I fell in love.

April 29, 2014 adoption realities, Nicole 0 Comments

I have been trying to write this post in my head for a month now.  Words seem terribly inadequate, but today I want to share a small piece of how my heart was changed in China.  Being invited into the amazing work that He is doing was overwhelming.  Working in the orphanages alongside nannies to …Read More

Find My Family: Becca

April 28, 2014 Advocacy, BAAS, Family Found, girls 1 Comments

UPDATE: My family has found me! Becca is a sweet little girl waiting for a family. She turned 3 in October and has Schizencephaly, a non-progressive brain abnormality. Her original file states she had a hemangioma and rickets, both of which are non-issues now. She was reported to have delays, which turned out to be …Read More

special need highlight: adopting a child with limited mobility

April 26, 2014 Central Nervous System, Family Stories, incontinence, mobility issues, spina bifida, wheelchair user 5 Comments

It was April 2012. We had just completed our first adoption from Uganda. The 6 month wait had been satisified for the state of Ohio and we’d just fully adopted our new son. Then…we fell in love with a story and a picture. A sweet little boy waited for us in China! 10 months later, …Read More

The Adoption Tetrad

April 25, 2014 Kelly 7 Comments

I still read them, the blogs of families traveling in China meeting their children and bringing them home. The images of their first moments together and a mother’s first words after meeting her child never fail to draw me in. But, this blog was different. This post was the first of what I hope is …Read More

what we're reading: 4.24.2014

April 24, 2014 Stefanie, What We're Reading 1 Comments

From the last few weeks, some good stuff we’ve read that relates to adoption and/or parenting a special needs child. As always, if you’ve read or written something you think would be a good addition to a future What We’re Reading post, we’d love to hear about it… To share a blog post or news …Read More

aging out children with CCAI

April 24, 2014 Advocacy, aging-out child, CCAI, Family Found 0 Comments

Can you imagine life without a family or a person to call your own? Can you imagine dreaming of a family only to know there is a good chance it may not happen? Can you imagine knowing at 14 years of age that the dream of having a forever family has to die because you …Read More

10 Things Adoptive Parents of Medical Needs Kids Want You to Know

April 23, 2014 adoption realities, Rebecca 9 Comments

Our plane from China touched down just five months ago. With our two newly adopted kids, both with emotional and physical needs, we stepped out into new lives, all things from before suddenly family history. Life now is both harder and more blessing rich. Six hospital admissions, two surgeries, and a thousand tests and appointments …Read More

the fruit of your labor

April 22, 2014 Desiree, Mike, Rebecca, Stefanie 3 Comments

Two months ago, we asked for your help. We were looking for a few new bloggers to help round out the NHBO team. And boy-o-boy, did y’all come through. We received 115 nominations. And we sifted through each one. What fun to visit all those adoption blogs and read the stories of so many precious …Read More

special need highlight: adopting a child with spina bifida

April 22, 2014 Central Nervous System, Family Stories, spina bifida 0 Comments

In 2012 we started our adoption journey. We have four biological children and wanted to add a special needs baby to the mix! It was very difficult for us to go through the medical list of possible special needs, but we left it in God’s hands. When we received our daughter’s file from our agency …Read More

adoption cousins

April 21, 2014 Desiree, Down syndrome 0 Comments

“Where are you from? What do you do? What church do you go to?” These are the socially acceptable questions everyone asks when meeting someone new. The answers define who the person is standing in front of you and the kind of relationship you may have with them. But, since starting down the Adoption Road, …Read More

like rain in the desert

April 20, 2014 Attachment, Carrie 1 Comments

It seems fitting to me that it’s raining in the desert the night before Easter. I can’t remember the last time it rained, and I’ve opened the windows wide in our house. Propped the back door open. I’m inhaling the scent of the air washed clean of all the dust it usually carries; listening to …Read More

special need highlight: adopting a child with epilepsy

April 20, 2014 Central Nervous System, epilepsy, Family Stories 0 Comments

When my husband and I first decided we were going to adopt we were given the long check list of the needs we thought we could handle. I thought this was a daunting task as I knew there would be children we would essentially saying no to a child by not checking off that box, …Read More

Day 366: Trading “Likes” for Love

April 19, 2014 a father's perspective, HIV, Mike 7 Comments

It was just over one year ago that Anne and I returned home from China with Sam and Ellie. And as I reflect upon our time in China, I am struck by how much I treasure my memories from those first days together. I remember laughing at our first meal together when Sam and Ellie …Read More

You Only Live Once

April 17, 2014 birthmark, hemangioma, Kayla 4 Comments

Sometimes I think people think too much. My husband and I, on the other hand, tend to err on the side of reckless. But I have to say that in our 12 years, reckless has served us well. Our very nuptials were hasty. We jumped into love like a kid into cold water. We got …Read More

