Wow it has been a bit of time since I last posted.  Things have been absolutely hopping here at our house and in our lives.  So, I thought I would bullet point and illustrate life around here.

• I celebrated my 41st birthday.  I absolutely love my birthdays!!!  In fact not one other member of my family has a birthday in April so it is all mine,hahahahaha!!!!!
• We received our Article 5 with Bulgaria which means now we are submitted to the MOJ and soon courts.  
• Ethan finished his 3rd tball season. This was his first year he actually played coach pitch.  Ethan played on his favorite and original tball team with most of his original teammates.  What a great coach we had and fun time watching as Ethan grew in his skills. He has earned the nickname of Ethan "Cheeks" Burman as he has the biggest cheeks especially when he puts on the batting helmet.
• Madelaine finished her drama course with the community theatre. She has been doing drama for 6 years now and loves it!
• The triplets are growing like weeds.  Hudson thinks he is a funny guy and will stand in front of the mirror and make his own self laugh.  Evelyn is now signing to us for a few things she wants. Her latest sign is .....drum roll please......MOMMY.  This is a step in the direction of at least knowing who I am.  Owen has begun to accept small amounts of totally pureed food.
• Reagan Faith has lost her 2 front teeth.  The dentist told me to pull it out when it got real loose and when I did she looked at me and said "why did you do that Mom?".  She loves to show everyone her missing teeth.  She has started to wear big girl panties but must wear diaper pads in them. Due to her spina bifida she will never be potty trained in a typical way but she so desperately wanted to wear "big girl panties" like her sister and mommy so this is the way we can do that. I got the idea from another mom who does the same thing for her daughter with special needs.
• Carrington has just grown grown grown!! She now weighs over 25 lbs and is in size 2T clothes. Today marks one year she came home from her 5 week stay at Cook Children's Hospital.  Here is a great big thank you to everyone at Cooks for taking such great care of our Princess. Carrington is making some new noises and even new faces.  She just continues to amaze us with everything she does!  Daddy is completely wrapped around her finger as is mommy and big sister and anyone else who is around her.
• I have been blessed to be working with some amazing people to help bring donations of formula to the children in the boys' orphanage.  The children, as you all have followed, are in such desperate need of nutrition amongst other things.  Efforts are being coordinated for traveling families to take over as much formula in their suitcases as possible.  The overwhelming response to this need has been nothing short of the work of God!  Recently we found out that the interim director has decided that he will not allow any formula to be given to the children because it was not bought in Bulgaria.  This will not deter our efforts but rather we will continue to accept donations of this formula and when God shows us the timing is right we will bring it to the children.
• Major nesting has hit this mommy of nine to be!  We have rearranged rooms for all the little ones.  Madelaine has changed bedrooms so that the Kelten and Teagan will now be in the front bedroom. We pulled the carpet out and put in wood floors, put up 2 cribs we were so generously given, stripped and painted a dresser to change it into a changing table, and begun adding little personal touches to their room.  
• Last weekend we hosted a home project party with several friends to help get a lot of projects done in order to be ready for the boys' homecoming.

Little Julianna Moreno was so sweet each time she came over to play with Carrington. Our DFW Reece's Rainbow group had our get together at our house this time and we all enjoyed the beautiful weather by playing outside.

All this growing is so tiring for our Princess. She is sleeping in  her favorite place in the whole world! Take a look at those legs and arms!

I could stare at these yummy chunky cheeks all day long!

Ethan and his buddy Carter all ready to play ball. Go Riverdogs!

Ashlee is all geared up for a day of projects for our bring the boys home improvement project.

Steve is such an expert at this electric sanding thing when just a few minutes prior he had never even used one . This once was a 80s stained cabinet. Way to go Steve!

Paul is starting work on the new dining room table he is building for us. Our new table will  let all 11 members of our family eat together!

Scott lent his time helping us to put up a new front fence to our backyard.

Take a look at the transformation of that once stained 80s cabinet. You will get to see all of the finished projects on another post. Stay tuned.

Ethan loves Carrington so much that he decided she could see his dragon.

"Wow big brother!  I like your dragon!"

Ok so this is a totally random picture but the story behind it is funny. Ethan was at the GI doctor with me for Carrington when he asked me what this was. Being the home school mom I started in with the lesson about this is a colon and what all parts do what. When we got to the rectum part he laughed and said "do you mean my tushie looks like that?" I tried to explain more but then he wanted to know where a certain other body part was and well, thank heavens the doctor walked in at that point.

