Sorry to be so late posting here, but WE HAVE A COURT DATE! Praising God big time here!
Court will take place on October 22nd. We do not have to be there for that, as in our children's country we are represented in court by our attorney. We should travel a few weeks later. Lord willing our kids will be home by Thanksgiving!
Please continue to pray for them as they wait and that everything goes well as we plan the trip and with court and the paperwork after court!
Showing posts with label Please Pray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Please Pray. Show all posts
Monday, October 7, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Heart Surgery Take Two
Well we are leaving again for Aleshia's heart surgery. . . again.
Please pray that it all goes well this time and that it happens the way it should and she does well. Her emotional wounds from the orphanage and institutional life she lived before she came to us are so deep. That makes this all SO much harder for her than even "normal". . .
Pray that we can all work together to keep her calm. We are driving her up and arriving late tonight. She is not suppose to have to have blood work or anything tonight. She should just be given calming meds to keep her calm and then kept calm until the surgery in the morning.
We were told we could just bring her up and have her there in the morning, but she is upset by getting in the van after the last trip. We would have to leave the house about 4 or more hours before the surgery in order to arrive for the surgery. She would be so worked up for the surgery that they would likely be unable to do it again. This way we will get there in time for them to give her calming meds and get her calm again. They are SUPPOSE to be prepared. We are also able to stop and let her eat on the way up today and are planning to take her in places to make it seem less like a trip to the hospital. PRAY THAT HELPS!
I don't feel in the least bit "cheery", but I'm planning to fake it big time today. I feel like I need to vomit. I in no way shape or form know how I will be able to pull this off, but I have to do it. She needs me to seem calm and happy today. I'm NOT.
Its a good thing that we've adopted so much. . . I've been faking being ok for a long time now. I've not been ok while I wait for the kids to come home. I've been faking it lots. I've felt like I could go into a crying heap in the floor ever since I left my babies back in June. I can't show that in front of my kids, because the 18 here deserve a mom who is happy and ready to enjoy life. I'm THRILLED they are all here, so it is a balancing act of enjoying them and fighting back the tears for the 3 that have my heart on the other side of the ocean. Poor Brent last night doesn't always get to have the "fake" though. The poor man pulled out the Bible for our devotion together before bed and unknowingly opened to the "Love" Chapter. The problem is that his version said "Charity" which sent me into sobs. It was late and I had faked it as long as I could. I miss them so much and I'd faked it all day, while preparing things to leave. I kept thinking back to how hard it was while waiting to get Aleshia home and how I'd "faked" it for the 13 at home back then. The things we do for our kids!! But today is one of those days that the "practice" of faking it during all these adoptions will come in handy again I guess.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pray for Aleshia!! Please pray for the medical teams working with her. Her surgery will be early in the morning. Remember the best place to keep up with updates on her will probably be on Facebook as long as my phone keeps allowing me to update because it is just easier, so you can check her Facebook page HERE. Also please pray for Matthew, Johnathan, and Charity as they wait and the people who need to sign things and give court dates so we can get them home with us. Not a day goes by that their names aren't mentioned 100 times here while I choke back tears.
Please pray that it all goes well this time and that it happens the way it should and she does well. Her emotional wounds from the orphanage and institutional life she lived before she came to us are so deep. That makes this all SO much harder for her than even "normal". . .
Pray that we can all work together to keep her calm. We are driving her up and arriving late tonight. She is not suppose to have to have blood work or anything tonight. She should just be given calming meds to keep her calm and then kept calm until the surgery in the morning.
We were told we could just bring her up and have her there in the morning, but she is upset by getting in the van after the last trip. We would have to leave the house about 4 or more hours before the surgery in order to arrive for the surgery. She would be so worked up for the surgery that they would likely be unable to do it again. This way we will get there in time for them to give her calming meds and get her calm again. They are SUPPOSE to be prepared. We are also able to stop and let her eat on the way up today and are planning to take her in places to make it seem less like a trip to the hospital. PRAY THAT HELPS!
I don't feel in the least bit "cheery", but I'm planning to fake it big time today. I feel like I need to vomit. I in no way shape or form know how I will be able to pull this off, but I have to do it. She needs me to seem calm and happy today. I'm NOT.
Its a good thing that we've adopted so much. . . I've been faking being ok for a long time now. I've not been ok while I wait for the kids to come home. I've been faking it lots. I've felt like I could go into a crying heap in the floor ever since I left my babies back in June. I can't show that in front of my kids, because the 18 here deserve a mom who is happy and ready to enjoy life. I'm THRILLED they are all here, so it is a balancing act of enjoying them and fighting back the tears for the 3 that have my heart on the other side of the ocean. Poor Brent last night doesn't always get to have the "fake" though. The poor man pulled out the Bible for our devotion together before bed and unknowingly opened to the "Love" Chapter. The problem is that his version said "Charity" which sent me into sobs. It was late and I had faked it as long as I could. I miss them so much and I'd faked it all day, while preparing things to leave. I kept thinking back to how hard it was while waiting to get Aleshia home and how I'd "faked" it for the 13 at home back then. The things we do for our kids!! But today is one of those days that the "practice" of faking it during all these adoptions will come in handy again I guess.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pray for Aleshia!! Please pray for the medical teams working with her. Her surgery will be early in the morning. Remember the best place to keep up with updates on her will probably be on Facebook as long as my phone keeps allowing me to update because it is just easier, so you can check her Facebook page HERE. Also please pray for Matthew, Johnathan, and Charity as they wait and the people who need to sign things and give court dates so we can get them home with us. Not a day goes by that their names aren't mentioned 100 times here while I choke back tears.
Here's a picture of Aleshia from Easter.
Our Have A Heart Giveaway is still going on and I'll end it once we are back.
We are still not fully funded to for the last of the trip
BUT we are SO close!
Thursday, September 12, 2013
ADOPTION VIDEO
Would you all like to see our ADOPTION VIDEO? My wonderfully amazing friend Colleen put it together for us. I am so unskilled at computer stuff that it is pitiful! She did an amazing job though! She is just starting her own amazing adoption journey to her son that she met while on my adoption trip and you can follow along with her HERE.
Here is Our Adoption Journey to Matthew, Johnathan, and Charity
Sunday, August 25, 2013
The Process and Why I Hate the Word WAIT
Those of us who live in the middle of the adoption world just LIVE the steps so much that we often forget that many people don't know what comes next. Unfortunately for me, most of it involves the word WAIT after each move. We are SO CLOSE now, but waiting is just so hard. Please pray for us as we wait and especially for them. Pray that the process moves quickly and that the "wait" parts are very short and the "move" parts are close together. Pray that the government and court officials who see our case will see the urgency of Matthew's situation and expedite his paperwork through as fast as possible. "WAIT" can mean 5 minutes, a day, a week, or two. . . . I'd really like it to mean 5 minutes. . . . but days instead of weeks could make a huge difference in Matthew's life. There are wonderful people in the country that my children are from who really do care about children and we just need to pray that they recognize the urgency of Matthew's situation and move it along as quickly as they can. We need to pray that holidays, breaks, and other things don't slow it down either. PLEASE PRAY!
