Each Wednesday we post links from the previous week that touch on special needs adoption. Our hope is that these small snapshots provide you with a glimpse of life after adopting through China’s waiting child program… both the long-term blessings and the challenges that come with parenting a child with special needs. We also hope to raise awareness about a variety of special needs.

A Day in Hell and Please God, Let These Antibiotics Work — adoptive momma (China) Heather at Dragons & Elephants… describing their recent medical experiences

The story to our fourth blessing — adoptive momma (China) Amy at My Four Blessings… the journey to find their fourth child, an older girl living with arthrogryposis

Curious Neighbors — momma to a child with autism, LauraS, at 5 Minutes for Special Needs… how life changed after she connected with her neighbors

Derrick’s Mom — one of my imaginary friends, The Happy Geek… a beautiful post written about the momma of a special needs child

Isaiah’s First Casting: To Greeley, CO and Back… adoptive momma (Korea, China and Uganda) Linny at A Place Called Simplicity… about her son Isaiah’s first casting for his arthrogryposis

Umm… O.Kay… foster momma (India) Sarah Bess, co-founder of India Christian Ministries, at Sarah’s Covenant Homes… amusing post about those Google searches we make when researching various medical conditions

The Spectrum of Sensory Integration Disorder — adoptive momma (China, Guatemala) Judy at the group adoption blog Grown in My Heart, but who regularly blogs at The International Mom’s Blog… a brief description of sensory integration dysfunction, also known as sensory processing disorder

Babies Can’t Wait — adoptive parents (China) The Straights at “Straight” Talk… their daughter’s recent evaluation with their state’s Infants and Toddlers program

Fine Line Between Researching and Parenting — momma to a special needs child Carrie at 5 Minutes for Special Needs, though she regularly blogs at Little Miss Hannah… do they allow more medical tests for research purposes that might help their daughter and others? or do they put a stop to the poking and prodding?

A Special Need — momma to a special needs child Heather at The Extraordinary Ordinary… about her son’s hydrocephalus

8:45 AM Update: Monday and 2:15 PM Update: Monday — adoptive momma (China) Karin at Our Treasures From Afar… about her daughter Kate’s chest tube and medical tests

And They Are Off!!! and Standing: Before and After — adoptive momma (China) Sally That Girl! at Bryson Makes 8!… her son’s final casts come off

Nose — adoptive momma (China) Amy at Finally a Family of Five… learn something new about cleft lip/ cleft palate