ME IN MY NEW FLOPPY HAT!

Me and Kenzie at Grandma's

UPDATE ON SCOTT

Hey everyone! I know that everyone is wondering what's going on with Scott. We actually got his blood results back yesterday and everything is normal. That's good news and bad news. Now, we are not sure why he has such a high fever all the time.

Monday the doctor is going to review his biopsy results from his neck biopsy and look at his CT scan of his throat and chest. We'll know about that then.

He has felt a little better lately. His fever has been coming late at night again, so during the day he's okay. Slow, but okay. We actually went to eat yesterday and to the mall to look for JP a floppy hat! We found one and it is SO CUTE!! I'll post a picture of that later!

Well, JP is sleeping. I better shower while I can! We are celebrating Tyler's birthday today--belated!

I hope everyone has a great day!

My Two Boys Meet!

Tyler and JP FINALLY met the other night! The week we came home, Tyler had VBS every night. They made it over last Saturday! JP loved him---he thought his wheelchair was so cool! He sat on his lap and just stared at him. Tyler fed him his juice before then went swimming at Nana's house!

T.I.R.E.D with a Capital T

All is well at the Beam house. I wanted to try and keep everyone updated as much as possible with what's going on.

Briefly, Scott saw a surgeon today who checked out the knot on his neck. He feels like it's a tumor. He sent us to an ENT to have it looked at. Long story short----it is one of PROBABLY two things. 1) tumor 2) his lymph nodes responding to an infection in his body. The ENT doctor found another knot under the existing one. He biopsied both of them. He also ran a tube down his nose to see if there was anything going on there. It was clear. We are going to have a CT scan done of his throat tomorrow afternoon. As for the fever/chills etc.. we now have an antibiotic that should help with that. We should have the results from his blood tests Friday or Monday. Both doctors and the surgeon are pretty sure that the knot and the sickness from Guatemala are unrelated. We'll soon find out!

Thank you for your prayer support. I will try and blog as much as possible, but we are very tired and trying to keep things normal around our house. Every spare minute I have (when I would normally blog) is spent trying to nap/rest.

JP is still doing beautifully! He is perfect. I don't know what else to say! I love him so much! He's still very active and adjusting very well!

That's all for now!

My 1st VBS Kickoff!

I loved watching all the kids sliding down the big blow up slide!! I was amazed and did not take my eyes off of them. Terry took me down---I didn't think it was too big of a deal. I was much happier watching everyone else! Needless to say, I was the center of attention! I enjoyed meeting my new church family!

The Scoop On Scott!

This will be brief.......

Many of you have called/sent me emails etc... asking about Scott. I appreciate every one's concern! It's overwhelming. I thought I would fill you in without going into too much detail.

He began running a fever in Guatemala. Since we have been home, it has gotten worse. He is usually okay during the day, but at night and early morning he runs a fever of 103 or so and it lasts about 6 to 8 hours. The time frame varies and changes, but mostly night. He went to the doctor last week and he took some blood. His white count is normal, so there's no infection. Today I took him back b/c his liver numbers were elevated. The doctor is now testing him for several different diseases. There is also a knot on the side of his jaw that he wants to biopsy---we are doing that on Wednesday. He is out of work for a while and mostly stays around the house and rests. He would appreciate your prayers.

Thanks again for all of your concern and care! It means a lot. I will continue to keep you updated as much as possible.

JP is doing AWESOME!! I will definitely keep you updated on him. Several of you have also asked if I am going to continue to blog now that JP's home. The answer to that is....ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!! So....stay tuned!!

Just Some Cute Pictures Of JP!

This was JP at his first appointment with the pediatrician----he was not happy unless he was crawling in and out of the sink! Do we have our hands full, or what???

Our Flight Home

These pictures loaded out of order---I'm not sure what happened. It could have been me. I am trying to keep up with WILDMAN and blog at the same time! It is obviously a learned skill!! Hopefully I'll get better. These were some pictures from the airplane and then the banner that was waiting on us when we arrived home (compliments of B.JAY!) We could not have asked for a better baby on the plane and a better party when we arrived home...those pictures to follow!!

