Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Everything to me
This is an amazing song. Makes me cry every time I listen to it. It makes me think of Noah years from now. At one point in time I could not think about future Noah. Now, though, I know my God healed him. Now I think about the day his gtube is removed, the day he starts school, the day he plays football!! The day he goes to his first Steeler game with his dad. I can think about the day he goes off to college. The day he marry's the girl we have prayed for him to have. The day he becomes a dad.
I can not thank his birth mother enough for choosing to birth my son. She is an amazing woman. Without her there would be no Noah. I can not imagine my life without my son here. He is everything to me.
Be blessed
Monday, June 11, 2012
Say What?!
Noah has began babbling!!! Wow! I am just so amazed. He was pretty much silent until now. Lately he has been telling jokes, we think. He blabbers off something then pauses and cracks up. He is a hoot. Lots of personality in that child. He is such a blessing to us. I cant wait to see how he does with brothers in the home. Now for some Noby cuteness....
Our chosen child <3
He dumped an entire gallon of bubbles on the floor and then played in it. It turned the carpet orange. Fun times :)
Be blessed
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Our family as told by our babysitter
Our beautiful amazing lovely wonderful babysitter from Pa wrote a paper about my family. I am so honored! She got 100% on the paper too.
Be blessed
Miss Gianna. That is a title I take so seriously. Since becoming a certified babysitter in
2007, I have had the opportunity to babysit over 30 children, and each of them has taught me a
different lesson; each child has their own special place in my heart. But I want to tell you
specifically about five children – children who changed me forever.
I went into this babysitting job assuming it would be like all the rest. This was the Beck
family. I adored them. Their mother, Ashlee Beck, was a photographer. I love photography and
she is my absolute inspiration. Sometimes I would spend hours on her photography page,
looking at all her beautiful pictures, dreaming of being able to capture moments as perfectly as
she did. And the children, well, they were adorable! Each Sunday evening I walked up their
door, and every single time I walked back out, I was better for it. I want to share with you a
little something I learned from each child, because they taught me valuable lessons I think the
whole world should learn.
Trinity, age 9:
Lesson #1: Take time.
Trinity is quite possibly the sweetest girl I’ve ever met. She loved to read, write, and play
the piano. The lesson I learned from Trinity was to take time. Take time to round up the other
children, sit down together, and listen to a story. You won’t always have that chance. Some
nights, after I had put all the kids to bed, I would hear Trinity coming downstairs, and then I
would see her face peeking down from the steps. I would tell her to come sit with me for a
little, and she’d run downstairs and curl up next to me on the couch. It was in these times that
she would open up and talk to me; she would tell me about what she did that morning, about
when she was little, about her friends, school, anything and everything. I’ll never forget the way
her face lit up when she talked to me. Those nights are some of my favorite memories. After a
while, when it was time for her to go back to bed, she would give me a big hug and
say, “Goodnight Miss Gianna, thanks for letting me come downstairs!” and run back up to her
room. Take time.
Charidy (Cherry), age 6:
Lesson #2: Be silly!
If I had to pick one word to describe Cherry, it would be personality. She was almost
always crying or laughing, but mostly laughing. Her favorite thing to do was to put on my jacket,
scarf, shoes, gloves, anything I was wearing that day that I didn’t currently have on, and run
around the house in it. She called me Cherry, and I called her Miss Gianna. She thought it was
hilarious. I wish the whole planet could have heard her laugh. The sound of her laughing, so
loud, so wholeheartedly, so honestly and innocently, made every problem and every situation
seem dim and distant and far away. As we get older, we tend to get so caught up in our
appearances, agendas, and schedules that we forget to loosen up and have fun sometimes.
Laughter really is the best medicine. So, the next time you start to feel the weight of the world
on your shoulders, put on a funny outfit, run around the house, and just be silly.
Sarenity (Sarie), age 3:
Lesson #3: There is no such thing as too much love.
