I'd like to share a few posts written by other people on their blogs. Their experiences as adoptive parents of a child or children with special needs say what's also in my heart. Although my children were not adopted internationally, the feelings are the same. There are always so many unknowns at commitment, the prayers and then the assurance from God that we should move forward, the overwhelming joy in coming to know the child who becomes our own. There are many other stories like this, each so profound. I wish I could share them all, but here are a few I especially love. Please read by clicking on the highlighted words below:
Charissa Urban's story including "Notes from the Deep End" by Jennifer Enderlin Blougouras.
John Urban's points on why he adopted Ava...
...and how he feels one year later.
And a beautiful story from a friend's blog, please read about Scott and Kathy Rosenow's adoption of Kathryn.
Raising children like ours (and theirs) can be likened to the commitment of marriage. You don't know exactly what you're getting into when you begin the journey, this journey that takes a lot of faith, hope and courage, but if you work hard with sincere and whole commitment to meet that dear person's needs, the love grows deeper and stronger than you could ever have imagined.
Eight years into our adoption of Joel and eventually three more children with Down syndrome, we are only just beginning to understand what a blessing these children are to our whole family and those who are also touched by their existence. The understanding grows and the surprises they gift us with are amazing.
May God also bless your family in this way, if it be His will.
With love and my own heartfelt testimony,
Dolores
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sick kids
Joel has been sick with a lot of congestion again and now it seems that he has the stomach flu on top of that. Ella came home from school with it today too, she slept most of the afternoon. They have all been struggling with upper respiratory issues, please pray us through this part of the winter.
Lucy's heart
Lucy had a chest X-ray at the hospital on Tuesday and an EKG and an echocardiogram Wednesday at the cardiologist's office. It appears that the small holes in her heart have already closed! We are so relieved and grateful!
She now weighs 10 pounds.
She now weighs 10 pounds.
Friday, January 23, 2009
2 Months
Lucy is two months old today. Here are a few photos of her taken this week, interacting with Timmy. He LOVES her and you can see she loves her brother! Lucy now weighs 9 lbs 8 ounces.
Surprise!
Ella's eyes are changing! They were always very blue, but now there are flecks of tan in them. Click on photo.Wednesday a nurse said, "She has the prettiest eyes! What would you call that color?" And I thought to myself, "in-between" because they'll probably keep changing for a while.
Joel's are still not all the way brown but I think they're where they'll stay-- I'd call his eyes hazel for lack of another name; they're grey with brown around the pupil.
Our daughter Robin's eyes didn't finish turning brown until she was six; they were sort of blonde like her hair before that and darkened as her hair did.
It will be interesting to see what color Ella's eyes will be when they are finished changing.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
FHE Jan 19, 2009
We continued to have Family Home Evenings since I posted the last FHE, but due to the computer problem I didn't list them... so I will just begin where we are.
But first let me explain briefly how we organize Junior Sunday School in our church:
All children ages 18 months through 11 years are considered to be in what we call "Primary". Toddlers 18 months through 3 years old are in Nursery, where they also receive little short lessons from their teachers along with song time, play time and snacks. Three years old through 11 are in regular Primary, where their time is split between learning songs, doing activities in a group, giving talks and breaking out into classes according to age.
When kids turn 12 they graduate from Primary into groups of Young Men and Young Women where they continue until they are 18 and have graduated from High School.
Each year in the fall, the Primary children and their teachers put on a program during Sacrament Meeting (our worship service). They sing the songs and talk about the things they have learned during the year. For instance, one year the theme was "Faith in Jesus Christ". This Christmas our Primary presidency gave out CDs with the songs the children will be learning throughout the new year and will perform in the program. We thought it was a great idea! So, for Family Home Evenings we've been using that CD for the opening and closing songs so that the kids can learn them. Of course OUR kids also dance with the songs. ;o) Timmy signs "more" after every song and insists "Mer! Mer!"
We spent Family Night this week with the missionaries present. We started with supper and then moved to more comfortable seating where we just relaxed and talked and laughed for a while like a family does. Lora was there and Gabe joined us for discussion. Elder Henretty read to us from the Book of Mormon, powerful words from King Benjamin.
It was Martin Luther King Day so there had been no school and Wilson was out with friends for the day. Joel and Timmy were surprisingly good and Ella and Lucy slept through most of it. We had Creme Brulee for dessert and the men enjoyed torching the sugar on top to make it crisp.
