It's not that I don't care; it's just that I'm having too much fun!

Hello readers of my sorely neglected blog. I would apologize for being a slacker, but the real reason I haven't been keeping up with my posts is that life has just been way more busy and exciting with Nastya here than I ever could have anticipated. This girl likes to be active and we are having lots of fun! 

Dressin' up for Wii dance game

We have been miniature golfing, have gone to the LA Zoo, and the Aquarium of the Pacific. We have had a dental, vision and ortho appointments. We have visited Chuck E. Cheese and Jump n' Jammin' indoor playground twice. She has had her face painted (a butterfly) for the first time. She has tried frozen yogurt, had Japanese food cooked in front of her, and we've had a girls' beauty day. We have spent lots of quality time together as a family playing wii games, hide and seek, reading, riding bikes, skating and playing board games. We even had a glow stick party dance party one night!

Our creepy bunch (vampire teeth courtesy of Chuck E Cheese)

She has gotten to know and love our extended family and several of our friends as well. I have watched her face change from bewilderment at receiving her first letter in the mail to now having her beg me to go check it (and what cool mail and cards she has received from some of you...thanks!). Tomorrow we are taking her to Disneyland (thanks to a handful of very kind friends who are making it possible) for our last big "hurrah" before she leaves us on Monday.

Me and my Minnie cup

I have so many details of fun things we have done and I look forward to sharing them with you, but I can safely say at this point that it will be AFTER Nastya leaves. I am soaking up every last minute with this wonderful little girl who calls me Mami and who threw her arms around my neck the other day, said "I love you", and planted a messy wet kiss on my cheek.

Love this kid!

I know now, with absolute certainty, that God did not bring her into our family by mistake. He has a plan for her, for our family, and for all of you who have supported us for the past few months. Even though she will go back to the Ukraine in four days, our story will continue.

Before signing off, I want to share the much promised medical update...mostly because I want to request prayers for wisdom for Greg and I.

After meeting with the specialist at LA Orthopedic Hospital this past Wednesday, we've been able to discern that Nastya truly does have a leg length discrepancy. It was obvious when she arrived and even though she compensates for it very well, it is significant. The challenge of the short leg is further exacerbated by the fact that she was born with a  hip deformity that causes the hip joint of the shorter leg to slope upward instead of downward as it should.

Needless to say this is not a quick nor easy fix. It would require two surgeries and constant monitoring here in the States for a year. We are unsure what we will be able to do at this point, but we intend to pursue whatever course is agreeable to Nastya and to both the US and Ukrainian governments. As you can imagine there are a ton of factors at play in this situation and we are still wrapping our minds around all of the pros, cons, time constraints, and red tape involved.

It is hard to not feel discouraged by what seems to be an insurmountable task ahead, but Jesus promised that "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26) so I will stay faithful and look forward to seeing Him work some miracles over this situation in His time.

In the meantime, Nastya will be going back to the Ukraine with a modified, lifted, shoe which should improve her gait (and maybe make it possible for her to run?) so we are excited that we have been able to help in this way. If nothing else, she will at least know what she is dealing with now (the orphanage had diagnosed her with scoliosis and she was wearing a brace at some point in the past). Please pray that she wears the shoe, that it helps, and that at some point in the future God will make the path clear for us to do more. Thanks everyone!!