It has been three years since Mason was born and I still wonder what he would be like at this age. We know for sure he was going to have significant medical needs but we didn't care. WE knew the hospital bill would be sky high but that's why we have insurance. We knew we would love Mason and we DO with all of our very souls. I did not understand the purpose of Mason entering our lives only to leave so soon but now I do. It was all part of God's plan. His plan to set us on a course that has brought 5 more beautiful children with special needs into our family and soon hopefully 2 more. God has a purpose for our family and my son Mason played the most important role in God's plan. How amazing and wonderful is that?! So when Carrington was so very sick, her color was changing to gray as we flew across that ocean, as she laid so silent and limp in my arms I prayed that her brother would just be with her and tell her to hold on because Mommy and Daddy were going to take care of her. I listened as the doctors told me just how severe Carrington's health was and all I could see, hear, feel, and remember was that day when our Mason left us. Today Carrington is a true living miracle of our God! When I look at her I see her brother. I know Mason loves his big sister and I truly believe Mason is Carrington's little angel that God sent to take care of her. So when I am asked why? Why are we adopting again? Why are we asking for donations to bring home 2 more children with special needs? I respond with a very simple answer: because we told God that we accept His calling to open our hearts and homes to orphans with special needs. How that happens is up to God and God alone. Not me or Brian but GOD! So many many days I just look up to Heaven and tell God I just want my Mason back and then I feel a little tug on my heart and I know my son just gave his mommy a hug. Thank you Lord for believing in me enough to bless me with each and every one of my children for I know they are Yours and You have entrusted them to me while here on Earth.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Mason 's Story
I didn't even realize as I was typing the post entitled Rough Days that I was sharing about Mason and probably had not even shared who our little Mason is. I apologize and appreciate you all asking. Mason is our youngest son and instead of snuggling in my arms he is busy playing in the greatest of all playgrounds-HEAVEN! His story started on October 27, 2008 when he was born to his birth mom at only 27 weeks gestation and weighing only 1lb and 07oz. We would learn of this precious little life via our home school group's emails. One Friday after noon we called to see how we could pray for this little guy whose birth mom was not of the mind to be able to care for him and who had terminated her rights as his mother. In less than 72 hours, in no other way except God's way, we were selected out of thousand calls to become this little man's parents. At this time we were told Mason had a very rare and deadly disease known as acinetobactor and more than likely would not live the next few hours. We began a 3 week journey to love on this very very little and sick baby. At this time he had no name and we chose Mason Quaid Burman. Little Mason rallied and his health started on the road to healing. He would know when his momma would come visit. Each day I would journey to the hospital 3 times in between my full time job and foster parenting. Soon doctors were taking him off of all the medicines he was on, began giving him donor breast milk, and we started talking about beginning to wean him slowly off of the jet ventilator that was helping him breathe. I could spend a lifetime writing about all of the emotions and intensity of love that was growing within my heart during this time. I never focused on the fact that Mason was not of my womb. How could I? He would take his two little hands to wrap around my one finger each night as I would read stories to him. I had his room totally decorated and all the nurses and staff in the NICU would come by to see the latest card or decoration we would put up. IT was getting close to Christmas which is my absolutely favorite time of the year so I picked out a little tree for his room, found all of the decorations, and was picking out his Christmas music. I could not wait for my boy to hear the huge collection of Christmas music his mommy had just waiting to be played. I stopped by for my visit on Thanksgiving to give some loving to my boy and to tell him Mommy was going to tell Santa all the fun things he would like for his very first Christmas. Later that night I was one of the crazy people who was out doing Christmas shopping for her family when I got the call that Mason took a turn for the worse and now had two more illnesses the doctors did not think he could beat. That weekend would be a time of stress and heartache for our family. But it seemed Mason was going to prove everyone wrong and would get better. That Sunday morning Brian and I went to breakfast before going to visit our son and when we walked around the corner to Mason's hospital room everything went into hyperslow