But first let me explain briefly how we organize Junior Sunday School in our church:
All children ages 18 months through 11 years are considered to be in what we call "Primary". Toddlers 18 months through 3 years old are in Nursery, where they also receive little short lessons from their teachers along with song time, play time and snacks. Three years old through 11 are in regular Primary, where their time is split between learning songs, doing activities in a group, giving talks and breaking out into classes according to age.
When kids turn 12 they graduate from Primary into groups of Young Men and Young Women where they continue until they are 18 and have graduated from High School.
Each year in the fall, the Primary children and their teachers put on a program during Sacrament Meeting (our worship service). They sing the songs and talk about the things they have learned during the year. For instance, one year the theme was "Faith in Jesus Christ". This Christmas our Primary presidency gave out CDs with the songs the children will be learning throughout the new year and will perform in the program. We thought it was a great idea! So, for Family Home Evenings we've been using that CD for the opening and closing songs so that the kids can learn them. Of course OUR kids also dance with the songs. ;o) Timmy signs "more" after every song and insists "Mer! Mer!"
We spent Family Night this week with the missionaries present. We started with supper and then moved to more comfortable seating where we just relaxed and talked and laughed for a while like a family does. Lora was there and Gabe joined us for discussion. Elder Henretty read to us from the Book of Mormon, powerful words from King Benjamin.
It was Martin Luther King Day so there had been no school and Wilson was out with friends for the day. Joel and Timmy were surprisingly good and Ella and Lucy slept through most of it. We had Creme Brulee for dessert and the men enjoyed torching the sugar on top to make it crisp.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Joel's Birthday
Joel turned 8 years old on January 11th! He was one excited little boy to realize that everyone would finally really be singing "Happy Birthday to Joel" and that he would get to blow out the candles on his own cake! I did take a video of that but somehow it wasn't there so I must have done something wrong, I'm so sorry. Joel loves watching the video clips on the blog over and over.Janina made Joel's birthday cake, which was actually brownies and you can see she used the "Horton Hears a WHO" theme to decorate it. She did a great job! Later, when Papa and I finally FOUND where we'd hidden what we bought for Joel's presents, he did get the Horton movie. You'll see some of his gifts from family and friends on the video.
Thank you to those who were able to come to his party, he had lots of fun playing "Island Chase", which is running around and around the kitchen island. I did at least get a video of that and will upload it here soon. Joel and Timmy think they're playing a version of "Duck, duck, goose!" when they do that, but mostly it's just a way for them to use their energy since we can't play outside.
One thing that's interesting to note in this video is that Joel's cousin Jesse (wearing the burgundy sweatshirt) is only 6 months older than Joel. Joel's friend Jace (in the green sweatshirt) is 5.5, the same age as our son Timmy. The boy in the grey sweatshirt is their cousin Will, age 11 and always so good to Joel and Tim. Collin is our 2-year old grandson running the opposite direction from everyone else and Tristan is the little guy with the pacifier in his mouth. The little girls were mostly sleeping or falling asleep during this party. Lora filmed the part of the video where the boys are running and she giggled all through it.
Joel's birth families sent him some awesome new clothes which have been incredibly providential to have right now because of the cold weather-- he's wearing the jackets and sweaters indoors right now. Thank you!!! The Green Bay Packers set looks totally natural on him! ;o)
These last several photos were taken by Joel himself! These are the first he has taken. I think he's got a talent for it, what do you think? Happy Birthday Joel, we love you!!!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Milly and Ben are expecting a BOY
Can you see him? This is his profile in this ultrasound which was taken January 7th. Wait, no--maybe he's looking towards the camera? These things take some expertise to interpret. Anyway, we're excited about our grandson on the way!Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Other December things
Sorry I've been offline for a while... very busy and then a certain curious cherub pulled my laptop off of the desk and broke the inner screen. I'm using someone else's computer now and trying to catch up.
In December Ella had a swallow study done. She swallowed a barium mixture while we watched the swallow go down her throat on an X-Ray screen.
Oh, and Wilson was actually convinced to
hold and feed Lucy once during December. :o) This was a rare moment so I took a quick snapshot!
In December Ella had a swallow study done. She swallowed a barium mixture while we watched the swallow go down her throat on an X-Ray screen.
Oh, and Wilson was actually convinced to
hold and feed Lucy once during December. :o) This was a rare moment so I took a quick snapshot!
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