Next in our process is that we need our documents to be submitted to the government and then we wait on a SIGNATURE. We pray that the government official who needs to sign it honors the "medical expedite" for Matthew. His medical expedite states that because of his current condition it is important for him to get home as quickly as possible because his life is in "imminent danger". Every time I think about that I get sick. . . .
After that signature, then our documents will be submitted to court where they will wait to be assigned to a judge.
Then our case will wait for a date to be given by that judge.
Then we will wait for that date to come.
Then we will have court and become their legal parents, but will have to wait for the documents to be ready before we can even get dates for travel. This day they are declared ours, but we still have to WAIT!
Once the documents are ready then we will be given a date to travel to pick them up and will have to wait for that date to arrive.
24 hours of travel to get to their country means lots of time spent waiting. I hate being away from my 18 kids at home and then not even with the 3 there yet is super hard waiting. Knowing I am getting ready to bring them home for good will make this waiting a little easier!
Once in country the wait is tremendous because once you are in their beautiful country, but can't get your children immediately it just is unbearable even though so close.
Once the day arrives you wake up WAY before the alarm goes off and have to wait for the time to go pick them up.
Once you get to the orphanage I will have to wait for them to bring my kids to me, even though I want to RUN up the stairs and grab them because I've waited way longer than anyone should ever have to wait.
After we pick them up we will have to rush back for passports and then go back to the hotel.
There will be tons to do over that next few days and all of it is just more of the process that is part of the wait to get them home to join our family and have all 21 of my kids together in one place safe and sound.
The travel to get home takes usually around 24 hours with kids who are tired, grumpy, and overstimulated. Matthew will be needing to get some medical care soon after getting home too, but we are hoping to be able to not go straight to the hospital and have appointments set up to keep him from inpatient if at all possible. Keith finds hospitals very stressful, so we don't want to thrust him into that right off if we can help it. We are praying we can manage to meet all his medical needs without going straight to the hospital and will set up appointments as soon as we have some idea as to a pickup time. That waiting in airports and on airplanes will not be easy!
NOW DO YOU KNOW WHY I HATE THE WORD WAIT EVEN MORE THAN A THREE YEAR OLD DOES????
I feel like a 3 year old whining, but I WANT THEM NOW!!! God has to be tired of hearing me whine. We really expect that we should be able to travel in October or November. . . even though I know the word "WAIT" is used a lot of times. . . it just seems like FOREVER still. . .
Please pray that they expedite on his account and that they help us get him home where his life won't be in "imminent danger" any more. Those two words haunt me in my sleep. . . I need to make those words no longer exist for my little boy and tuck all three into their beds at night where they are safe and loved.
You can help be a part of this end part of their journey home by CLICKING HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT OUR GIVEAWAY!
Next in our process is that we need our documents to be submitted to the government and then we wait on a SIGNATURE. We pray that the government official who needs to sign it honors the "medical expedite" for Matthew. His medical expedite states that because of his current condition it is important for him to get home as quickly as possible because his life is in "imminent danger". Every time I think about that I get sick. . . .
After that signature, then our documents will be submitted to court where they will wait to be assigned to a judge.
Then our case will wait for a date to be given by that judge.
Then we will wait for that date to come.
Then we will have court and become their legal parents, but will have to wait for the documents to be ready before we can even get dates for travel. This day they are declared ours, but we still have to WAIT!
Once the documents are ready then we will be given a date to travel to pick them up and will have to wait for that date to arrive.
24 hours of travel to get to their country means lots of time spent waiting. I hate being away from my 18 kids at home and then not even with the 3 there yet is super hard waiting. Knowing I am getting ready to bring them home for good will make this waiting a little easier!
Once in country the wait is tremendous because once you are in their beautiful country, but can't get your children immediately it just is unbearable even though so close.
Once the day arrives you wake up WAY before the alarm goes off and have to wait for the time to go pick them up.
Once you get to the orphanage I will have to wait for them to bring my kids to me, even though I want to RUN up the stairs and grab them because I've waited way longer than anyone should ever have to wait.
After we pick them up we will have to rush back for passports and then go back to the hotel.
There will be tons to do over that next few days and all of it is just more of the process that is part of the wait to get them home to join our family and have all 21 of my kids together in one place safe and sound.
The travel to get home takes usually around 24 hours with kids who are tired, grumpy, and overstimulated. Matthew will be needing to get some medical care soon after getting home too, but we are hoping to be able to not go straight to the hospital and have appointments set up to keep him from inpatient if at all possible. Keith finds hospitals very stressful, so we don't want to thrust him into that right off if we can help it. We are praying we can manage to meet all his medical needs without going straight to the hospital and will set up appointments as soon as we have some idea as to a pickup time. That waiting in airports and on airplanes will not be easy!
NOW DO YOU KNOW WHY I HATE THE WORD WAIT EVEN MORE THAN A THREE YEAR OLD DOES????
I feel like a 3 year old whining, but I WANT THEM NOW!!! God has to be tired of hearing me whine. We really expect that we should be able to travel in October or November. . . even though I know the word "WAIT" is used a lot of times. . . it just seems like FOREVER still. . .
You can help be a part of this end part of their journey home by CLICKING HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT OUR GIVEAWAY!
Friday, August 16, 2013
Aleshia Heart Surgery Update
Well Aleshia's open heart surgery did not go as planned. . . .
The day started out early and calm. We left the house with her still sleepy, in her pajamas, and doing well. We had to be there the day before the surgery to be admitted. The trip to the hospital was great. She was happy and pleasant. I can't say that things stayed that way though. . .
The day started out early and calm. We left the house with her still sleepy, in her pajamas, and doing well. We had to be there the day before the surgery to be admitted. The trip to the hospital was great. She was happy and pleasant. I can't say that things stayed that way though. . .
I can't type it all again, because I am SO drained. I'm adapting a post from her heart page as far as the explanation, but then adding some more details of other things too.
Our time in the hospital was SO HARD. Aleshia was all the way to the holding area for surgery before it was cancelled. The hospital itself was VERY traumatic for her. She threw up at shift changes, had to have knots in the sleeves of her pajamas, and was sticking her fingers waaaaayy back in her eye sockets. SO HARD TO SEE HER THAT WAY!!! (We requested meds, but ...were told not until later, but they have been informed that this will NOT be the case next time and a plan WILL be in place.) Four adults were required to get labs. After she kept making herself sicker they finally ran other labs bc she began to run a fever. We made it all the way to the holding are for the surgery before they got the results of an elevated white count. That ended the surgery! They started to talk about checking for lung infections, but I insisted on a strep test since we had a child with a positive test that they knew about the week prior. Our primary care had wanted to treat Aleshia then, but the first person I had to talk to at Cardiology had said "no" and not relayed the information fully and told me he worked for a different hospital. The second person said it would be up to the primary care, but it was too late at that point since our primary office is small and was closed. The rest of our day didn't go any better as the nurse didn't do the strep test right the first time and then still the 2nd time didn't use a tongue depressor and wasn't going to swab the tonsils. . . I insisted and Aleshia did test positive for Strep. She is rescheduled for September 16th for her open heart surgery. This is pushing WAY TOO CLOSE to adoption pickup time for our newest three kids. We really do need prayer for that.
