The Revealer of Mysteries

"Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him. The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.”

Daniel 2 :46-47

We have some new answers about Libi. We were expectant of our Mighty God and He never disappoints!! We received word from the geneticist today that Libi does in fact have some chromosomal issues. She has an extra part of chromosome 11 and is missing a part of chromosome 4. So what does that mean? Well, we don’t have a FULL answer to that question yet, but here is what we do know. The lack of chromosome 4 gives reason for her delays, seizures and hypotonia. It can also explain her heart defect. The extra part of chromosome 11 also gives reason for her heart defect as well as some unique physical features, such as small jaw. We have been encouraged to stay away from the internet, because information we would come across out there would not be specific to Libi. We will wait to learn more when we visit with the doctor next week. Thank you all for praying and believing with us that we would find out new information to help us on the journey to Libis' healing. We know that we cannot add or take away from chromosomes, but as one of my warrior friends said today…

God can!!

"Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

Mark 10:27

updates on bonding and more...

Nothing more attractive to me than "my man" reading to his girls!

Officially re-adopted in the State of Illinois!!!

Finally, an update on the happenings here.

Libi's doctor visit:

The visit with the doctor itself went well. One huge relief for me was that the doctor did not think I was crazy for having Libi there. He was surprised that in 2 years genetic testing has not been considered or recommended. He has 3 syndromes he wanted to specifically rule out to start with. Being totally uneducated in the area of genetic syndromes; we do feel that Libi seems to fit the symptoms of one syndrome pretty closely. We continue to expect the Lord to guide us through this doctor to a better understanding of our sweet Libi…and ultimately to her healing!

About her healing. I was discussing through email with a dear friend, Emily, about our prayers for healing over our children. (Emily and her family adopted their precious little guy, Abe, who faces many challenges like Libi.) I expressed to her that my desires for Libi to be healed are really desires for her to walk and talk. I don’t think of complete “normalcy” for her. I think that is because we SEE her as NORMAL. We are okay with her challenges. My desire for her to walk and talk center around me. I want to be able to communicate with my daughter. I also want her to be able to walk so that she can be independent enough that we can always care for her. My friend Emily said that if God is most glorified through our kiddos just the way they are, then praise Him! We are great with that! SO expressed what Brad and I feel…

Libi Kisses…Libi seemed to like the doctor, puckering her lips up for a kiss most of the time. She is in quite a phase of “kisses” right now, and we are ALL loving it! The first kiss good-bye at school was about a month ago and I cried my eyes out when I got to the van. Do you know how amazing that was? To get a good-bye kiss from my little girl? So much was spoken in that sweet kiss to this mama’s heart. A true first “good-bye”, a true first “I love you”…how it sends my heart just revisiting that moment with her! Thank you God!!

Re-Adoption…We went through the formality of re-adopting Libi in the state of Illinois last week in order to get a birth certificate for her. We saw it as another opportunity to celebrate the gift of her. It was a little intimidating being in the court room and put on the witness stand. I had never had that experience before. Libi won the hearts of everyone in the court room, which didn’t surprise us. Brad and I laugh at the looks of empathy we will receive from people. If they only knew what a blessing a little child like Libi is they would look at her “longingly”.

Big Girl Potty and Crawling…Libi continues to make progress in both of these areas. We are so thankful for both of these abilities that the Lord has miraculously accomplished in her. Ready for big girl panties…we are SO thankful! What a miraculous work in our little girl!!

Haddie and Bonding…What’s new here? Well, a lot. Did you know when you adopt a child that the Lord can stir up a lot of garbage in your own life? The Lord has definitely used the birth of Haddie in my life to heal some hurts that carried some deep roots. Before Haddie I was very unaware of some of my “issues”. The problem with the process of this refining work was my focus shifted from this precious wounded daughter I had been given to my own wounded heart. The shift of focus was so much that I allowed my eyes to be totally on myself. (Not the first time!) Long story short: It’s not about me! Will I ever live this out as truth???? I feel that Haddie and I have made huge strides in the last week. She has felt the freedom to be “naughty” and I think that is great. Yes, I said, “great”. Not that I am enjoying it, but I see her pushing boundaries and displaying behaviors that show she is comfortable and more importantly, secure. I do see her look at me with eyes that long for more. More affection, more attention, more love. It seems that she cannot get enough. This is a hole that has been dug by many losses and hurts for her over 7 long years. Once again I think about that number, 7…it is the number of completion. It is the year of Jubilee! The year that debts are forgiven and slaves set free! This, the 7th year for our daughter will be one of completion and freedom.

SO…that’s all for now. Thanks for being on the journey with the Arnold’s! Our life is so much richer because of all of you!

Expectant

Wanted to ask all of you to join us in expectant prayer.

The Lord has moved us to make an appointment with a geneticist for Libi. Tomorrow at 4:00 we will have our first appointment.

I want to share with you a little about why we made this appointment. Ever since we brought Libi home I have felt "unsettled" about where her diagnosis stands. When she first came home it was thought that she had Cerebral Palsy. That was ruled out early on and they diagnosed her as globally delayed with hypotonia. The doctor who provided this diagnosis was not too hopeful for Libi to continue to make progress. Well, here we are almost 2 years later and she has yet to hit a plateau.

I know because we lack so much vital history with Libi it leaves a lot of questions. There has always been this nagging feeling inside me that we are still missing something with her. I have wondered about genetic testing for a while, but never knew what direction to go.

Recently we took Haddie to a team of doctors. One of the doctors was a geneticist. After we settled that Haddie was not in need of the services of a geneticist, she then turned to Libi and asked some questions. After we explained to her that we had not yet pursued genetic testing for her she encouraged us to do so. She wasn't "general" about it either. She gave me the name and phone number of a specific group that was covered by our insurance. I called and set up and appointment right away.

With the appointment set it seemed that God began to move my heart more deeply about Libi's healing. There was a message at church about a man with leprosy that Jesus healed. John 5:

12While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.[c] When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
13Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.

14Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."

15Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.

At the end of the message the elders were available to pray over and anoint people with oil who were in need of healing. In obedience to James 5:14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

We took Libi up to have her prayed over and anointed. Of course it was emotional, but at the same time I felt more than hopeful. That message moved me deeply.

The following Saturday we went to see the amazing movie "Extraordinary Miracles". I cannot tell you how much I loved this movie. If you have not seen it you need to. It is a true story about a family where 2 of their 3 children suffer from a genetic syndrome that is extremely debilitating and confine the children affected by it to a wheelchair. It will eventually attack the muscles to such great intensity it will result in their death around age 9. It is a story that truly captures a parents passion and heart for their disabled child. This movie was such a huge confirmation to me. At the end of the movie was a clip of child (not an actor) affected by this syndrome having the ability to take her first steps...she was the same age as Libi...Brad and I were literally sobbing! All we could think of was our little Libi Love!!

The very next morning at church was the message about the friends who took their friend, who could not walk, to Jesus and lowered him through the roof for Jesus to heal. They set him right there in front of the Great Physician and believed that He would heal him. Jesus did heal and what did the friend who was healed do? WALK! He walked!

John 5:

17One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 18Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

21The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

22Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."

So here we are, feeling that this is the next step. That the Revealer of all mysteries is about to lift the curtain on a big one. Will you join us in expectant prayer? Will you help us carry our girl on her mat and lay her at the feet of Jesus?

Thank you, friends...you bless us!