Finally, an Update!

Sorry that it has been awhile since we have sent an update. I really y am trying for once a week. We do love that you check in on the blog and pray for us.

What's new? Libi is AMAZING!! What a miracle. She continues to make progress with each new day.


* She is doing the whole, "how big is Libi?" thing, she then will raise her arms when we say SO BIG! Simply adorable, included a picture of her first attempts at it.

* Loves the swing!!

* Having great therapy sessions!

* She is mimicking words like crazy. A girlfriend of mine has been praying for her tongue to be loosed.

* Loves to stand and support herself with her own legs. She is getting so strong!

* She continues to use sign language for "more", and seems to understand the use of it better.

*She is so VERY engaged. She pays attention to people around her. She listens and stays engaged with you when talking to her.

*Smiling! Smiling! Smiling! I love to get her up from naps. She is so happy to see me. It feels good when there is someone in your life that gets that excited to see you after being away from you for only and hour.

*Along with the smiles there are many more giggles.

* Receiving kisses and smacking her lips for kisses is becoming a favorite activity.

We are SO amazed at what the Lord has continued to do in this little sweetheart. She is such a joy and delight.
Psalm 52:9
I will praise you forever for what you have done;
in your name I will hope, for your name is good.
I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

Continue to pray for Libi’s healing. We have seen the beginning of miraculous healing in her physically and mentally and we are confident that this is just the beginning.

"Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases." Psalm 103:2-3


The kids and I are headed out for a road trip to Atlanta to see family. Daddy will join up with us later. I will try to post while we are there. Again, thanks for loving this little girl. We think she’s pretty lovable.

ARNOLD FAMILY PHOTO SHOOT

We had the privilege of having yet more pictures by Kristen Kindred. Libi had a series of shots the day of the shoot so she was not at her best. We did get some good ones though. Enjoy!

THIS IS THE DAY

Well, I know the blogs have been few and far between these days, but it is a little crazy around here. I promise to try to update once a week.

Libi had a bit of rough week. She didn't do too well with her second round of immunizations. She ran a fever and had a few fussy days. She also has 4 teeth coming in. She turned the corner today and is doing better.

Today was a marker day for us with Libi. She has continued to amaze us as we watch God at work in her physical healing. Last week she began to grab our fingers while lying on her back and pull herself up all with her own strength. She also does this crazy lift. We will hold her feet and she will pull with her abs, leaving only her head on the ground, and raise up her butt so her body is at this slant. It requires great strength and we are very impressed with it. The night she began to sit up she was so proud of herself. It brought me to tears. Again, knowing how difficult each thing is for her. I am just so crazy excited for her!

Today was one we will never forget. Libi's favorite song has become "This Is The Day". Today she sang it with lots of smiles and excitement. I think she knew this was going to be a good one!! Brad heard his daughter call him "gaggy" so many times we couldn't even count them. Then she was also initiating kisses more than we could keep up with. We will ask her if she wants kisses and she will lean her little forehead in toward us. She loves to be kissed! (Funny thing, she never gets turned down.) Being that she is ALL HEART...Sweetheart at that, the big event was...she said "I love you". Now, we have thought that she has said it before, but tonight it was CLEAR and repeated many times after us saying it to her. We are not crazy...our neighbors, Mark and Bridget Smith, were here so you can ask them if you know them. You can also check in with them to see if I was excited. There were just a few praises to Jesus and a little jumping.

This is so huge to me! Outside of an occasional sign for "more" Libi Faith has really not communicated anything to us. So how fitting is it that this little girl that is all about HEART first communicates with us her love and her need to be loved.

Isn't it once again like our relationship with our Father. We learn to trust Him, begin to intimately bond with Him, all the while receiving His care and love without giving much in return. Then, we begin to lean into Him ready to receive His sweet kisses, knowing that they will quickly fall upon us. Then, to hear those words spoken over us so many times and so many ways, one day it finally happens, we are no longer silent and our mouths cannot help but open up in response and say, "I Love You".