Sarie taught me a very important lesson. There is no such thing as too much love. You
are never, ever too old or too big to need a hug. Sometimes I would hear Sarie crying because
Cherry wasn’t sharing or she wanted some cereal too. She would sit down on the floor and cry
the absolute saddest cry I’ve ever heard. The tears would flow, and all I could ever make out
was, “Mmm…. Miss….. Miss Giaaaaannnaaaa…..” So I scooped her up, gave her a big hug, and
told her it was going to be okay. She buried her little head in my shoulder and stopped crying;
soon enough she had her beautiful smile again. I have heard so many frustrated parents telling
their children to “stop fussing” or “get over it” or to “be a big girl”. But I really truly think that
sometimes people just have a long day and really need some love. Please remember that no
matter how big or small the problem, and no matter how big or small the person, everyone just
needs love sometimes! And there is no such thing as EVER needing too much.
Avenley (AJ), age 2:
Lesson #4: Just be you!
Every Sunday, I walked into the Becks’ door and was greeted by AJ. A diaper was usually
the extent of her clothing (she wasn’t a fan), and she would push her binky to the side of her
mouth long enough to say “i-iss-ee-aw-nah” (Hi Miss Gianna). She would then proceed to hang
on my leg, and tell me a very long story that I was lucky if I understood. There is no single word
to describe AJ. She definitely had more attitude than I did at 14, and she certainly was not
afraid to voice her opinion on any matter. I’ll never forget the time I told her she had to eat her
cereal in the kitchen, and she wanted to go in the living room. She stood in the kitchen in her
diaper, holding her bowl, and stared me down for five whole minutes. Then she decided not to
eat the cereal at all. In my months of babysitting her, there was lots of screaming and crying
and tantrums. If I told you she was easy to babysit, I wouldn’t be honest. But I mean it with my
whole heart when I say that AJ was a total joy to be around. She made me laugh every single
week. She said and did the funniest things, and if she could scream loud (and she could), she
could laugh even louder. Out of nowhere she would run over, jump in my lap, and give me a
huge hug and kiss. She was so full of personality and so full of love. Even though she was
sometimes a struggle, she was so much more of a joy. I wouldn’t ever change anything about
her for the world. And I promise that someone feels that way about you too. Don’t ever try to
change for people to like you because you are perfect and unique just the way you are. Just be
you!
Baby Noah:
Lesson #5: Never give up.
Noah was born with a rare genetic disorder. His birthmother, young and unmarried,
made the difficult, selfless, amazing decision to give her baby for adoption; to give him a better
life. In May of 2010, Paul and Ashlee Beck flew to Texas to bring home their beautiful baby boy.
I’ll always remember the Sunday in church when Ashlee came over to me and said, “You have
to see the baby!” The second he was in my arms, I was in love. Noah taught me so much, but I
believe the most important thing he taught me was to never give up. When Noah was born, the
doctors said he would be a vegetable his whole life. He wasn’t supposed to walk or talk or have
a normal life at all. Sometimes when I was babysitting, Noah would stop breathing. His little
face would turn bright red and he would just stop moving. I never had time to be scared
because more important things were at stake. I blew gently on his face to remind him to take a
breath, and I patted his back until he would usually cough or vomit, then cry, then be okay. He
vomited almost every single week. Once I even had to turn off his feeding tube, which just
involved pressing a button but it was a new and kind of scary experience nonetheless. Every
Sunday night I got home and threw my clothes in the washing machine because they would
have vomit on them. But I never minded at all because I loved that baby so much and just
wanted him to be okay. After babysitting Noah I can honestly say that vomit doesn’t even
phase me. One particular night right before Christmas (December 23rd to be exact), I was
babysitting until late that night. Noah had already choked and stopped breathing once, which I
was pretty much used to at this point. But he also had a fever, and didn’t seem himself at all.