Our house is such disarray right now with all of the projects so Ethan decided he needed to make a cave to sleep in just like Batman.

Even superheros have to sleep sometime.

Reagan is such a mommy in training. She always wants to help me especially when it comes to the kids. She told me she was going to feed Owen.  No complaints from me and obviously Owen had none either.  Just look at the totally happy face on my Reagan!

She was so proud of herself for helping Mommy feed Owen.

Carrington and I stopped by the Parker's house to visit. Kennedi is one of my former students and an absolute joy for me to be around. She is the inspiration for me as to what my children with Ds can do.  Her little brother Miles is such a hoot he was trying to find games for Carrington to do on his iPad.

Movie Time

"The Carrington" Returns

Last year when Carrington came home from Ukraine and spent 5 weeks in the hospital we were touched by so so many kind people with prayers, donations, visits, and gifts.  One such gift was created  by a lady named Joy. Joy creates some of the most beautiful jewelry and wanted to create a special piece in honor of our sweet princess.  She lovingly made these necklaces and then donated 90% of the proceeds to a fund for Carrington.  Madelaine and I each have one and everywhere we go people comment on it.

Well.....last night I was working on the formula drive when an email appeared from Joy declaring that she was going to once again make necklaces but this time it was for our boys!!  Oh My!  She had already done so much for us and was once again knocking on our door to help some more.  The most interesting thing about this is that just yesterday I was talking to a gal I know and explaining to her that God has totally equipped our family in all ways for the journey He has called us on. Sometimes people answer our request for something and then other times people just step up offering help or things and we didn't even say anything.  Joy is just another example of this!

This time Joy has 4 different versions of "The Carrington" she is making.  You can go HERE to see and order these beautiful works of art!  Each necklace is $25 with $20 from each one going to the boys.  Thank you sweet Joy for your kindness to Kelten and Teagan!

Formula Answers to Questions

This is totally overwhelming to stop and look at the response for the need of formula for the children in Pleven!  Thank you to each and everyone of you who is donating formula, taking over formula, and getting the word out about this effort of so many.  I have received quite a few emails and comments with questions regarding the nutrition we are sending over.  Some things I could answer but other things needed some expert answers.  With that I was able to contact a wonderful doctor who has expertise in the area of nutrition for children.  She answered some of the questions I forwarded on to her so I could share it with those of you. She also said to please feel free to repost her response wherever you need to
.

first of all, i think i'd not call it high calorie, it's not any higher in calories than any other formula unless you mix it to make it so.  the doctor can prescribe the very best calorie per milliliter ratio for each child, and these powdered formulas can be perfectly adapted for each child's  needs.

 

Children with long term, severe malnutirion are often unable to efficiently digest and metabolize many foods.  When a child comes to the US and is treated for profound malnutrition, they are usually fed IV for quite a while at the beginning, with oral or tube feedings starting very slowly.  Unfortunately, that is a luxury these children don't have.  The next best thing is carefully monitored feeding with very specialized formulas.  Formulas such as Vivonex Pediatric, Elecare and Neocate are called "elemental diets" because each ingredient, the proteins, fats and carbohydrates, are broken down into the smallest, simplest possible elements.  They are also manufactured under the strictest controls, just like medicines, so every gram has the absolutely accurate amount of each component.

 

The malnourished child's body has to do NO WORK to digest these formulas.  100 % of the ingredients can be absorbed and used for metabolism, healing and growth.  Because the doctors know exactly how much of the formula is going to be able to be used by the sick child (100 %) it is possible to very precisely prescribe the exact amount needed each day, or even each hour. 

 

Refeeding hypophosphatemia is a truly frightening syndrome that can happen to anyone who has malnutrition and then is given calories.  Obviously, these children are at higher risk than, for example, you or I would be after a crash diet or being sick for a while. Therefore, it is essential that when they begin to be fed, that they are fed carefully and with the utmost precision. 

 

These highly specialized metabolic, elemental formulas are perfect for this situation.  They are not recommended by the World Health Organization for treatment of starvation because they are amaingly expensive, and in countries with many starving children, they can't be found at any price.  But they are the very best enteral (meaning "using the gastrointestinal system") feeding option for children who are very fragile. 

 

Another question I'm often asked is this:  Do these children need to stay on these special formulas once they're home?  Probably not.  Once they are stable, safe, and growing, the very most healthy option is eating real food.  Sad to say,a certain percentage of these children may never be able to eat enough regular food to be healthy and grow.  They may end up needing to be tube fed long term.  Children who have an underlying enzyme deficiency or are missing a large portion of their intestines may require a lifetime of these elemental formulas.  But most children who continue to need formula can, and should, eventually be on a formula that's as close as possible to real food.  Each child's doctor will make that decision as the child heals and grows.

