What We Know…

February 28, 2015 complex heart defect, double outlet right ventricle, February 2015 Feature, February 2015 Feature - Heart, pulmonary atresia, pulmonary stenosis, single atrium heart disease, single ventricle heart disease, Tetralogy of Fallot, TGV 0 Comments

We know that adoption is beautiful, don’t we? We know that it is a wonderful way to build a family. We also know that it can be painful, and scary, and even though it can most definitely be a dream come true, it can also hold many frightening unknowns… We have three dreams come true, …Read More

find my family: larry

February 28, 2015 Family Found 0 Comments

Larry was born in September 2012 and diagnosed with congenital heart disease. Sweet Larry was found in a hotel dustbin as a newborn and taken to the hospital. At that time he had a hematoma on his scalp and began treatment for jaundice after entering an orphanage. His hematoma resolved on its own but it …Read More

out of the darkness

February 27, 2015 Attachment, birth family, Carrie 3 Comments

I don’t think I will ever be the mom who believes God’s original and best plan for my daughter was for her to be in my home. I realize that’s a controversial statement, and perhaps many of the people reading this will feel something bristle inside of them as they think about their own precious …Read More

Medical Needs and Marriage: Ten Tips

February 26, 2015 February 2015 Feature, February 2015 Feature - Marriage, marriage, Rebecca 5 Comments

You adopted a child with medical needs and the game changed. The Coach altered the playbook. The new little life in your family has your whole team scrambling to reorient themselves. You survived the stretching adoption process with its paperwork, lack of control, waiting and financial stress. You made it home, and you’d like to …Read More

I don’t get it.

February 25, 2015 Chinese Culture, Kelly, one-child policy 8 Comments

I get it. There was a big crisis. In 1979, facing a huge and growing population, Chinese government officials created the “family planning policy” as the solution. Things were turned upside down as families who years before had been encouraged to build China by adding to their family were now told they could have one …Read More

“Normal” Ain’t Got Nothin On This

February 23, 2015 double outlet right ventricle, February 2015 Feature, February 2015 Feature - Heart, pulmonary atresia, Sonia, Tetralogy of Fallot 5 Comments

As we continue through February, the month of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness, we continue to share posts from moms parenting children with heart defects. Our goal is to inform and equip those considering or home with children with this special need by sharing the real-life experiences of those already parenting a child (or children) with …Read More

find my family: Henry from Bethel

February 22, 2015 Family Found 0 Comments

Bethel’s adorable Henry is quiet at first but loves nothing more than to be on an adult’s lap for a cuddle. He likes to sing songs about animals and cars. He loves playing with balls and loves running and listening to music. Happy Henry has the most amazing smile. When he smiles, his entire face …Read More

Chinese New Year’s Resolution

February 21, 2015 Chinese Culture, Desiree 1 Comments

I don’t know that I understood the full ramifications the day I marked the CHINA box on our adoption paperwork. I understood that I would be bringing a piece of China home with me (he was so soft and cute!), but I didn’t realize that I would also be sending a piece of myself there. …Read More

5 Ways To Build Into Your Marriage While Growing Your Family

February 20, 2015 Andrea Y., February 2015 Feature, February 2015 Feature - Marriage, marriage 3 Comments

It was almost exactly one year after arriving home with our fifth child, and I felt like our family had finally found our new normal. It took us much longer after bringing home our fourth to get in our groove as his medical needs were more complex, and we had to quickly learn how to …Read More

find my family: Eddie

February 20, 2015 Family Found 0 Comments

Eddie turns six years old this March. Eddie’s listed special need is “mild development delay,” however his facial features may be indicative of Down Syndrome. Eddie’s adoption file was prepared when he was just two years old, he is now almost five and still waits for a family of his very own. At the time …Read More

Adoption: Hard to Start. Harder to Stop.

February 19, 2015 a father's perspective, adoption realities, large families, Mike 39 Comments

“When you go back…” In the weeks before we left for China for our first adoption, Anne and I met with some family friends who had adopted three Chinese daughters. The goal of our time with Kevin and Vicki was to better understand what to expect on the trip and in the months to follow. …Read More

Cleo: adopting a child with burns

February 18, 2015 body scars, burns, contracture deformity, Family Stories, Skin Conditions 5 Comments

In looking back I can see now that the seed was carefully planted long before we knew of her. The unknown preparation came in the forms of books, a family story from a friend, career decisions and a few other situations that seemed of random nature at the time. It wasn’t in our initial scope …Read More

Cardiac Transplant: part two

February 16, 2015 advanced heart failure, complex heart defect, end stage cardiac disease, Family Stories, February 2015 Feature, February 2015 Feature - Heart, heart defect, heart transplant, single ventricle heart disease 0 Comments

This is the second half of a two-part post written by two mamas who have walked a similar – and yet very different – path. Both of their daughters, adopted from China with complex heart defects, required what most parents would consider a worst case scenario: a cardiac transplant. Each shares their experience below. Andrea, …Read More

Adopting Later In Life: part two

February 15, 2015 adopting later in life, Jean, large families 7 Comments

This is the second part in a two-part series. Read part one here. I hear words like “insane”, “crazy”, “midlife crisis”, “out of your mind”, and “out of control”. Most of these comments are said kindly and with humor! If you are talking to or hearing it from the older adoptive parent and they are …Read More

find my family: Tucker

February 14, 2015 Family Found 3 Comments

Tiny TUCKER is who we have to show off today! Aren’t you glad it is heart month around here? Terrific little Tucker is a sweet one year old toddler. Full of personality, he is described as boy who is outgoing and rambunctious, who loves to giggle and be hugged. But what ever you do don’t …Read More