Aleshia needs lots of prayers!!! The whole things was very traumatizing. It reminded her very much of her time in the orphanage and institution. IT IS SAD THAT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY HAS SO LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF CHILDREN FROM TRAUMA BACKGROUNDS!!! We are seeing regression and she doesn't want to get in the van. We had to go to our primary care provider today and she was terrified to get in the van and SO upset. Please please pray for her to be ok soon. Please pray that we can work with the people there to come up with a plan for her care for the next surgery that will reduce anxiety levels for her. Healing will be very hard if she is that upset. She cannot be so upset she is puking after open heart surgery. There is a special team there specifically for kids that have had previous issues in the hospital that I will be working with and I will be making SURE that we come up with a plan that seems to meet her needs in the best possible way. We now know what her reaction is and we have to make sure we do everything we can to make sure we are doing everything possible to keep her calm. I'll be calling them to start the planning next week. Please pray for all of us as we try to come up with solutions!
Aleshia needs lots of prayers!!! The whole things was very traumatizing. It reminded her very much of her time in the orphanage and institution. IT IS SAD THAT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY HAS SO LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF CHILDREN FROM TRAUMA BACKGROUNDS!!! We are seeing regression and she doesn't want to get in the van. We had to go to our primary care provider today and she was terrified to get in the van and SO upset. Please please pray for her to be ok soon. Please pray that we can work with the people there to come up with a plan for her care for the next surgery that will reduce anxiety levels for her. Healing will be very hard if she is that upset. She cannot be so upset she is puking after open heart surgery. There is a special team there specifically for kids that have had previous issues in the hospital that I will be working with and I will be making SURE that we come up with a plan that seems to meet her needs in the best possible way. We now know what her reaction is and we have to make sure we do everything we can to make sure we are doing everything possible to keep her calm. I'll be calling them to start the planning next week. Please pray for all of us as we try to come up with solutions!
Please also pray for our adoption of the three children we are in process for right now. All three need to come home soon, but Matthew is in very severe condition and needs to come home extremely badly. He has a medical expedite that says if we don't get there quickly then he may not make it home at all. We did get good news today stating that our Article 5 interview is going to be Wednesday. Unfortunately many people are on vacation there right now, so the signature we need for the next step could be much delayed. . . .
Please consider helping get them home and us get funded for their adoption by sharing or donating. We have great gifts to offer in our GIVEAWAY SO CLICK HERE! Our trip for them won't be that long after her surgery now with this delay, so I need to find some way to get funded and I'm trusting God to help us do that.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Trip to Meet the Three Part 4: Meeting Matthew
Well, meeting Matthew was very different than I expected. Matthew had grown since he had been given a Baba (Again this is "grandmother" in their language and is provided by a ministry there. He received one because they found out he had a family coming.). He had gained weight and instead of 18 pounds at almost 10 years old, he was now between 20 and 22 pounds. I was THRILLED to see that he had gained weight!! My immediate thoughts were that he was doing SO much better than I expected. He was very drawn up of course, but to know that this Baba was taking the time to feed him and in such a short time he had gained so much was both thrilling and sad. If he could gain so much so quickly, then how sad that it took knowing a family was coming for him to get a Baba. Yet resources are limited. They never imagined that HE would be chosen. . . this broke my heart into a million pieces. . .
This first picture was me working with him on our first visit,
I needed to know for dressing purposes how much movement there is.
I needed to know for carseat purposes what his legs could comfortably do.
So I just slowly talked to him and began to move his legs while rubbing them softly.
Just a little at a time. . .
This picture is a very content and comfortable little boy.
It feels good to not be so tight. . .
It feels good to have your legs release.
It feels good to SMILE!
(No one there knew he could smile)
It feels really good to know you are loved!
This is from our 2nd visit on the first day.
This picture is how Matthew lives every day, except that most of his life is spent flat.
He lives this drawn up.
His hands, arms, and legs are all drawn up and tight.
This next picture shows you the difference that 90 minutes of love and soft touch
made to my very love starved boy.
When I saw this comparison that night I could barely sleep.
His face changed.
His arms relaxed.
His legs relaxed
This day we finally got permission for him to go outside.
You can see that even though his legs are long
(and somewhat distorted in the picture above because of the angle),
he is a very small boy for almost 10 at the time.
Before he went for his Visa pictures, his Baba gave him a haircut.
Since the pictures had to be taken on a white background
and he is unable to sit up
he went on this and had his picture take laying on it.
I'm not going to talk about my last day with him. Aleshia has heart surgery in just a couple days and talking about having to leave him is too much to bear. Let's just say that my little boy is laying right now in the position that he laid in for all the years before. No one is giving him kisses or helping him relax. No one knows everything that I learned about him during that week.
While I was there I learned a lot about my little boy. His teeth have all rotted out till they are below the gum line for the most part. Most of the cause is reflux, but no one thinks he has reflux. See in an orphanage no one is noticing what happens after you eat. . . they don't have time. Mommy notices when you are throwing up and swallowing it. He also lays flat in a bed all the time, which makes the reflux worse. . . My little boy is also suffering from silent seizures. Once he is home we will be headed straight for a neurologist. They will deal with many issues, but the silent seizures will be addressed very quickly.
The thought of how my little guy is living is heartbreaking. I can barely breathe when I think of it. It kills me to think that it was caused by a traumatic brain injury when his birthfather beat him into a coma. I pray that he doesn't even remember that! I pray he doesn't even remember when he use to be able to run around, play, and talk. I do KNOW that he understands much more than people think.
HE VERY CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE!
*There are links on the right side bar if you would like to help bring Matthew, Johnathan, and Charity home. There will be a big giveaway starting here in the next day or two as well!
Please please pray that this process moves quickly. Pray for him as he endures the wait.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Trip to Meet the Three: Part 1 An Unexpected Meeting
My friend Colleen came in from out of state to go with me on the trip and for that I am so thankful! (A little later you will hear more about Colleen and what God had in store for her during this trip, but that will be a post entirely of its own, but rest assured that we serve a very big God!!) When we went to meet my next three kids I was pleasantly surprised by the changes in their orphanage. They are in the same place that Keith came from. That place was so devoid of sound or movement for so long. The children had been neglected and starved. Keith spent over 5 years there and 2 1/2 years of that were in an isolation room. Knowing my three children were there was so hard and I knew that a new director had taken over so I had continued to pray that the good things I had heard were happening were true. I prayed that they were feeling those good changes make changes in their lives that were tangible.