After I had put all the kids to bed, I kept Noah downstairs with me because I didn’t want him to
be alone. I was changing him into his pajamas, and changing his diaper. When I was in the
middle of changing him, Noah started to vomit, and then he stopped breathing. His face
instantly turned red and he became stiff and motionless. I picked him up right away and started
to pat his back and blow in his face and calmly say “Come on Noah, take a breath, you can do
it” like always. But this time nothing happened. I think my heart stopped beating a little but
there was no time to think about that. I patted his back harder and talked a little louder and
eventually he threw up all over me and started to cry. It had probably only been about 20
seconds, but it felt like hours. I laid him back down, got him dressed faster than ever, and
picked him up. He cried until he fell asleep in my arms. I felt so bad for the poor little baby. I
texted Ashlee and told her what happened, and they were home soon. They ended up taking
Noah to the hospital, where he spent Christmas and most of that week. The doctors told his
parents to let him die. But the Becks are not the giving up type of people. Not at all. They
refused to stop praying for and fighting for their son. Now, Noah is walking and eating by
mouth and saying some words, and basically doing everything the doctors said he would never
do! He laughs and smiles and cries and is the two-year-old Noah that doctors never dreamed
of. “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26. This
world will tell you that it’s hopeless, that it’s impossible, that you won’t ever amount to
anything, but let me tell you this: That’s not true! Never give up because with God ALL things
are possible.
One Sunday in March of 2011, right before Noah’s 1st birthday, I walked into the Beck
house like I always did. But this time I walked in to boxes and piles of clothes. Ashlee told me
that they were moving to Texas. I was heartbroken, but looking down at little AJ hanging on my
leg gave me more than enough reason to smile. I scooped up Noah and refused to be sad
because this wasn’t the time to be sad! Babysitting for the Becks truly made me a better person
and a better babysitter. I spent that evening trying to take time and make the most of every
second. We were very silly, and there was lots of love shared. AJ was herself, as always, and
Noah was a fighter. I was amazed to see how much better he was doing than just three months
before. That day ended up being the last day I spent with Trinity, Cherry, Sarie, AJ, and Noah
before they left (except when they stopped at my house to say goodbye on their way to Texas
). After that day, tears were definitely shed, but I am so extremely thankful for every second I
got to spend with those beautiful children. I wouldn’t trade any part of it for the world. I can
only hope that I was able to teach them even half of what they taught me. I am so thankful that
Paul and Ashlee Beck trusted me every Sunday with their kids. It was a one-of-a-kind
experience that not everyone gets to have. Words cannot express how much the Beck family
means to me and how grateful I will always be to them!
PS: Their two new sons, Judah and Misha, are so lucky to be coming home to the best family in
the world!
Be blessed
Miss Gianna. That is a title I take so seriously. Since becoming a certified babysitter in
2007, I have had the opportunity to babysit over 30 children, and each of them has taught me a
different lesson; each child has their own special place in my heart. But I want to tell you
specifically about five children – children who changed me forever.
I went into this babysitting job assuming it would be like all the rest. This was the Beck
family. I adored them. Their mother, Ashlee Beck, was a photographer. I love photography and
she is my absolute inspiration. Sometimes I would spend hours on her photography page,
looking at all her beautiful pictures, dreaming of being able to capture moments as perfectly as
she did. And the children, well, they were adorable! Each Sunday evening I walked up their
door, and every single time I walked back out, I was better for it. I want to share with you a
little something I learned from each child, because they taught me valuable lessons I think the
whole world should learn.
Trinity, age 9:
Lesson #1: Take time.
Trinity is quite possibly the sweetest girl I’ve ever met. She loved to read, write, and play
the piano. The lesson I learned from Trinity was to take time. Take time to round up the other
children, sit down together, and listen to a story. You won’t always have that chance. Some
nights, after I had put all the kids to bed, I would hear Trinity coming downstairs, and then I
would see her face peeking down from the steps. I would tell her to come sit with me for a
little, and she’d run downstairs and curl up next to me on the couch. It was in these times that
she would open up and talk to me; she would tell me about what she did that morning, about
when she was little, about her friends, school, anything and everything. I’ll never forget the way
her face lit up when she talked to me. Those nights are some of my favorite memories. After a
while, when it was time for her to go back to bed, she would give me a big hug and
say, “Goodnight Miss Gianna, thanks for letting me come downstairs!” and run back up to her
room. Take time.