If you have any other questions that you would like answered please send them to me via email at burmanshelly@yahoo.com and I will do my best to get you answers.

 

How You Can Make a Difference

Update:  My email is burmanshelly@yahoo.com if you can help with formula donations.  I do not know how to answer questions left on my blog via comments so I will answer here a question by Portland Granny. Yes, there is formula over in Bulgaria but the cost of the type of formula we are sending is about 3 times the amount we pay here plus we are hoping that people do not necessarily have to go buy formula but rather know someone who may have some or even have some themselves.  For example. the Neocate formula we took over costs about $130 USD per can over in Bulgaria.  I have gone to my pediatrician as well as other doctors to ask them if they have free samples they can give to the children. So that may be an idea for you to try.  Thank you.

The Need Is Great!!

Not long ago Madelaine and I took the first trip over to meet Kelten and Teagan in Bulgaria.  With us we brought suitcases full of donations:clothes, toys, diaper cream, diapers..but nothing was more needed than NUTRITION!!!!!!

In our suitcases was over 60 cans of highly specialized formula and approximately 80 pouches of another type of specialized formula.  These sources of nutrition are like powdered gold to these children.  Something they have never seen in all of their say 11, 13, 14, and even 16 years of life!  No I am NOT making this up!  The children in Pleven have received the most basic of food; only enough to sustain them.  I cannot even say they received the minimal of nutrition because it is not nutritious.  The day Jenny, Madelaine and I presented the formula to Dr. L, who was examining the children at Pleven that day, was one of the happiest yet saddest days for me as a mommy. Happy because we knew this would help so many children just like it had our sweet Carrington.  Sad because we knew it would not last very long because there are so many children there.  

This sentiment is shared alike by parents who have been to visit their little one there and by those who are on their way. So what can we do?  What difference can we make?  Through our small group of families we decided that we were going to make a change in a big way!  We are sending nutrition to the children!  Things with customs are way to bureaucratic, not to mention expensive!  How? How can we do this?!  Well, never underestimate mommies and daddies! We have a plan and this is where we need YOUR help!!  How many of you get cans of formula you don't need or use?  How many of you know someone else who gets cans of formula they do not need of want?  We WANT it!  The children NEED it!! 

 If you know of formula just waiting to enter the tummy of a sweet little one or would like to purchase formula to donate please email me right away.  

I am coordinating formula donations with all the families who are traveling to Bulgaria in the next several months.  Each family that can is ready to take over formula in their suitcases so we can get it to the children quickly! Please put this on your FB, blogs, etc to get the message out.  Maybe someone you know who lives somewhere and has formula will be able to get it to a family who may be living right near them.  We can do this!! We can get proper and desperately needed NUTRITION into these children so they can grow like they should.  We should not be seeing children like...

4 1/2 year old Teagan

15 year old Sophia and
 11 year old Amelia

13 year old Kelten

5 year old Lina

14 year old Faith

in these conditions!

Praises!

God is GOOD!!!

Today one of the neatest and kindest ladies I have met during our adoption journeys announced today that she and her family are adopting a precious young girl from Pleven.  A young girl who has been registered for adoption but never was given the chance to grow in a loving family.  A  young girl weighing in at 14 pounds.  So we are hoping to see a precious 1 year old right?!

    

Meet Faith-14 years old

Adeye Salem and her family are preparing their home, their hearts have already been prepared, to bring this special girl into their family.  Adeye has long been a voice for orphans across the globe through her blog.  I had the pleasure of meeting Adeye while we were both in Ukraine for our adoptions in 2010 and now she lives in my old home state of Colorado.  She has always helped anyone she can with fundraisers to bring home their children and now is starting her own fundraiser to bring home their daughter.  Take just a minute to read their story as they begin the process to bring Faith home to love, nutrition, security, and a chance to grow. Our hearts are with the Salem family as they follow God's calling to care for the least of these!

Formula Drive-Can You Help?

God always intended for us to be there for one another but He also desires that we seek Him with all of our heart! Ever since our journey into the world of international special needs adoption I have asked God to lead me and show me.  With the exposure of conditions in our boys' orphanage in Pleven more opportunities arise for us to come together and work for the glory of God.  What we are doing does not make us richer, give us a bigger home, promote to a higher position in society.  GOOD!!  That's not what we want.  We simply want to help God's children.  When I say "we" I am referring to all of you!

