Hello Everyone
I have just recently spoken with my very dear friends, the Brown family and they were sharing with me all what the children have been doing in the past 6 months since they arrived home. I have been so blessed to be in their home on several occasions to witness first hand what love can do for a child. The experience this family has with diagnosis such as Ds, FAS, and autism is phenomenal but what continues to amaze me is the loyalty of these parents to not only their children but to friends they know.
Amelia had a rough start with 2 hospitalizations and a few emergency room visits. Her last hospital stay did prove to be beneficial for her as she received a gtube and had 6 teeth extracted. This stay was led by 2 emergency room visits prior. Now Amelia is not only gaining weight appropriately (11 lbs so far) but she is also growing in her physical and emotional goals as well.
Sophia has done amazingly well with the adjustment! She simply loves her siblings and smiles nonstop when they are around her. Doctors have discovered that her injuries were so severe that she will never be able to walk. That does not deter Jenny and Steven from encouraging her to try new things and give her the fullest of lives.
The boys are busy being boys and growing. Jeremy recently got his first pair of glasses and he looks so sharp! He has also started walking so Jenny is keeping busy! Joshua eats well but still is not gaining weight which is leading the doctors to test him for Celiac's disease.
As you all may remember I had set up a chip in for the family prior to their arrival home. Several people had contacted me wanting to know how they could help the Brown family because they knew this was a family who was devoted to taking care of their 21 children (19 of whom are social and true orphans) and wanted to do something nice. I had asked the family if they needed any help to pay for things that their insurance would not cover (and believe me that list always seems to get longer every year even with the best of insurances). The family was so thrilled to learn how many people cared for their little girls when they learned I had set up a chip in for them. Through your donations we were able to raise $1,200 in the short time the chip in was able to be up. Unfortunately, it was extremely sad for me and many others when I received a call from Jenny saying that she has been emailed and told she had to take the chip in down because it would look like she could not financially take care of her children and would jeopardize any future adoptions. Now, we all know so many families who do have chip ins and even care funds set up either by the family them self or through the kindness of others while in process of adopting so this caught all of us off guard. Why should the thoughtfulness of others be seen as a negative mark on a family who is adopting? We are called to help one another. God has triumphed over this and still has continued to bless the family through so many of you who continue to send gifts such as diapers and formula (items which the insurance deems not coverable). With the generosity of your donations the Brown family was able to purchase 2 special car seats which would work for the girls' fragile bones as well as a wheelchair which was gently used. Many happy smiles are found on the faces of the Brown family as they watch their children blossom each day.
Now that life has settled into a routine for the Brown family, this will be my last guest post on behalf of the Brown family. Jenny hopes to resume her blogging so you all can see just how beautiful the children are doing. Again, the Brown family thanks you for all your prayers and blessings bestowed upon them.
This is Aunt Shelly signing off for now! Many hugs and kisses to all of my 21 nieces and nephews!!
I have just recently spoken with my very dear friends, the Brown family and they were sharing with me all what the children have been doing in the past 6 months since they arrived home. I have been so blessed to be in their home on several occasions to witness first hand what love can do for a child. The experience this family has with diagnosis such as Ds, FAS, and autism is phenomenal but what continues to amaze me is the loyalty of these parents to not only their children but to friends they know.
Amelia had a rough start with 2 hospitalizations and a few emergency room visits. Her last hospital stay did prove to be beneficial for her as she received a gtube and had 6 teeth extracted. This stay was led by 2 emergency room visits prior. Now Amelia is not only gaining weight appropriately (11 lbs so far) but she is also growing in her physical and emotional goals as well.
Sophia has done amazingly well with the adjustment! She simply loves her siblings and smiles nonstop when they are around her. Doctors have discovered that her injuries were so severe that she will never be able to walk. That does not deter Jenny and Steven from encouraging her to try new things and give her the fullest of lives.
The boys are busy being boys and growing. Jeremy recently got his first pair of glasses and he looks so sharp! He has also started walking so Jenny is keeping busy! Joshua eats well but still is not gaining weight which is leading the doctors to test him for Celiac's disease.
As you all may remember I had set up a chip in for the family prior to their arrival home. Several people had contacted me wanting to know how they could help the Brown family because they knew this was a family who was devoted to taking care of their 21 children (19 of whom are social and true orphans) and wanted to do something nice. I had asked the family if they needed any help to pay for things that their insurance would not cover (and believe me that list always seems to get longer every year even with the best of insurances). The family was so thrilled to learn how many people cared for their little girls when they learned I had set up a chip in for them. Through your donations we were able to raise $1,200 in the short time the chip in was able to be up. Unfortunately, it was extremely sad for me and many others when I received a call from Jenny saying that she has been emailed and told she had to take the chip in down because it would look like she could not financially take care of her children and would jeopardize any future adoptions. Now, we all know so many families who do have chip ins and even care funds set up either by the family them self or through the kindness of others while in process of adopting so this caught all of us off guard. Why should the thoughtfulness of others be seen as a negative mark on a family who is adopting? We are called to help one another. God has triumphed over this and still has continued to bless the family through so many of you who continue to send gifts such as diapers and formula (items which the insurance deems not coverable). With the generosity of your donations the Brown family was able to purchase 2 special car seats which would work for the girls' fragile bones as well as a wheelchair which was gently used. Many happy smiles are found on the faces of the Brown family as they watch their children blossom each day.
Now that life has settled into a routine for the Brown family, this will be my last guest post on behalf of the Brown family. Jenny hopes to resume her blogging so you all can see just how beautiful the children are doing. Again, the Brown family thanks you for all your prayers and blessings bestowed upon them.
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| Meeting my two sweet nieces for the first time in March. |
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| The proud parents, Jenny and Steven, at the surprise shower their children and I threw in honor of the four newest members of the Brown family. |
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| Look at my sweet Amelia growing! |
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| Oh how I love this girl's smile! |
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| Amelia at her second hospital stay where she first received the ng tube then her gtube. |
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| Amelia now loves going on outings with her mommy! Look at how long her hair is! |
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| All of the Brown children together for the first time at the airport when Jenny and the children came home. |
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| I felt so blessed to be a part of my friend's homecoming! |
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| Joshua has no problem falling asleep when he came home. |
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| Jeremy is so sharp looking in his glasses and new haircut. |
3 comments:
Okay, this made me cry. THANK YOU for sharing the precious pictures. God's redemption is AWESOME!!!! Amelia looks wonderful!!!
Thanks so much for updating us, Shelly! What an awesome family!
Its so nice to see your update on the Brown family! What a sweet family! So glad your chip in was able to help them. I know that your chip ins have helped several families. Love reading your blog!
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