Charidy (Cherry), age 6:
Lesson #2: Be silly!
If I had to pick one word to describe Cherry, it would be personality. She was almost
always crying or laughing, but mostly laughing. Her favorite thing to do was to put on my jacket,
scarf, shoes, gloves, anything I was wearing that day that I didn’t currently have on, and run
around the house in it. She called me Cherry, and I called her Miss Gianna. She thought it was
hilarious. I wish the whole planet could have heard her laugh. The sound of her laughing, so
loud, so wholeheartedly, so honestly and innocently, made every problem and every situation
seem dim and distant and far away. As we get older, we tend to get so caught up in our
appearances, agendas, and schedules that we forget to loosen up and have fun sometimes.
Laughter really is the best medicine. So, the next time you start to feel the weight of the world
on your shoulders, put on a funny outfit, run around the house, and just be silly.
Sarenity (Sarie), age 3:
Lesson #3: There is no such thing as too much love.
Sarie taught me a very important lesson. There is no such thing as too much love. You
are never, ever too old or too big to need a hug. Sometimes I would hear Sarie crying because
Cherry wasn’t sharing or she wanted some cereal too. She would sit down on the floor and cry
the absolute saddest cry I’ve ever heard. The tears would flow, and all I could ever make out
was, “Mmm…. Miss….. Miss Giaaaaannnaaaa…..” So I scooped her up, gave her a big hug, and
told her it was going to be okay. She buried her little head in my shoulder and stopped crying;
soon enough she had her beautiful smile again. I have heard so many frustrated parents telling
their children to “stop fussing” or “get over it” or to “be a big girl”. But I really truly think that
sometimes people just have a long day and really need some love. Please remember that no
matter how big or small the problem, and no matter how big or small the person, everyone just
needs love sometimes! And there is no such thing as EVER needing too much.
Avenley (AJ), age 2:
Lesson #4: Just be you!
Every Sunday, I walked into the Becks’ door and was greeted by AJ. A diaper was usually
the extent of her clothing (she wasn’t a fan), and she would push her binky to the side of her
mouth long enough to say “i-iss-ee-aw-nah” (Hi Miss Gianna). She would then proceed to hang
on my leg, and tell me a very long story that I was lucky if I understood. There is no single word
to describe AJ. She definitely had more attitude than I did at 14, and she certainly was not
afraid to voice her opinion on any matter. I’ll never forget the time I told her she had to eat her
cereal in the kitchen, and she wanted to go in the living room. She stood in the kitchen in her
diaper, holding her bowl, and stared me down for five whole minutes. Then she decided not to
eat the cereal at all. In my months of babysitting her, there was lots of screaming and crying
and tantrums. If I told you she was easy to babysit, I wouldn’t be honest. But I mean it with my
whole heart when I say that AJ was a total joy to be around. She made me laugh every single
week. She said and did the funniest things, and if she could scream loud (and she could), she
could laugh even louder. Out of nowhere she would run over, jump in my lap, and give me a
huge hug and kiss. She was so full of personality and so full of love. Even though she was
sometimes a struggle, she was so much more of a joy. I wouldn’t ever change anything about
her for the world. And I promise that someone feels that way about you too. Don’t ever try to
change for people to like you because you are perfect and unique just the way you are. Just be
you!
Baby Noah:
Lesson #5: Never give up.
Noah was born with a rare genetic disorder. His birthmother, young and unmarried,
made the difficult, selfless, amazing decision to give her baby for adoption; to give him a better
life. In May of 2010, Paul and Ashlee Beck flew to Texas to bring home their beautiful baby boy.