On our first trip over to Pleven Madelaine and I packed suitcases full of formula for the children.  Jenny also had her bags packed.  The time came for us to meet Dr. Lilova, the amazing doctor from the Tokuda Hospital in Sofia, and give her the formula.  She thanked us for this nutrition is very expensive over there, and she asked us to leave it there at the orphanage and she would tell the caregivers how to administer it.  YEA!!!

 Well, the conditions in Pleven still dictate that we need to help with continued donations of nutrition. It was asked if one of us moms could coordinate the formula transporting with families who are going to Bulgaria. We are hoping through traveling families we will be able to help tremendously with the need for proper nutrition for the children.  I am working hard to compile a list of traveling families so that we can get this nutrition to them.  We have no shortage of willing families who can pack an extra suitcase to take formula over, BUT...... we do need donations of formula!! The kind that had previously been taken over was a specialized, broken down, formula but that is NOT the only type we can take. We are open to taking any and all formula that can be donated.

Here's how you can help.  If you have any formula you would be willing to donate please send me an email with your information and what kind of formula, how much formula you have.  I will contact you with how we will send it.  Please post this on your FB as we never know just where the next family going over to Pleven lives and it may be right next to you or someone you know.

Easter Miracles

Easter baskets were filled with all kinds of goodies.

Ethan has appointed himself "Chief Easter Basket Inspector" and went by each basket to tell me whose was whose.  Good thing I had help;)

Reagan was so excited to have a bunny Easter basket!

Evelyn found out that her eggs made noise so she was all about that!

Hudson had to analyze his basket. (Owen wanted nothing to do with pictures with his basket)

Carrington had fun finding treasures in her Easter basket.

My Easter Miracles!

I am surrounded by the most amazing of all God's plan: CHILDREN!

My beautiful Madelaine is looking every bit the part of a beautiful young lady!!

Reagan Faith

Ethan Cole

Hudson Quinn

Evelyn Rose

Owen Reece

Carrington Ann

Last year at this time Carrington was fighting to gain weight and heal from years of neglect.  Just look at the Princess only 1 year later!

Madelaine Grace

Truly a special young lady!

The Seed is Becoming a Sapling

Remember not too long ago I wrote about wounds beginning to heal?  You can read about it here.  Today I was catching up on my emails and saw some promising news of things over where our boys are. You see, our boys are in an orphanage that just wreaks of neglect (amongst other things) and it is so very wrong in so many ways.  The conditions are so far below what we call for when it comes to animal shelters. This has been going on for such a long time that it has become a way of life for the caregivers and all of the precious children.

We were shocked!  We were sickened!  We were burdened!

God heard us!  He felt our pain because it has been HIS pain!  God has begun His mighty work.  You see our prayers have gone up to Him for the precious children.  We have asked for God to watch over the children, to heal the children, rid this orphanage of the very poison that was spreading, and even for the people in charge to go down to this orphanage and help the children by taking care of all the wrong taking place.  I  know I even prayed for the caregivers to please see just how special these children are.  Many people prayed and our God heard.  

This week some very important officials made a surprise inspection of the orphanage in Pleven, Bulgaria.  The very place Kelten has spent his 12 1/2 years of life in as well as Teagan who has spent 4 1/2 years there. What they found was no surprise: horrible conditions for these precious children.  While over there I do firmly believe we saw seeds of change beginning to sprout.  I do believe those changes are continuing.  You see, things have gotten this bad because people lost focus of God and settled in on their idea of perfection in this world.  

Much like the extreme fires that destroyed an enormous part of Yellowstone National Park back in the early 90's, something has occurred in Pleven that can only be explained by intense heat.  When the fires of Yellowstone were put out many wondered if the splendor of Yellowstone would ever return.  Ever so slowly it has.  We are now even seeing species of plants and trees that had not been seen for over a hundred years. This is happening only because of the intense heat that was able to germinate seeds.  These plants promise splendor. The trees promise shade and protection.  But it will take time!

Change is happening in Pleven. It has taken great "heat" to break into those seeds; the ones that have laid dormant in their thinking of children with special needs.  I know I for one want immediate and drastic change.  'Let's just go get those children and close those doors forever!' is my constant thought but I know God has a plan. He knows what is to happen where and when.  Many people have been working hard for change over in Pleven and now those who needed to see and listen are finally doing so.  The seeds of change have been planted and now have germinated, and I believe that with the watering of prayer, of thousands of people everywhere, this seed is no longer just a seed but rather the beginning of something so splendorous and magnificent: a sapling that is growing into a strong tree of love!

