Chasing Our Tails..

Yes, we have been chasing our tails. It has been appointment after appointment. We want our girls to get what they need, so we are doing our best to get them there and get things started.



Phoebe is going to school!! Next Tuesday she will start in transition classes. I'm not sure if I've posted that Phoebe brought home an intestinal bug with her. She has been treated for that. Phoebe has seen the cardiologist, endocrinologist, international clinic, Ds clinic, and therapists. Her heart is clear. Her thyroid not so much. We will start her on thyroid meds today. She has been fitted for "Chipmunks" and will have to wear those shoe inserts. We have appointments for the eye doctor coming up. Phoebe's behaviors are getting better, some days are better then some. She definitely is one tough cookie. Phoebe likes to eat pretty much anything, except for spaghetti. Really? I guess Italian food is out for this one. We cannot get her into the dentist until fall. Her teeth look pretty good though. Phoebe loves attention. Her favorite toys are Elmo and Magna Doodles. She loves Apple Juice and Kefir to drink.









Bella is being evaluated for preschool. She should start soon. Bella also brought home an intestinal bug with a second one to boot. She is currently being treated with three different meds for that. Bella has seen cardiology, international adoption clinic, Ds clinic, therapists, and had a video swallow study done. Her heart and endocrine are clear. She flunked her video. She is aspirating on thin liquids, so everything has to be thickened to nectar. Bella will be fitted for "Sure Steps" and will go to physical therapy in the next couple weeks. She walks on the inside of her feet and her ankles turn in. She has an eye doctor appointment coming up and a visit with OT for feeding issues. She still is not chewing. Bella loves food and will eat anything that we can feed her, but it seems like Mac and Cheese and Kefir are her favorites. We can't get Bella into the dentist until fall either. Her teeth seem to be doing well. Bella seems to love trucks and cars the most. She doesn't play with certain toys. She is much happier being right beside us and/or walking around holding onto her walking toys.




I will do my best to keep everyone in the loop. Many more appointments to come...and for the first time ever...SCHOOL!!!!!

Life Goes On...

I know it has been awhile since we have updated, but we seem to be kind of busy. I feel like I owe people updates on the girls. As you can see here they are getting along better day by day. They often imitate each other. They act like they have been together for a long time. The love each other and they fight with each other. Just like sisters :)





Bella is changing day by day. She is TAKING STEPS!! Only 1-3 steps at a time, but it is a move forward. She is weighing in at 23 pounds and is 33 inches tall. She has this thing where she starts this long lecture if Phoebe throws clothes on the floor. Bella is quite the character.





Phoebe is weighing in at 29 pounds and is 35 inches long. Phoebe eats anything. This girl can hold her own. Phoebe is strong. She has mastered the sippee cup. Phoebe likes to carry a certain toy or paper around with her all day long. We went to the Endocrine clinic and Phoebe's labs came back normal. The girls were cleared by Cardiology and don't have to go back. They went to the International Adoption Clinic and had a bunch of blood work drawn. We also had to gather multiple stool samples to check for any type of abnormality. We should know within the next few days if anything shows up. As soon as we find anything out, we will let all of you know :)

Abandoned

Have you ever drove past a house and thought it was so beautiful? Then for some reason this house becomes abandoned. Who knows why, but nobody ever moves back in. As the years go by, time slips away, and the house falls apart. The windows crack. The paint chips. The bricks crumble. The foundation slips away. Time without love and someone living inside the heart of the home often makes it fall apart. The same thing happens to our kids.




I would like to introduce you to this little girl. Well, she's not little. She is SIXTEEN. Yes, she is sixteen years old. She will be turning seventeen in August. Then her chance for adoption will be over. She will live her life, or what is left of it in an institution. I am not here to judge any culture or any person. I am not pointing fingers. That is not the point. I could scream and yell and tell this person or that person that what they are doing is wrong. Maybe it would change in time, so our kids could have the life they deserve, but our kids don't have time. They need us. Me. You. The next person. There has been a lot of negativity with horrible troll comments dragging families and and their future adopted children through the ground. Fighting among Ds families. People pointing fingers at Reece's Rainbow. Rumors. Lies. Maybe some truth. While all of this is happening, this girl is waiting. She is waiting when she should be home getting ready for her prom. So, if you don't like Reece's Rainbow, for a personal reason or because of what you have been told, then that is your choice. I am a supporter of Reece's Rainbow and I always will be. Instead of fighting about this though with me, or anyone else, move forward. If there is a child you want to adopt and you don't like this organization...please by all means find another one to help you. Find another agency to work with you. It is not about any certain agency or non profit, it is about our children. It is about children here in our country and all over the world. We have got to stop fighting. We have to stop defending ourselves against trolls who thrive on pain they like to inflict, because for every blasted moment we spend on them, we are losing precious time. These children are losing precious time.

If it is about picking others apart. Remember there is still sin, but we still have faith. There is crime, but we still have trust. There is divorce, but there still is marriage. There is death, but we still live. There is darkness, but there still is light. There is grief, but we still have happiness. There is hate, but we still have love. Please remember this little girl in your prayers. Remember every single child in every single country that needs a family. No orphanage, no matter how nice it is, is ever going to take the place of a family that will love them as part of their family. I see the change every day in my girls faces. My heart aches for the ones I left behind. If you are not in the position to adopt, please pray for the children left behind. If you feel inclined to donate, please visit www.reecesrainbow.org and you can pick a child or family in process. If you are in a position to adopt, please feel free to seek Reece's Rainbow's help. If you do not want help from us, then seek an agency that can help you. Please, just remember the bottom line. Our children. Get to them whatever way you can.