Quick Updates All Around: Travel, Lice, School, Friendship, and the passing of Amelie

I started this post about lice.  Yes, LICE.  As in Ellie had lice a few weeks ago.  That post isn't completed. . . yet. . .  but I decided to write about more mundane, and less disgusting things today.  Such as, what we have been up to the past few months!

In May, we had Ellie's IEP meeting.  You can learn a little bit more about it here.

It was also my darling, Tabitha's birthday.  My forever daughter in Russia turned 5 years-old and may or may not have aged out of the baby orphanage and transferred to an institution.  Given the adoption ban, I no longer receive updates on this sweet girl.  If any of you happen to know how she is doing, please contact me.

Andrew had a huge conference in Vancouver, B.C towards the end of May and I got to join him halfway through!  My mom flew down to care for Ellie so that Drew and I could have a mini getaway.  This is something we haven't done since Ellie was a baby and it was the longest we were away from her.  We had a lovely time eating out, checking about the water, and meeting up with my friend Lisa.  We went to the Capolano Suspension Bridge which is a huge deal.  I am petrified of heights.  I had this idea that I would swoon from the fear, crack my head open and then fall to my death.  Thankfully, that did not happen.

While we were gone, Austin and the surround areas were hit with record rainfall.  There was massive flooding just to the south of us.  At one point I-35 was washed over.  We had friends lose everything.  People were missing.  We were fortunate that the only damage we had was to our garage.

Bear graduated out of PPCD [preschool preparedness for children with disabilities].  I would love to tell you that she had a big graduation complete with cap and gown, but there was really nothing to mark the day.  She does have a few days of summer school that last about 2 hours/day for 4 days/week for 5 weeks out of the summer.  During her down time, we are having a grand old time with friends.

Girl's night with Sheryl & Rita at Cru Wine Bar

The not so fun part is that all of these doctor's visits seem to have snuck up on us.  My personal favorite is the dentist.  Ellie is usually such  little toot.  Screaming, thrashing, biting - and that is just a daily thing at home with me brushing her teeth.  So imagine my surprise when Bear cooperated for a dental cleaning - tooth brushing, fluoride treatment, flossing!!!

Then of course there was the lice incident, but more on that later.  Let's just say it was horrendous nit combing her hair and taking care of all of her hair accessories - hats, headbands, bows, horse helmet.  

It was very fortunate that the lice infestation was caught the week before our much anticipated trip to St. Louis to visit my parents.  Could you imagine bringing lice to another person's house?!  Ellie and I traveled to St. Louis sans Andrew.  Andrew had just returned from a business trip and needed to put in a bunch of hours at work and he also had great plans to work on the laundry room (this would be the laundry room that was gutted back in late December and the one that I blogged about in March).  

The Chunky Chicken was a rock star on the plane and behaved really well when we went to places like Kaldi's Coffee and this restaurant out in Washington, Missouri to visit my Uncle Robert and Aunt Sue.  Our visit was quick and we didn't get to see many people outside of family.  Ellie tried a ton of new foods - hamburger, deli chicken, alpine cheddar, gluten-free cookie.  I noticed that she did this the last time we went out of town back in March to visit my best friend.  Maybe the change of environment and being around new people make her a bit more adventurous?  We also managed to wear her out because she was going to bed between 6:00pm-7:00pm!

I ended up going with the white and the black mug from
The Shack, but I think I should have sprung for the red one too!

Unfortunately, a huge shadow was cast upon this trip.   My beloved 7 year-old tortoiseshell rescue kitty was compassionately put down.  To be so far away and not get to say good-bye was and has been rough.  The return home was extremely upsetting.  My spunky kitty didn't run to the door to great me.  She will never burst through the dog door and "chirp" at us.  She will never sleep on top of me again.  