mode as I looked at a whole group of grim faced doctors standing outside of Mason's room. I would be taken to another room and asked to make a decision no parent should ever have to make: when would we make the decision to remove Mason from life support. I can honestly share with you that there has been nothing else in my whole life that cut into my very heart and soul like that moment on that Sunday morning. Choose if my son is to live? Why God? Why would You want me to be Mason's mommy and then take him back so soon? I can tell you I was never angry at God. I just could NOT understand His plan or purpose. Mason was hooked up to so many machines and medicines going into his little body. The closest I ever got to holding our little man was when the nurses would let me change his little tushie! I did everything to learn how to take care of a baby who weighed less than a box of cereal. I never missed a visit. I always ALWAYS scrubbed in like we were shown so as not to bring any disease into him. WHY!! I am his mommy and I can't take care of this disease which is robbing my son of his life. The nurses and doctors allowed me to hold my son for the first time ever. That was a feat that took over 5 nurses and 15 minutes just to lay him in his mommy's arms. I had just finished making a quilt for his isolette that was denim and red and would go in his and his big brother Ethan's room. So they laid him in my arms and I held Mason for a glorious 20 minutes before we laid him back in his bed. There were a stream of people coming in to offer support and comfort but I cannot say that I recall anyone because my mind and heart was begging God to please not take my son. At one point that day I asked a nurse to get me a pacifier so my son could know what it was to suck on one. DOn't know why that was important but it was. Not too long after all that it was obvious Mason could not continue to battle this illness and his little body was getting tired. I leaned over to Mason and whispered in his ear it was okay and that he didn't have to fight anymore. He could go on to Heaven and I would see him there one day. We told the nurses and doctors that we did not want our son to go to Heaven on a machine and we wanted to remove the ventilator. I sat down to prepare my arms to hold my son for the very last time. Mason had never know the touch of human skin as he had always been touched by latex gloves. It was at that moment I removed my shirt as they placed Mason in my arms. I had to know my son was in no pain and was reassured that he was not. The nurse removed Mason's ventilator and I watched as my son took his two and only two breaths. Then I scooped him up and promptly put him to my chest so he would feel his Mommy without any gloves or gowns between us. I was told I would only have about 10 minutes before he would pass but God had other plans. Yes, I was crying as my heart was being torn to pieces. I looked up at Brian and said "our son will never know Christmas music." All of a sudden out of the dark the lyrics to Silent Night were heard and the first words we heard were "sleep in Heavenly peace." Mason's nurse had gone to the computer and found Christmas music to play. I am a terrible singer but that night I sang my heart out to our son. The doctor came in at about the 10 minute mark to pronounce Mason as gone but he wasn't and would not be for another 2 hours and 10 minutes. My son laid on my chest, rocked in the chair, and listened to his mommy sing to him for 2 hours longer than the doctors thought he would. Finally I felt what can only be described as a butterfly fluttering on my chest and I drew Mason away and I knew. I knew my son went on to Heaven. I would give my son his first bath and dress him in the outfit I had picked our for him to come home in. My son was so handsome! Yes, I watched all day as his color changed to gray and his brain activity was slowing but I never gave up nor ran away even when I felt like the pain was going to kill me. Mason's service was led by so many of my husband's fellow sheriff deputies and he would ride home in one of his daddy's patrol cars. What an amazing memory I will have of that day.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Pumpkins and My Pumpkins
Carrington wants you all to know that she had so much fun going to her very first pumpkin patch with all of her brothers and sisters. While the bigger kids were running and looking at all the pumpkins she just sat and looked out at the sea of orange all around her. It took our group about half an hour to decide which pumpkin was the perfect one. They all thought they were going to take one home to which I told them ONE!! Evelyn liked the bumpy ones, Owen liked throwing the heavy ones and talking to them, Hudson just laughed at all of them, Ethan was thinking he was king of the pumpkins, and Reagan just kept saying "look at all the orange pumpkins MOM!!" I would say it was a great day for the Burman Bunch! Ethan said there sure were a lot of pumpkins in this bunch and I looked at all of my children and smiled!
Our littlest pumpkin at her very first pumpkin patch.
Carrington was singing to her little pumpkin.
