"Not flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone, But still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute,
You didn't grow under my heart - but in it"
Lilypie Waiting to Adopt tickers
Lilypie Third Birthday tickers

Friday, July 30, 2010

My guy

Quick update. Noah went to the doctors for another weekly check and he gained! Yay! My guy is now 13lbs 15oz. Here are some pics I did today on a wim nothing great just like taking his picture.


Be blessed

Thursday, July 29, 2010

I can't even imagine

Last night I reminded Paul that we have had Noah 2 months already. He replied, "Can you imagine having him one more month and giving him up?" Wow! I had never thought of that. That is just what his wonderful foster mom did. Wow! I dont think I have her strength. It took such strength and courage to know that Noah's mama was out there somewhere and was not her.

I owe so much to her. She took my son home from the hospital when he was born and took care of him. Not just his basic needs were met, no, she went above and beyond. She fought for him. She was his biggest advocate. She never let up on the doctors and knew Noah was different. every time he had to make a trip to the NICU she stayed with him. Noah was never left alone. She even willed my son to live after he was septic after surgery. All these things she and her family did and then she handed him to me...forever. Wow. I am just amazed at her.

When he left we could have stopped all contact. She and I both knew if he never saw her again he would not remember her, but after all she gave, after the love they shared for 3 months I could not or would not do that. I am so glad that she wants to be involved in Noah's life. I thank God for her and her family and all she has done.

So having Noah 2 months, no I can not give him up. I can not imagine my life without my son. I thank God everyday for him. I thank Him that it was His will and not my own. I don't want to imagine if I had done it my way, adopting 2 healthy girls from China. Had I had it my way we would have adopted Faith,but God knew the plans He had not only for my future and my families future but most of all He knew Noah's future. Thank the Lord I am not in charge. What a mess I would have made.

Thank you God for everything you have given to me. Thank you for every person good, bad and ugly you put in my life. Thank you for my life, for my childrens lives. Thank you for my husband. I am so amazed by you, God, how you love me. And by Your grace you saved a sinner such as I.

If you dont know the love of your Father in heaven get to know Him. Ask Him to forgive your sins and come into your heart. Not everyday will be a walk in the park some days will test your faith so deep that you don't think you will survive, but God will always love you without conditions. He is always there to listen and doesnt tune you out. He gives you all you need. Call on Him.

Be blessed

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Happy 2months Noah!

Nobie One Konobi,


Today you have been ours for 2 months exactly. I am still in shock that you are ours. How did I ever get so blessed to have you? Why would God chose me to be your mother? I hope with each day that you and I have together our bond will be stronger and stronger. I love you so much, my beautiful son. You are my rockstar! I can't wait until I can give you a mowhawk and teach you to head bang and rock out to Skillet. You will be the coolest panhead ever! When you are ready to move to the nursery you will have this to listen to...

You are so amazing! I love you so much lil man! I can't believe how much you are growing and changing. How much you love your sisters and your daddy. How much you look like your daddy, that is too funny to me. I thank God for you, Noah.

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always as long as I'm living my baby you'll be.


Love,
Mama

Monday, July 26, 2010

What a wonderful world....







Be blessed

Praise God!

MONROE HAS A FAMILY!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!

The amount of outpouring of love, prayer and support for this child is just amazing. One blogger said it was all over facebook and I know so many bloggers posted his story. Someone gave 20,000. towards his adoption and now his death sentence has been lifted. Monroe has been saved by grace and given a new life! Praise the Lord!!!

God says For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them, Matthew 18:20 and Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.Psalm 37:4


Be blessed

Saturday, July 24, 2010

You know you have a brother when...

During Noah's diaper change Sarie was sitting next to Noah and said, "Don't you point that thing at me!" LMBO!!!!!

She gets it! Haha!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Delayed? I think Not!

So my little man ROLLED OVER today! You can not even begin to understand how happy and excited Paul and I are. I remember when they told us Noah could be a vegetable for the rest of his life. Well my little squash is rolling! Today he rolled over probably 8-10 times. He thinks its so cool.

I can't believe how much he has done in just the short time he has been home. He is my inspiration. In just under two months he is

-clasping his hands together
-leaving his hands open rather than keeping fists
-crying(yes we wanted that)
-laughing out loud
-rolls from side to side
-rolling over
-playing with toys on purpose
-tracks really well
-no more reflux PTL!!
-no more rapid uncontrollable head movement

Check out our cool kid or as a friend refers to him, the little prince.





