Saturday, January 11, 2014
Goodbye Sweet Boy.. I Miss You Already
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Awesome Adoption Post by a Friend
I read an encouraging, informational and honest post written by my friend, Lisa.
Her heart is just like mine about adoption. In fact, she was one of the first ladies that inspired me to really consider adoption for my family. I am forever grateful to Lisa and her husband for forging the way and sharing her life with my family.
If you have every wondered why people adopt, if you could do it, or just need some encouragement because you did adopt please read this post.
Preparing For Adoption
Her heart is just like mine about adoption. In fact, she was one of the first ladies that inspired me to really consider adoption for my family. I am forever grateful to Lisa and her husband for forging the way and sharing her life with my family.
If you have every wondered why people adopt, if you could do it, or just need some encouragement because you did adopt please read this post.
Preparing For Adoption
Monday, January 6, 2014
Just Wanted to Share Some Amazing Smiles
Ellie and Isaiah are doing so well!!
Some days Ellie has some melt downs, she is very insecure in her attachment to me some days and doesn't want me to leave her side. She also gets frustrated easily because communication is difficult. So add that to her disabilities and her age, and some hours are fitful. However, they are so much less than a few months ago. She is really thriving. She is strong and determined and so very smart. She is slowly sleeping better at night. I might get one or two nights a week now where she doesn't wake up at all.
Isaiah is talking more and more. He has lots of energy and using less oxygen.He has even begun to trot a little bit. He will be having his 3rd catheterization next month, February 12th. He is not sleeping so great. Interestingly, after his open heart surgery in October he has slept worse, not from heart issues but from what appears to be sleep apnea. He tosses and turns at night, snoring half the night through and obviously gasping for air because his airway is blocked. Some nights I don't sleep well listening and worrying about him. Then there are some nights he sleeps better. We have an ENT appointment and Sleep appointment in the schedule as well for him.
I just wanted to share these precious photos of the two of them, that my budding photographer (Moriah) took a week ago. I was so excited to see the joy and love in both of their eyes and smiles. They love each other so much, most of the time.
Some days Ellie has some melt downs, she is very insecure in her attachment to me some days and doesn't want me to leave her side. She also gets frustrated easily because communication is difficult. So add that to her disabilities and her age, and some hours are fitful. However, they are so much less than a few months ago. She is really thriving. She is strong and determined and so very smart. She is slowly sleeping better at night. I might get one or two nights a week now where she doesn't wake up at all.
Isaiah is talking more and more. He has lots of energy and using less oxygen.He has even begun to trot a little bit. He will be having his 3rd catheterization next month, February 12th. He is not sleeping so great. Interestingly, after his open heart surgery in October he has slept worse, not from heart issues but from what appears to be sleep apnea. He tosses and turns at night, snoring half the night through and obviously gasping for air because his airway is blocked. Some nights I don't sleep well listening and worrying about him. Then there are some nights he sleeps better. We have an ENT appointment and Sleep appointment in the schedule as well for him.
I just wanted to share these precious photos of the two of them, that my budding photographer (Moriah) took a week ago. I was so excited to see the joy and love in both of their eyes and smiles. They love each other so much, most of the time.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Adoption Updates
We found out right before Christmas that our dossier in China was finished with the Translation phase of the process and went onto Review. Review is the 3rd of 4th steps for us get our approval to adopt Adelia. So all that means is that it could come within the next couple weeks or months still. LOL
But at least we know it is not sitting on someone's desk not processing at all, which can happen sometimes.
We also got a little update of Adelia with some questions we had asked, sadly no photos this time. Our questions are in black and reply is in red.
1. Weight, Height, Head and Foot measurements? 87cm, 12.5kg, 48cm head, 52cm chest, 14cm foot, 20 teeth
(She would would be 34 1/2 inches and 27 lbs with about a size 7 shoe size, which means all and all she is a tiny bit bigger than Isaiah, but not by much. So I am thinking a size 2T or 3 T will fit her this summer)
2. Does she live in Foster Family or Institution? She is in foster home.
(We are very thankful for this, Asher was in foster home and his transition was wonderful and he was far greater ahead in most areas than Ellie and Isaiah were.)
3. Does she speak well and about how many words does she know? She can talk with people well. She can answer most of the questions when you ask her.
4. What name do her caretakers call her? Her nickname is Fu Can.
("Fu" means Lotus Flower and "Can" means blooming. We will be using part of all of this for part of her middle name. I am working on finding out the meaning.)
5. What is her personality like? She is outgoing and active. She has strong personality too. If she is mad or upset, she will show to you for sure.
(I think we will have lots of fun getting to know her. We already have 2 other 3 year olds like this, so not surprised by this answer!)
6. What upsets and scares her? She hates to stay alone in the house by self.
(This is good, as we have not future plans to leave her alone by herself for a very long time)
7. Does she still drink milk from a bottle, what foods does she eat? She still uses bottle to drink. She likes to eat pretty much everything and she is not picky.
(We like this answer too as we again use bottles for bonding the first months home together and we are glad she enjoys food too.)