"hmmmm, so I am supposed to eat one of these on Thanksgiving?!!" (look at my angel in her first pair of jeans)
" Oh so you are talking pie huh?! Ok I think I could eat one of those then!"
A whole wheelbarrow full of Burman boys. This time next year we will need a bigger wheelbarrow!
All of my precious girls!
Ethan thought he could carry our pumpkin: all 15 lbs worth.
Hudson was giggling the whole time in his little pumpkin patch. He reminds me of Charlie Brown waiting for the Great Pumpkin.
Just the look on his face spells mischief. Oooh I could just eat up his cheeks! Ethan is my almost pumpkin baby with his birthday being the 30th of October.
Two of my October babies Madelaine and Ethan steal a hug by the great pumpkins. Ethan adores his big sister!
Evelyn loved feeling the pumpkins. Her smile is so amazing!
Owen got right out of the van and set right to work deciding which pumpkin he was going to pick.
Oh My! Doesn't Hudson and Ethan look like twins!
Reagan could not believe there were so many orange pumpkins!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Rough days
I think some people may read blogs of those adopting children and think that all is just perfect and then there are those who adopt that don't want to scare anyone out of adopting these beautiful children. Quite often I find that on my own blog I tend to be one who wants to share all the joy of adoption and just plain parenting, but there are days that are tough, not tough because I have 7 children but tough just because. Today was one of those rough days because this day marks what should be my youngest son's 3 rd birthday. It was tough because my spirits were down and my mommy heart was hurting . This sort of kept me from being totally there for our other children. Even though Mason was not born from my belly he was and will always be my son. Today was a day that things seemed to be out of order. I wonder if my heart will ever stop aching for my son?!
Adoption is not always easy and in some ways is harder because you don't always have all the answers as to why your child is experiencing the things they are. But wait, do we even have all the answers to the issues or needs of our bio children? I have forever been changed due to the gift of adoption and I have forever been impacted by what I saw, heard, felt, and left behind in our adoptions. I want to fix what my children went through, erase all the bad things that happened, make up for the hugs and kisses they missed, know when they are hurting and why. But the truth is I do not think I will be able to do that and that is hard for this mommy. I can't take back what happened and didn't happen for them. UGHHH!!! Why? I want to. Yesterday a very dear friend pointed out to me that I am trying to do this on my own. I am trying to do God's work on my own. I need to let Him heal my children and accept that He chose me to be their mommy. Guilt really consumes me that I have not reached my children enough or at least I think enough. When it comes down to it I LOVE my children and that is what God wants me to do. I know a great many other moms who struggle with the same thing and it is important I think for future mom-to-bes to know that those times may come up and it is ok if they do. God covers me with His grace. I don't have to be perfect. WOW!! I just have to be mommy to 7 fabulous children. Perhaps that is the reason God has chosen me to journey down the road of adoption and to pledge my devotion to Project TLC. TO show love to children who have never been blessed with it. God has equipped me with every task and situation He has put me in. When I have rough days like today I have friends who are there to lift me up like taking me out for a yummy bite to eat just to let me know they care or friends who call and say they are thinking of me. Just because I have a large family does not mean I don't have time it just means my time is spent differently. My conclusion today: it is ok to have rough days and still love your children. God has shown me this and for that I am so grateful! I love you Madelaine, Owen, Hudson, Ethan, Reagan, Evelyn, Mason, Carrington, Teagan, and Kelten!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Let's Bless Katie!
Just 2 short months ago my heart was forever touched by a sweet little girl in a faraway country that was in need of her family's love and a whole lot of prayer! For those of you who have not met sweet Katie I would like to introduce her and her Mommy to you.
Katie is a sweet little bird who is 9 years old and weighs only 11 pounds! Yes, that is 11 pounds. She is only about 30 inches long and wears clothing that would fit an 18 month old. Her health is extremely frail and all prayers are needed for her to stay strong enough for her mommy to bring her home. Katie should hopefully be coming home within the next 3 weeks and will follow in Carrington's steps and go immediately to the children's hospital. She is going to be blessed with having a nurse accompany her mom on the trip to bring Katie bird home. You can read more about the Musser's journey to bring their sweet little bird home here.