Be blessed

Please help them

There is a family online adopting a blind boy in China. This is their second adoption of the year. They are really listening to God's call and answering it. This adoption really tugged at my heart because of Faith. They have done all the fund-raising they can do and they need our help. Click HERE to go to their blog, read their story and help them bring home their son.

Be blessed

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Help em out.

I just wanted to share a few fundraisers going on with some people who are adopting. maybe something here will tickle your fancy and you can support a good cause.

The first one is for adoption t shirts!!

I personally have a tshirt from this company and LOVE it! It is in Russian and reminds me every time I see it to pray for our little Faith the child we tried to adopt. Great quality easy transaction and awesome cause. I also just ordered another one more of a unisex ones so Paul and I both could wear it. It has a great message it says how do you reach 147 million orphans? ONE at a time. (Thats RIGHT!!!)


The next fundraiser is COFFEE!! Who doesnt love coffee?

This is a great cause, help this family bring home their special needs child.I havent tried it..yet but most of it is organic and exotic. You know you want some!!!


BOOKS!!!!

Who doesnt love books. I am currently reading 8 books right now. The ones on this site are for kids but still pretty cool. They have a pretty cool creative kid set for 14.00 I have my eye one.


GOT GIRLS?

For those of you with girls girls girls like me you will love this fundraiser.

I have 6 sets of these beautiful hair bows. The price is great (3 sets for $15). We have the minnie mouse ones, 2 sets, and the ghosts, turkeys, butterflies and christmas trees. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM! I even wore the minnie mouse ones yesterday and got so many compliments. I really did buy them for the girls, lol.

So there are a few fundraisers. Go check em out and help decrease the 147 million orphan population we can do it, one at a time!

Be blessed

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Noah's 1st Suit

Today we had the pleasure of a family visit and we got presents!!! Noah got his first suit along with some books and boy toys. She emphasized the boy in that. I didn't have the time or the energy to do a full foto shoot of my favorite little man so the couch would have to do. He is too cute. I realized that having 5 kids with jam packed schedules is a lot, its nice to have family in to pick up the slack, either by helping clean or helping cook or just playing with babies so I can get the cleaning and cooking done. I am off to clean but here are some pictures of Noah in his first suit. Sorry no editing, no time so these are just straight from the couch to camera to blog, lol.







Be blessed

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Smoke is coming outta my head aka I have an idea

Can you who are local help me with something?

When Paul lost his job(a long while ago) we were in trouble. No savings, no money coming in and 2 in diapers. God needed to provide. We clung to God with everything we had, the same when we adopted, I miss that. Anyways we had a diaper fairy who dropped diapers and a gift card off on our door and it blessed us so much. We prayed so hard for diapers and there they were one day on the porch. God is so good. We had to also use the food bank twice when he lost his job. There is no shame in that. That is what they are there for. But that is only food. What about the people with little ones in diapers?

So my idea is to start a diaper bank here at my house. All size diapers and if someone needs some they would come here or I can meet them somewhere and give them a pack a diapers. They don't have to be by the worlds definition of "poor". There would be no judgments, just diapers. We all get into a pinch at times and life is full of ups and downs. None of us have any kind of job security in this world. The Lord gives and the Lord takes. So if you need some diapers I would love to help you.

Well I could not do this alone. We have been blessed but no way I could afford to buy all kinds of diapers while still having 3 in diapers myself. So I am asking for your help. Here is how you can help

~pray.

God has laid this on my heart for months now. Way before the adoption but I never did anything with it. The Holy Spirit confirmed while talking to a woman at church this would be the thing to do.

~give me ideas

Help me start this project. What do I need to do? What are the legalities of something like this.

~donate.

If you have old diapers that you have out of the package that don't fit any of your kids and you were going to throw them out, think about donating them. I would be happy to pick up some within a reasonable distance from me or meet somewhere to pick them up.

~non local?

Start a diaper bank of your own. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have diaper banks be as well known and as big as food banks. Then we probably need to have people fill out applications and give finance information, but right now all I want to do is give to those that ask.

I really want to do this. I hope that God would bless this and bless others with this. What do you think?