I’ll always remember the Sunday in church when Ashlee came over to me and said, “You have
to see the baby!” The second he was in my arms, I was in love. Noah taught me so much, but I
believe the most important thing he taught me was to never give up. When Noah was born, the
doctors said he would be a vegetable his whole life. He wasn’t supposed to walk or talk or have
a normal life at all. Sometimes when I was babysitting, Noah would stop breathing. His little
face would turn bright red and he would just stop moving. I never had time to be scared
because more important things were at stake. I blew gently on his face to remind him to take a
breath, and I patted his back until he would usually cough or vomit, then cry, then be okay. He
vomited almost every single week. Once I even had to turn off his feeding tube, which just
involved pressing a button but it was a new and kind of scary experience nonetheless. Every
Sunday night I got home and threw my clothes in the washing machine because they would
have vomit on them. But I never minded at all because I loved that baby so much and just
wanted him to be okay. After babysitting Noah I can honestly say that vomit doesn’t even
phase me. One particular night right before Christmas (December 23rd to be exact), I was
babysitting until late that night. Noah had already choked and stopped breathing once, which I
was pretty much used to at this point. But he also had a fever, and didn’t seem himself at all.
After I had put all the kids to bed, I kept Noah downstairs with me because I didn’t want him to
be alone. I was changing him into his pajamas, and changing his diaper. When I was in the
middle of changing him, Noah started to vomit, and then he stopped breathing. His face
instantly turned red and he became stiff and motionless. I picked him up right away and started
to pat his back and blow in his face and calmly say “Come on Noah, take a breath, you can do
it” like always. But this time nothing happened. I think my heart stopped beating a little but
there was no time to think about that. I patted his back harder and talked a little louder and
eventually he threw up all over me and started to cry. It had probably only been about 20
seconds, but it felt like hours. I laid him back down, got him dressed faster than ever, and
picked him up. He cried until he fell asleep in my arms. I felt so bad for the poor little baby. I
texted Ashlee and told her what happened, and they were home soon. They ended up taking
Noah to the hospital, where he spent Christmas and most of that week. The doctors told his
parents to let him die. But the Becks are not the giving up type of people. Not at all. They
refused to stop praying for and fighting for their son. Now, Noah is walking and eating by
mouth and saying some words, and basically doing everything the doctors said he would never
do! He laughs and smiles and cries and is the two-year-old Noah that doctors never dreamed
of. “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26. This
world will tell you that it’s hopeless, that it’s impossible, that you won’t ever amount to
anything, but let me tell you this: That’s not true! Never give up because with God ALL things
are possible.
One Sunday in March of 2011, right before Noah’s 1st birthday, I walked into the Beck
house like I always did. But this time I walked in to boxes and piles of clothes. Ashlee told me
that they were moving to Texas. I was heartbroken, but looking down at little AJ hanging on my
leg gave me more than enough reason to smile. I scooped up Noah and refused to be sad
because this wasn’t the time to be sad! Babysitting for the Becks truly made me a better person
and a better babysitter. I spent that evening trying to take time and make the most of every
second. We were very silly, and there was lots of love shared. AJ was herself, as always, and
Noah was a fighter. I was amazed to see how much better he was doing than just three months
before. That day ended up being the last day I spent with Trinity, Cherry, Sarie, AJ, and Noah
before they left (except when they stopped at my house to say goodbye on their way to Texas
). After that day, tears were definitely shed, but I am so extremely thankful for every second I
got to spend with those beautiful children. I wouldn’t trade any part of it for the world. I can
only hope that I was able to teach them even half of what they taught me. I am so thankful that
Paul and Ashlee Beck trusted me every Sunday with their kids. It was a one-of-a-kind
experience that not everyone gets to have. Words cannot express how much the Beck family
means to me and how grateful I will always be to them!
