Lucky to Love Lyla

Just what seems like a short time ago one particular family was in process to adopt a precious little angel by the name of Lyla.  Like us, they filled out paperwork, chased down paperwork, tirelessly raised funds, and prepared their hearts and homes to bring her home.  Once the family was ready and things were about to happen it was discovered that sweet Lyla was very sick and not expected to survive.  Sadly, the family was told she was not available!  Instead of giving up this family felt led to bring home another precious little one who just so happened to live in the very same orphanage as our Carrington.  And again,, like us this family not only brought Belle home but would soon return to bring home a handsome little fella named Gavin.  Well, this family also told God their hearts and homes would always be open to orphans, and God blessed this family with the most amazing of all miracles: Lyla was out of the hospital and she needed a family!  There was no question in their minds as to whether or not they would commit to Lyla it was only how fast could they get paperwork done to bring her home so she could get better and have fun with her brothers and sisters.

  Now this family is facing the monumental task of raising funds for their third international adoption in  less than 2 years.  Now this may sound like I am writing about us but really I am not!  This is a real family and their name is the Spitz family.  I definitely need to meet them in person as it seems we have a bit in common:)

My friend Sarah, who also happens to be the Spitz' friend as well, wrote about this family and a wonderful giveaway they are having in order to bring home their little miracle.  You can read Sarah's story about Lyla here. This family went through heartache when the news of Lyla's frail health was shared with them and now they have the blessing of being able to bring her home to receive the medical attention and love she needs. Anyway you are able to help this family would be helping to rescue a little girl God has big plans for.

Contentment

Is there anything sweeter?!!

Mulligan Stew Invitation

You may have noticed on the right side of our blog a little button entitled MULLIGAN STEW.  This is the project that a fellow adoptive mom felt God had led her to create in hopes of helping families just like us raise needed funds to bring home our child(ren) as well as to help some very special children find their forever families.  In the beginning this was an amazing giveaway but as the days have gone by it has turned into something far greater and rewarding than one can imagine.  Julia has definitely breathed some incredible creativity into posting about the Mulligan Stew giveaway but, as she credits, you can see this is the work of God's hands. You see, there have been some incredible stories about anonymous donors who have challenged readers to not only help the families and children but have also promised additional funding for such children as The Lost Boys as well as the children who are waiting for their mommy and daddy to cross the ocean and wrap arms of love around them.

As Brian and I near the end of our journey to bring our boys home we are continually blessed by the kindness of both those we know and do not know who have supported us, encouraged us, and donated to us.  The kindness shown to children who have yet to find their families tugs at my mommy heart like no other.  Julia has such a heart for these children and truly without a doubt wants each and every child to come home to love.  This amazing giveaway does have some fantastic items in it.  My eye has been drawn to a number of items but the time is drawing near when the stew will no longer be served and dishes must be cleared. So, would you take just a few moments of this day to click on the links above and see if you don't get your plate filled with the love God has for these families and children.

We Love Our Zoo

This is our 6th year as members of the Fort Worth Zoo and we just love it!  Each year we buy a pass for most members of our family (the ones who are over a certain age) and in just 2-3 visits we more than pay for it.  The nice thing about having a pass is we don't have to feel like we have to be there ALL day to get our money's worth.  We can go for a couple hours or for a longer time.  Ethan is convinced this is HIS zoo so he acts as the official tour guide and tells us where we need to go first.  I printed off a worksheet for Ethan and Reagan as part of their homework in which they needed to find certain animals in the zoo and when they do they could color it in.  We then come home and learn about where each animal lives.  Ethan has been learning about elephants and the continents of Africa and Asia so as we passed each sign that had an animal from one of those places we would talk about it.  

Also, the zoo is the perfect place for a little physical therapy. Oh Yeah!!  This mommy is all over PT with a view!  Reagan has goals that include pushing her own wheelchair community distances so why not practice here where she can also learn about animals. We also practice our counting as we count how long it takes her to get up the big hills all by herself.  Now some people at the zoo have commented rather abruptly how terrible I am for not pushing her up the hills but I simply smile and reply that is why I am her mommy.  I am so proud to say that Reagan is getting faster and stronger each time we go!! Hudson also practiced his PT by pushing his sister in the stroller as he walked.  Hudson simply does not like to walk so here he has to.  Let me tell you that nap time is quite successful on these days.  

