Dedication and Upcoming Surgery

Hi all - This was an eventful week for Gracie.  Grandma and Grandpa McCammon came to visit, arriving on Thurs. and leaving Monday (10/25) morning.  It rained like crazy part of the time but we still enjoyed being together.  They were amazed at how much Josh, Zach, & especially Ben have grown.  Grandpa taught Gracie Patty-cake or at least his somewhat mixed up version of it.  Gramma tried to keep him in line w/ the correct words and hand movements but it didn't always work. Gracie loves the roll 'em and roll 'em part. When she saw Grpa/Grma walk in Subway the other day, she immediately started rolling her hands so for now we will call him Patty-cake grandpa. 

On Sunday during the church service Dan and I told a brief account of Gracie's "story"- from us deciding to adopt through some of the amazing "fumbles" and events that allowed us to get exactly the little girl God had for us.  After our talk, we had a dvd (made by good friends Molly & Andy Wegener) played of the time in China, our first days w/ Gracie, & a little of the wild home life she has w/ three wonderful big brothers. Then we had a short dedication in which Grpa/Grma joined us w/ the boys & Gracie up front and we all cried.  My mom and dad sent a beautiful bouquet & Pastor Will mentioned them in the final prayer so though they couldn't be there physically, they felt close. We will never stop being thankful to her birth mother (most likely, & possibly father) who took the risk of putting Gracie in a busy place where she would be found & taken to be cared for until we could adopt her.  I don't know what the consequences would be if she was caught but they can't be good.  I always try to stress that Gracie was "PUT" and not "LEFT". It was intentioned that she would be found by the proper people and that at least her immediate medical needs could be met.

She now needs to have her palate repaired.  Her surgery was just scheduled today and it will be Thurs. Nov. 11th @ 10 am in Boise.  I think I wrote before that she will need 2 surgeries to close the palate and then others as she gets older but one hoop to jump at a time!  She will be in the hospital probably 2 nights.  We of course dread this process but it will be behind her soon & likely won't be as bad as we imagine.  Anyway, here are some great pics of last few days.