I would like us to all do our best to bless the Musser family in any way we can. The Mussers live in Pennsylvania and I would like to set up for the family to be blessed with meals, volunteers, and any items that the family may need. Who is ready to help me bless this wonderful family?! Here are just a few ways we can bless the Musser family:
- Sign up to bring a meal to them. You can sign up here And if you do not live close to the family a gift card to a restaurant would be wonderful.
- Volunteer to sit with Katie at the hospital once she is out of Pediatric ICU. I will be setting up a volunteer list for people to sign up once we know her status.
- Little Katie would be very blessed if anyone would like to gift her with blanket sleepers, some long-sleeve onesies, and some big waterproof but absorbent bibs size 18-24months.
- Send gift cards to such places as Wal-Mart, Weis Markets, Darrenkamp’s, Ferguson Hassle
- Donate through a chip-in I will set up once the family comes home.
- Diapers probably size 2 or 3
KATIE UPDATE: IF YOU SIGN UP FOR A MEAL BETWEEN THE DATES OF THE NOV. 11TH-20TH PLEASE EMAIL ME FOR THE ADDRESS OF THE FAMILY.
Lord Jesus, You have given us your promise that you will always take care of us. Lord we come to you now asking for Your hand to watch over Katie and her family as they continue this journey to bring her home. Please let Katie's story be a light unto all of our hearts showing us all just how valuable the life of one of Your children is. Katie is touched by Your fingerprint God and we know You will equip not only the Musser family but all of those involved in her care.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Apple 32GB iPad2 Giveaway
In life it is a most wonderful blessing when something happens for no other reason than the love for another person. We received an email from someone who reads our blog and this person told us that she had a friend who wanted very much to see Teagan come home so he was donating a brand new 32GB iPad2 for us to have a giveaway. Take a look here.
I had to have Brian come over and read it to be sure I was not just going through the disillusionment of another adoption. How? Why? Oh my! I just needed to catch my breath and realize that I had prayed to God for some help. And He answered. This generosity we have seen with this adoption, first from Susanna and Merideth's auction for Teagan, and now with this giveaway! It is hard to believe I must admit. Anytime a family who is going through an adoption receives any gift it sure does humble you. I have always worked for what I have or needed but God has shown me through our adoptions that I don't need to be in control. He will equip us and we just need to let Him do it His way. Brian and I would like to thank the generous individual who has a heart for orphans and is helping us with this most incredible item.
Please share this giveaway anywhere you can. Christmas is just around the corner and this would make a wonderful gift for someone or may just make you very happy to receive it for yourself.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Impossible?!
In Carrington's country all they saw was something they deemed impossible. I say something because Carrington was not viewed as a person but rather a burden, a task not worth the undertaking. You can see in her eyes the sadness of a child never knowing that she was and is worth the life of God's own Son. This is what her world thought of her...
Broken. Not worth fixing.
No value. No reason for effort.
Impossible (she will amount to anything).
This is WHO God knew and WHO we see...
We see the frailty in our daughter (for the first time ever)....
We see what love can do.
(check out these ultra yummy legs sticking through her crib during naptime)
We see a little girl who has so much personality within her.
We see a brother who loves and will protect her.
We see a princess who has brought so much sparkle to our lives.
(sorry its blurry but she and daddy were dancing)
When we look at Carrington (and our other children) we do not see
impossible...
We see
"I'm Possible"
Possibility is not for us to determine. That is God's domain. We are simply given the blessing of the fruits of His glory. God has carefully knitted each child with His purpose set in mind. He did not and does not make mistakes. We are the ones who make mistakes. We mistake the miracles in our lives as our own rather than God's. We determine the value of people and the worth of our time and efforts. We decide if we have the resources to undertake a task set before us. We want to control the very world around us.
That is where we are wrong. God created ALL people with worth and value (sometimes it is harder to see) and has given us the blessing of using it for His glory. God promised us that He will equip the called and that He will never leave nor forsake us. God created our whole universe and it is He alone who will determine when He will come again to bring those of us who believe in Him home.