This day we had Miss Sarah and Miss Glennda come with us. Miss Glennda is Hudson's sign language teacher so she was signing all the animals for him and for us.  The neat thing is that all of the kids get to learn the signs as well.  Once again, learning is taking place.  Ahhh, the beauty of home schooling is that the world is our classroom!!! Miss Sarah usually comes with just Ethan to the zoo so her path has always been to certain animals but this time she was able to see other animals which was fun for her.  The kids love both girls (they are younger than me so I can call them girls even though they are grown adults) so that makes it even more fun! The only thing missing this day was our Daddy!!

I absolutely love this picture of me with my children!!

Miss Sarah has such an amazing heart for the children and you can tell they all love her!

Mr. Zoo Guide

Hudson just saw the turtles swim by and I was trying to sign "turtle" to him. 

Spring Is In Texas

Aside from the obvious change in weather, you can tell that spring has hit Texas in a grand way.  I left Texas to go see our boys in Bulgaria and the temperature was beginning to change for the warmer.  While I was gone the rain came and just brushed everything with vibrant colors.

My reason for posting about spring and all of the beauty here in Texas is because in about 2 more months I will be shut up indoors because it is too hot and humid outside to do anything, I will have 9 children and  myself getting cabin fever, and because I will need reminder that there is good things here in Texas.  Summer is supposed to be fun but the temperatures just get way out of control hot and the little ones would get sick in this heat.

Gentle breezes have been blowing making our daily walks so enjoyable.  One of Carrington's favorite things is to have the wind blow through her hair.  She gets so excited and turns her head towards the wind.

Then we have had some fun surprises inside as well when Mommy decided to make banana smoothies for everyone.  Let's just play a quick guessing game. Any guesses who was first and last to drink their smoothie?  EVELYN!!  This girl just loves food! And our biggest excitement came when Owen walked up to me and wanted some. He drank a little bit then just looked at me.  He must have liked it because he smiled and grabbed my hand to give him more.

Carrington's First Year

Our 3rd World Ds Day

2012 marks the third year the Burman Bunch has celebrated World Down Syndrome Day.  Our first World Ds Day was celebrated as our family, then only 4 members strong, started on our journey to Ukraine to meet the triplets: Owen, Hudson, and Evelyn.  In 2011 we once again celebrated with the addition of Carrington which brought our total children with Ds to 4 (we also brought home Reagan who does not have Ds).  This year we celebrated World Ds Day with Madelaine and I just returning from Bulgaria where we met the two newest members of our family who also happen to be sporting the extra chromosome.  What was so neat about this year is that our local Ds partnership hosted its first World Ds Day party with a picnic at the park.  Everyone brought their dinner to eat and spent time just visiting and playing.  We have received so many comments on our shirts which is a great way to share the blessings our children have brought us.  I am really excited to read on other blogs how families celebrated this totally awesome day!!!  For those who do not know, World Ds Day is celebrated on 3-21 of each year because it represents the 3rd chromosome on the 21st pair.

Someone is getting a bit big for her mommy to hold.

The Burman Bunch celebrates together.

Our Ds Partnership group gathers for a photo to commemorate this day.

Our friend Ashlee and Carrington were having fun sticking their tongues out.

Carrington made Paul laugh with her love for the red Sonic straw.

Our special caregiver Sarah came along with us for the fun and her and Carrington were sharing a good laugh.  This shows the personality Carrington has developed since being home one whole year.

Daddy had to round up a couple of out little ones as we made attempts to head on home.

I love how Evelyn is seeming to point to herself and bring attention to the message on her shirt.

Madelaine took Hudson on a walk and he was trying to tell me he wanted to go bye-bye.

Ethan was totally entertained with his friends on the cool playground (that is after and between eating several pieces of cake).

Remaining Tshirts

First of all we would like to give a giant thank you to all of you who ordered a Simply Live Tshirt!  The  number of shirts you all ordered was amazing.  What a great way to get such an important and powerful message out to the world.  Madelaine and I wore ours in Bulgaria and we even had a few people who spoke English ask us about them.  Right now we have just a few shirts left  so if you did not get a chance to order one let me tell you what we have:
RED- 2 Adult Large and 5 Adult Small
WHITE- 5 Adult Large, 2 Adult XL, and 3 Adult 2XL

Send me a quick email if you would like to purchase a tshirt for Kelten and Teagan!  Thank you so very much!!!

Shirts should be going out very soon!!!