It was obvious upon arriving that good changes had taken place. There were Babas (the word for grandmother and these are people who are employed by ministries to come in and are assigned to a couple children each) out and about with children in strollers that were on the road and visible before we even arrived at the orphanage. You could see and hear children. We began to see children who we "knew". I knew them from pictures because they too are being adopted. They were not the tiny and starving children that they once were, but are now beginning to grow. Please understand that these are children still in SERIOUS need, but it is because of the YEARS of lack of care. The adoptable children need families quickly so that they can get individual care and attention only available in families where you have parents (and siblings!) who love and care for you individually. She can't change the fact that they were left in their beds for years, teeth rotted out, they aren't even half the size they should be, bones grew the wrong way, muscles atrophied, and children were left to lay so long that they developed rocking and stopped developing. She HAS however come in and changed their nutrition and started to get them out of their beds more. The changes are evident and much appreciated. They are a definite testament to the work of the new director! Please continue to pray for her, because the needs of those children are so great and she has a HUGE undertaking still ahead of her to help them heal.
The heaviness of the place is gone and it smells and appears clean. We waited in the front lobby area for our chance to go meet my babies. I was so thankful to have my friend Colleen with me. The excitement of the morning had me completely on edge. I had woke up WAY before the alarm and was showered and dressed before poor Colleen had gotten up. She had to have thought me insane, since I am NOT an early morning person! I couldn't wait to get there and now here I was so close, but still WAITING!!!
As we waited there with kids going by, some we recognized and some that we did not, I just couldn't help but wondering which child would be brought to us first once we were taken to the meeting room. I kept hoping that the time would come soon to go there! THEN THERE HE WAS!!! JOHNATHAN WAS STANDING RIGHT THERE!!! He was on his way outside with his Baba and MY SON was standing right there. I had no way to communicate because my interpreter was arranging things in the office. I had to approach though!!! Who waits so many months and can wait longer with their child right in front of them????
So for a split second there he was, Johnathan. . . my son. . . in the lobby. . .
It was obvious upon arriving that good changes had taken place. There were Babas (the word for grandmother and these are people who are employed by ministries to come in and are assigned to a couple children each) out and about with children in strollers that were on the road and visible before we even arrived at the orphanage. You could see and hear children. We began to see children who we "knew". I knew them from pictures because they too are being adopted. They were not the tiny and starving children that they once were, but are now beginning to grow. Please understand that these are children still in SERIOUS need, but it is because of the YEARS of lack of care. The adoptable children need families quickly so that they can get individual care and attention only available in families where you have parents (and siblings!) who love and care for you individually. She can't change the fact that they were left in their beds for years, teeth rotted out, they aren't even half the size they should be, bones grew the wrong way, muscles atrophied, and children were left to lay so long that they developed rocking and stopped developing. She HAS however come in and changed their nutrition and started to get them out of their beds more. The changes are evident and much appreciated. They are a definite testament to the work of the new director! Please continue to pray for her, because the needs of those children are so great and she has a HUGE undertaking still ahead of her to help them heal.
The heaviness of the place is gone and it smells and appears clean. We waited in the front lobby area for our chance to go meet my babies. I was so thankful to have my friend Colleen with me. The excitement of the morning had me completely on edge. I had woke up WAY before the alarm and was showered and dressed before poor Colleen had gotten up. She had to have thought me insane, since I am NOT an early morning person! I couldn't wait to get there and now here I was so close, but still WAITING!!!
As we waited there with kids going by, some we recognized and some that we did not, I just couldn't help but wondering which child would be brought to us first once we were taken to the meeting room. I kept hoping that the time would come soon to go there! THEN THERE HE WAS!!! JOHNATHAN WAS STANDING RIGHT THERE!!! He was on his way outside with his Baba and MY SON was standing right there. I had no way to communicate because my interpreter was arranging things in the office. I had to approach though!!! Who waits so many months and can wait longer with their child right in front of them????
So for a split second there he was, Johnathan. . . my son. . . in the lobby. . .
I can't get the video to share, so you just get "still shots" from the video. So thankful that Colleen was quick even when we weren't expecting it. More to come!
Please help us get them home! Lots of opportunities to help! Links for fundraisers are on the top right side of the blog!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The Questions with No Answers and Being Real
Ok, so it is the middle of the day and not when I usually blog. I need to blog though bc what I'm thinking isn't something that can "come out" while I'm in there with my kids. What I'm about to blog about isn't "fun" or what anyone wants to read about. It isn't happy or what anyone wants to go share. It isn't the "happy cheerleader" stuff that makes people want to come visit my blog or donate to our adoption to get my kids home and it isn't the kind of stuff that I usually blog about. Its just what is clogging up my brain. It probably won't come out in a logical way. It probably won't be eloquent like so many blog and maybe not even coherent.
This adoption is SO hard. This adoption is SO different. We love all three of these kids SO much. We worry about all three of them SO much. They all lived in an orphanage that they received very subpar care even for the worst of orphanage for years, but now things are improving and we are so thankful for that. There is someone new in charge who is working hard to right the wrongs and for that we are so thankful. That person can't fix it all at once, but she is trying hard and that is all anyone can do.
Matthew is 9 and 18lbs though. That is tiny!! Matthew is contracted up horribly from laying there for years and starving for years and laying and laying and laying.
This adoption is SO hard. This adoption is SO different. We love all three of these kids SO much. We worry about all three of them SO much. They all lived in an orphanage that they received very subpar care even for the worst of orphanage for years, but now things are improving and we are so thankful for that. There is someone new in charge who is working hard to right the wrongs and for that we are so thankful. That person can't fix it all at once, but she is trying hard and that is all anyone can do.
Matthew is 9 and 18lbs though. That is tiny!! Matthew is contracted up horribly from laying there for years and starving for years and laying and laying and laying.
His physical condition kills me. I could lay and cry in a fetal position over how fragile my baby boy is. I fear each morning and email that says he didn't make it till we got there. I cry as I type that. I fear it so much. I fear he will die alone.
What is killing me today and a lot of days and has made me literally sick this week is what he must think.
He was beat into a coma by his birthfather. . . Does he remember??? Was he abused all the time those first 4 1/2 years?? Was it rare or often?? Was it a drunken rage??? Does he remember being a little boy who could run around and play before that beating and now he has legs that won't straighten???? How scared is he right now? Does he cringe as each adult approaches? Does the crib feel a prison that keeps him from the freedom he had those first 4 1/2 years or does it actually feel safe after 4 1/2 years of abuse?
These are the things that drive me nearly crazy today. . . I have no power to comfort him across that ocean. I can't tell him that love and safety are just a short time away.
How bad do the contractures hurt? How much pain is he in?
Sometimes I hope that the brain injury is enough that he doesn't remember the beating. Does he remember the family? Does he feel the abandonment?
Oh God please just don't let him feel all the emotional pain and fear.
Please God give us that signature soon! Please God hold my baby boy until I can!