5 of my 8 children were seen as something that was not worth resources or time. 5 of my 8 children were treated as something less than desirable. 5 of my 8 children were created with a little something extra. 8 of my 8 children are loved by God and Brian and I. 8 of my 8 children are provided for, educated, disciplined, and treasured. Our children are not an inconvenience that we must endure. Our 7 children do keep us wonderfully busy and blessed. 7 of our 8 children teach us daily lessons (patience being one of them). But most of all 8 of our 8 children have taught us where we can find pure JOY and that is within Jesus not our world.
Now we are preparing our hearts and home for more possibilities.
Teagan says "I'm Possible"...
to love, to learn, to grow, to experience life, to share, and to be loved!
This little guy has waited 12 years to hear "I'm Possible" and with God's provision he soon will know just how truly POSSIBLE he is to our family.
Kelten Drake
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Her Toe-Simple Joy
See this little toe poking out from a little someone's pjs? Well who would have guessed that little toe could and would bring about entertainment for the whole family.
Carrington would raise her leg, look at her toe peeking out and then just laugh.
So when Carrington would laugh so hard her whole family was right there laughing with her.
This is just one little thing that we love about our sweet Carrington. She has the most contagious laugh and her eyes just light up. When people have doubts or fears about raising a child with Down syndrome they just need to look at life through Carrington and all that will be replaced with SIMPLE JOY!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Through Her Eyes-Day 19
The world may focus on the shape of a person's eyes or even the color. Songs have been written about eyes. Eyes was listed as the top answer on Family Feud for what someone first notices about another person. Through my daughter's eyes I would love to see life for she has the purest of looks. Her eyes tell a story. She does not needs words. If the whole world could just look at life through her eyes then I believe the world would be vastly improved for the better.
HER EYES TELL ME......
I want my daddy!
I see the doggy over there and want to go see him.
I am safe in my daddy's arms (oh and you can't be mad at me that it is almost 11:00p.m. and I am still awake can you? I mean just look at my shirt-it says it all)
I am going to pick out which ribs I want to eat tonight off of this menu.
My big sister Reagan is so special to me!
I am not feeling so good.
I have thoughts and feeling just like everyone.
I challenge everyone to just take time to look in the eyes of a child. Do not look at the color or the shape but just look and see what those beautiful eyes are telling you. If I only knew how to put a song to this post I would put "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. My hope for my children is that they never loose the look they have through their beautiful eyes!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Raining and Down syndrome??
Tonight out of nowhere it started to rain. If anyone has followed the news we have been in a deep drought here in Texas and it has caused so many problems. We can't make it rain. Man cannot come up with a magic solution to take away the effects of a drought. Trees (including my very favorite red maple) are dying. Flower beds and vegetable gardens have all withered up and look as if not a single soul cares for them. Now I know you all know me by now, I am pretty transparent, so you know this has meaning. As I smell that sweet smell of rain coming through my windows I also am smelling the sweetness of being a mommy to 7 wonderful children and one sweet angel boy watching me from above.
Our life is a lot like the weather here. At one point, our family was living quite comfortably with a new home, a new minivan, pedicures for me, and fun for us all. Did we work hard for this? You bet we did. My garden was in full bloom, so I thought. Then our life moved in a new direction and that is when our journey to adoption started. I had left my teaching position and came home to work with other children and to home school my own 2 children. Money was tight (drought like conditions) but we made it. Soon things got a bit better (the rain came). Our blessings would continue with the unexpected adoption of our son Mason (the rainbow) but then Mason passed and the weeds would seem to be choking off the very life that was found in my garden and love felt so far off (the drought). Our loving memory of Mason led us to adopt our first 3 children from Ukraine and soon we would be returning for two precious little girls. Many see our life as a drought through financial lenses and through lenses that I can only see as the unknown. We love our life. Are we in a drought? NO WAY! In fact, we see that we are living in the most beautiful of all lush gardens. There are opportunities for new things to grow and for true beauty to be seen, smelled, and touched. A garden only God Himself can make flourish. We are only the gardeners God has chosen to tend to His precious creations. Yes, weeds do pop up and yes little varmints get in and try to destroy what God has so wonderfully made. There are days that I just can't find the right tool to take care of the issue that has choked off some of the beauty. Days sometimes find me digging and digging yet never producing a thing of beauty, or so it seems. Then there are days like now when the rain pours down and erases all of the cracks in the soil, replenishes the moisture that has been so desperately needed, and washes away all of the dirt that has clouded over the beauty. And after it is all said and done, this amateur gardener can sit back and see the Master Gardener's true work of beauty created especially for me.