I look forward to many more words spoken from my daughter, can't wait to hear Mama!!! Until then, we bask in the work of His Mighty Hand and rejoice!

My Sweet Father, I Love You!!!!!

Tear duct has been probbed...Graham Cracker success

Just wanted to give a quick update. We are home and Libi is doing well. The procedure went well to probe the tear duct of her right eye. God willing the tear duct will open up and we will see the swelling and tearing of that eye dissipate. She also has an issue with the lashes on the lower lid of that eye. The lashes grow toward her eye instead of away. The lashes are irritating the cornea a bit. We will "keep an eye" on it :) and see what it does over the next few months. If her eye continues to be irritated she can have a procedure done to correct the bottom of her lid. We anticipate God's healing hand to touch her little eye. Thank you for your prayers! She did very well with the whole procedure. Praise the Name of the Prince of perfect Peace!

The really big news is Libi successfully ate a graham cracker yesterday! Her feeding therapist was here and worked with Libi and she finally had success in getting that graham cracker in her mouth with her own hand and eating it. It was one of the most exciting moments! The therapist and I were trying desperately to contain our excitement so we wouldn't overwhelm her. As we sat and wiped tears from our eyes the therapist told me to quickly go get the camera. I was able to get some shots of her...I love the one of her smiling...she was VERY proud! For our feeding therapist it was so awesome for her to be here and see it happen and awesome for me to testify of our Great and Mighty King who is awakening this little life before the eyes of so many, including her mama.

Independence and Mac & Cheese

Well, July 3rd brought Libi's Official Certificate of Citizenship to the United States. We thought that was pretty cool timing for that to arrive. It was the first time that Libi met Brad's brother and family who played a significant role in helping us to bring her home. We had quite a time of celebrating together. Libi watched the fireworks display just 50 short yards from where they were being lit. We thought it might be too much for her to take in, but we were very wrong. The girl was smiling and laughing!! It was hard to watch the fireworks display because I had my own little show sitting in my lap. As Libi celebrated her first Independence Day I thought of how I look forward to celebrating other Independence days with her in the future. Celebrating Independence for her many new ways in the days and weeks to come...feeding herself, sitting up, walking, talking...

As far as progress and medical updates. I think the biggest thing we notice is the lack of tongue thrusting and the increase in baby babble. Jack has begun to call this complaining. She enjoys rolling on the floor very much. She has learned how to get herself to the TV. We continue to work on the sign for "more" and waving "hi" and "bye".

We had an EKG last week and the results were great. The cardiologist said her heart looked beautiful! We are so grateful to God for such a great report.

Tonight I was introducing Libi to some good ole mac and cheese. She was quite pleased with it. It took her a minute to get the idea of just how to suck macaroni noodles in her mouth. She does well with spaghetti, but the macaroni was tripping her up a bit due to the hole in the middle. You loose a lot of air through that little hole!

Libi is learning to enjoy the pool. As you can tell from the pictures this girl is high maintenance! The glasses, the hat, the special chair... This last trip to the pool she was putting her face into the water. I was also blessed to be with a friend who has experience with disabled children. She showed me some ways to help Libi enjoy some water therapy. It was very fun. Tonight I had her doing some floating on her back in the tub and she was signing "more". It was very cute! I am beginning to think our little sweet heart has a bit of a wild side.

I have been writing a short story about our journey to Libi Faith. It is so amazing to look back. What a story the Lord is writing for her. I feel so blessed and privileged to be her mama!

On Tuesday Libi will have a procedure done to unclog her tear duct. It is not a procedure that guarantees success. So...that is our desire, and we ask that you to join us in praying. It will be a fairly quick procedure beginning around 8:00 AM and lasting only 15 minutes. It will require her to be put to sleep. Ask our God for peace for little Libi's heart and mind. Once again, thank you for praying for her.