In our lives we are blessed with so many people we come to know.  For Brian and I our adoption journeys have weaved new friendships and acquaintances into our lives.  My friends number so many and are ones I have met in person and some I have only had the pleasure of knowing via email.  One such dear friend I have only built a relationship with via emails is Julia Nalle.  She and her husband answered God's call to adopt a handsome young boy who had been deemed as damaged by his own society.  Julia and Rob faced the darkest of dark during their adoption journey yet they pressed on with God by their sides.  Today their son Aaron is one of the most handsome little boys with a bright future ahead of him thanks to the love of his family.

 The Nalle family has the most amazing hearts for orphans all over the world. Right now God has not called them to journey down the road of adoption themselves yet they feel that God is leading them to fight for these precious children.  Julia has shared many of her thoughts, emotions, and experiences on her blog.  I certainly have learned and pondered a lot more since beginning to follow her blog.  I admire Julia for her love and unbreakable devotion to children who have been labeled as orphans with special needs.

Julia and Rob felt God once again leading them to do more. More for so many children and the families working so hard to bring them home.  They have creatively started one of the most amazing fundraisers with a most intriguing title: MULLIGAN STEW.   You can read more about the creation of this fundraiser here at Julia's blog.  The fundraiser is designed to help many families and orphans to help offset the expenses of adoption.  In some cases there are also children who will also benefit from the funds raised to help build a grant for their adoption.  Right now the prizes for this amazing fundraiser total close to $4,500!  You can click on the button on the right side of our blog to see just how  you can be a part of this spectacular wave of love.  Even if all you could give was $5 to a family that is $5 of love that was not present before.  You may think $5 won't make a difference but you are oh so mistaken.  It is not just the dollar amount that plants the seed of change it is the love and prayer that accompany that $5.  Many of the families, like us, who are traveling to our boys' orphanage will be the blessed beneficiaries of this love.  Take a few minutes to read about Mulligan Stew and I promise you your heart will be stirred with the love of Jesus for these precious children

Missing My Family

I love my family!!  There is just no denying it.  With this adoption I am only gone for one week but the mommy in me is constantly thinking of my children back home.  I know that each and every person who is helping us out with the children is doing an excellent job I still miss them.  This week I have been blessed with everyone sending some pictures of the kids and what they are doing.  It sure does a momma's heart good to see her babies. I should be home in less than 48 hours to hug and kiss all over them.  It will be back to life as usual for the Burman Bunch first thing Monday morning.

Doesn't she look just like her big brother Kelten?!

Carrington loves the new swing mommy and daddy got her!  Oh my this smile is absolutely priceless!

This picture is so precious!  Thank you to Song Spicer for taking these beautiful pictures of my Princess while I have been over meeting her new brothers. And thank you Jill Spicer for taking such good care of my Princess!!

Look how flexible yet relaxed Princess is!

Miss Glennda made strawberry shortcakes with the kids.  Take a look at how big Ethan's is!

Evelyn obviously loved her strawberry shortcake as well. Look how well she is holding her fork!!

Reagan was able to spend the night at her friend Sarah W.'s house.  Thank you  W. family!!

Our Beautiful Butterfly

Carrington and her story has touched so many many lives it is not explainable by anything other than the master plan of God.  Her stay at Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth not only saved her life but it also was one  in which I, as a mommy, relished the love and true care of each person who took care of Carrington.  For any mommy that alone is a priceless gift for our children and us.  

Well, not too long ago I was approached about being interviewed for Cook's Wall of Children where a special quote or saying would be placed next to a picture of Carrington for all to see.  This week we had the blessing of having two amazing photographers come to our home to do a photo shoot of Carrington to put on this wall.  Brian and I went out to find a cute outfit for our Princess to wear for this special occasion.  You will never guess that Daddy here was the one who picked out the beautiful outfit Carrington was going to wear.  He made sure she had matching little sandals as well as cute little sunglasses.  The funny part is that Brian is not the shopper in the family but I am pretty sure that for his Princess we will be seeing him doing things, going  places, and saying things he would not normally do..

The photographers were absolutely amazing with Carrington! I think Carrington knew they were here for her as she just was posing and hamming it up for them. The picture and quote should be up on the wall at Cook Children's sometime in July so then we will get a cd with all of the pictures taken of Carrington but in the meantime I thought you all would like to see just how radiant this precious little girl looks exactly 11 1/2 months home.