away, that it doesn't trigger any feelings of being abandoned...again.  She has really taken to Scott in the past week and goes to him more willingly, so this could not be coming at a worse time.  Pray that it doesn't set back any attachment and bonding progress that Scott has been making with her.  Also, please pray that my other kids have cooperative and helpful attitudes, especially at night when energy and patience are low.  Thanks for listening!!!