Amelie was our honeymoon kitty.  The day we got back from our honeymoon, Andrew and I went to PetsMart to pick up dog food for Rodeo (?-2009) and kitty litter for Tama.  I walked out the door with Amelie in tow.  My little rescue kitten had a whole lot of spunk and personality.  Just after Ellie and I left for St. Louis, Andrew noticed that our Ame wasn't eating and seemed less energetic.  She used to sit on top of the fridge instead was laying around on the floor or on Andrew.

She arrived to the vet dehydrated, constipated, with a temperature of 95 (normal cat temp 100.5-102.5).  It was assumed that she had some sort of infection that entered her blood.  After a bunch of labs, it turns out that she was not septic, but was in kidney failure, most likely due to congenital polycystic kidney disease.  After intensive treatment, it because apparent that Amelie's body was shutting down (she was 91 degrees by the end) and we opted to compassionately ease her suffering.  It was really hard for Andrew to see her like that, but he was with her in the end when she gave him one last "meow".

I miss her so much, but I know that she is now playing with our dog Rodeo and curling herself up in his tail like she used to do back when she was a tiny kitten.

My other daughter

I know it has been a long while since I have written about Reece's Rainbow or the plight of orphans over in Eastern Europe.  Yet, they are never far from my mind.  It has just been too hard.  Too difficult.  Too heartbreaking for me to write about my other daughter.  My Tabitha.

While circumstances prevented Andrew and I from adopting my beautiful Tabby, I rejoiced when her forever family found her.  I was excited as I anticipated her being "an orphan no more".  To know a mother's love.  To be held.  To be properly fed and nourished in both body and in soul.  To be read to. Sang to.  While I couldn't be her true mommy, I felt such relief knowing that she would soon have one.

It wasn't meant to be.

The day when Putin banned all American-Russian adoptions, my heart plummeted. A spirited, red-head girl with a little something extra would be trapped.  Trapped in that orphanage.  Her forever family unable to reach her.  What if Andrew and I tried harder?  Would we have been successful?  Would we have had her out of there and secure in our homes before this ban?  What if I lied about my history of depression and anxiety?  Would we have been allowed to adopt then?  What if?  What if?  I feel so guilty.

A child, my child sentenced to a life without a mother and father.

Is she loved?

Is she receiving affection?

Is she receiving enough food and water?

Is she receiving proper medical care?

Does she have friends?

Is she warm enough at night?

My Tabitha turns 4 years-old this May.  As many of you know, this means "imminent transfer".  Transfer to a mental institution.  As many of you know, this is a horrendous sentence.  Wasting away.  

(Read Katie's story from The Blessing of Verity--a 9 year-old girl rescued from an institution)

I couldn't write about her.  Because you see, if I wrote about Tabby, it meant it was/is real. It solidified that her forever family wasn't coming for her.  With tears streaming down my face, I beg you to please pray for my other daughter.  Pray for her and let us not forget that while our country has come a long way (and still has a ways to go) in our treatment and views of children with disabilities, many other countries still shuttle them away from the public eye.  Labeling them as "unworthy".

So yes, I haven't written about these children in a long time, but I have been thinking about them daily. My heart ever so heavy.  Breaking for these kids.  For my Tabitha.  

A Reese's Rainbow Family's Plea for Help

I have not forgotten the orphans listed on Reese's Rainbow (or any orphans over in Eastern Europe [EE] with special needs).  Not one day goes by that I do not think of my Tabitha.  My little girl who is trapped in Russia.

Today, I come to you on behalf of a friend whom I have written about here on this blog before.  Kelly and her husband adopted sweet Charlotte a few years ago and she has been thriving.  Thriving.  You can see just how well she is doing over at In Mama's Heart.  Kelly and Kyle have always planned on adopting another child.  In fact, they were ready to adopt two sweet children Little E and Baby A from Russia, Charlotte's home country, until the adoption ban went into effect.  Their hearts were broken.