My garden may not look like that one found in Better Homes and Gardens and may not have a plethora of people flocking to replicate it but that makes my garden all the more unique and special. It is special because it is the one God has created for me and called me to tend to. I know that I have a lot to learn when it comes to tending this garden and learning about all that will flourish within its borders but that is okay. I do not have to have all the answers nor all the solutions. My garden has a wonderful group of admirers who share their tips and their time to help each living creation blossom into the truest of beauty. I know that when my garden seems to be wilting and not producing it is not because the Master has not done what He should or that I have somehow messed with it but rather it is simply a time in which I must reevaluate what all is entering my garden and how I can best take what has been given unto me and nurture it with my love and devotion. I love not knowing when my garden is full or when things will reach their full maturity. When I try to force something to grow and produce it when I seem to fail to notice that perhaps that is that creations beauty: a unique and magnificent one of a kind. It may not look like, grow as big as, or even produce like the neighbor's garden but nevertheless my garden is a rare and true one of a kind. I would not trade my garden and all the work that must go into it in order to bring the beauty forth for all the prize winning gardens in all of the Earth! My heart if filled with total contentment as an amateur gardener who is simply trying to apprentice the greatest of all Master Gardeners-my God! With a special love and appreciation to each of the unique and wonderful creations in my garden-my steady drought proof husband Brian and all eight of the most beautiful children-Madelaine, Owen, Hudson, Evelyn, Reagan, Ethan, Carrington, and Mason. I am watching with great joy to see what the newest addition to our family will need from this gardener.
My message to you this evening is to share with someone you know who has been blessed with a very unique garden (Down syndrome and other special needs) just how much you love to watch the beauty that comes from their garden. Don't point out the weeds, we know they are there. Simply point out the beauty of God's creation and who knows you too may be blessed with God's calling for a special garden of your own.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Pure and Total Tears-Day 15
I am sitting here this evening in a puddle of tears thanking God and just praising Him right now. As you all know I have spoken of Project T.L.C. many times as it holds the heart of our family. Our ultimate goal with Project T.L.C. is to have a center where children with special needs may come to learn and receive much needed therapy that they otherwise will never receive and with this center being available parents would be encouraged to parent their child rather than place them in the orphanages. Well, thanks to a friend, I had the privilege of seeing such a place in this video.
Please sit with a box of tissues as you watch a miracle. This my friends....this is an answer to prayer. Oh my words will never be able to describe to you what my heart is feeling this very moment. For those of you who have been overseas to adopt and seen what life is like for these children you can relate to what a miracle this is and for those of you who have not been overseas to adopt I know you can relate because of joy and love you have for children. Please watch this video and pass to every person you know. God answers prayers!!
Hope Haven Ukraine, Opening Day! from Dale Walden on Vimeo.
You can read more about this incredible miracle at : http://hopehavenschool.com/
Friday, October 14, 2011
Look at My Brother!
Isn't my new brother handsome?! My mommy says Teagan and I look like twins so now she will have a set of twins and triplets! I think Mommy is going to be buuuuusssssyyyy! That's okay because all we have to do is smile or giggle and it will melt her heart like butter on a hot Texas day. Mommy and Daddy picked out Teagan's middle name as Chance because they say he deserves a chance to be the boy God intended him to be and for a chance to be loved. Mom and Dad are going to love him alright and so will his 3 brothers and us 4 sisters. Thank you for helping raise the money through Teagan's auction so he can come home.