I’m Ready to Adopt, Now What? The Homestudy

February 13, 2015 dossier, homestudy, I'm Ready to Adopt 2 Comments

Alternately titled: Four Things to Know Before You Begin Your Home Study. This is the second post in a series on the “how to” of adoption, step by step. Post one can be found here. Starting the adoption process can be intimidating. You hear horror stories of the paperwork that is involved and it is …Read More

wanmei

February 13, 2015 Chinese Culture, Hannah, orphanage realities 1 Comments

We were advocating domestic adoption around the table. Somehow I had been seated to the Director’s left – the most important seat, and one much too auspicious for comfort, and our chopsticks clinked upon the same plate of celery and mushrooms. He turned to me and looked me square in the face. Of course I …Read More

adopting a child with congenital nevus

February 12, 2015 Congenital melanocytic nevus, Congenital nevus, Family Stories 3 Comments

My husband was adopted domestically as an infant. As high school sweethearts, I heard him share his personal testimony several times. His testimony centered around his physical and spiritual adoption. “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 …Read More

My Warrior

February 11, 2015 Amy, heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot, tracheoesophagel fistula 0 Comments

“She is a fighter. It’s what kept her alive. We love it when our heart babies are fighters. Her body has adapted wonderfully for as long as she has lived without this surgery.” ~ Pediatric Cardiologist I knew Grace was a warrior before we even laid eyes on each other in person. I knew enough …Read More

Cardiac Transplant: Two Little Girls, Two New Lives

February 9, 2015 advanced heart failure, complex heart defect, end stage cardiac disease, Family Stories, February 2015 Feature, February 2015 Feature - Heart, heart defect, heart transplant, single ventricle heart disease 0 Comments

February is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month, so this month we will be featuring several posts from moms parenting children with heart defects. Our goal is to inform and equip those considering or home with children with this special need by sharing the real-life experiences of those already parenting a child with a CHD. This …Read More

Eyes Wide Open

February 9, 2015 Amy A., cl/cp, referral 0 Comments

For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed setting goals, creating organized plans, and executing those plans until my goal is achieved. I carry out most tasks as efficiently as possible and tend to think my ways are the best ways. If we have 3 errands to run, I find the most organized …Read More

find my family: gigi

February 8, 2015 Family Found 1 Comments

This sweet little girl was born April of 2012. Precious GiGi has an impressive list of needs and she will need a family to help her heal and receive the care she needs. When she was abandoned, it was discovered that she had an eye that appeared smaller than the other. This has been diagnosed …Read More

Little Girl Red

February 6, 2015 complex heart defect, Family Stories, February 2015 Feature, February 2015 Feature - Heart, heart defect, PDA, VSD 0 Comments

Sometimes I put my head to her chest and listen. Lub, dub. Lub, dub. Oh the beauty of that sound. It sounds like life and hope, sadness and struggle. I think about her heart in the first months of her life. Her first breath in the world, a whoosh of air into her (most likely …Read More

find my family: Jacob

February 6, 2015 Family Found 2 Comments

Jacob is 12 years old and listed with Cerebral Palsy. Although this precious child is in a wheelchair, he is said to be able to walk short distances with a walker, go up and down stairs with the use of the hand rail and is able to take care of himself, such as bathing, dressing …Read More

A Letter to My Daughter

February 5, 2015 adoption community, adoption realities, Attachment, Carrie 0 Comments

Darling Girl, I walked into your room the other night, well after you had gone to sleep. I could hear your quiet breathing and the whole room smelled like you. There’s something about the way my babies smell that makes me feel peaceful and comforted and deeply at home, and when it dawned on me …Read More

Jen’s Cliff Notes Review: TBRI DVD series part 3

February 4, 2015 Attachment, Jennifer, TBRI DVD Series, Trust Based Parenting 2 Comments

Chapter 4:  Connecting Principles To recap, I am reviewing a lengthy DVD series on your behalf and giving you the “Cliff Notes” version (part 1 here, part 2 here).  Because when you are parenting a child from tough places and in tough places, ain’t nobody got time to do a literature review and hunt down …Read More

find my family: emerson

February 4, 2015 Family Found 0 Comments

 5 year old Emerson was just listed with Madison Adoption Associates via an orphanage partnership. Emerson is diagnosed with osteochondrodysplasia (dwarfism). And if you think his file photos are precious, just wait until you see his videos (1, 2, 3, 4, Password: Adoptmaa)!   At 5 years old, after a period of acupuncture and moxibustion, Emerson …Read More

marriage: 4 simple things

February 3, 2015 February 2015 Feature, February 2015 Feature - Marriage, Linny, marriage 0 Comments

Each month in 2015, we will spotlight a special need as well as an important adoption topic. Last month, we shared posts from moms in the trenches of post-adoption depression, as well as moms of children who are HIV+ and HepB+. In February, we will share about heart defects as well as another heart issue, …Read More

Trusting God in the Middle

February 1, 2015 Andrea Y. 3 Comments

It’s been almost two years since we brought home our youngest child, and I feel my heart longing to grow again. The thought of six children would make some readers wide-eyed — yet I know in my heart we are called to grow again. I’m learning to be still in this “in between” place and …Read More

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