Knowing that they could help another child and knowing that their family wasn't complete, they have decided to adopt Louisa, a wee bambina from another country in E.E. Louisa has Down syndrome and in her home country, she was placed in an orphanage because she is deemed "worthless", "unlovable".  Upon reaching the age of 4 or 5, she will be transferred to an institution to live our her days.  All because of her extra chromosome.  A little girl with Down syndrome, like my Ellie.  Transferred to unsavory conditions, unless someone adopts her.  Someone like Kelly. Kelly and Kyle are traveling in 7 days.  SEVEN days.

They funds are short by about $10,000.  They are desperate. In fact, Kelly is auctioning off her engagement ring on Facebook (please, I beg of you, if you win the drawing, do not accept the ring.  Could you imagine auctioning off your ring?!?).

Sponsor Louisa!

I don't often ask for money.  In fact, I am asking for plan ole help.  If help is in the form of monetary funds, great!  I know that paychecks have been stretched thin so I ask first and foremost that you share their story.  Donate if possible, but pray, send good thoughts, forward their blog.  Anything to help unite Kelly, Kyle, and Charlotte with their beloved Louisa.

Thank you.


If you have no idea why I am writing about Reese's Rainbow or abandoned children, please click here.  Warning: the video at the bottom is rather disturbing so have some tissues handy.

Can you help?

I wish that I had more time to write and more time to advocate for this little boy.

The Nine Family will be traveling to Eastern Europe later this week to adopt their little boy Sebastian.  Sebastian just "celebrated" (if you can call it that) his 3rd birthday in an orphanage.  When the family last received an update, he weighed 12 pounds.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Twelve pounds, as in the same weight as my cat.  It is imperative that this little boy be with his forever family ASAP.

They are short on funds.  Not much, but those funds are still precious and greatly needed.  Can you help them out?

Read the family's blog here: http://littletreasureofours.blogspot.com

Read more about my blogging buddy's plea here: http://ourcorabean.blogspot.com/2012/12/wish-list.html


Or, donate directly through Reese's Rainbow.

Don't forget to spread the word.  They are leaving this week!

Sebastian [Linden]

Thank you.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you.  These children are not forgotten.  They will never be forgotten.  I will not forget.

Another One Died Alone

This past week, the adoption world and Down syndrome community were shaken to its core.  Another little one died.  Alone.

Stacy.

http://reecesrainbow.org/background/in-loving-memory

This little girl was loved,
Even if she never felt those caressing arms of a parent around her tiny body.
Even if no one sang her to sleep.
Even if she spent most of her days in bed.
Even if no one ever celebrated her birthday with her.  Marking off each passing year that she lived in horrible conditions.


Yes, Stacy was loved by so many in our on-line community.  I heard the cries through the internet.  I could hear the desperation and sorrow as my friend told me the news about the little girl she one day wanted to adopt and welcome into the fold of her family.  Stacy.  Not long ago, we all rejoiced when we heard she had a family coming for her.  A family!  She was loved even if she did not know it.  My heart goes out to her family.  The family who had been plowing through mountains of paperwork, spending copious amounts of money, and exposing their heart so that they could rescue Stacy.  Their daughter.

Yet, in the end, Stacey died alone in that crib.  I wonder if she knew how many loved her.


Let us not forget.
Let us not stop advocating for these children.

This Affects so Many: Forget Me Not Friday

Do you see this beautiful little girl with strawberry-blond hair and soulful eyes?  This is Tabitha.  My daughter-of-the-heart Tabby.  I have written about her several times before.  I cried when Andrew and I were not able to adopt her.  I cried when it seemed that no one was coming for her.  Then I cried tears of happiness and rejoiced when at long last, she had a forever family. Now, her dream of living with a loving family outside of an orphanage is shattered.

Tabitha lives in Russia.


Children with special needs are unwanted and considered "defective" in Eastern Europe.  This includes the country of Russia.  Parents of children with Down syndrome, HIV, Cerebral Palsy or other "abnormalities" are encouraged to place their children in orphanages. To abandon them.  Eventually, these children age out and are sentenced to spend their days in mental institutions where basic needs are minimally met.  As you can imagine, not many Russian citizens are rushing to adopt these forgotten children.  However, families from the U.S. and Canada are providing these children with loving homes.  Now, that may all come to a grinding halt due to the new anti-U.S. adoption bill that was signed in Russia.