PS: Their two new sons, Judah and Misha, are so lucky to be coming home to the best family in
the world!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
John 14:18 Loads of pics
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
I have been thinking about that scripture verse since we decided about 7 months ago it was time again to adopt. So I had been thinking about getting that tattooed on my foot in honor of all my boys.
It started with an idea
Drawing it up
More painful than childbirth!
Its finished
My Awesome bday gift!
This tattoo means so much to me. With every painful mark on my foot I thought I am coming boys! Nothing can keep me from coming for you. I will not leave them as orphans just like God didnt leave us as orphans. Thank you Jesus!
Be blessed
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Not a Fan!
I am reading Not a Fan and let me tell you it is an amazing book so far. It got me thinking. One part of the book the author Kyle talks about a guy who is leaving the church because he feels like Kyles sermons interfer with his life. And Kyles says " do you hear what he is saying? - I believe in Jesus, I'm a big fan, don't ask me to follow. I don't mind going to church on the weekends. I'll pray before meals. I'll even slap a Jesus sticker on the back of my car but i don't want Jesus to interfere with my life."
I started thinking. About adoption as usual. Hey its where my treasure is so my heart is there too :-) I was talking to someone, a Christian, about our adoption and the look this person gave me was of disgust and disappointment. I was angry, hurt and disappointed. My eyes were open to the plight of the orphan years ago and since then we have left our family in God's hands. I didn't wake up one morning and say "we should totally have 10 kids most of which special needs! That will not only get me attention but also notority."
No! What happened was a few years ago Paul and I simply said "yes Lord. I will go."
No! What happened was a few years ago Paul and I simply said "yes Lord. I will go."
We decided we were not content anymore simply being fans of Jesus we wanted to follow Him wholly and completely. Everyday I pray that I would not just be a fan. I pray that my life would be a living testimony to the love, forgiveness and grace our Jesus Christ. I pray that everyday I live so that people will forget me and only remember Jesus. I fail daily. But I keep praying and I keep trying.
I was thinking about what God is doing in this stage of our life. Far more than I am allowed to blog about right now. More and more people think I am crazy. Somedays I believe it. Somedays doubt creeps in and I think they are right, how can I handle, afford, love, take care of all these children. Those days are usually come after talking with well meaning people who disagree with my lifestyle and want to make that known. Bless their hearts.
When that happens my friends voice comes in and reminds me that Jesus did not come so I can have starbucks and have it more abundantly. This not a fan book ask a very good question, do I carry my cross daily? Have I suffered in the name of Jesus? Am I a fan or a follower? My honest answer is I feel like I have not suffered or carry my cross. Today I pray I will.
So when people come in and call me crazy and put me down or tell me my children are suffering because of my lifestyle I will chose to remember I am not of this world. I did not come to be a fan and cheer when life is good and find a new team when I'm on a losing streak. I did not come to have starbucks and have it more abundantly. Jesus died for me to live and I need to make that mean something.
Matthew 18:5 says And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
Also
Matthew 25
I tell you the truth my brothers whatever you did not do to the least of these you did not do to me.
I am not a fan of Jesus....are you?
Be blessed
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
2 years home!
Oh how I love Gotcha day!! Gotcha day means that I have a son. That I was given the greatest gift anyone could ever give me. Noah is everything I ever wanted and more than I ever dreamed. We got him at 3 months olds not able to do anything. His hands clenched in fists and laying at his head unable to lay by his sides. He was basically a newborn. We were told he would be a vegetable, he would not live long. We came home to 25 specialists. We spent 4 days a week every week at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
We learned his heart was good. He was severely delayed, no clue on his future, a hyperactive gag, a sub mucus cleft palate making us have one more specialist we then needed to see, no suck, possible swallowing problem, reflux. We were introduced to ECI and had PT, OT, NT, DV and another specialist they could give us. 2x a week each therapy every week. Then the vomit started and the eating by mouth stopped. A gtube was given and we now were thrown into the medical supply company world. IV poles, feed bags, tubes, extensions, ferral valves, gauze and groovy tubies.
