Coming Home ?!?!?

Well…. This weird journey of the past few days is beginning to look it like it might have a reasonable ending in sight!! Rhett and Amy may be headed home soon and I may be getting out of the hospital in the morning. This has been one of the most trying weeks of our lives with everything going on and I want to say first thanks to all of you have taken time out of your schedules and lives to lift us up and stand with us through this week. It has been helpful beyond compare to have our friends and family surround us and add light and hope to our situation. A special thanks to those who wrote and encouraged Amy while she was alone in China awaiting Sara’s arrival. The hardest part for me in all the pain, travel, and surgeries was knowing I had left her alone. She is capable of anything - but with your encouragement, the arrival of Sara, I have finally had some peace return and seen life return to her face online.

I also want to thank each of you who took time to come visit me here at Baylor in Dallas. It has truly felt at times like I am in prison in this little room over the past 5 days and the hours that each of you spent with me truly lifted my spirits and have kept me going. Thank you.
So where we stand right now is that Amy and Rhett are going to the medical office in Guangzou to have TB Test read now, and if negative (should be) we are done with that step. Maggie and Rosa our AWAA in country guides) have been working with the American Consulate Office and are working to have Amy be able to “swear” in on Tuesday morning, pick up Rhett’s Visa Tuesday afternoon, and get on a plane as soon as Wednesday to head home. I could not hope for anything more!!! I cannot wait to have my entire family at home and together after this past 9 days!

Today here in Dallas was a good day of healing here with visits with friends and family, (and the Cowboys won!) I got my PICC line placed this afternoon. (interesting to have one of these to tell you the truth…) And now with my hip and wound improving and now this “perm” IV catheter I should be able go home tomorrow. I will need to continue antibiotic therapy daily via this IV for the next 6+ weeks to completely treat this MRSA infection, but after that we are praying we are done with this beast.

Emily, Natalie, Ridge, and Adiah have been at home this week with Papa Larry and Mommie Holly and so thankful they have stayed safe and active.
Here is a note just received from Amy about Rhett and update from China first hand with some photos to follow:

“Hi Everybody! Things here in China have been going well especially since Brian has been doing better and my sister got here. Rhett is all boy and a real strong willed "emperor"! When he is happy and rested then he is a real sweetie! But when he decides he is done with whatever or where ever he is quickly throws fits and screams. Which in a way is comforting knowing that the reason he is as strong as he is is because the Lord instilled in him a "fight"! As hard as he is to deal with physically, I still realize he is grieving the loss of what he has known and he will soon realize certain behaviors aren't acceptable. He has the sweetest little smile and mischievious look about him. He loves to be outside and really loves men so he’s in for a real treat with his daddy and brother there on our land!
Sara being here has helped me tremendously both emotionally and physically and we are just trying to get things prepared and ready so we can come home. Thanks to each of you who have helped with Brian there and we cannot wait to be home to be with all of you. When our return information is set we will let everyone know for those that have asked to be there when we get in…
See you soon there in the Big D with Big Rhett!!
Love