Putin Signs Anti-US Adoption Bill

What does this mean for Tabitha?  Will her family be able to complete their adoption?

What does this mean for Elden?  Will his family ever have the chance to find him?

Or these other children?

Nanette

Carina

Rebekah

These are just some of the orphan children with special needs in one region of Russia who need families.

My heart is so heavy right now and I am worried about these precious children.  My heart aches for all of the families who are in the process of adopting children from Russia.   I wish that I could show you how so many children have thrived since being home with their families.

Blogs of families who have walked the adoption road (not all are from Russia):

Living on Hopes and Prayers -Remember Shawna & Lindsey!

Saving An Angel -Phoebe (the first little girl I ever fell in love with on RR)!

Welcome to Taylorville-Andriy

The Blessing of Verity-Katie (this story is AMAZING)

Carrington's Cruisade

I will never forget

Lately, I have been joking about Ellie's recent weight gain, thus happily reinstating the "Chunky Chicken" nickname that she earned when she was a wee, chubby baby with rolls.

My little girl has never needed to worry about food.  She always knows that she will get to eat and mostly likely will have a few choices of what to eat.  She never had boiling hot, watered-down gruel shoved down her throat via a bottle with the nipple cut off.  She never had spilling out of her mouth, soiling her clothing because she couldn't swallow fast enough or because she was not receiving reflux medications.

Ellie is 3 years-old and weighs 28 lbs.


Many children in Eastern Europe, residing in orphanages or institutions are severely malnourished and underweight.  Many children who are adopted from these regions are brought home weighing half of what Ellie weighs.  Some of these children are so malnourished that they are immediately admitted to the hospital as soon as their plane touches U.S. soil.

Throughout this blog, I have shared adorable photographs of the Princess Ellie demonstrating her rocking climbing skills and playing with her blocks, baby doll, stuffed puppy, books, or plastic utensils.  She has been given ample opportunities to explore her environment all while knowing that her mommy is near by to shower her with love and praise.  Myself and various therapists have worked with Ellie to help her develop her gross and fine motor skills.  Thus enabling her to navigate her world.

How can a child learn to sit up, crawl or even walk if he is left in a crib or tethered to a chair?  How can she learn to feed herself, turn the pages or a book, or even build a block tower if she does not have access to toys?

Many children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Apert's syndrome, or other "defects" are deemed unworthy of life and are placed in institutions throughout Eastern Europe.  Their parents are advised that this is "what's best for them".  Yes, it does sound a bit like us 30 years ago.  Sadly, these orphanages and institutions are not healthy environments.  Their may be overcrowding.  The staff uncaring or overworked.  Supplies are scarce.  Diapers may be reused.  As in the disposable kind.  The children are often left for hours on end in their cribs.  They do not have much human interaction.  No love.  No one to read to them.  No one to hold them.  No one to cheer them.

These children are not forgotten.  Not by me and not by many of my dear friends.

Jane, my fellow UK blogging buddy, is very adamant that my hair will be a glorious color of the rainbow by Christmas.  Our goal of $3,000 for Bobby is nearly halfway met.  In fact, Jane was just in Kalinovka--the remote institution where our Bobby lives.  The location where the Happy Child Fund is constructing the 2nd House That Love Built.  FORGET ME NOT!

Bobby 50

The Forget Me Not has its own Blogger Platform now.  Jane has spearheaded it and would like the word to get out as she is having a rather difficult time gaining followers and thus spreading awareness about these children.  Please head on over to the Forget Me Nots and click that little "share" button.
http://flightplatform.blogspot.com

Even if it is not possible to donate (believe me funds are tight!) or you are loathe to see me with an unnatural hair color, share share share.  Perhaps one person will see Bobby and KNOW that he is her/his son.  Perhaps another person, perhaps with a rather large checkbook, would be moved.  Or, even if you have just $1.00.  If every follower on this blog were to donate $1.00, our Bobby's fund would grow by nearly $200.  Jane has huge giveaway going on right now over of the Forget Me Not so be sure to check it out.