The 14th Day
This is simple but it is our way of reaching even more people about the wonders and blessings of Down syndrome:
http://www.wfaa.com/home/related/Texas-family-adopts-5-special-needs-children-131874533.html
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Carrington's Imprint
I cannot believe how one little child, discarded by her society, can turn around and bring people from all over the world together! When we first began our journey to bring Carrington home all we had were stories and pictures from our friend Stephanie as to what she looked like and how she was doing. Stephanie told me how her heart would break each time she would go to visit her son and see Carrington left alone all day with no attention or love. That all changed the day Brian and I landed in her country and came to see her. You see, the care givers could not understand why we would want her. They kept offering us another child who was blond hair, blue eyed and told us "you want this one she is beautiful." We told them "NO" we want her (Carrington) because she is the daughter God picked out for us. While our return home to the United States would not be the welcome party we hoped for because of rushing straight to the hospital, it would be the biggest of blessings. The staff at the hospital told us our sweet little girl had only hours left before her body gave out. God knew. He knew this little girl would save the world of orphans.
My dear friend Sarah started a blog for Carrington and soon this blog would be reaching people all over the world. Messages reached us offering love, encouragement, support and resources. There were several families who would go on to decide, after reading her story, that they too were going to adopt an orphan with special needs. How can a mom explain the feeling of watching her child struggle to live yet at the same time blessing so many with her will and her story?!
As we now enter our adoption journey to bring Teagan home, who is in very similar condition as Carrington was, we know that miracles and events are yet to unfold. Some of these we may not see right now and some we will, but the most important thing is to know that lives of orphans with special needs can find their forever families. Finances, paperwork, worries of how Teagan is doing, all can be overwhelming but we will NOT allow that to stop our family from bringing Teagan home. Once again we are finding love and support from so many we know and then from even more people we have never met in person but have maybe through emails or blogs. No matter where or whom our blessings come from we know they are Heaven sent.
From a malnourished and frightened little baby girl (who really was almost 4yrs old).....
To this beautiful ray of sunshine who has brought our family a bountiful of blessings.
Our sweet angel no longer must struggle to live but just enjoy the love of her family. I see all over that people's minds, beliefs, and attitudes are changing towards individuals with Down syndrome and our family will continue to be blessed to be yet a small part in helping save the world of a orphan with special needs. October is a great month to not only celebrate the cool weather of fall and all of the harvest of fruits and vegetables but it is a spectacular month to celebrate those who have been blessed with an extra 21st chromosome.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
My Big Brother Teagan's Auction
Hi everyone! I just wanted to tell you that the auction that Miss Susanna and Miss Meredith are coordinating for my big brother Teagan only has a few more days left. Please go look at all of the really neat items that very nice people have donated and please bid. We are really looking forward to bringing Teagan home so he can have a chance to grow up in our very fun and loving home.
Day 12
1. Ds Fact: Celiac's disease is more common in individuals with Down syndrome as well as Eastern Europeans. So with my Hudson being from Eastern Europe and having Down syndrome, that increased his chances for having celiacs. The treatment for this is a gluten free diet.
2. Look at Oksana's grant!
shn6 -13
Oksana M.
Date of Birth: January 29, 2006
Gender: Female
Eyes: Gray
Hair: brown
Nature: Calm
Oksana is a beautiful carrot top with blue eyes! She is HEALTHY, with no heart condition. She does have hard astigmatism in both eyes, so she will need to wear corrective glasses. But she is active and happy, described as affectionate and playful. Won't you give Oksana a family of her own?
FULL MEDICAL INFO AVAILABLE!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Day 11-Why I love Ds
These are my reasons for loving Down syndrome:
MY CHILDREN!
...AND BECAUSE MY CHILDREN ARE LOVED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Day 10 -Guest Post
Tonight I am turning over the keyboard to Carrington's big sister, Madelaine, to give you a perspective from the sister of children with Down syndrome.
