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

Little Girls Outting

Well yesterday was Monday, which was Brent's day off.  Aleshia had an appointment to follow up with our primary medical provider.  I took Julianne, Anita, Ahnja, and Destiny along and got their flu shots.  I was ready for A LOT of whining, but it just didn't happen.  I had Destiny go first, because I knew she wouldn't whine.  Everyone else just followed her lead I guess.  The girls looked so cute!  I put them all in matching outfits and they were so THRILLED about all having the "same" outfits.  I figure I better enjoy it now, because any day some of them will start to not like it and then it will be over! 

The girls were so funny in the doctor's office.  Ahnja and Destiny are a hoot together always.  Anita and Julianne are like two peas in a pod as well.  Aleshia still isn't to the point that she can interact and join in the same way they can, but I love how they try to include her and show her things.

After the appointment I drove through McDonalds (we hardly ever do that!) and got them pies and ice creams.  We took extra to share with grandparents and headed to their house.  Mommom and Daddy Bill (what we've always called my grandparents since I was little) couldn't believe how neatly the girls ate and how sweet and loving they are.  They were so well behaved that even Daddy Bill was talking about it!  His vision is very bad now, so he thought Ahnja was me at one point.  I told him that I'll take that as a compliment, because she is WAY cuter than I ever was. 

After we left there, we went to Walmart to pick up a few things.  We went to the Christmas aisle first.  I love hearing my little Bulgarian Americans exclaim over the exciting things that we've put up here and they saw there for Christmas.  We picked out some new singing Christmas characters.  Ahnja and Destiny were quietly singing Jingle Bells through the store.  Ahnja's English is coming along so well!  They both got quieter (and Destiny quit on me), when I got out the camera to record it, but at least I got a little.  I heard people talking about the "cute little girls" and "look how well behaved all those kids are".  I love that they saw those things instead of noticing that 4 of the 5 kids with me had Down Syndrome.  No one even mentioned or seemed to notice their "extra".  I love that little extra chromosome, but I want people to see them for all their wonderfulness and then notice that "extra" blessing.  :)  There was an older couple in front of me at checkouts.  They turned and said that they'd never seen such well behaved children.  I wondered later what they would have thought if they'd known that 2 of those girls had spent time in institutions????  I wondered how many of the people smiling at Ahnja and Destiny singing got a blessing from hearing their joy of getting ready for Christmas?  I wonder if any of them ever think about the children still stuck behind the walls of institutions and orphanages and the joy that they and the world are missing out on? 

I know one thing, I AM VERY BLESSED!

 

If you want to visit our current Christmas Sale on Facebook, then go check it out. 

Lots of neat ways to start off your Christmas. 

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/events/187448391380177/

Just click that link and it will take you there!

The money from that will help with the cost of the adoption of the next 3 Unroes!

Christmas Yet? Want One?

So are you ready for Christmas yet at your house??  We start early here.  A lot of people really think we are crazy for putting up our Christmas trees already.  Then the outside decorations likely put them over the edge.  lol  I've never cared what people think much though!

We usually wait until October 19th to begin decorating.  This year we were all itching to get started early.  This is our 5 Bulgarian Blessings very first Christmas home.  Keith, I'm sure has never experienced any type of Christmas before coming home.  He has now though!

The others may have had some celebrations, but not like THIS.  :)  So two large trees and 2 small trees are decorated inside.  Our biggest tree is up, but waiting till Sunday to do our Thankful Chain (we make a paper chain with each link having something we are thankful for instead of using tinsil on that tree) and get it decorated.  That tree takes a little more time, because everything on it is either their ornament with their names on it or something that we have made.  The Angel Tree (Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree ornaments are the main thing on it) and our Nativity Tree (all ornaments relating to the true meaning of Christmas and our Savior) are both fully up.  Our outside lights and inflatable decorations are up.  All the little things that sing and make Christmas so fun are all over the house.  The life size singing Santa is up in the living room. 