8. Has she or will she have any surgery help for her spine or hip? Not yet.
(We have no idea what her future will hold for legs and spine, but we trust her Creator and Healer. He has a plan for her life, and we are not phased by this.)
9. What makes her happy? Putting beautiful dress, giving her toys, or tell her how pretty she is.
(She sounds like a perfect "Girly Girl" for our house. I can't wait to put her in a dress and tell how her pretty she is!)
10. Does she still have therapy help if so how often? She hasn't got any therapy recently
(Well, she will get plenty of that round here, we seem to live at therapy!)
The other very exciting news is that with the grant we applied for we were chosen to receive a matching grant!!!
Kids for Kyla has graciously offered a matching grant of $750. However, we only have 19 days to match the grant. If you feel inclined to help us in our bringing home Adelia please send your tax deductible donations to the following address:
But at least we know it is not sitting on someone's desk not processing at all, which can happen sometimes.
We also got a little update of Adelia with some questions we had asked, sadly no photos this time. Our questions are in black and reply is in red.
1. Weight, Height, Head and Foot measurements? 87cm, 12.5kg, 48cm head, 52cm chest, 14cm foot, 20 teeth
(She would would be 34 1/2 inches and 27 lbs with about a size 7 shoe size, which means all and all she is a tiny bit bigger than Isaiah, but not by much. So I am thinking a size 2T or 3 T will fit her this summer)
2. Does she live in Foster Family or Institution? She is in foster home.
(We are very thankful for this, Asher was in foster home and his transition was wonderful and he was far greater ahead in most areas than Ellie and Isaiah were.)
3. Does she speak well and about how many words does she know? She can talk with people well. She can answer most of the questions when you ask her.
4. What name do her caretakers call her? Her nickname is Fu Can.
("Fu" means Lotus Flower and "Can" means blooming. We will be using part of all of this for part of her middle name. I am working on finding out the meaning.)
5. What is her personality like? She is outgoing and active. She has strong personality too. If she is mad or upset, she will show to you for sure.
(I think we will have lots of fun getting to know her. We already have 2 other 3 year olds like this, so not surprised by this answer!)
6. What upsets and scares her? She hates to stay alone in the house by self.
(This is good, as we have not future plans to leave her alone by herself for a very long time)
7. Does she still drink milk from a bottle, what foods does she eat? She still uses bottle to drink. She likes to eat pretty much everything and she is not picky.
(We like this answer too as we again use bottles for bonding the first months home together and we are glad she enjoys food too.)
8. Has she or will she have any surgery help for her spine or hip? Not yet.
(We have no idea what her future will hold for legs and spine, but we trust her Creator and Healer. He has a plan for her life, and we are not phased by this.)
9. What makes her happy? Putting beautiful dress, giving her toys, or tell her how pretty she is.
(She sounds like a perfect "Girly Girl" for our house. I can't wait to put her in a dress and tell how her pretty she is!)
10. Does she still have therapy help if so how often? She hasn't got any therapy recently
(Well, she will get plenty of that round here, we seem to live at therapy!)
The other very exciting news is that with the grant we applied for we were chosen to receive a matching grant!!!
Kids for Kyla has graciously offered a matching grant of $750. However, we only have 19 days to match the grant. If you feel inclined to help us in our bringing home Adelia please send your tax deductible donations to the following address:
Kids For Kyla, Inc
PO Box 336904
Greeley, CO 80633
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Two, Precious, Latvian Children
This is "A", whom we have been hosting, and "D" whom we housed at our home for 4 days when her host family was sick with the flu. I will share more about "D" in a bit.
"A" and "D" have become fast friends. She and "A" put together this Latvian song for us one night. (Sorry it is sideways on the video, but it was so sweet I had to share it anyway.)
Please consider hosting a child from another country, especially a child that needs a forever family. And even more importantly please remember that God's heart IS for the orphan. So if that is God's heart, shouldn't it be ours? We are to love them, care for their needs, take them in and be the father to fatherless. Please consider adopting. There are so, so many orphans and if we all adopted just one.....we would make such a change.
If you just can not adopt, then hosting is so wonderful too. You give these children a hope for something they may have never seen or believed. You could stay connected to them through prayer, letters, maybe even Skype after they leave your home, or even better yet host them again year after year until their forever family finds them. It might just be something that will keep them strong when things are so hard, when life seems too much of a burden.
I for one am broken hearted already thinking of sending "A" back to his country next weekend. He has quickly won our hearts and been a huge part of our family for the last month. We have all come to love him so much and he us. There will be many tears when we say Goodbye. However, I hold on to God's promises and my faith is strengthened. I know that God has wonderful plans for this precious boy and for "D" who also holds a special place in our hearts.
One thing that grew my faith is that "D" was one of the 4 children that I looked at (out of probably 40) "A" was the only boy and then there was two sisters but I wasn't sure I wanted two young sisters with our houseful. But "D" was one of the main prospects that my heart was drawn to hosting. We ended up choosing "A" but the Lord brought her to our home even though we didn't choose her. We were so blessed by her. She is such a sweet, fun young lady who became "sister" with my girls quickly. I am going to miss her too.
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