Hey everybody, it's me! Having siblings with Down syndrome isn't that much different from having "normal" siblings. It's hard to describe what it's like because in my opinion and experience, to really understand what it's like you need to experience life with them and all of their quirks. They've definitely changed my life in the way of my career goals. Because of all of the things I have seen my siblings do, I want to help other children with special needs be able to do all of those things and more. I also want to have or adopt a child with Down syndrome. Preferably a girl because girls are just so much more fun to shop for. At least to me they are because I am a sucker for ruffles and quite frankly, I don't think a little boy would enjoy wearing a ruffled shirt :)
With four siblings who have Down syndrome I have learned that words aren't the only way of talking. My siblings communicate with us in so many ways, with sign language, their eyes, and the far less preferable way, crying and screaming. The occasional raspberry (courtesy of Carrington) gets our attention as well :)
I would definitely say the hardest part about having siblings with Down syndrome is all of the doctor appointments and hospital visits. Always running all over the place trying to get to each appointment on time... it gets stressful sometimes. But the love and trust my siblings have for me, that is the best part of any and all days that I spend with them.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Day 9
1. Ds Fact-There are certain physical characteristics of Down syndrome that an individual may or may not possess. Some of those characteristics are a deep single crease across the palm of their hand, upward slant to their eyes, thicker neck, low muscle tone, shorter and thicker thumb, wider gap between big toe and next to big toe toe, and even thinner hair.
2.
Wyatt 26HA
gpr3-26HA
Boy, born February 2009
Eyes: Gray
Hair: blond
Nature: Quiet
Update Sept 2011: Our little Wyatt is not doing well. He is described as a recumbent patient. He has hydrocephalus and can hardly move his hands.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Day 8
Before I begin my nightly blog about the 31 For 21 Challenge I just wanted to remind you all to go look at http://treasuresinhiddenplaces.blogspot.com/ and bid on some of the wonderful items that are up for auction to help bring Teagan home. The auction only goes on for a few more days so hurry up and take a look. Don't forget that if you post about the auction and let me know I will enter your name for a $25 Target gift card.
1. Ds Fact- Ds is the most common chromosomal condition. Approximately 1 in 691 babies are born with Ds each year.
2. Hopeful Heather
Heather
Girl, born September 2001
This tiny girl is ten years old! So petite!
Heather doesn't have any other health complications listed at all.
3. Carrington Fact - Carrington has gained so much weight that the dr had to put in an even bigger gbutton. This is her 3rd size.
4. Spreading the love about a child with Dshttp://www.seeingtheupsideofdown.blogspot.com/
4. Spreading the word about Ds
Friday, October 7, 2011
Day 7
1. Ds Fact- Heart defects are common in children with Ds. The most common are atrial septal defect (ASD) and ventrical septal defect (VSD). Often these will close on their own over time but sometimes surgery is needed to correct it.
2.Terrific little Tommy
Tommy #11-11
DOB: 1999
Diagnosis: Down syndrome
No, the date of birth is not a typo, this little boy will be TWELVE years old this month.
Tommy looks like a healthy little 2 year old boy with chubby cheeks and chunky legs.
The reality is that he is TWELVE years old and weighs just 26 pounds. Tommy is in an orphanage where the children receive only the most basic care and very little stimulation or opportunity to grow and develop. Tommy can sit up and pull to a stand. He can walk with assistance and move around in a baby walker (yes, he's small enough to fit in a baby walker).
He makes sounds and pronounces syllables such as "da-da", "ba-ba", etc. He eats from a spoon, but has not been taught to feed himself.
Many additional photos and videos of Tommy are available. In the videos, Tommy is a happy little boy who responds very well to positive praise and attention. He's following simple verbal instructions and making an effort to interact with the adults in the video. He can scoot himself around in the walker and responds to his name.
He's a tiny package of potential who's waited 12 long years for a family to help him blossom into the child that he was meant to be!
It is of crucial importance that any family considering the adoption of an older child from the mental institution setting be well prepared for what to expect with regards to how the neglect and lack of adequate medical care and nourishment has affected this child. These children are truly living on borrowed time.
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