We are still doing fine. Scott is still having some trouble. We are going to the doctor Tuesday and Wednesday for him----we would appreciate your prayers!

Overlooking America...Home Sweet Home!

EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

His name is JOSEPH PABLO!!!

YES---we are home and doing well!!! I just have not had time to blog! I have some really great pictures though, so please hang in there with me and continue to check up on us. I am on my way to bed right now, but I am going to put up pics tomorrow during naptime....????

Everything's GREAT except...

We interrupt this blog for a very important message: This blog has been temporarily hi-jacked by T-Dub! For those of you who don't really have a clue who I am, I'm the guy that Scott blames for things that got him in trouble during his brief stint at blogging and I'm kind of the "big brother" in Andrea's life and I absolutely can't wait to corrupt---I mean, meet---J.P.! The reason I hi-jacked the blog temporarily is because the internet is down where they are in G-mala and if you are like me, when you don't hear any news on the day of their embassy appointment, you start to get a little anxious. It could just be the big brother in me coming out! Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone in Andrea's "blogland" know that everything went very smoothly yesterday and everyone is doing fine---other than Scott and J.P. both feeling a little under the weather. But I'm sure it's nothing that FINALLY BEING HOME won't be able to cure! So, everyone rest at ease and the Beams---all of them---will be coming home tomorrow! Now we return you to your regularly scheduled blog!

VISITORS

Well, it's getting closer! Our appointment is in the morning! YIPPEE! I am so anxious for this thing to be completely over! I am ready to come home and show the little man off!

We are probably going to arrive home after dinner Thursday evening. We are asking that anyone who wants to visit come Friday. We are excited for EVERYONE AND ANYONE to meet him, but we would like to reserve Thursday evening for family. I'm sure you all understand. Joseph will have gone through yet another major transition, and I think it will be in his best interest if we limit the amount of people he comes in contact with. Once he has time to adjust to the house/dog/family etc... EVERYONE'S WELCOME!!! I miss you all so much!! After getting to know his personality etc... I think by Friday he should be okay. Thank you so much for your love, support and understanding!!!

We'll see you soon!!!

FROM ORPHANAGE TO iPOD

JP has not felt too well the past few days---we finally found something that will calm him down! Thank goodness for iPODS! (and contemporary Christian music!)

MORE PICTURES

Last night, we had several families over to celebrate birthdays. It was a lot of fun. Levi (below) turned 2 years old! He is George and Helen's grandson. He (along with every other child in the world) loves to play with Scott in the floor. Claudia (Nathan's wife) and JP. Claudia is from Guatemala and speaks spanish to JP--he LOVES her!
JP, Claudia, Nathan, and Levi
Levi and JP playing!
Scott, the "Old MacDonald" puppet, and JP (his favorite toy!)

SLIGHT CHANGE OF PLANS

We are now leaving early in the morning on Thursday. This way will be best for JP. We will arrive home in G'ville around dinnertime rather than midnight on Wednesday.

Also, we may not receive his VISA until Wednesday afternoon.

WE ARE VERY VERY EXCITED!!! WE ARE PRAYING THAT THESE LAST FEW DAYS FLY BY!!!! YIPPEE!!

GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER???????

And NO, not the movie!!!

Our appointment is Tuesday at 7:15 in the morning!! We are hoping to fly out Wednesday morning EARLY!!!!!

YIPPEE!!! I will write more later, we are taking little man to the ZOO!!!

Thanks for the prayers!

MY NEW FAVORITE COLOR IS PINK!!!!!

WE FINALLY HAVE PINK!!!!

I will give all of the details at a later time. Our appointment time is up in the air. We are trying to work a little "magic" with that! The official appointment on the pink is Tuesday July 23 at 7:45 in the morning. HOWEVER, we are hoping to be home before then!! Continue to pray!

