Slumdog Millionaire

Chris and I got to go on a date night last night (thank you Ney family)!! We were so excited to see this movie....and it did not let us down. We both just sat stunned.....crying. This is how so much of our world lives. It doesn't matter if it is Guatemala or India.....there are so many people living with nothing. We walked away changed and excited to see where God is going to lead us to next. We sat in our car and started praying for our lives to make a difference....for the kiddos that the Lord has called ours (that could be alive right now).

Love you all,
Lindsey

Happy Birthday Mee-Maw!!

My grandmother and Eliana's great-grandmother "Mee-Maw" is 93 years old today!! We love you so much Mee-Maw!! I hope you have the greatest birthday....we all wish that we were with you to celebrate. We love you so much!!

Love,
Lindsey

Our new design....

We are really exited about our new blog!! We will be changing a few things in the next few days....but hope you like what we have so far. An amazing couple created it....you can find them at funkyfinds.blogspot.com. Thanks Joe and Jessica!! I really want this blog to be a ministry!!

Love,
Lindsey

Blog Make-over....

Well, I have started the process of a blog make-over.....and accidentally lost the other background!! So, for a few days the blog banner will be the picture of the first time I saw our precious Eliana.....one of the greatest days of my life!!

Love you all,
Lindsey

Happy Birthday Dad...(Grandaddy!)

Happy Birthday Dad! You have always been such an incredible example of servant leadership! Thank you for all that you've taught me about being a man! It is so wonderful seeing you with Eliana...she's crazy about you! We love you so much! Have a GREAT Day!
Love,
Chris

Sam and Esther.....

Can you help?!!!

Hey friends, I know that there are so many people in need.....but I just got an e-mail about one of my neighbors. Her husband left her (leaving no money).....with a little boy and girl. She just found out she lost her job and is devastated. She called one of my friends asking if they could spare any food because her kids have nothing to eat. I am heartbroken for them. And I am going to do something about it!!! I will be going to the store in the next few days to buy them groceries....and hopefully figuring out how I can help in finding connections for a job (I love to network). But, I wanted to see if any of y'all would want to help. You can e-mail me at lindseyewheeler@hotmail.com.

I have been really, really upset over all of the hospital/doctor bills for Eliana plus the rest of her adoption....and then something like this happens and makes me realize HOW MUCH WE HAVE!! We don't have to worry about food/clothing. Please be praying for this family!!

Thanks friends,
Lindsey

P.S. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for praying for Eliana!! She had a rough "tummy" day....but I really do think that she is on the mend.

All Night Long...

Lindsey and Eliana arrived at the E.R. at 11pm. They didn't see a doctor until 6:45am. That's right...Lindsey held Eliana in the E.R. waiting room literally all night long (as she continued to throw up off an on). Lindsey is such a good Momma!

Today Eliana has kept down her Pedialyte and some bread. They've both slept a lot (understandably).

The plan is for them to fly home tomorrow, Wednesday.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.
We'll keep you posted.

-Chris

Status Update

Eliana started throwing up again and they're headed to the E.R. now...
keep praying.
-Chris

A sick girl and a worn out momma

Please pray for Eliana....and for Lindsey.
Lindsey and Eliana went to Dallas this weekend for Lauren's baby shower (which was a blast I've been told). They were supposed to fly home tonight but Eliana is too sick to fly. We pushed their flight back to tomorrow, but tonight the doctor said there's no way she could fly tomorrow either. So the plan now is for them to fly home on Wednesday.

The doctor believes it's pneumonia again (which she had over Christmas) plus a bacterial infection. She's been throwing up through out the day all day long. She's had an antibiotic shot and is sleeping right now. The doctor in Dallas wants to see her again tomorrow to check on her progress. (If she starts throwing up again they're supposed to go to an E.R.) Her little body is just really worn out.

Pray that she's able to keep fluids down and that the antibiotics work. Pray for REST for my girls.