Sunday, July 18, 2010

There are no orphans of God

Here is a video of our Noah. He was playing with his dad and I was listening to music. The song that was playing is one of my favorites, No Orphans of God. I love that song. How fitting was it that my Noah heard that. I am so blessed to have a God who loves me and never left me an orphan, to have a husband that loves the Lord with all his heart and loves me too, in that order as it should be. So blessed to have my beautiful children.

That song really is just so beautiful. To know that our Father in Heaven loves us and adopted us (Ephesians 1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.)

No matter what you have done in your life. No matter if you had a family or didnt. No matter if you knew the love of an earthly father or did not. You have always had an ever present help in time of need(psalm 46:1). You have always had a Father waiting for you to come to Him to love Him to follow His plan for your life. A Father waiting to hold you when you need held, to love you, encourage you, to catch every tear that falls, to laugh with you, to rejoice with you. Do you know the love of your Father? If you don't it isnt to late, you can all you have to do is accept his love freely. Ask for forgiveness for your sins and ask Jesus to come into your heart. That's it. No strings. Is today your "gotcha day"?



Let God fill the hole in your life or heart that needs filled today. Go to Him. Be with Him, spend time with Him. Be blessed

Friday, July 16, 2010

6 months left until he's as good as dead

Help this little boy!

Remember him? I posted about him before. Well if he isnt adopted he basically has 6 months left to live.




Look at this sweet boy! He is going to an institution in 6 months if he doesn't find a home! Someone just gave 20,000 dollars to try and get him a home soon! Thats a great incentive to help him. Please consider him or other children on Reeces Rainbow. Although the paperwork can be a pain, its so worth it, and we don't even have our girl home yet. But the experience so far has been fantastic, and seeing this whole new country will be even better! Here is his info:

Monroe (12)

BOY, Born February 4, 2005

SIGNIFICANT RISK, PLEASE ADOPT ME SOON!!

Monroe is a sunshine of a little boy! He is already 5 and blessed to still be at the baby house. He needs a family right away!

From a missionary who visited with him in June 2010: I met with the doctor in his Groupa House who brought me back to meet him. The Head Doctor wanted me to meet the children who needed equipment. While measuring him for a chair, she explained to me what was more important was that he get a family. He will be traferred in six months to the worst institution, restrained in a crib in a dark room. She broke into tears! Monroe has spastic cerebral palsy in all four limbs and is globally delayed. He is able to recognize the voices of his careworkers and understand simple directions. However, due to his spacitiy he is unable to do much of anything. No speech. With therapy he can improve but will always have limitations. I measured his head circumference and once home will check with a doctor regarding whether or not he is micro cephalic as well. I will try to gather more information on him today. His temperament was sweet and his eyes twinkled. He needs a family fast!

From an adoptive family who visited with him in June 2009: Monroe has CP. It appears that he is unable to use his arms and legs and is not sitting up on his own. He has the most beautiful smile and I don't think there is much of a cognitive delay. He loves to be held and his whole face lights up when you come near him."

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Too many kids too little time

Ok so the title is not exactly true, you can never have too many kids!!! I havent found time to blog like I use to. I want to post videos and pictures, but time is slipping away from me. Right now I have 5 minutes before my bladder and head both explode so I can only make this brief.

We have been geocaching and that has taken up some time, I have been uber busy with my photoshoots, Noah's weekly trips to the doctor, swim lessons, kids camp, the list goes on. If I havent called or texted you or emailed you back I am sorry. I will. I just can not wait til school starts.. I know you may think I am crazy seeing as I homeschool but order is restored when I start to teach. I can't wait. 1st and 5th grade! Hard to imagine....Anyways...

Noah's birthmother(or as people have said to me, his real mother, lol) emailed us today. I so love hearing from her. She sends her love and assures us she has not forgotten about us. She was in a car accident so I want you all to pray she is alright. I sent her some videos of Noah. I hope she likes them. I want her to not just see him in pictures but to watch him smile and grab toys, to talk and coo. I want her to see him move and look and act silly and cry and do all those adorable things he does so she is assured he is doing well and won't miss out on that.

Ok well thats all I got. I am about to throw up from my migraine and pee my pants so I had better get off of this computer!

Be blessed!!!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Not much going on..finally!