So exciting having all 18 of these home to celebrate.  So hard though knowing that three of the children who have stolen my heart are not here.  We had a Christmas Auction already that started the holiday spirit flowing over on Facebook.  Now we have some Christmas necklaces that will make perfect gifts that you can purchase to help with their adoptions.  :) 

 The necklaces come on this card that explains the meaning of the necklace.

I thought these were just perfect

because they talk about the price that God the Father paid

with the life of His Son. 

They also say "If God loved us, we also ought to love one another".

That is so much of the reason behind adoption!

God did it for us

and

we are BLESSED to be able to do it for children in the earthly sense!

 

These would make a perfect gift for teachers, Sunday School teachers, children, moms, grandmothers, aunts, friends, or even to put in a stocking! 

 

For a $15, you'll have one sent to you. 

If you are like me, then you always need more than one of anything.

A $25 donation will get two of them.

 

For $20, I will send one of these to whoever you'd like to surprise

 (with or without telling them who it is from),

along with a letter than tells that this was sent to them because a donation was made

to help children be adopted.

I will put a picture of our family and the three children into the document/letter format,

so that they can see who it was to help. 

For $35, I will send the above package to 2 separate people. 

 

I have about 26 of these available to send out. 

I will leave this available as long as I have enough to do it and then I'll put discontinued into the title.

 

I can send these now if you wish or mail them out the week of Thanksgiving. 

abcunroe@yahoo.com is my email address so that you can send me special instructions as to who they are going to and if you want them held until Thanksgiving.

If you pay and I do not hear otherwise,

then I will send the item to the address on the Chip In as soon as possible.

 

Several people have asked about the next auction.  The Christmas Auction went very well and lots of people got some really great deals.  Sure makes Christmas shopping easy when there is so much in one place.  We are aiming to have another one the first week of November.  If you have something you would like to donate, then contact me at the email address above.  I will post here when the auction starts.  Keep checking back.  I know some people on here and Facebook missed the last one, but I will try my best to make sure everyone knows.  :) 

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?

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 



Some pictures of Nicholas and a small update

Nicholas is doing great.  He is a child that I thought would take quite a while to adjust and be able to go to church and out to eat.  He handles everything very well already though.  He can sit through a preaching service.  He waits patiently when we go out to eat.  He is using the potty when sent.

Most of all, he loves being loved!  He loves hugs, kisses, sitting on your lap, and being picked up.  He is 10 years old, but about the size of Cody who is 5 years old.  He very much understands what we are saying already and smiles when I say 'I love you'.  Such a cutie!

Here are some pictures.

We are so blessed!  I'll try to do better at updating, but things are busy with the new adoption paperwork.  On top of that, I'm trying to find a new pediatric cardiologist that I will like.  Aleshia is fine now, but the one Aleshia went to will be one we never go to again and the one Julianne has seen for quite some time is using the same new medicine for sedation.  That means that none of my children will be seeing him for ECHOs that they want sedations for either.  Julianne was due to have one in December, so I need a new cardiologist quickly.  

I'll give more updates on the kids we are going back for soon.  Our commitment paperwork should arrive my snail mail in their country tomorrow!

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!

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. 

 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 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!

Christmas Anyone? and the Family Picture!

Yes, that is what we are working on here.  We have a Christmas Auction going on right now to help with adoption costs.  We've only been home for 2 months and while things here are going AWESOME, we have to do a little fundraising to keep this adoption moving at the fastest possible speed.

We have our new Social Worker coming on Monday.  We are very excited about that and getting the process moving as quickly as we can.  We can't wait to meet them and make them a part of our family!  There is so much paperwork and so many parts to the process, but we are trusting God to get us through each part.

You can check out our Christmas Auction on Facebook if you would like.  There are some really great deals on there from people who love care about our family and want to help us make these next three blessings an official part of it ASAP!http://www.facebook.com/ThreeMoreForTheUnroesChristmasAuction

I'll put up more pictures later, but here is the one of the whole family on the "ark" playset in the backyard.