Find My Family: Davie

April 16, 2014 Advocacy, boys, Dillon, Family Found 1 Comments

Update: My Family has found me! Sweet Davie is almost two years old. He was born May of 2012. Being cute isn’t enough for this toddler … he has to be smart and sweet as well! Abandoned at birth and longing for affection and a family of his own, this baby boy is doing well …Read More

Expecting

April 15, 2014 adoption realities, heart defect, Jean, older child adoption 1 Comments

We just had our first grandchild! It is so exciting AND such an amazing feeling having her HERE! Our daughter talked to me every day (from Germany) before her delivery. The anticipation was riveting! When would she arrive, how would the delivery go, who would she look like? It was a happy moment when I …Read More

Find My Family: Chelsea

April 14, 2014 Advocacy, Family Found, girls, spina bifida 0 Comments

JOYFUL UPDATE: My Family has found me!! Chelsea is a strong and open girl who was found at a station gate in November 2009. She was born February of 2009. Upon admission into the care center, Chelsea was noted to be weak and thin with rapid breath and a feeble cry and to have a …Read More

special need highlight: adopting a child with anal atresia

April 12, 2014 anorectal malformation, Family Stories, imperforate anus, Urogenital System 0 Comments

Until we decided to pursue a special needs adoption from China I had never heard of anal atresia (more commonly called imperforate anus or anorectal malformation in the US). My first introduction to the term was via the special needs medical checklist from our agency, and I can remember reading through the list with our …Read More

what time?

April 11, 2014 heart defect, Kristi, vision issues 0 Comments

Difficult conversations. They happen in every house from time to time. Sometimes they are easy to see coming, other times they can hit just about blindsided. And then there are the times you lay your own trap… Last year I turned 40. The morning of my birthday one of my kiddos came in to wake …Read More

Find My Family: Robert

April 10, 2014 Family Found 0 Comments

Sweet Robert was born in December of 2007. He currently lives at a fabulous foster home, where he receives therapy and medical care from American volunteers. His special need is listed in his file as varus of both feet, and deformity of limbs. The foster home states he has arthrogryposis. He longs for parents, and …Read More

Find My Family: Oscar

April 9, 2014 Family Found 1 Comments

Nine year old Oscar is a beautiful boy and a special one too! He has beta thalassemia major and has jumped from one agency list to another. He has great personality and makes great eye contact. He does repeat everything that is said in English like a little parrot. He is just a little sponge …Read More

“but it said repaired”

April 7, 2014 Amy, esophageal stenosis, scoliosis, Tetralogy of Fallot, tracheo-malacia, tracheoesophagel fistula, VACTERL 0 Comments

I vividly remember reading our referral paperwork. I remember first reading the descriptions of her developmental milestones and evaluated her development through mom and teacher goggles… “she follows objects… she is tracking… she is grasping things… she is babbling and forming simple sounds… she turns her head when there is a noise… she can hear …Read More

Find My Family: Patrice

April 6, 2014 Family Found 6 Comments

Patrice is a sweet ten year old who was born in October of 2003. She was admitted into the CWI on July 27th, 2004. She is a lively, outgoing, smiley and helpful child who likes to have fun. She likes to play games with younger children and helps the caregivers with chores within her ability. …Read More

Completely Natural

April 5, 2014 heart defect, older child adoption, Tara 1 Comments

My virtual twins are thick as thieves. And they act like an old married couple. The bond they share is amazing to behold. They actually have the same type of relationship that biological twins do. The way God has grafted their two little hearts together is most amazing. With this relationship comes lots and lots …Read More

what we're reading: 4.3.2014

April 3, 2014 Stefanie, What We're Reading 0 Comments

From the last few weeks, some good stuff we’ve read that relates to adoption and/or parenting a special needs child. As always, if you’ve read or written something you think would be a good addition to a future What We’re Reading post, we’d love to hear about it… To share a blog post or news …Read More

Confession

April 3, 2014 cl/cp, Jennifer 3 Comments

Confession: I am a reluctant blogger. I normally write because I’ve been asked to and while it is therapeutic to do so, I find myself more and more backing away from the computer, overrun by mommy blogs attacking my facebook stream. Some are beautifully honest and real, helping in the trenches and deep waters of …Read More

special need highlight: Adopting a child with Osteogenesis Impefecta

April 2, 2014 Advocacy, Family Stories, Orthopedic, osteogenesis imperfecta 2 Comments

This summer traveling in China with Superkids I met a girl with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). This was remarkable in itself because I have only met maybe 20 children with this special need in my 25+ years as a physical therapist. I have a special place in my heart for ever child with this special need. …Read More

she says they’re insane, but I say they ROCK

April 1, 2014 Kam 5 Comments

So we have some great friends in this life. Tamara & Jason are among them. We met back in the late ‘90’s when our hubbies were attending seminary in Fort Worth. We were carefree… with good jobs, a love for coffee, and no kids between us. We played often, laughed hard, took trips and lived …Read More

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