We took JP to the doctor today. He received a clean bill of health and was cleared to leave the country. He does have bronchialitis, though. The doctor gave him an antibiotic for 7 days and then when we get home to the States, he will probably need a nebulizer (sp?) for a little while. Other than the coughing and congestion, he is very happy and healthy! We are taking our PINK slip to the doctor again in the morning and he will sign for him to leave!!! YIPPEE!!!

He has gained 2 lbs. He weighs 21 lbs. 6 oz ---He's gotten cuter...oh wait...he didn't say that, I did!! hehe

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW!! IT'S BEEN A GOOD DAY!

I do not know at what point it happened. More importantly, HOW it happened! Regardless of when or how, somewhere along the way I forgot about God! For the past two weeks all I have done is complain about where we are and how long we have been here. Waiting once again! Only this time in another world. Far away from our family. Far away from our friends. Far away from our jobs and everything that is familiar to us. I have been so mad and bitter over why our case has not been released. I sat at the Marriott hotel and watched a countless number of families check in and check out. And there we were still waiting on the smallest amount of progress to take place.

I'm not going to use this blog to point fingers. It seems pointless to worry about who's fault it is. I just want to come home. I talked to my dad today and we were discussing several different options that we are looking into for outside help. I began to cry! I miss my family and I am so anxious for them to meet JP! WHY ARE WE STILL HERE??????

Then it hit me.

God is not withholding JP from our families. He wants them to be united with them more than we do. He knows that Scott needs to get back to his job. He knows that our money will only go so far. He knows that George and Helen, aka our security blanket, are leaving for the States and we'll be here alone. HE KNOWS ALL OF THIS!! He's heard all of our prayers. So, what He reminded me of this morning was that He knows these things and ALWAYS has my best interest at heart. SO, if we are STILL STUCK HERE with no sign of a PINK slip, it must be because He is not ready for us to go home yet. And with all the complaining I'm doing, I am bound to miss what He has for me here. It's hard for me to acknowledge this, because I'm tired of being here. But, truthfully, the positives FAR OUTWEIGH the negatives. We are both here bonding with JP. If we were at home, none of this would have taken place! I will forever thank Him for this time.

Am I going to stop trying my best to get out of here.....NO WAY!!!! We, along with our family back home, are doing everything we can to get things moving. But, what I am going to do while I'm here is enjoy this time. Most families come here to Guatemala, pick up their babies and leave within a few days. When JP grows up, I will be able to tell him that we stayed here for a month (or more) and really got to know his culture!

What a blessing!

No PINK today. I am not going to discuss all of the details on the website. We are fine--our case is fine. Our families (along with outside sources) are looking into different options as to how to handle the situation at hand. Just please continue to pray for us!

I will keep you updated as much as possible with what's going on. Thanks for your love and support! WE NEED IT! We are growing very discouraged.

JP IS SO STINKIN' CUTE!

This will not mean as much to you as it did to me, but little JP learned how to crawl away from me when I chase him!!! It was the cutest thing I have ever seen. We were sitting in the living room and he began to crawl down the hallway...he's much braver than before!

Anyway, I said, "Joseph Pablo Beam, come here to me right now..." He started belly laughing and crawling as fast as his little legs would take him! I scooped him up and said, "GOTCHA!" He laughed so hard. As you can imagine, we repeated this for the next thirty minutes!

He is really starting to understand what we are saying to him! I was so excited! I will try and take pictures next time we play this little game!!!

UPDATE:

We are hoping to get our PINK slip once again today. JP's doctor's appointment is scheduled for tomorrow at 4:00. If we hear anything at all, I will make sure I post it. Tonight we are going to hang out with a couple of missionaries here. Their names are Josh and Casey. They are from the States. Josh is our friend, Terry's cousin---what a small world!

LOOKIN' FOR THE DOG!!!

I love my toys!