Of course, I am not just stopping with Bobby.

Maggie

Maggie.  Darling Maggie is a little girl who is just one month younger than my Ellie.  That's right, she just turned 3 years-old and has spent 3 years without a family.  She has cerebral palsy and desperately needs a home.  Early intervention and love would help little Maggie thrive.  This little girl has been so heavy on Christie's heart.  So very heavy that doesn't know what to do to help her.  Christie has been selling Scentsy product like there is no tomorrow with a pledge to donate all of her earnings to Maggie's fun.  If you want more information on her Scentsy sale, please contact me.



Finally, I cannot end this post without showing you my Tabitha and Elden.

Tabitha 15-H

ANNOUNCING:  Tabitha has a family!!!!!  I do not know any details yet, but it just recently happened.  Her photographed has been moved to the My Family Found Me Page!!!!!!

Elden

This young boy has a HUGE fund.  Where is his family?

For more information about why I am passionate about these chidden, vies this video with a large box of Kleenex.

An Orphan No More, the Sader Family, and More Tabitha Pics

Let's shout it from the rooftops!  There is one less orphan in the world today.

Many of you may remember the Shpak family as I often blogged about their adoption journey as well as the various fundraisers they were hosting to help bring home their daughter Ruby (Shannon).  Well, yesterday, our dear sweet Ruby walked out the doors of the orphanage in Eastern Europe with her forever father and soon will be on a plane to meet the rest of her family.  I feel as though this has been the longest pregnancy ever, but the Ruby was well worth the wait!

Ruby (Shannon)

Congratulations to the Shpak family on their new family edition!

You can continue to read about there journey on their family blog.



Additionally, my dear friend Deanna and her husband Rob have just boarded a plane to head over to E.E. to meet their new daughter Harper (Charity).  For months they have been raising funds and filling out a mountain's worth of paperwork.  Please keep the Sader family in your thoughts and prayers for a safe travel and a smooth adoption.

Harper (Charity)

My darling Tabitha is still without a forever family to call her own.  She is still spending her days in an orphanage and I hope that her family will find her soon.  Here are some new pictures of our sweet little Tabby.

Tabitha

The Rainbow Team

It is happening folks. . . remember that purple hair dye I was talking about a few months back from You're Drying Your Hair WHAT Color?  No, I am not getting more white hairs.  I am now getting gray hairs courtesy of Ellie's mind boggling escapades, but that is besides the point.

Phase 1 of the 50 for 50 fundraiser has been met.  Over $3,000 has been raised for the The Second House that Love Built.  Let me give you all a very big fat "THANK YOU!" for all of your help and support!  All of the funds raised are going directly towards Orphanage 50 in Kalinovka for building the second building through the Happy Child Foundation.  The happy home will house up to 9 girls in a sprawling home-like setting, rather than having up to 30 children with one care provider.  This home will have a lounge, a kitchen, bedrooms, playrooms, and classrooms where the girls can be educated and play!

The future sight of the second house of Orphanage 50

the FIRST House that Love Built
through the Happy Child Foundation.

Jane from Flight Platform Living is drawing her first prize in honor of raising those greatly needed funds so be sure to head on over to her blog when you get a chance.  Also, the cheeky little lass has gone full-blown rainbow in celebration!

See lovely pictures of Jane in all of her rainbow glory.

I know that you are all anxiously awaiting for me to debut my fabulously died Barney-Purple hair, but you must wait.  For you see, our little Bobby still desperately needs funds (and a family!).  So before I whip out my manic panic and experiment on these bouncy locks of frizz, we need to help Bobby's fund reach $3,000.

