Ok, I'm a couple days late, but things are busy. I hate to miss any moment with them to sit and blog, so I do it at night. That means that I'm exhausted and sometimes decide bed is more appealing. Then other times I want to blog, but words to describe the wonderfulness of this life and these 18 kids is hard to even put into words. Other times, honestly I'm so ticked that kids are waiting and people who claim Christ aren't lining up to get them out of those orphanages and institutions that I can't write anything that would sound nice and decide maybe to keep my fingers off the keyboard. Now there are my excuses, but that isn't what this post is for, so let's learn a little about the kids!
Aleshia and Keith were our first "Gotcha Day"! I haven't shared as much as I had hoped to so I thought I'd catch you up on that a bit. We picked up Aleshia first on July 16th. There was a newspaper reporter and camera man there who wanted to know and understand better the "why" of us coming for her. How do you explain to people that their society is throwing away the most wonderful members of it??? How do you nicely say "I came because you didn't want her and I couldn't stand to live without her"? It was difficult to think of how to answer their questions, because all I could think about is that she was THERE and so was I! The people there were so nice and genuinely happy to see her be loved. That institution truly cared about her and did the best they could. You could hear children in the place and there were kids outside playing. It wasn't a family, but she received the best they had the ability to give her and for that I am very thankful.
Here is a video of the moment that I first got her into my arms:
(Can you hear my friend Jackie exclaiming how beautiful she is? <3 )
Then we had to hop right back into the van and hurry off to go get Keith! You'll see in the next picture that she even got her clothes changed while we drove!
Keith's place was very different. It was full of kids and 4 times as many lived there as did where Aleshia had come from. They paraded a few children in front of us who looked healthy, but I knew it was NOT how the kids there looked in general. I know of many children who have families coming for them there and they do not look healthy. My sweet boy was so thin and had spent his 5 years there in a crib receiving barely enough care to stay alive. Floors after floor of children and yet it was QUIET.
Here is a video of our first moments together:
(Could you see Jackie's husband Doug holding Aleshia? Yes, he was already wrapped tightly around her tiny crooked pinky finger! lol)
After that we had to jump into the van and head for the capital city to get their passport pictures done!
Aleshia seemed to enjoy riding in the van, but we had to keep working to keep her upright. She is 6 years old, but still not sitting up independently. (We are waiting now for results of some tests on her hips because there seems to be an issue with them.) She is very opinionated too and let us know that from the beginning. Jackie and I even managed to change her diaper while riding in a van! Yes it was quite the experience as it wasn't just pee! lol
(There is tiny Keith in his pajamas back at the hotel)
Poor Keith, on the other hand, was not use to the sun. He cried every time the sunshine touched any part of his body. He was not use to being held and he had to be held in the van. He was squirmy and Jackie and I did a lot of passing him back and forth. Thankfully he got use to being held and was spoiled within just a day or so! <3
Now, here are some of the "now" pictures!
Aleshia has the seat now that is pictured above.
She can sit up and be in the middle of things much better that way.
She is still very interested in Keith.
She has the most gorgeous smile.
The seat has also helped her gain some back strength,
since it doesn't support her back like a wheelchair does
This has allowed her to be able to sit up well on a couch
or on the bed if her back is against the wall.
That is improvement and we hope to see her get much stronger!
Now for Keith's mega transformation:
The picture on the left on the top is a picture I shared with you before.
Brent was visiting him and those are size 18 months pajamasa that were HUGE on him
and not even wearable.
Brent donated that pair (along with many others he took).
On the right of that picture is Keith now with a size 18 months of the same brand and style of pajamas.
I bought those at the same time to have here, but they are a different pattern.
He is wearing them and they fit now!
He wore a size 18 months outfit to his kidney specialist appointment this week.
He wore a size 6 to 9 months (some smaller), when I picked him up.
The picture on the left of this is Keith without clothes when Brent visited him.
He looked the same when I picked him up,
but I don't have any good pictures of him that way as things were very hectic.
The picture on the right is of Keith tonight!
Yes, that is what love can do!
Above and below pictures were both taken tonight as well.
He has gotten so strong that he can sit up with little support.
He can also support his weight while just holding my hands and stand up now,
but I don't have a picture because I'm the one holding on! lol
And that is what Keith thinks of his new life!
All the kids are doing wonderful!
I'll try to get another one month update up soon for Anita, Ahnja, and Nicholas!
Thanks for following along with our journey and the part you all played!
If you'd like to watch the miracles God can do when you step out in faith, then contact Shelley at
shele337@gmail.com
or go to
Many children are waiting
and you can change their lives
and be more blessed than you can ever imagine!
Please don't leave them all alone!
Go check out these kids in particular:
