Lonia...our miracle girl!

LONIA - JULY 2008, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA

Wow! Looking at this picture brings a flood of emotions that are indescribable. It seems like a year ago in March when we first met this little girl is so many moons ago. It has definitely been a roller coaster of a ride. The kind that has all the extras. The upside down, hanging by your fingernails type of ride. First you are up, then you are down. You're on the ride going round and round. You are laughing, crying and screaming at the same time. Somehow, it's all good. Then you step off the ride, plant your feet on solid ground, things slowly stop spinning. You take a look at the ride you've just been on and you say, "Now that's plain crazy! I can't believe I did that!" This is exactly how the year has been with Lonia. The spinning is slowly coming to an end. We are trying to plant our feet on the ground. We stand amazed as we glance back at the ride and say, "Wow, God! Are you serious? That was simply amazing! How awesome you are to have done all of that and somehow we fumbled through it and tried to let you use us instead of getting in your way. Thank you and we praise you for being such a wonderful and an awesome God.

Her parents never dreamed she would live to be one year old, especially when the they were told to leave her at the hospital to die because there was no other option. Here she is, alive and healthy. She has had 4 major surgeries in the last 7 months. She used to have a dull, sad and painful look in her eyes. It has been replaced by a brilliant sparkle, full of life and a huge smile with big, dancing, brown eyes that speak volumes. She is now a ball of fire instead of the listless almost lifeless little girl I brought on the plane from Haiti.

We are thrilled with her progress. We are with Dr. Gates and his wife now, in Sacramento. He is running an ultra sound and some tests this morning to make sure everything is on track before we return to Haiti. It has been a sweet reunion.
Dee

It hasn't been a problem for our little tropical girl to adjust to this frigid cold. She lets you know, quickly, how unhappy she is to be stuck in that crazy car seat with her coat, that already swallows her up. It doesn't stop her and it's usually short lived. She is always ready to go when someone else is getting their coat on.

She is very active as a 16 month old should be. Her body continues to heal. We will be returning to California with her for one last check up from Dr. Gates before returning to Haiti in March. We are excited about that visit. We are very anxious for everyone to see how much she is changing and growing. Please pray for us as we make plans to return to Haiti also and all that this entails.

Lonia might not remember much about Haiti and what was her home but Mdme Kiki remembers. Yes I am a "little" homesick to say the least. Please pray for us as we prepare to return to Haiti and what my family recognizes as "normal". I'm sure God is smiling or maybe He even laughed out loud to Himself with this statement from me. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Dee

What a Mighty God We Serve

WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE!

Keep praying for our girl Lonia. She is doing amazingly well for all that she has been through. She is walking everywhere. She knows no stranger. She is full of all things little girls should be full of but especially, personality. She is talking and saying all kinds of things. She eats everything in sight. She has been staying with Charlie and Teresa Bowen in Maryville, Missouri. This was a big help while we waited for Josiah's arrival. Thank you both so much for your commitment to the Lord and to Lonia.

Every time I take a few minutes to think of the journey we've been on I am overwhelmed and the tears start flowing relentlessly. Just thinking how amazing it is that this little girl is alive! What does God have in mind? What is His special plan for her? The whole thing is a blur in my mind. It seems I've been gone from Haiti so long. I'm not sure who I am or where I am but I am sure who God is and I am still sure that where He leads me, I will follow.

I don't know how people live without Him. I would lose my sanity, lose my grip easy if I wasn't so sure of His presence in my life. He is so in love with each of us, He can't take His eyes off of us. What an awesome God we serve! I am kind of getting that as I hold Josiah in my arms and I can't take my eyes off of Him. How awesome, how precious, how delicate and so much detail! Really God, are you sure you want me to take care of him? I don't want to mess him up and God I know with you, I can't.

Daddy and Josiah

"Baby Belly" is here!

("Baby Belly" is the name Kelsey has affectionately been using for the baby throughout the pregnancy!)

His name is Wilckly Josiah. He arrived at 9:49pm Dec. 20, weighing 7'7" and 20 in. long. Dee tried to coax him into joining the world a little earlier in the week, but Josiah had his own agenda!

Dee and the baby and the proud Daddy and the girls are all doing well ... admiring their new addition.

Please accept our sincere thanks for the host of prayers and well wishes for the health of Dee and the baby! It's great to be on this side of this long wait!

BTW, Lonia is doing beautifully, walking everywhere! I think she may even be getting used to the cold weather ... if anyone ever does!!

We'll post more pics and update with more details soon.

Lonia is home...

SORRY, BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PICTURE! THIS GIRL HAS SO MUCH SPIRIT AND SPUNK. IT AMAZES EVERYONE......THANKS FOR PRAYING AND PRAYING AND PRAYING!



Dear Friends,
Thank you for praying for Lonia continually. This little ball of fire is an encouragement to us all with her flashing eyes and dashing smile. Her surgery to reverse the colostomy was successful on Thursday and she was able to come home on Sunday.

She was in the same room with a little girl named Brenn who had the same problem as Lonia.
The difference with Brenn is that at two days old she was given her colostomy. Lonia didn't get her life saving colostomy until she was eleven months old. Brenn had her next surgery the same time we brought Lonia in July for her first one. They had this last one at the same time. It was great to meet her family. Brenn has an identical twin sister named Brooke. They are eight months old now and Lonia is fourteen months. It was neat to get to know their family and to swap experiences. Both girls are doing well.