I can't tell you how PROUD I am of my wife! Linds is such a warrior for our little girl. She knows what it is to fight for Eliana and once again she's been such a hero! In a tiny way I feel some of what I felt back when they were in Guatemala and Eliana was sick. Acutely aware of how powerless I am to change situations and at the same time of how dependent we always are upon God's sweet mercy. (I know God's in control and that He is good, and at the same time I hate that this craziness always seems to happen when I'm far from them.)

Thanks to all of you in our blogging community for always being out there for us!
Thank you for your prayers...

Grace and Peace
Chris

P.S. Thank you so much Lauren and Corby for taking good care of my girls!

I can't sleep....and the Lord reminded my of Abby!!!

Today (because it's one in the morning) Abby starts the most difficult part of her treatment....there are so many risks!! I can't imagine what the Riggs family did last night knowing that today was going to be so painful. Pray for her little body. She has been through so much!! PLEASE go over to their blog and read more about her story.....and spread the word to everyone you know. I am so proud of this little girl's strength....she is so beautiful in every single way!!

www.riggsfamilyblog.com

Love you,
Lindsey

Just so you know.....

We still miss her with all of our hearts! Please keep praying.

Love,
Lindsey

Please continue praying for Abby!!

Please keep praying for this precious girl.....she has a tough few months ahead!!  Spread the word.  Abby's doctor described the next 60 days of her treatment as "hell".  I can't imagine watching my child in so much pain.  Abby, we are praying for you!!  We love you even though we have never met.  You are so unbelievably STRONG!!

http://www.riggsfamilyblog.com

Love you all,

Lindsey

Thursday Dance Party

Here's a little glimpse into the Thursday night dance party we had tonight! This girl LOVES to Dance. Any time she hears music with a beat she has to move to it. It's almost like she's obligated to shake her little head to the rhythm. If she's too tired to dance she'll just pat her knee and slowly nod. I especially love the serious faces she makes when she's dancing! She also makes every item she picks up into a phone (including a door stop at the church today)!

So far her words include:
No-no, Oh-No, Backpack, Ma-Ma, Da-Da, Yes-Maam (long and drawn out), Puppy, Kay-Kay, Yeah, Milk, and her name (which she pronounces "Ey-Yahna.") My favorite word though is when she says amen which sounds more like "Ah-mean" in a little whisper! She says it just at the right times too! Lindsey and I will be talking and then I'll sometimes just lead into a prayer. At the end she'll say amen right on cue though I wasn't even aware she knew we were praying at all! It's super cute!

I feel like she's getting bigger every time I turn around. I know every new Dad must say this but it's really wild! Though I feel like she's twice the size she was when we brought her home, the truth is she only just last week broke the 20 lbs. mark and her frame is still quite tiny!

Lately she's started hugging me with both arms wrapped around my neck! She squeezes tight and then gives me kisses! There's nothing like that in all the world!

The really weird part of it all might be that I can't imagine life now with out her! (I know every body says that but now I'm saying it too.) I don't even know what we did before her. I mean I can remember those days but they seem so long ago and so strange to me now! Lindsey and I just love when the three of us can just play together. We literally just laugh and laugh at all of her antics.

Eliana, I'm so proud to be your Daddy!
Love,
Chris

Happy Birthday Eliana....18 months old!!

THEN......








AND NOW.....



We love you more than you will ever know.....happy 18 months Sweet Girl!! We are privileged to be your parents.

Love,
Momma and Daddy

We love her more every minute!

We are finally home after more than 2 weeks on the road visiting family (I PROMISE TO POST PICS FROM CHRISTMAS SOON)!! Eliana was so much better today....she has been making us laugh non-stop. Thanks for all of your prayers. She is still doing about 4 breathing treatments a day....but her ears don't seem to be hurting her as much. There is a lot going on in our world right now....but even in the chaos....we choose to Hope!! Love you all.

Love,
Lindsey

Still sick.....

It is hard to watch Eliana feel so awful...she gets so frustrated with the pain in her ears and her lungs. She will just hit anyone in her way or throw whatever is in her hands at the floor. Also, waking her up for breathing treatments in the middle of the night makes her ANGRY!! We have tried everything to try to distract her but nothing has helped. Thanks for all of your prayers....I know she will feel better soon. We love you all.

Love,
Lindsey