Something Sweet For Dominick!

HE ONLY HAS ONE YEAR....

HE ONLY HAS ONE YEAR! ONE YEAR UNTIL HE'S TRANSFERRED. TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THIS LITTLE BODY WON'T MAKE IT IF HE'S TAKEN TO A PLACE THAT DOESN'T OFFER THE ATTENTION HE SO BADLY NEEDS. PLEASE DONATE ANY AMOUNT TO HIS FUND ON THE LINK TO THE RIGHT (white box.) WITH A $35 DONATION YOU CAN GET AN ORNAMENT WITH HIS PICTURE ON IT. ALL TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!

I Know It Has Been Awhile...

I know. It has been awhile. I feel bad for those of you that followed, but frankly we've been quite busy. I will let you know how the girls are at the end of this post. The reason why I am starting this all again is for a sweet boy that was in Phoebe's baby house. His name is Dominick. I personally saw him several times when I was there last year. He was so tiny. So, so tiny. I can remember seeing him and looking into those eyes. He may not have seen me, but I saw him. I knew he had Down syndrome from across the room. I inched closer while playing with Pheebs. One day I got the gumption to ask one of the head caregivers if they could give me information on any children with Down syndrome they happened to have there. They gave me information on two. One is already at home with his Mom and Dad (We love you Jonas!)and the other still waits. She gave me updates on his medical and personality. I promised her that I would help to try and find him a family. So this is my effort. I am his Angel Tree Warrior and I am attempting to raise $1,000 in the month of November for his grant fund. No, we are not attempting to adopt him. Our family size is to big for his region now, but I still love that little boy and want to help his future parents (I know you are out there!!!) by helping to raise money for his adoption. So I am starting today by asking for help. No donation is to big or to small. I am trying to brainstorm a give away. If you would like to donate something to a give away, we would be happy to accept. Just keep sharing his need everyone, please! In the next few days I hope to have some type of fundraiser for him other then just begging all of you for help (which I will graciously continue to do!) Now, the girls! Phoebe and Bella are doing great!!! They both go to the same school as their brothers. They go four days a week. Bella is in extra therapy. Phoebe has grown to 37 inches tall and 30 pounds. Bella is the same weight, but three inches shorter. Phoebe loves to swing and play outside. She is quite the Princess and so strong! At night she has to be held to go to sleep. Phoebe loves our new kitten and loves our dog!! Bella loves to slide outside, but I think her favorite thing to do is be held. She loves to eat. This girl will eat fruits,vegetables, etc. Her favorite drink is Kefir. Bella was watching The Voice with me the other day and just singing along. She was dancing and holding her hand as if it were a mic. These girls have come so far. Totally different kids. I am so thankful for their mothers for giving them life!! Here is a picture of the girls for you. Keep praying for Dominick!!

My Heart Is Still There...

Yes, my heart is still there. Just a few short months ago when we brought our angels home...part of my heart stayed.



Why did I leave part of my heart there when I was given such a great gift? Such beautiful girls to call our own? The simple reason is, all of the children left behind. I know we cannot save the world, but I still worry about the world of each and every one of these kids.



I know that there are children all over the world that need families. In this country alone there are thousands in foster care, but somehow I feel like God doesn't care where that child is...just that they need us. I have seen the children in this region and met some of them. It is VERY PERSONAL for me.





The children on this post are getting ready to age out of the system. If not adopted soon, they will be living a life in an institution. Not fair. I am not going to sit here and bash any place for their ways and beliefs, it does no good (although I don't like it.) All I can say is it breaks my heart that any child should live a life in an institution just because of they way they are born. So, instead of sitting here complaining about it, I want to do something about it.




So, please take the time and look at these sweet faces. If you are not in the place to adopt...please pray, share, donate. Do whatever you felt lead to do. Please visit Reece's Rainbow at www.reecesrainbow.org. They are listed under 9HA. They will tell you how to get started. Let me personally tell you the agency in this region is amazing and the facilitators are great!










One of the last converstions I had with the woman in this building went something like this...
Lady "We have many, many children in this region with Down syndrome."

Me "Get them listed and I will try to help them find a family."

This is ME keeping my word.

I love all of my friends and family in this region. Praying for families for as many kids as possible.

Because I Feel Like It....

I've decided to take it upon myself to sit at my computer and stalk adoption websites and blogs. Even if I don't really have personal stake or have knowledge of what these families go through, I am going to make a mockery of their situations. When I have decided who appears to be struggling at fundraising or just having a hard time with maybe waiting or agency issues, those people will be my main target. Then I will stalk those sites or any sites linked with them and stalk them too. I will (or my group) will start leaving hateful comments on these blogs to see if I can break these families spirits (hehehehehehehe!) I might even try to dig up some dirt about these families. If it isn't juicy enough, I will add some lies to the truth and spread it around. Heck, I might even start a website to spread these rumors and lies. One of my favorite things to do is pick certain families who have had problems and use them as leverage in my comments. Disruption is one of my favorites, because anybody that knows anything realizes that you should keep a child no matter what. Even if this child is causing issues, hurting other children and may destroy your marriage...you should still keep them. I don't buy it one bit that the child can tell they don't fit in. You are all full of it. Finding a home that they feel secure in doesn't matter. You are a quitter!! We all know that if you don't have over 30k in your pockets that you can't raise a child. You should be able to crap it out!!! So fundraising is a joke!!! If you go to another country and meet the child, and you don't feel a connection or you find that you can't handle the issues the child has, you should still bring them home anyways. Don't bother finding a child that is best for all parties involved. Their happiness and yours is not an issue. Well, I am off here for a little bit. I have got to see what family is next. More emotions to stomp on and evil to spread....

WHO THE HECK IS SHE?? WHO DIED AND MADE HER GOD??? I know exactly what you are thinking, I don't have any right to say or do these things. My family and many of my friends have been under attack by a group of haters on the net and some close to us. As ludicrous as it sounds, this is what we have faced day after day. I would never do these things, but this is how it is for us. There is evil in this world. The same evil continues with new families committing and the ones that are still in process. Some of us that are home get it too. I want all of my fellow adoptive families to hold your heads up high. Keep on keeping on. No matter what happens, there will always be somebody trying to make you stop your adoption. Don't let that happen to you. Pray. God will steer you in the right direction. Fight on my friends!!!!

What Are We Doing Now?

Our girls have been so busy with appointments. They are probably ready to slow down a little. Phoebe has started school two days a week and is doing well. She has started on her thyroid meds and takes them with no complaints. Every time we put her on the potty she goes!! She had a hearing test today and didn't do so well. She has fluid in both ears which could be the culprit. There is a referral in for the ENT doctor, so it looks like Phoebe may be getting tubes.

Bella has been pretty busy too! She had her hearing test today and did extremely well. She has fluid in one ear and her tonsils are HUGE, so it looks like that ENT referral is the right way to go for her also. Bella started physical therapy last week. Today she got her Sure Steps. They went to the eye doctor this week with their brothers and will go back next Monday. Bella has an appointment next week with occupational therapy for her chewing issues.

The girls are growing like crazy and keeping us pretty busy. Here are some pictures of them so you can see how they are doing.

Lots of Love!!
Lisa

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!!!!!