Please God take these tears from me today and help me to put on the front of "Happy Mom" that my kids need here.
So sorry to all of you who don't see "this side" often, but I have to put it somewhere today and this is where it has to go. . . Please pray for Matthew, the process, the signature, my tears to dry up. . .
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Really Cool Giveaway!!!
So here are the prizes:
1. We have the entire What's in the Bible with Buck Denver series! That is Volumes 1-10!!! This is the best dvd series ever for kids and honestly has everyone in our house excited every time a new episode comes out. They are so wonderful there that when I told them about our adoption and fundraising needs, they donated the WHOLE 10 DVD SET!! This set retails for $129.99 and even more if each is bought separately! We are so thankful for their help and generosity!! They also are letting us raise money towards our adoption as affiliates, so you can shop with them and help our adoption anytime at this link: SHOP HERE
WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO ADD THAT GREAT SET TO THEIR LIBRARY!!??!!!
2. We have a $100 giftcard or donation to waiting child or adopting family of your choice!! The winner of this will let me know if they prefer a giftcard to Walmart or child or family on Reece's Rainbow to recieve the $100 once the giveaway ends!
3. VEGGIE TALE PACK #1: This is a package of Veggie Tales DVDs
4. VEGGIE TALE PACK #2: This is this package of Veggie Tale DVDs
5. VEGGIE TALE PACK #3: This is for a package of "I Can Read" books
7. The newest Veggie Tale movie can be added to your collection!
8 and 9!! We are going to order and give away two copies of Volume #10 of What's in the Bible!! This is seriously the very best presentation of the Bible ever and it is our pleasure to give it away. Your children will experience God's love for them with an explanation that they will understand and will leave them in awe of His love and Christ's sacrifice.
10. I am going to order a What's in the Bible Volume #1 for someone else to start their collection just for SHARING THIS GIVEAWAY! So you help us get started with our giveaway and we'll help you get started with your What's in the Bible collection! (For this part of the giveaway all you need to do is share and comment to tell me where you shared to be entered!!!)
Entering is easy as 1, 2, 3! 1)Just donate towards our adoption at our FSP: CLICK HERE
2) Email me your receipt from that donation to abcunroe@yahoo.com
3) If you want to be a part of the share gift then share this and comment!
For every $5 you donate to our adoption fund you will receive one entry into our giveaway, so the more you help us the more chances you have to win!!!!
THEN, if you would like a chance to win LOTS of extra prizes (over $5,000 worth!!!) go see how you can enter Mulligan Stew as well!! CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW YOU CAN BE ENTERED THERE! This is a really great giveaway and Casey is one of the orphans that is listed there that you can give money toward. If you donate to him, send that receipt to abcunroe@yahoo.com for an extra entry into my giveaway as well.
Please pray that things will move quickly with the process! The last pieces of our dossier is on its way to the children's country. Most of our dossier is already there and translated. We are getting so close to trip #1!!!! Aleshia will be having Open Heart surgery on June 6th, so I really need to do this trip #1 in May! Matthew there is in such horrible condition, so I really need to get to him quickly as well. We really need our FSP to read around $9,000 for this first trip. Can you help us get there??? This Giveaway will go until the 20th of April!!!
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Small Update
Just thought I'd give a small update. As of today, our homestudy is being reviewed by our international agency to see if any corrections need made. After that it will be officially printed and sent to them for the Hague certificate that we need. Then it will go to USCIS. All that happens rather quickly, up until USCIS. That often takes a couple months. Please pray that someone gets it who moves it through quickly!
We just finished up a quick auction on Facebook and I will be busy mailing things out. The auctions have been a huge help with getting together those beginning funds. Adoption is expensive and we just finished the last one just months ago, so the auctions have really helped us to keep moving forward funds wise.
Our social worker just finished up our first post placement visit. That is being reviewed now. It is AMAZING how much the children have changed. I should have new pictures to share soon too. We just had Christmas pictures done that I will send with our post placement report. I may be a little partial, but my kids were sure adorable dressed up in their Christmas clothes! Hope to show you soon!
Here are a couple little boys who are waiting in the same place that Thad, Carson, and Presley are waiting. These two still need families!
CHAD
KRAMER
Both of these boys need families so badly. You can click on their names to learn more about them. Reece's Rainbow has more info on them or you can email Shelley at shele337@yahoo.com
We just finished up a quick auction on Facebook and I will be busy mailing things out. The auctions have been a huge help with getting together those beginning funds. Adoption is expensive and we just finished the last one just months ago, so the auctions have really helped us to keep moving forward funds wise.
Our social worker just finished up our first post placement visit. That is being reviewed now. It is AMAZING how much the children have changed. I should have new pictures to share soon too. We just had Christmas pictures done that I will send with our post placement report. I may be a little partial, but my kids were sure adorable dressed up in their Christmas clothes! Hope to show you soon!
Here are a couple little boys who are waiting in the same place that Thad, Carson, and Presley are waiting. These two still need families!
CHAD
KRAMER
Both of these boys need families so badly. You can click on their names to learn more about them. Reece's Rainbow has more info on them or you can email Shelley at shele337@yahoo.com
Friday, November 16, 2012
Update and Adoption Auction
Sorry I haven't been on much. Things have been a little busy and when they are the updating here is the first thing to get left out.
Keith has had an infection in his sinuses and ears ever since I picked him up. He's had antibiotics almost constantly and even tried antibiotic shots. We've been to ENTs that were afraid to do anything because of his size, but who said that he wouldn't get better without surgery to put in ear tubes and remove his tonsils and adnoids. A couple weeks ago the infection got too bad while we were waiting to go to a new ENT that upcoming Monday and he ended up in PICU. He'd only been off of antibiotics for about 5 days!! Thursday at an appointment with our primary care provider his lungs were clear and Saturday he had pneumonia.
The pneumonia ended up being a lot less scary than watching his response to being in a PICU room in a crib with people in scrubs. :( I can't even describe to you what it is like to see your baby that scared. I found that his stress and fear was much reduced if I was in the crib (they should make those things bigger!) with him, so for 3 nights this Mama slept in a crib at the hospital. I came home one time for a shower and not until Daddy and Dayton were there with him! Dayton stayed over there during the days, bc we didn't want him to feel like he was in an "isolation room" again. I held the breathing treatment mask, bc the scrubs scared him that the hospital staff wore. Crazy how we never think about those connections and how they must be woven in their brains until you see the terror on their sweet little faces! Children don't belong in places like that. They need medical care, love, and comfort. Cribs should never bring fear into a child's eyes! Here at home, he is never in the crib except at night. Not even naps are in the crib! He spent far too long in a crib and I won't have him in one unless it is necessary. I usually get him to sleep before I even put him in it.
