My Heart Is Bursting ... An Update On Ellie

 I couldn't believe it when I saw an email from our agency that said UPDATE.  We had asked for new pictures and asked some questions about our little Ellie but were shocked that it came so soon.  I opened the email to see this picture .....

Oh my goodness we are in love with this little girl already.  It seems crazy that we could fall head over heals in love with a little girl an ocean away that we have never met but that is what has happened.

She is our daughter and China telling us we can come get her can not come fast enough.

I have studied her pictures from top to bottom.  Look at that cute little nose and those sweet little lips ...

and those tiny little curled toes are just too precious.

Her cheeks are full and she looks healthy and yet those tiny little legs, ankles and feet remind me so much of Max's feet and legs when we got him.  No strength or muscle tone.  She looks like such a little peanut.

This is what we found out about Ellie today:

We asked for updated measurements and they said she is 70.5 cm tall, she weighs 8.5kg which is about 18 lbs and her foot length is 10.5cm.  We know we take the measurements with a grain of salt ... not sure she is looking like an 18 lbs little girl. She has 1 tooth.

We asked how her health has been, if her VSD seems to affect her health, if she sweats easily or has blue fingers or mouth.  The orphanage said Ellie was very weak when she came to them but under their good care, her health has been greatly improved.  They said she sweats easily but doesn't get tired. She hasn't had blueness in her fingertips or mouth so far.

We asked for another Echo to see if there were any changes in the hole in her heart.  The told us that the hospital is far away and would be very hard to make an appointment there so too hard to arrange the exam for Ellie.

We asked the caretakers to describe her development and personality.  The said she can sit alone well and stand holding on to furniture.  She can move around when sitting in the baby walker. She has started to babble. She gets along well with the other children and likes colorful toys.

We asked if she had ever been in foster care and if she had a nickname.  The said she had never been in foster care and they call her Na Na.

Little Ellie has wiggled her way into all of our hearts already.  We continue to stand in awe that God has given us this precious little girl to be our daughter. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I 

know that full well. 

Psalm 139:14

Telling The Kids

The kids have been so excited about adopting a little sister from China.  We have talked and prayed about her a lot. The kids knew we could find out anytime who there sister was and we were praying it was some time this summer.  On Tuesday after we got the call it was a whirlwind.  Eric's mom had flown in from Africa, where she does mission work.  We were all sitting around the table and Emma said, "Grammy, we could find out who our sister is anytime.  We might even find out this summer while you are here!" Shane interjected, "And we will get to see her picture too!" Little did they know they had a sister already and in no time they would see her face for the first time.

Eric is heading to India for business this week.  He pulled up the map of India on his computer and they talked about what he was going to be doing and the orphanages he was going to visit while he was there. He then showed the kids where China was and they found where Max was born but then Eric said, "And this is where your new sister is from!" Their expressions were priceless as they saw their sister for the first time. Complete joy and love in all those little eyes!

Max kept looking at Eric saying, "Baby, baby!"  I am pretty sure he has no clue how this little baby his going to rock his world!

There were a ton of questions asked as they poured over her picture.  They wanted teachers emailed and   pictures printed so they could show their new sister to their friends.  Their eyes and hearts have been opened through our journey to Max.  It has been so fun for us to sit back and watch their little hearts fill up for love for their little sister.  When Shane tells people about his sister he also asks people to pray for her!

Introducing Our Daughter ...

It is with great joy and thanksgiving that we introduce you to our daughter.  

Gan An Na was born on October 20, 2011 she is just 7 months old. 

She is waiting for us at the Jianxin Social Welfare Institute in the Jiangxi Province

We have named her Ellie An Na.

We stand in awe of God's perfect plan for our family. We have watched the evidence of his hand every step of this journey. He has orchestrated every step of this process in such an amazing way that we sit back and give him all the glory! God is good! 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Ephesians 3:20

When our feet hit the ground we will share more about our little girl and how clearly we have seen his hand at work.