Below I have listed some of the links to an example of the change happening in Pleven.  I think a couple of them are in Bulgarian but all you have to do is translate them. You will see what I believe are the fruits of our prayers.  Keep praying for change. Keep praying for the children.  Please also pray for those care givers, babas, and those in charge for they need it.  Yes, those who have done these things will need to answer not only to their government but ultimately they will need to answer to God.  I really feel led to continue to pray for those (and it really is hard to pray for people who have done wrong to these innocent children) but I know God wants us to.  So, please think about why Jesus died on the cross and how we are only saved because He first died.  Our prayers may be the only ones that can bring change to their hearts.

http://www.vesti.bg/index.phtml?tid=40&oid=4643331

http://www.vesti.bg/index.phtml?tid=40&oid=4709071

http://paper.standartnews.com/en/article.php?d=2012-04-07&article=38861

http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=n275113

Let's Hear it For Bulgaria

I am so excited to say that yet one more little one will be finding their forever family very soon!  My friends, Ashlee and Paul, are about ready to expand their family through the world of international adoption.  It's quite crazy how we met because our paths never would have crossed in our world had God not set it in His plan. When we had our spaghetti dinner fundraiser back in January we were able to meet so many people we did not know and one of those families was Ashlee, Paul, and their 5 children.  Since then our families have totally hit it off with just hanging out together, eating, babysitting, countless chats on the phones, and even getting the guys (Brian and Paul) to knock off some of our honey-do lists.

They were following us on our journey to Kelten and Teagan and felt God was calling them to international adoption. One day we were talking about my trip over to see the boys and next thing I know Ashlee tells me her and Paul want to adopt a boy. So, now they begin the journey themselves to bring home a sweet boy.  Their first stage is to send in commitment documents and fees so as to secure their son's file and to let the government know this little guy is loved and wanted.  I cannot believe how excited I am for them and about the Kindle Fire they are giving away to one lucky winner!  Go check out their blog to see for yourself and to follow another one of God's amazing journeys! And just for this very important weekend they are doing a giveaway within a giveaway so jump on over and see how you can help this family!

Just as Jesus Rose...

My friends this is Easter weekend.  For some they will only give thoughts to the Easter bunny and what he will bring but for our family and so many inconceivable number of families our thoughts will go to Jesus and how He carried our sins to the cross and then rose again.  He gave His life so that I, you, could have our sins wiped away.  Talk about sacrifice!  Talk about doing something "out of the norm". Talk about L-O-V-E!!

Each of my 10 children have given me another gift and that is love from Jesus Himself.  God chose me to be the mommy of my children and He chose to call Mason home once he had completed the purpose God designed him for.  It is not hard to be the mommy of my children because I LOVE them. There is sacrifice, sure but it is not true sacrifice!!  I no longer put my time, money, and energy into things I once did.  Sleep is not always uninterrupted. Bathroom time is merely code talk for "hey everyone let's come spend time with Mommy!" I drive Big Bertha (12 passenger van) instead of my sleek, 12 cup holder, bun warming, multi cd deck mini van.  Sacrifice?!  NO!!  Blessings!  The real sacrifice came from Jesus. I am merely trying my best to follow His lead and care for the least of these.

I was reading my friend, Julia Nalle's, blog tonight and she had posted about a mom who set up a challenge for us this Easter weekend. A small challenge to sacrifice when you compare it to the sacrifice of Jesus, but nonetheless a very important and life changing sacrifice. She wants to see older children with no money in their grant fund make it to at least $20 each by Easter and then she will match dollar for dollar the amount donated to bring the children up to $20.  I myself was burdened for these children. Yes, we are still in the process of trying to bring our sons home but how, HOW, could I ignore these precious faces?  I could not so I checked to see who had not made it to $20 and we donated. It was not a lot of money but God never said we had to be grand in what we do He just wants us to DO!

May I continue this challenge?  May I ask you to sacrifice your Starbucks, Sonic drink, movie ticket so that one of these precious children can have a chance?  I would love to see if we can get these angels up to $30 by Easter. Each child. $30. For some that is only a couple dollars. For others it may be $5. At first I though about offering a prize with names entered into a drawing for those who donate but then I stopped and thought this is not about "getting something". It is about "GIVING something". SACRIFICE.   Think about what Jesus' sacrifice has meant for you and I and then think about what your sacrifice will mean for one of the children listed.