I will say that we had a not good experience with one of the PICU doctors. Keith (and Dayton) got to see what happens when someone messes with Mama Bears little cub. Any time what happens comes up and I tell someone the story, Keith laughs hysterically. He might look little, but he is FIVE year old in there and he fully appreciated the wrath of Mama coming down on the doctor who wasn't doing it right! lol
The picture above is of him heading home from the hospital. He's home and doing wonderful again now. We went to a new ENT this past Monday and he will be having the surgery he needs this coming Wednesday. Yes, the day before Thanksgiving. Not the best time to not be feeling well. Our hope is that he will not be hospitalized for this one, but if he is then we will have Thanksgiving whenever he gets out. He needs this done so that he can get healthy and that is the first available appointment. He will NOT be off of antibiotics at all until after the surgery. Please pray that the surgery goes very well and he heals up perfectly!
This picture is how happy Keith was even at the doctor's office when the "people in scrubs" (AKA nurses) left the room! Love that smile and so blessed to get to be his Mama!
We also went on a Wednesday night to speak at a large church locally about adoption. Our kids do great at church usually. Nicholas got out of the van and immediately freaked out. The church was a large brick building just like his institution. :( It took him a very long to calm down and a lot of reassurance and time to feel safe. He was loud and afraid. It was pitiful to watch. He was terrified that he was "going back". At home, and in places that he has been and knows, he is a very comfortable acting little guy. You put him in a place that looks like it could be an institution and in the dark and he is still frightened. He will get better the rest of the way. You'd already not recognize him as the little boy that I picked up! He just has to keep experiencing that even places that look like that will never separate him from the love of his family and whatever was scary behind those walls, will never bother him again.
I just won't apologize for Nicholas's noise the other night either. That is exactly why Christians need to get off their butts and go adopt children. Children should NOT be in institutions. They should NOT be in foster care. They should NOT be in orphanages. CHRISTIANS should be DOING what GOD SAID and then children would be loved and cared for. The Bible says that what we do unto the least of these we do unto Him, so that means we are leaving Him to waste away, be afraid and alone, and feel unloved and forgotten . . . to the point that scrubs, brick buildings, and cribs are all scary things. No child should live that way. I dare to say that it isn't the fault of the governments. . . yes that probably isn't a popular belief. Governments are not the ones commanded by God to take care of the "orphans". God told US, His adopted children, to take care of them. Is it expensive? YES Is it difficult? YES Do you end up in uncomfortable situations (like a crib)? YES Will you get your hands dirty? YES BUT IT IS WORTH EVERY SINGLE SECOND AND THE REWARD FAR OUTWEIGH THE COSTS!! That is the truth of it. God said to do it and no matter how uncomfortable it makes people, that is what we are suppose to do. LOVE THEM LIKE HE LOVED US!
We do have a Facebook Auction going on right now. It will help with the fees to bring home the next 3 Unroes! Lots of wonderful Christmas presents are available to purchase at great prices!! We've had some wonderful donations so go check it out! Three More For the Unroes Christmas Auction
Keith has had an infection in his sinuses and ears ever since I picked him up. He's had antibiotics almost constantly and even tried antibiotic shots. We've been to ENTs that were afraid to do anything because of his size, but who said that he wouldn't get better without surgery to put in ear tubes and remove his tonsils and adnoids. A couple weeks ago the infection got too bad while we were waiting to go to a new ENT that upcoming Monday and he ended up in PICU. He'd only been off of antibiotics for about 5 days!! Thursday at an appointment with our primary care provider his lungs were clear and Saturday he had pneumonia.
The pneumonia ended up being a lot less scary than watching his response to being in a PICU room in a crib with people in scrubs. :( I can't even describe to you what it is like to see your baby that scared. I found that his stress and fear was much reduced if I was in the crib (they should make those things bigger!) with him, so for 3 nights this Mama slept in a crib at the hospital. I came home one time for a shower and not until Daddy and Dayton were there with him! Dayton stayed over there during the days, bc we didn't want him to feel like he was in an "isolation room" again. I held the breathing treatment mask, bc the scrubs scared him that the hospital staff wore. Crazy how we never think about those connections and how they must be woven in their brains until you see the terror on their sweet little faces! Children don't belong in places like that. They need medical care, love, and comfort. Cribs should never bring fear into a child's eyes! Here at home, he is never in the crib except at night. Not even naps are in the crib! He spent far too long in a crib and I won't have him in one unless it is necessary. I usually get him to sleep before I even put him in it.
I will say that we had a not good experience with one of the PICU doctors. Keith (and Dayton) got to see what happens when someone messes with Mama Bears little cub. Any time what happens comes up and I tell someone the story, Keith laughs hysterically. He might look little, but he is FIVE year old in there and he fully appreciated the wrath of Mama coming down on the doctor who wasn't doing it right! lol
The picture above is of him heading home from the hospital. He's home and doing wonderful again now. We went to a new ENT this past Monday and he will be having the surgery he needs this coming Wednesday. Yes, the day before Thanksgiving. Not the best time to not be feeling well. Our hope is that he will not be hospitalized for this one, but if he is then we will have Thanksgiving whenever he gets out. He needs this done so that he can get healthy and that is the first available appointment. He will NOT be off of antibiotics at all until after the surgery. Please pray that the surgery goes very well and he heals up perfectly!
This picture is how happy Keith was even at the doctor's office when the "people in scrubs" (AKA nurses) left the room! Love that smile and so blessed to get to be his Mama!
We also went on a Wednesday night to speak at a large church locally about adoption. Our kids do great at church usually. Nicholas got out of the van and immediately freaked out. The church was a large brick building just like his institution. :( It took him a very long to calm down and a lot of reassurance and time to feel safe. He was loud and afraid. It was pitiful to watch. He was terrified that he was "going back". At home, and in places that he has been and knows, he is a very comfortable acting little guy. You put him in a place that looks like it could be an institution and in the dark and he is still frightened. He will get better the rest of the way. You'd already not recognize him as the little boy that I picked up! He just has to keep experiencing that even places that look like that will never separate him from the love of his family and whatever was scary behind those walls, will never bother him again.
I just won't apologize for Nicholas's noise the other night either. That is exactly why Christians need to get off their butts and go adopt children. Children should NOT be in institutions. They should NOT be in foster care. They should NOT be in orphanages. CHRISTIANS should be DOING what GOD SAID and then children would be loved and cared for. The Bible says that what we do unto the least of these we do unto Him, so that means we are leaving Him to waste away, be afraid and alone, and feel unloved and forgotten . . . to the point that scrubs, brick buildings, and cribs are all scary things. No child should live that way. I dare to say that it isn't the fault of the governments. . . yes that probably isn't a popular belief. Governments are not the ones commanded by God to take care of the "orphans". God told US, His adopted children, to take care of them. Is it expensive? YES Is it difficult? YES Do you end up in uncomfortable situations (like a crib)? YES Will you get your hands dirty? YES BUT IT IS WORTH EVERY SINGLE SECOND AND THE REWARD FAR OUTWEIGH THE COSTS!! That is the truth of it. God said to do it and no matter how uncomfortable it makes people, that is what we are suppose to do. LOVE THEM LIKE HE LOVED US!