Most days early on I felt like his nurse. Bonding was not immediate like I thought. I was terrified most days I would wake up and he would no longer be with us. I was scared he would never know I was his mom. After the gtube more vomit came. 10x a day at least and always like 10 oz or more. It was hard. Really really hard. After taking a vacation with him and spending days in the hospital sitting and praying by his side I knew not only did I like him, I loved him and would die for him. We were bonded for life. From then on we were inseparable.
Things didnt get easier medically. He still needed to see doctors almost daily, therapy was still 2x a week but with all the therapist it was more like 4x a week and some days he had therapy 4 hours of more. Soon the nurses came. That was....an experience. We will leave it at that. Wonderful friends helped me pick the right nurses and fire the wrong ones. Boy were there a lot of wrong ones.
Every holiday was spent in the hospital. His first Christmas was the worst. He was hospitalized Christmas day and we were told to take his gtube out and just "let him go". They say it as if it is the right thing to do. They say it with no emotion as if they were speaking of the weather. They say it is because they never have met a trisomy 8 adult. So I am suppose to starve my littlest love to death because it will be harder if he dies on his own later in life. That was the worst time in my life. We didnt listen, we prayed, hundreds if not thousands of people circled my love in prayer and he recovered.
The day before his first birthday the doctors wanted him to have major surgery to take his esophagus detatch it from his stomach and put it somewhere else. He would never eat by mouth ever. Never would he enjoy his birthday cake, or the cold feeling of ice cream, he would never sit down with his family to have a meal, he would never be able to eat his wedding cake. I refused.
Our adoption was finalized and we moved to Texas. God healed Noah of pretty much everything. I wouldnt be surprised if we got another genetic test and it said his Trisomy 8 was gone, impossible but not for God.
Now he eats everything in site, he laughs, he makes truck sounds, he calls for his dad, he smacks his sisters, gives kisses, loves dogs and trucks and planes he is a typical 2 year old boy. He is loved and adored by all who meet him.
2 years. I can't believe its been that long and yet I cant believe at one time he wasnt here in my arms. You know I read a quote that says You havent lived until you have done something for someone who can not repay you. His birthmom did just that. As much as I want to repay her and make it all okay for her I can not. So I will pray for her that God blesses her.
So 2 years later we celebrate while one mother mourns. Adoption always comes at a price. So celebrate with us and pray with us for his birthmama. Thank you for carrying us through the last two years. We are so grateful.
Chosen
Be blessed
We learned his heart was good. He was severely delayed, no clue on his future, a hyperactive gag, a sub mucus cleft palate making us have one more specialist we then needed to see, no suck, possible swallowing problem, reflux. We were introduced to ECI and had PT, OT, NT, DV and another specialist they could give us. 2x a week each therapy every week. Then the vomit started and the eating by mouth stopped. A gtube was given and we now were thrown into the medical supply company world. IV poles, feed bags, tubes, extensions, ferral valves, gauze and groovy tubies.
Most days early on I felt like his nurse. Bonding was not immediate like I thought. I was terrified most days I would wake up and he would no longer be with us. I was scared he would never know I was his mom. After the gtube more vomit came. 10x a day at least and always like 10 oz or more. It was hard. Really really hard. After taking a vacation with him and spending days in the hospital sitting and praying by his side I knew not only did I like him, I loved him and would die for him. We were bonded for life. From then on we were inseparable.
Things didnt get easier medically. He still needed to see doctors almost daily, therapy was still 2x a week but with all the therapist it was more like 4x a week and some days he had therapy 4 hours of more. Soon the nurses came. That was....an experience. We will leave it at that. Wonderful friends helped me pick the right nurses and fire the wrong ones. Boy were there a lot of wrong ones.