I know that we can do this.  Even if you are unable to donate money, you can spread the word about Jane's fundraiser and show Bobby's pictures.  Because wouldn't it be wonderful if Bobby's family were to find him as well?




In celebration of The Second House that Love Built, I will be streaking my hair with some other color--I am taking votes.  Suggest your color in the comments section!

The remainder of my hair will be dyed once we reach Bobby's $3,000 mark!




For more information:

The Second House that Love Built Fundraiser.
Orphanage 50 aka The Chernigov Facility at Kalinovka
Happy Child Foundation--The Happy Child Foundation is a non-profit organisation which strives to improve the lives of impoverished, neglected and diseased children by harnessing donor funding, personal contacts, community resources and skilled expertise.

Why I blog and fight for these children: she died alone

It is Forget Me Not Friday.  Even if my blog does not pop up with a post every single Friday, please know that I do not forget.  I never forget my darling daughter-of-my-heart Tabitha, our sweet Elden, our dear Bobby, little Kacey who is always asking for her mama, and so many others who have been featured on The Chronicles.  I will never forget.

Earlier this week, I read a post from a fellow blogger that rocked me to my core.  Another little child was removed from the adoption ministry.  Removed not because a family was coming for her, but rather because she passed away. . . alone . . . at age 11.

I could never express my thoughts, my feelings, or my despair as well as Shelley over at Only1Mom.  Please, I beg of you, to read her post and know why myself and so many others spend so much time on our knees praying, time at the computer blogging, and time opening our checkbooks for children that we may never meet.

She Died Alone.

Lynette / Tsveti
2000-2012

Lynette is not the only. . . we have lost Warner, Landon, and Dante who had been featured on my Forget Me Not Friday posts.  These sweet little angels lost along with many others.  In Loving Memory.  Dance with the angels dear children and play with fearless abandon for you are now free from pain, free from the constraints of a crib, and free to feel so much love.  

Forget-Me-Not Friday is a blog host sponsored by Jane at Flight Platform Living with the goal of bringing about awareness of orphans with special needs in Eastern Europe.

Still waiting to see me with purple hair?  Have no fear.  We are slowly raising the funds and there is still a chance to donate to Bobby's fund and to the Orphanage 50 addition.  Once we reach our goal, I shall be whipping out the Manic Panic hair dye.

Let Us Not Give Up: forget me not friday

Forget-Me-Not Friday is a blog host sponsored by Jane at Flight Platform Living with the goal of bringing about awareness of orphans with special needs in Eastern Europe.   To learn more about why this is such a cause close to my heart, please click here.  Have tissues handy.

First off, do you remember Shawna and Lindsay?  I met these beautiful, beautiful girls in person over the weekend.  Their forever mama is a member of our local Ds group and when we had our musical kids'  gathering, she brought her son and two, lovely little girls.  Shawn and Lindsay have been home for a few months and they are thriving.  Living proof that a forever family is balm to the soul.

(Shawna & Lindsay now Naomi and Hannah)

Secondly, do you remember our dear Shannon?  Honestly, I feel like the Sphak family has endured the longest pregnancy ever.  Less than 2 weeks ago, little Shannon's forever father met her for the very first time (Mama had to stay home with the kids) in Bulgaria.  The smile on Shannon's face as she hugged her papa is breathtaking.

Shannon

While Shawna, Lindsay, and Shannon have families, there are so many other children who do not.  So many other children who have been discarded and sentenced to live in mental institutions all because they are "defective", "unworthy", "broken".  All because they have Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Crouzon's syndrome, HIV, or some other disability.  Each and every single one of these children deserve love, a home, a family, and medical care.  Each and every single one of these children are worthy, valuable, and important.  The children shown below all need families.  Please, help me spread awareness and maybe their family will find them.

UPDATE:  Since writing this post, Tamara (who is shown below) is now listed on the My Family Found Me page at Reece's Rainbow!!!!!!!

Neal

Stacy

Catherine P

Tamara

James (2H)

Colton

Artem T.