We do have a Facebook Auction going on right now. It will help with the fees to bring home the next 3 Unroes! Lots of wonderful Christmas presents are available to purchase at great prices!! We've had some wonderful donations so go check it out! Three More For the Unroes Christmas Auction
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Commitment Paperwork? Who?
Our commitment paperwork arrived in country today. It is in the hands of our wonderful attorney. We are praying that all goes well and that it is submitted soon. Holding our breath till the commitment papers are accepted!
*In case you don't know the process and terms, the "commitment papers" are not to commit us to some crazy farm for having 18 kids and being ready to adopt again. ;) They are the papers where we are requesting the government of their country allows us to commit to adopt them. This is a packet explaining a lot about our family, the adjustment of the other children into our family, and our preparedness to adopt again. It also explains how the 3 children that we are wanting to commit to will fit into our family. It gives details about our family and tells where in the process we are and how soon our homestudy will be ready to go off to USCIS.
So who are we asking to be allowed to commit to?
*In case you don't know the process and terms, the "commitment papers" are not to commit us to some crazy farm for having 18 kids and being ready to adopt again. ;) They are the papers where we are requesting the government of their country allows us to commit to adopt them. This is a packet explaining a lot about our family, the adjustment of the other children into our family, and our preparedness to adopt again. It also explains how the 3 children that we are wanting to commit to will fit into our family. It gives details about our family and tells where in the process we are and how soon our homestudy will be ready to go off to USCIS.
So who are we asking to be allowed to commit to?
Presley is 3
Carson is 6
Thad is 9
Those are only their online Reece's Rainbow names. We will be choosing new names, so we are actually working on that now. Please pray that the commitment papers are accepted, that
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Aleshia is sick and we miss her with pictures
Aleshia had an Echo this morning. She was sedated for it and did not wake up well from the sedation. The doctor got a good piece of my mind and will again. We won't be going back to him either, because I think he gave her too much medication. She is spending a night in the PICU for observation, but is back awake after a very long 8 1/2 hours at least of sleeping. I was with her during the day and Brent is with her now, so that I could come home with the other kids.
She was doing much better when I left though. Praise God for this smile!
Yes, she was sitting and holding Aleshia's picture from Aleshia's old picture album. She got it out all on her own. This is so SWEET and so SAD too. Julianne has slept in her own bed every since Aleshia came home. They giggle and laugh after the lights are out and Julianne even turns them back on sometimes. (wink)
She was doing much better when I left though. Praise God for this smile!
We all miss her terribly. Life just isn't the same without her here. Julianne was asleep when Aleshia left this morning for the Echo and is missing her worst of all I think.
I had to use the flash on the camera to get this picture of her. She went in, flipped out her light, and was sitting like this when I went in to check on here.
She misses her very much as do we. I bet I have a little girl back in my bed tonight. Praying Aleshia continues to do well and is back home tomorrow morning before Julianne even wakes up.
Aleshia has a family now and WE don't know what to do without her!
Friday, September 14, 2012
Why I've Been So Quiet . . . Are you Ready?
I'm sorry I haven't gotten Nicholas's update post up. I'll try to get that up soon. I've been a little busy though. You're thinking "Busy, with 18 kids". lol The kids are doing WONDERFUL and things here are running very smoothly. Our new homeschool year has kicked off well and our Homeschool Co-Op is back in session every other Friday. All is well and wonderful! (I even have new family pictures to share with you soon and a picture of all 5 of our little Bulgarian/Americans together!)
We've been busy with PAPERWORK!
Brent knew when he was at Keith's place for trip #1, that God would be sending us back there. We didn't know "when". We figured it would take a while to settle these in. God fixed that though and they settled in easier we could have ever imagined. They are wonderful, amazing, thriving, and joyful!!! Laughter and Bulgarian words ring through the house. We all often use the words for "Yes", "No", "Wait", "Stop", "Dog", "Goodnight" and a few others interchangeably with the English version because we LOVE the way that it sounds. The Bulgarian language is BEAUTIFUL! They understand almost everything in English already and Ahnja speaks quite a bit. Anita and Nicholas both speak a little bit of English already too. They enjoy church, going out to eat, family movies with snacks, playing outside, and so many other things. They all readily accept and even initiate affection. LIFE IS WONDERFUL!!!!
So God has made it clear to us that we are going BACK! Yes, we will be heading to where little Keith came from to bring home 3 additional children. I can't say "who" yet, as we are working on the official commitment documents. Our homestudy money has already been paid and paperwork is already in the hands of the agency.
You will notice that there is already a "Chip In" on the sidebar of this blog to allow for donations. We also have a Facebook Auction running right now to help with the beginning costs. We've not had much time to save up fees toward this adoption and there are fees due right off the bat. We could just wait to save them all, but then the children wait longer. That is not something that we want to happen, especially with the children where Keith came from. The government has made changes to try to help correct the problems there, but with YEARS of neglect in its most severe form these children need to come home quickly where love, nutrition, opportunity, therapies, etc can help them to overcome what they have lived through.
I'll have a giveaway or two run from this blog soon as well.
Please pray as we move forward that everything moves smoothly and quickly and that God will take care of them while we work hard to bring them home!
We've been busy with PAPERWORK!
Brent knew when he was at Keith's place for trip #1, that God would be sending us back there. We didn't know "when". We figured it would take a while to settle these in. God fixed that though and they settled in easier we could have ever imagined. They are wonderful, amazing, thriving, and joyful!!! Laughter and Bulgarian words ring through the house. We all often use the words for "Yes", "No", "Wait", "Stop", "Dog", "Goodnight" and a few others interchangeably with the English version because we LOVE the way that it sounds. The Bulgarian language is BEAUTIFUL! They understand almost everything in English already and Ahnja speaks quite a bit. Anita and Nicholas both speak a little bit of English already too. They enjoy church, going out to eat, family movies with snacks, playing outside, and so many other things. They all readily accept and even initiate affection. LIFE IS WONDERFUL!!!!
So God has made it clear to us that we are going BACK! Yes, we will be heading to where little Keith came from to bring home 3 additional children. I can't say "who" yet, as we are working on the official commitment documents. Our homestudy money has already been paid and paperwork is already in the hands of the agency.
You will notice that there is already a "Chip In" on the sidebar of this blog to allow for donations. We also have a Facebook Auction running right now to help with the beginning costs. We've not had much time to save up fees toward this adoption and there are fees due right off the bat. We could just wait to save them all, but then the children wait longer. That is not something that we want to happen, especially with the children where Keith came from. The government has made changes to try to help correct the problems there, but with YEARS of neglect in its most severe form these children need to come home quickly where love, nutrition, opportunity, therapies, etc can help them to overcome what they have lived through.
I'll have a giveaway or two run from this blog soon as well.
Please pray as we move forward that everything moves smoothly and quickly and that God will take care of them while we work hard to bring them home!