Every holiday was spent in the hospital. His first Christmas was the worst. He was hospitalized Christmas day and we were told to take his gtube out and just "let him go". They say it as if it is the right thing to do. They say it with no emotion as if they were speaking of the weather. They say it is because they never have met a trisomy 8 adult. So I am suppose to starve my littlest love to death because it will be harder if he dies on his own later in life. That was the worst time in my life. We didnt listen, we prayed, hundreds if not thousands of people circled my love in prayer and he recovered.
The day before his first birthday the doctors wanted him to have major surgery to take his esophagus detatch it from his stomach and put it somewhere else. He would never eat by mouth ever. Never would he enjoy his birthday cake, or the cold feeling of ice cream, he would never sit down with his family to have a meal, he would never be able to eat his wedding cake. I refused.
Our adoption was finalized and we moved to Texas. God healed Noah of pretty much everything. I wouldnt be surprised if we got another genetic test and it said his Trisomy 8 was gone, impossible but not for God.
Now he eats everything in site, he laughs, he makes truck sounds, he calls for his dad, he smacks his sisters, gives kisses, loves dogs and trucks and planes he is a typical 2 year old boy. He is loved and adored by all who meet him.
2 years. I can't believe its been that long and yet I cant believe at one time he wasnt here in my arms. You know I read a quote that says You havent lived until you have done something for someone who can not repay you. His birthmom did just that. As much as I want to repay her and make it all okay for her I can not. So I will pray for her that God blesses her.
So 2 years later we celebrate while one mother mourns. Adoption always comes at a price. So celebrate with us and pray with us for his birthmama. Thank you for carrying us through the last two years. We are so grateful.
Chosen
Be blessed
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
URGENT PRAYER
Please pray for my friend and her family this is what she writes :
all onco families know what I am talking about when you know in your gut the day after MRI when you hear your oncologists voice on the other end of the phone. We got the call today from Doc Taylor. Aunnah's MRI grew slightly again and they reported that her brain was larger than her skull..not sure what that means but he assured me that he is not worried right now too much about Aunnah's report but then the but came in. He said Michaela's MRI showed quite a bit of growth and more enhancement of the brain stem tumor. He is very concerned with the findings on this MRI. He and all the others are going to make calls and regroup. They think it's time to bring in radiation and/or chemo..they are also calling in the neuro surgeons on this too but he feels they will not want to even touch it cause where this tumor is...it's so deep within the brain. He said to give them a few days and then we will know more of what the treatments are going to be. So again our lives are in the air. It was a rough time when I got off of the phone. Lots of tears...I feel like I just got a blow in the gut. Michaela said on the way home yesterday that she did not feel good about this MRI..she knows her body and how she has been feeing lately. I feel like our family is in such chaos but again we will put our trust and faith in God to see us through yet another type of treatment. She's already had 11 different chemos. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support...we sure will need them even more within the future. - Andrea Lynn Nagel ♥
Be blessed
all onco families know what I am talking about when you know in your gut the day after MRI when you hear your oncologists voice on the other end of the phone. We got the call today from Doc Taylor. Aunnah's MRI grew slightly again and they reported that her brain was larger than her skull..not sure what that means but he assured me that he is not worried right now too much about Aunnah's report but then the but came in. He said Michaela's MRI showed quite a bit of growth and more enhancement of the brain stem tumor. He is very concerned with the findings on this MRI. He and all the others are going to make calls and regroup. They think it's time to bring in radiation and/or chemo..they are also calling in the neuro surgeons on this too but he feels they will not want to even touch it cause where this tumor is...it's so deep within the brain. He said to give them a few days and then we will know more of what the treatments are going to be. So again our lives are in the air. It was a rough time when I got off of the phone. Lots of tears...I feel like I just got a blow in the gut. Michaela said on the way home yesterday that she did not feel good about this MRI..she knows her body and how she has been feeing lately. I feel like our family is in such chaos but again we will put our trust and faith in God to see us through yet another type of treatment. She's already had 11 different chemos. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support...we sure will need them even more within the future. - Andrea Lynn Nagel ♥
Be blessed
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