Tulah Update & Prayer Request

As impossible as it seems, it has been 55 days since The Hatley Home expanded!! 55 days ago, this scared and unsure, little, tiny girl was placed into my arms.

I can't believe it's already been almost 2 months! The time goes by so fast, and all of my babies are growing up. I can't tell you guys just how GREAT Tulah has adjusted and settled into our family. We just returned from our annual family beach vacation, and you would never know that this was Tulah's first vacation with all of our crazy bunch! She fits right in!! Although, she has no problem letting anyone know when something isn't going her way!! And she will tell you loudly and in Chinese!!! And, in an attempt to lower that sweet, but very loud Chinese voice, she usually gets what it is that she wants... and pretty quickly!!

Though she still expresses her frustration in Chinese, her English is getting better all the time. I still can't believe all the things that she can understand and repeat. She knows ALL of our family members by name ( us, her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins!!) She can say "no" extremely clearly, as well as "stop that"!!! The last 2 weeks her favorite sayings have been "Come on" and "Time to go"!! And...... sniff, sniff, she is finally able to say "I love you, and I love you mama"!!!!!!!!!! Oh my, the first time she said that to me, I melted to the floor with joy! It was just SO sweet! I could not even begin to count how many times I have whispered this to her since the very first moment I saw her, so for her to say it back to me literally took my breath away. One day soon, I have to try to record her saying this.... it's just so sweet I want to remember it like that forever.

 This was her very first "look" at the beach. Just taking it all in!!!

 Getting brave and letting BaBa walk her down to the water. Look at that expression on her face! She is taking in all this "new", and seeing more of God's beautiful creations every day. 

 First time sitting in the ocean water!!! She LOVED it!!! Couldn't get her away from it!!

And finally a few 4th of July Pics for our newest American!!!! There are lots more of these to come in a post soon! I promise!!

Thank you Lord, for placing this precious child into our family. Thank you for allowing us to love her and raise her as our daughter.  Thank you for entrusting her to us, that we might teach her about you, and how you knew her, loved her, and had a perfect plan for her, long before anybody in this world knew.

Please send your prayers up for Tulah in the morning. She will have a 3 hour MRI of her spine tomorrow and she will be under anesthesia during the procedure. I am praying that she won't be too upset in the morning about a certain "missing" breakfast (she can't eat or drink after midnight tonight). I am also praying for the anesthesiologist and the MRI tech, that Tulah would be able to rest and be still to get the images that they need for this test. I pray that she responds normally to the anesthesia and doesn't have any side effects from it. And , most of all, I am praying that the MRI is totally normal!! We will likely not hear anything about the results until our follow-up appointment with the surgeon on Friday. On Friday, based on the results from the MRI, we can start a plan for her extensive orthopedic treatment. I will be sure to keep you all updated on the MRI results and the plan!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for all of your prayers for our family and especially for Tulah!!!!!!