Saturday, August 11, 2012
The Difference Love Makes
Well, all of the children are continuing to do VERY well. I really am going to try to have a full update on here the first part of the week on everyone. We've been very busy watching the Olympics. We got some glimpses of Bulgarian athletes that we could root for and of course were rooting for the USA. That meant popcorn, candy bars, and other snacks were in full force - much to the delight of our newest family members!!!
Keith has grown so very much already!!! He weighed 18 pounds at the doctors appointment that we went to on Thursday, which meant he had gained another 2 1/2 pounds in the 2 weeks since he was weighed on those exact scales! Our scales weigh him 2 lbs heavier (what we weighed him on before one of my other updates) and he weighs in at 20lbs on those scales. *This means that I like his weight on our scales and I like my weight on the doctor's scales!!! hahaha*
Keith has grown so very much already!!! He weighed 18 pounds at the doctors appointment that we went to on Thursday, which meant he had gained another 2 1/2 pounds in the 2 weeks since he was weighed on those exact scales! Our scales weigh him 2 lbs heavier (what we weighed him on before one of my other updates) and he weighs in at 20lbs on those scales. *This means that I like his weight on our scales and I like my weight on the doctor's scales!!! hahaha*
Watch this video and see one of his favorite things to do!
Yes, my sweet boy LOVES to laugh!
He laughs around his bottles.
He looks up when he is in his seat just waiting for a few tickles to get him going!
There are two special children still waiting in the horrible place that Keith came from.
Many of the children have families coming for them,
BUT these TWO still wait
and their time is limited
because their files will be going back soon!
They have nothing to laugh about.
No LOVE.
No ATTENTION.
No Mommy on the way.
NO HOPE!
Unless someone steps out in faith
and allows God to use them.
THIS IS PENNY.
She is 12 years old and only weighs 21 pounds.
She still takes a bottle and has never had even a small chance.
THIS IS PAYTON.
He is 8 years old and only weighs 17 pounds.
In May 2012, after treatment through the medical fund, he was diagnosed with severe malnutrition. He has been placed on a specific feeding regimen to address this issue. He is currently almost 8 years old and weighs just 17 pounds. He has also received lens implants to fix his cataracts. He has spent the majority of his life in a crib. He shows an interest in what is going on around him and enjoys attention. He needs a family that will help him to reach his true potential.
These two children's files are only with the agency for a short while.
Their time on Reece's Rainbow is short lived.
They need YOU!
What can you do?
Share this post?
Pray for their safety and that God sends a family to them?
Adopt Payton?
Adopt Penny?
Prepare a homestudy to bring home another waiting child?
Donate to help another child come home
(neither has a donate button because their files will go back soon)?
Ask God what He wants you to do!!!!
He wants you to do something!!
That is Keith's laughter.
Dayton was trying to film him last night laughing,
but Keith kept crawling into his lap . . .
which put him up too close.
Imagine this laughter though . . .
coming from your living room . . .
where Penny
or Payton
are learning of love
and family. . .
I can't adequately describe the joy that it brings
to me as a Mommy
but I promise that if you experienced it
then you would want to share it.
You'd want more Mommies
to know the joy of hearing a child
who spent their lives imprisoned
behind the bars of a crib
LAUGHING,
REACHING,
CRAWLING,
AND
LOVING!
You'd want to get every child out of
THAT PLACE
and all the places like it.
PLEASE HELP PENNY AND PAYTON!!!
Friday, July 6, 2012
Waiting Children for 7-7-12
Here are some more waiting children! Look at them, pray over them, share them, donate to their adoptions, and ADOPT!!!!! You don't have to do it today, but just pray and tell God you are willing. See what He does!!!!
This little girl was just posted today! She has Brittle Bone Disease, but is doing very well!! She needs a family! Click Here to go see more about Charlotte!
This little angel has several medical things going on. What an beautiful girl who really needs a family though!! Click Here to go see more about Leann!
This little girl has some head and facial malformations going on. She would have so much better of a life so quickly if a family would give her the love and medical care that she needs! Go check out Anita Here!
Marsha makes my heart hurt! She needs a family so badly!!! Her hydrocephalus cannot be treated there at this point. She needs a family! She must be so uncomfortable and no Mommy to comfort her!! Please!!! I am begging someone to go get her quickly!!!! This beautiful little girl has the same conditions as our Cody does - what she does not have is - a shunt, medical care needed, a Mommy to hold her, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or any help with her development. She has pretty much just been left lay her whole life without even adequate nutrition! She needs someone who sees her as Jesus sees her and is ready to do whatever it takes to get her home quickly and take care of her. She is so easy to love!!!! Please someone go get her!!!! CLICK HERE TO GO LEARN MORE ABOUT MARSHA!!! Please don't wait. She doesn't have the time to wait!
This little girl was just posted today! She has Brittle Bone Disease, but is doing very well!! She needs a family! Click Here to go see more about Charlotte!
This little angel has several medical things going on. What an beautiful girl who really needs a family though!! Click Here to go see more about Leann!
This little girl has some head and facial malformations going on. She would have so much better of a life so quickly if a family would give her the love and medical care that she needs! Go check out Anita Here!
Marsha makes my heart hurt! She needs a family so badly!!! Her hydrocephalus cannot be treated there at this point. She needs a family! She must be so uncomfortable and no Mommy to comfort her!! Please!!! I am begging someone to go get her quickly!!!! This beautiful little girl has the same conditions as our Cody does - what she does not have is - a shunt, medical care needed, a Mommy to hold her, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or any help with her development. She has pretty much just been left lay her whole life without even adequate nutrition! She needs someone who sees her as Jesus sees her and is ready to do whatever it takes to get her home quickly and take care of her. She is so easy to love!!!! Please someone go get her!!!! CLICK HERE TO GO LEARN MORE ABOUT MARSHA!!! Please don't wait. She doesn't have the time to wait!
Anita and Ahnja - A Little of the Schedule
Anita and Ahnja will be picked up on the 2nd Gotcha Day! I will get to pick them up on July 17th! I don't yet know who will be first of the two. I can't wait to go and pick them up!!
Yes, these are the two with a lot of SPUNK!
I won't have a translator with me the whole time like Brent did though!
That means I am going to be told off and not know what she said!
I surely can't wait!
Can you imagine how well these two will do in a family?
Ahnja is 10 years old. She grew up in the orphanage where Anita is now. Then she was transferred to the institution where Nicholas is now. Then she was thankfully moved to the group home. She KNOWS other children have families. She wants one and I can't wait to let her see that she has one who loves her so very much!
Anita is going to have a big transition. She has lived in that orphanage her whole life. She is going to have to lose everything she's ever known to get what she's always needed but never known was out there! Her next stop would have been the institution where Nicholas is. :( So thankful that she never had to make that transition. I can't wait until she and Julianne are making mischief together! I can't wait until she learns what a family is and how loved she is!!
The Baby Shower is almost over, so your chance to be a part of that is almost over.
Stay tuned on this blog for pictures, videos, and updates!!!!
Send up lots of prayers for travel and transitions!
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