I had never prayed for someone to get their system going in quite this fashion before. It was crazy waiting for both of them to pass something through their new "pipelines and openings"! Sure enough they did. Never thought anyone could get so excited over changing a dirty diaper but we were definitely excited. It is a new experience for both of them and amazing to not be changing those nasty, very potent, colostomy bags anymore. Now they both have very sore bottoms but it doesn't seem to phase them much. Lonia is trying to walk. She is everywhere. She hangs on to whatever she can get a hold of. Please continue to pray for healing of her little body and no infection. I hope many of you will get to see her before we return to Haiti. We will be heading back to Iowa on Nov. 1, Lord willing.

Sorry I couldn't inform you of all of this sooner. We brought Lonia home Sunday night but for the past couple weeks we have all been in limbo as the Gates are purchasing a new home and selling their old home, the one we all live in with them. It has been up and down. First it's going through and then it isn't with the situation everyone has been facing. We got the final on Monday. Mrs. Gates has been boxing things up for a couple weeks but we really poured it on Monday. Tuesday the movers came to load everything in the moving truck. I spent the day at the other house with the little ones, out of everyone's way. We slept here for the last night. This morning they will come get the rest of the stuff and we will be in the other house. It is exciting but I know it has been very stressful to them. They keep apologizing for moving while we are here. I told them they couldn't have chosen better people to move with. My kids and I are used to taking what comes our way and we are used to living out of suitcases. We are just thankful to have a place to stay with such wonderful people and that they didn't leave us behind. Please pray God will continue to bless them for all of their efforts with Lonia and with us. It is quite an undertaking to house a pregnant woman and three small children for an unknown period of time!!!

News from Haiti is that they are opening school and the children are coming. It usually takes them up to a month to come out in full swing. We will keep you updated. Chris is busy helping us put order into chaos and doing a fine job. She would love and email of encouragement from any of you.

She and Wilckly said they have really struggled with the transportation problem. Money has been sent to help get the big truck fixed and we praise the Lord for that. It has been great to receive food from Feed My Starving Children but the cost we've paid to rent a vehicle to go get 25 boxes has been astronomical. They can get around at Carries with the motorcycle and walking. However the opportunity has come up to purchase a pick up. The man asked $5,000.00 as his final price but wanted it all up front. Wilckly said forget it because that's impossible right now. The man came back and Wilckly offered to give him $1,000.00 each month and he said no. He came back and said he would take $2,000.00 up front and we can give him $1,000.00 a month for the next three months. Wilckly told him he would consider it. PLEASE I am asking each of you to consider how you might be able to help with this project at this time. Any of you who have been to Haiti definitely understand the URGENCY of having a vehicle!!! If there is any way you could help with this at all please send funds to Fred as soon as possible. It will definitely be a blessing to us and to the ministry and a wise use of funds. Thanks in advance. Please continue to pray for all of those picking up the pieces after the terrible flooding in Haiti. People continue to come from the mountain churches for help/ Thanks to many of you who sent funds so that we could help them as they come with food, clothes and even helping some of them cover their houses. Pray for Salonique and family as they continue to muddle through and clean up the mess. Pray that the Lord would keep their spirits high as they continue to fight the evil one.
May God bless you.
Dee

Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established

Proverbs 16:3

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Rejoice with Us!!!

Rejoice with us as there is no more colostomy. Dr. Gates is below with Lonia after the surgery. It was successful and we are thankful. This should be the last surgery needed. Pray for that and pray for quick healing and recovery. Pray for God to continue to bless Dr. Gates and his family and the faculty and staff at Sutter Memorial Hospital for the life they have given to this little girl. Praise to the Lord for orchestrating such a beautiful thing and allowing us to be part of it. Pictures are in backwards order but you can see she has gained weight. She has a killer smile that can dazzle anyone. Thanks for your prayers and enjoy the pictures. More later as Kelsey and I are heading to the hospital to spend the day with Lonia.
Dee




She was pretty mad about the NG tube but she got over it pretty quickly. Is that cute or what?


She loves her Elmo. He is her safety blanket.


Have a great day in the Lord. May you bring encouragement and joy to those around you and may it overflow in your life as well that those around you would see Christ in you.
Dee

Surprise! Surprise!

Lonia Ermilus, who would have thought. Definitely not her parents or her friends and neighbors, nor Mdme Kiki would have thought we would have been experiencing everything we have since March 2008. It has been a long, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes whirlwind ride. I think you all will agree this is not the same sick little girl we brought from Haiti. Airplane rides, carseats, computers, toys and three big sisters, she doesn't miss a thing.
She loves riding in her new carseat beside big sister Anna Lynn Gates.


She is always sporting a fancy new hair style. Her skin is clearing up nicely. Mdme Kiki is a little partial to her.















Big sisters are plentiful and lots of fun! Ashley and Kelsey Dorce and Anna Lynn Gates know how to fit the bill perfectly. If you are thinking there is a dull moment at the Gates house with all these beauty queens you are very wrong. They all love Lonia to death.




























I just wanted you all to see how well she is doing. She is so advanced that we have started her in computer class with Elmo. Miss Beverly is her teacher! And she is doing quite well! Ha Ha Beverly is Dr. Gates wife. She is part of the "Keep Your Sanity " club that the adults have in this house. We do tag team with Lonia between our own girls and homework. Lonia is trying to stand and walk and everything else.

She is healing so well that Dr. Gates has decided to reverse her colostomy tomorrow. I am getting ready to take her to the hospital for prep now. I just wanted all of our prayer warriors to be alert and praying for continued healing. She will be in the hospital until next Monday or Tuesday. Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Dee