The appointments seemed to have dwindled down to just once a week for now and I am having more time to realize I have a son. We do still have 5 therapies weekly and the older kids have things going on, but it feels like it has slowed down. Bonding is going great. He loves me and I love him. He rewards me with smiles and giggles.

Noah is getting to be quite a little chatter box. He seems to jabber all day long. I guess he finally realized he needed to speak up and be heard around all his loud sisters. He absolutely loves water. He is the most laid back baby I have ever met and he has this knack of attracting women to him every where he is, especially at church. LOL.

He is slowly meeting the family and they enjoy him as much as he does them. We just love showing him off when we get the chance. It is great when we have family that understands that having 5 children is a lot and it isnt always easy to go visit places or drop everything especially schedules that our kids seem to depend on. Plus with Noah's 3 trips a week to the hospital and one time a week to the doctors we barely had time for anything.Not to mention the 5 new therapist he sees weekly. We are grateful to have people in our lives understanding of that and not at all harsh to us, judgmental or just laying the guilt trips on us.





Noah loves to hike with us and is even tolerating of the car seat. We have started geocaching and he gets a kick out of it. I could not have ask for a better child. I am just so very grateful and thankful to God who hand picked this perfect blessing for Paul and I. Now that blessing has therapy so I must go.

be blessed

Friday, July 9, 2010

Generations

Noah got the pleasure of meeting his great great grandfather and great great grandmother a few weeks back. I didnt have a my camera with me (I know, I know, pick your mouths up off the floor) so I snapped a few pictures with my phone. I wasnt sure how to get them off until I figured it out today. So I wanted to share them.



I am so happy that they got to meet Noah. I am sad that my great grandma Neen did not, but I know that she was watching with Jesus as we met our precious boy and when he was handed to me by his wonderful birthmother. who knows, she may have even had a part in our miracle. She would have loved though, that I know for sure.

I was also happy to see that they accepted him as he is. My great grandparents love him, accept him and cherished the time they spent together. I don't want to say I was worried but you never know, they are from a different time. Not only about the adoption but also about his special needs. I am glad they felt so loving toward him. They all mean so much to me.

Be blessed

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

My littlest love

Noah is growing and changing more and more each day. I just can not imagine my life without him. When I walked into the livingroom today I heard Cherry singing to Noah..You are my shining star, don't you go away, oh baby...darling you are my shining star don't you go away. It was so sweet.



Then Noah was chattin with his mama for a few minutes. So vocal.



Then he was showing off his new trick..sitting up in the bumbo. We are so proud of our little No Nos.



be blessed

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Noah's 1st meeting with his therapists

Today Noah had 3 therapies. First up was OT. So we waited until she came to feed him his bottle. He made a liar outta me and ate the whole thing no problems. HA! She did suggested smaller feeds more frequently. That may be tough since I feel like all I ever do is feed this child.She gave up helpful tips for him, remarked on how beautiful a child he is and then left. It was a great first meeting.

After that he slept about an hour and then I had to wake him up for DV. She said that she expected him to look different, more like a baby with downs(dont I wish!). She said, "he looks....normal.. ???" I had to chuckle. Yes he does doesnt he. She worked with him and put him in the bumbo seat and told me some neat things I could do to help him. She blew bubbles with him and he did so well. He tracked them very well, moving his head from side to side. I got out the video camera and of course he didnt do it! Stinker!! The DV tried to get him to roll over and to grasp an object over head but he didnt do either.

Finally it was the PT. She confirmed it was okay to put him in the bumbo for 15- 20 mins a day or maybe 2x a day. We were talking about Noah and she told me her son has Down Syndrome I told her how lucky she was and then told her all about what they do to kids with DS in other countries..maybe she will be adopting? Who knows, at least her eyes are opened. Noah was cooing and talking to us and smiling. Then I did this bouncy thing I do with him and he was giggling, I almost cried. I could feel the tears coming but held them back bc of the company that I was in.

All in all it was a great day. Noah decided to sleep a little then spend the rest of the evening laughing at his sisters, rolling on his side and talking to his dad. Also great news is they say Noah is basically on target in most areas of development. YAY! That is only thanks to God and a woman that cared so much for my little man and did everything in her power to see he overcame and boy has he! Thank you Nancy, without you I would not be holding my son and watching him sleep, mohawk and all :)

Here are some videos, you may not grasp the hugeness of what is going on but boy do we. He is turning his head tracking from side to side something once thought Noah would never do. Way to prove them all wrong. maybe dad was right Buddy, maybe you were just faking having special needs so we could get you at a discount? LOL!




