Teresa Update

Teresa was adopted in China on July 13, 2010. On July 22, 2010 she became an American Citizen. We were not sure she would survive the 15 hour flight home , but she did. We have been home for 2 months and 6 days and Teresa is doing great. She has bonded with everyone and loves experiencing something new every day . She has gained 3 pounds and is getting stronger every day . We still closely monitor her vitals and limit her physical activity . She has trouble playing outside for longer than 15 minutes because it becomes too physically exhausting for her. We also must carry her up and down the steps because this causes her to have difficulty breathing.

Last week we met with Teresa's Cardiologist and discussed her long term care. The team felt if they tried one procedure it would cause a different problem to occur. If the pulmonary band was tightened it would help to save her lungs but would cause ... If the pulmonary band was loosened it would help her to breath better but would cause ... If the enormous Hole in her heart was closed it would cause... and she might not survive the surgery . None of these procedures would FIX her heart only cause different problems. The only FIX is to have a heart transplant, but this can not happen because of her damaged lungs. So their solution ... do nothing and pray she does not get a virus or infection because then she would ... With the flu season starting , we have become more protective of where we will take her . We will ALL get the flu shot this year.


Yesterday we had an appointment with our most favorite Doctor in the world, Dr. H. F. (genetics, she is also Lucy's Genetics Doctor ). She will be doing several genetics test on Teresa . She also is going to search her enormous data base of Doctors around the world for someone that might be able to offer some hope for Teresa's heart.

We are praying for GOD to lead us to make the right decisions for Teresa.


(P.S. Ming Ming is on the shared list that just came out and BAAS has pulled her file for their agency . You may still request her file from them if you are with another agency .Her "special need"... she is a beautiful 4 year old girl who really wants a Mommy and who just happens to have a complicated CHD. If we had the money we would adopt her. )

red thread stitches

Thank you Robin for these beautiful outfits for the girls !!
Please go check out Robins site if you would like to order these skirts.
She hand sews all of these amazing creations as a fundraiser to help bring her beautiful daughter home from China.

www.redthreadstitches.com

Grace ,Mary , Lucy , Emilia, Gemma and Teresa say "THANK YOU"

Mary

For the past week Mary has been very quiet and would start to cry at the drop of a hat. I've asked her if she felt OK, had a bad day in school, too much homework , anything I could think of that might be bothering her. Nothing!
The other night at dinner, Grace was giving her a hard time about lifting the headstone off of my leg saying, "Your not that strong... You couldn't lift that... I don't believe you ..."(the tombstone is 4x4 and solid marble) , and Mary just sat there and didn't say anything . I told Grace to stop and leave her alone... Then Mary looked up and said something , but no one could hear what she said , so Grace said" speak up if you want to say something " ( Grace is only 11, but boy has that teenage attitude started already!)
Mary said " I didn't lift it , Jesus did".
Well that shut Grace up, she didn't say another word.
After dinner I took Mary in the other room so I could talk to her alone and ask her what had happened . She said after she handed me the cell phone , I called 911 and while I was talking to the operator , Jesus came to her and told her to go back over to the headstone and HE would help her to lift it. She said OK and went over and lifted it with Jesus and then said Thank you . My Leg came out and she ran over to
me.
It took her almost a week of holding this all inside to tell us what had happened. She wasn't scared, just upset that I was hurt and not sure if she should tell anyone what had happened.
I wasn't quite sure what to say to her except, "Thank you Mary for helping me and Thank you for helping Jesus, you are very special and always have been. "

What do you see?

What do you see on this apple? ...

A heart for Teresa!
Thank you to The W Family!


Teresa is having a great week.

Mary, my HERO

Yesterday the little girls and I went to my Mothers cemetery to do some weeding and put out the fall flowers. When we arrived I noticed the headstone looked tilted forward just a little . The lawn mowers had knocked the flower pot on the one side off and dented it. Not thinking much of it , we started pulling weeds and found a cute little woolly caterpillar. Lucy and i were kneeling down in front of the headstone looking at it and Mary came around from the back and before I new it the headstone had fallen forward and my leg was wedged under it. Mary got on one side and Lucy on the other and tried to lift it. After 5 minute with no luck moving it the pain became excruciating.(I had put a border of bricks and stones around the headstone and my leg was crushed between the headstone and the bricks). Mary became hysterical and Lucy ran to the car to hide .I told Mary to run back to the car to get my phone so I could call 911. While talking to the operator Mary went over to the headstone and LIFTED THE 500 pound (well that is what it felt like) HEADSTONE OFF MY LEG ALL BY HER SELF!!!

When my brother arrived to retrieve my shoe , he could not lift the headstone himself.

After spending 6 hours in the ER , the good news is no broken bones(I guess it's good to have fat legs ), but the tendon and muscle were crushed. Crutches,air boot and pain meds. and home we went.

We are so thankful that it did not fall one one of the girls. Lucy had stood up 2 seconds before it fell . Her head would have been crushed .

Before my Mother died , she told me something that I have never forgotten. A few days before she died she said an Angel from GOD had come to talk to her . HE said to tell us that everything would always be alright.
As I was laying there I was thinking "Mom everything is not alright" and then Mary somehow found the strength to lift the headstone.
Thanks Mom!

Flashes of Hope

Today we went to Johns Hopkins Hospital to participate in Flashes Of Hope. Flashes of Hope is a non profit organization that creates uplifting portraits of children fighting life threatening illnesses. Gemma and Teresa were invited to participate .

What started out as a nice day soon turned into a day filled with uncertainty .When we arrived at the hospital we were told we could not leave the garage because the hospital was on lock down. After 30 minutes we were aloud to enter the hospital. There were police everywhere and the halls were completely empty. Once in the room we were told the hospital was on lock down AGAIN . There was a shooting on floor 8 and we were on floor 9 and the suspect had not been apprehended. A young man had entered the hospital and was not happy with his mothers care , went up to her room and shot the doctor . From there the story became a little confusing . Some said he took the mother hostage and then shot her and himself. This is still unclear. But during this entire time the girls were having their photos taken and unaware of anything else going on . Since we were on lock down for a long time , the photographer just kept taking photos of the girls . He must of taken over 100 photos.
I had dressed the girls in coordinating colors but soon found out that the photos would be taken in black and white . Oh well , they looked cute anyway.

After several hours we were allowed to leave the hospital.
I wish I could say a fun day was had by all , well for the girls it was fun . They even had their makeup done( Lip gloss) ,which they just loved ! For Ed and I it was a little unnerving , but we made it home safely !

2 months!!!!

On July 13, 2010 , Liu Fang became a Bartlinski ! Teresa Caroline Bartlinski (Fang Fang - pronounced Fahng).

It has been a wonderful 2 months.!!! How lucky we are to have such a sweet sweet daughter !

The Ravens outfits are to make Daddy happy , as if you couldn't tell he is a HUGE Ravens Fan. Today was their first game.

Thank you

Thank you ! For all the kind words and encouragement for our family . I am deeply touched by your support. I am not sure how to respond to the comment section of our blog ( I am sure my son will be able to tell me ) but I wanted to let everyone know how much your comments seem to come at just the right time , when we are having a bad day .

Yes , I know our miracle has already happened. Just having Teresa in our family and here with us . She is so happy .

I thought I would post Teresa's Heart condition for those who may not know and also in case anyone might hear of a Hospital anywhere that might offer some hope.

Left Hypoplastic Heart syndrome
She had pulmonary banding done in China ,but done too late and her pulmonary pressure is EXTREMELY HIGH , and her lungs are very damaged. Her oxygen level hangs around 70 when she is not playing and dips to the low 60's when running around. She can not have oxygen because this would defeat the whole purpose of the pulmonary band . The doctor said it would only be given when she dips below 60.
Mitral atresia
Double outlet right ventricle
Ventricular septal defect
Atrial septal defect
Severe tricuspid regurgitation


Saying " Thank you " doesn't seem like enough but I can not tell you how much we appreciate all of your prayers for Teresa.

Doing well

Teresa is doing so well. Thank you everyone for all of your prayers for her !
She continues to adjust so well to everyone and everything. Gemma and Teresa have become best friends. (they are just 3 months apart in age ) . They play together so well. Whenever they are apart they are so lonely , as soon as they are together again they hug each other like they have been apart forever.
Eating is still a challenge. Teresa is a picky eater with no appetite.
Sleeping has never been a problem ,she usually sleeps from 9-10. Before she falls asleep she serenades us with her favorite songs (sung in Chinese) and then she tries to sing her new songs in English. We have her sleeping in a pack and play in our bedroom for now so we can keep a closer watch on her at night. She also MUST kiss and hug everyone before going to sleep(even if one of the girls is already asleep ,she tip toes in their room and quietly kisses and hugs them ). When she wakes in the morning she is just as sweet. She will stand up and say "Hi Mama I love you" and give me the biggest hug.
Her transition to our family continues to amaze me. She is so happy and in love with everyone. She has not had any bonding problems or grieving. It's like she has always been a part of us .
To look at her you would not believe her heart is so ill. I have been trying to educate myself as much as possible on her condition. Everything I read always ends the same, "This condition is fatal". I am not ready to accept that. I keep trying to find a cure,a fix or solution for her heart, reading more literature , studying different procedures ,anything to make her live longer. Then I realized what I was doing. I was trying to control GODS plan for her life. It was going to be the ending that I wanted and I was going to find a way to save her. Teresa's entire life has been in GODS hands since she was born . She should have died shortly after birth , but she didn't . She will be 4 on Christmas day , her heart should not still be beating , but it is . Not by my doing but by GODS.

How do you prepare to welcome a child into your family knowing you will love them instantaneously , unconditionally forever and then at the same time accept that you must let them go ?
I struggle with this everyday .

We are still learning to take life one day at a time.

Apples

Monday was such a beautiful day , we decided to go to Baughers Farm and pick apples.
Paul was home from school for the weekend so he came with us along with Meg (his wonderful girlfriend , the girls love her). Not only did we all have fun but the girls loved learning about the different kind of apples and all the different recipes apples can make.

Best Friends