Be blessed

Monday, July 5, 2010

Noah's before we met him

Noah at Birth (We are so blessed to have these pictures)





9 Days old in the NICU after surgery(Thank God for his wonderful foster family that helped him survive)



This is the first picture we ever saw of Noah after we had already committed to adopting him. It was how I knew God chose us to be his family, it was his red hair.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

From the splash park

This was from the splash park the other day. I just managed to upload my videos. If you listen carefully you will hear me being very snarky to a child. Usually I am not, but seriously who asks that?! You'll see....



By the way Happy 4th of July!!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

4 months, Already?

It can't be? My Noah is 4 months old today. Where has the time gone? Who would have thought(besides God) that I would have a four month old. He has come such a long way in four short months. I have now known about him for about half his life. I can't imagine what is to come in the next months. How he will grow and change and develop into the little man God has called him to be. How lucky am I to be his mother! I am still in awe that God called Paul and I to this radical adventure. I wonder if his first mama knows what today is? I hope she is doing well. I pray she has peace in knowing Noah is being loved, looked after and cared for. He is eating even though it is a constant struggle. He is going to the doctors every week as prescribed by other doctors. He is going to church and in love with his sisters, dad and me.

In his 3rd month he began laughing out loud. He does this more and more. He definitely knows who is Mama is. People can not get over how much he knows I am his mama. He turns his head toward my voice and he coos and talks to me. He smiles and laughs at me. I can't tell you how that smile gets me through the days, especially the hard ones when he fights every feeding and I feel rejected or when doctors say things like liver mass, failure to thrive, feeding tubes, Trisomy what?. When we are getting up early to make the trip into the hospital and he is on the table in a diaper and looks at me and smiles as if to say, Mom its ok. God got this. I'm fine. He really hasnt a care in the world. Oh how he just makes my day sweeter. When I talk he calms. It's like he knows I love him and I will be his biggest advocate. Is this what it is like to have a son or is this what its like to have a special needs child? Either way I would not give it up for the world.


His sisters still fawn over him. They adore him so much. The novelty of a brother really has not wore off. I wonder if it ever will. He seems to really get a kick out of them. he is laughing more at them and enjoys it when they hold him. When he is on the floor for a diaper change or tummy time he still looks up at big sis AJ with a look that screams,"Please don't sit on me!"

I like to watch him and his dad. They have a bond there that I think they both needed. I am not saying Paul isnt bonded with the girls but there is an attraction there that can not be broken. They love each other. I think I fall more in love with Paul when I see him with Noah. How he loves a child he just met, that has none of his dna, how he just loves that child like he's been his dad forever.

It is so hard to grasp that we all just met Noah a little over a month ago. To really feel like he was adopted rather than just always was part of us. Maybe that is because he always was a part of us. I mean the Bible says that God knew him before he was formed. God knew who our son's family was. While Noah was being created God gave him his fathers eyes and his big sisters cute little button nose. He gave him our smile. To look at us you would not be able to tell who if any of my children were adopted. You know he even has Trinity's toes. I kid you not, I have seen those toes before. God knew we were a family and I think that is why we have all bonded like one. Maybe God told Noah who was mom so thats why instantly when we found each other we were comfortable. The moment he saw me he smiled.

Thank you Lord for all you have done for me just a sinner saved by grace.

Here is our big boy 4 months old.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Every 18 seconds..

..A child becomes an orphan



Will you heed the call?

Be blessed

Thursday, July 1, 2010

THANK YOU JESUS!

The nurse from the GI dept of Childrens called just about a minute ago. She said they sent out a report from the ultrasound of Noah's liver. She said its all normal. I ask her, ok well what about the mass, is there one? No there isnt. An enlarged liver? No ma'am there isnt. Everything is normal.

All praise unto the Lamb
Who sits on the throne,
Honor and power, dominion and praise,
Unto the Lamb, who was and is, and is to come!




I am so amazed at the love my Savior has for me and my family. David said it best,

Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, Sovereign LORD, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign LORD? 2 Sam 7:18-19

Be blessed