Preparing for and Enduring Surgeries and Procedures for Medical Needs Children
February 28, 2017
February 2017 Feature - Preparing Your Child for Medical Interventions, hospital stays, Medical Momma, Rebecca
Special needs don’t always equal medical needs. But sometimes they do. Many of our children require therapies, treatments, hospitalizations or surgical procedures. These can be potentially anxiety-producing for any child, but significantly more so for a child with trauma in their past. So, this month we are focusing on Medical Interventions and how you can …Read More
Wisdom for Enduring Extended Hospital Stays
February 27, 2017
advanced heart failure, Andrea O., complex heart defect, February 2017 Feature - Preparing Your Child for Medical Interventions, heart transplant, hospital stays, Little Hearts Medical, Medical Momma, surgery
When we arrived home with our youngest daughter and fourth CHD child, Rini, in August of 2013, my definition of a long hospital stay was three weeks. When my husband dropped us off at the entrance of the children’s hospital’s Emergency Department straight from the airport, little did I know that my definition of an …Read More
Strength for the Journey: Adopting a Child with Complex Heart Defects
February 26, 2017
atrioventricular canal defect, complex heart defect, Family Stories, February 2017 Feature - Heart, Heart System, heterotaxy, hospital stays, pulmonary atresia, single ventricle heart disease, VSD
I was just able to sit down with a cup of hot tea on a cold and lazy Saturday afternoon, relishing in the quiet and calm. Also know as, daddy is home so he is dodging toddlers and taking care of farm animals while I hide in his office to write this article. With six …Read More
Medical Crisis: Being Your Child’s Best Advocate
February 25, 2017
cerebral palsy, complex medical, February 2017 Feature - Preparing Your Child for Medical Interventions, hospital stays, seizures, surgery
In the summer of 2016 we adopted our precious Sonnet. Her adoption was medically expedited due to her being profoundly malnourished. She was also diagnosed with cerebral palsy and overall global and cognitive delays. What we didn’t know about was the seizures. She was experiencing them the day we took custody of her, but the …Read More
Waiting Child Highlight: Evan
February 24, 2017
Family Found
This cutie is Evan. Evan was estimated to be 4 years old when he was abandoned. He is now believed to be six, soon to turn seven. His abandonment was likely due to the high cost of blood transfusions, which he needs to treat his medical condition of Thalassemia. We are guessing that his family …Read More
Homeschooling Your Adopted Child: 8 Steps to Get Started
February 22, 2017
Education, homeschool, Jennifer B.
“There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent.” ~ Gandhi home·school·ing ˈhōmˌsko͞oling/ (noun): the education of children at home by their parents. The definition of homeschooling is fairly straightforward, but families who choose homeschooling as the best option for their adopted or special needs children can …Read More
Reluctant Spouses: His Perfect Timing
February 21, 2017
adopting later in life, January 2017 Feature - Reluctant Spouses, reluctant husband
I was ready to adopt long before my husband was. More than ten years longer. It all started when I watched a documentary about the orphans and orphanages in China. My heart broke and I immediately felt compelled to adopt a little girl from China. My husband did not feel the same. I honestly could …Read More
Meant for This: Parenting Children with Complex Heart Defects
February 20, 2017
adopting again, adopting as first time parents, ASD, February 2017 Feature - Heart, Heart System, infertility, surgery, TGA, toddler adoption, VSD
I want to start by saying that our miracle children astound me. We love them personally and uniquely. Their birthparents are revered in our home; we thank God they had the courage, strength, and compassion to have them and keep them safe. I married my college sweetheart. Kyle is way more incredible than me; I …Read More
Choosing Happiness Daily: Adopting a Child with an Unfixable Heart
February 19, 2017
adopting a boy, complex heart defect, double inlet left ventricle, Eisenmenger’s Syndrome, Family Stories, February 2017 Feature - Heart, heart defect, Heart System, older child adoption, pulmonary hypertension, terminal diagnosis, TGV
One evening less than two months after bringing home our second son from China, I told my husband that I wished we could adopt an older child someday too. In both of our travel groups, there were older children who were adopted. These had made such an impact on my heart! They understood the idea …Read More
Waiting to be Chosen: Teddy
February 18, 2017
Children Who Wait
Teddy is a sweet and playful 4 year-old who is thriving in his foster family! He was abandoned in 2015 at a railroad station, yet was not speaking much at the time. Due to his lack of words, he was diagnosed with Autism upon intake. His agency visited with him this past October, and they …Read More
Yes, I Did. I Asked For This.
February 17, 2017
Developmental System, Down syndrome, Family Stories, large families
Someone finally said out loud what I assumed people might be thinking all along. I was asked, “How are you?” Careful not to ever come across as complaining about this beautiful mess God has called me to, I simply answered, “Good.” I never want to appear to have it all together (which isn’t hard); however, …Read More
Waiting to be Chosen: Maverick
February 16, 2017
Family Found
Maverick is 2 years old and the only special need listed in his file is that he is HIV+. Maverick is adorable! He is said to be positive, active and has a ready smile! It seems like he is bonded to his caregivers and looks for their approval. He learned to walk at 16 months. …Read More
Red Flags: Not All Agencies Are Created Equal
February 15, 2017
Agencies, Faith, I'm Ready to Adopt, switching agencies
You may have seen that an adoption agency with a program in China was recently “temporarily debarred” by the State Department. Some of the violations by this agency included (I am paraphrasing): Charging families in-country fees that were different than what they had previously quoted. Charging fees that were unreasonably high in consideration of services …Read More
After the Honeymoon: Adopting a Child with Complex CHD
February 14, 2017
adopting a boy, adopting as first time parents, complex heart defect, Family Stories, February 2017 Feature - Heart, first year home, Heart System, heterotaxy, medical needs checklist, Morning Star Foster Home, pulmonary atresia, should we adopt?, surgery, waiting for referral
Prologue: In our son’s room, we have a picture that reads: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) We chose this verse for him, but in reality it applies more to us. My husband, Derek, and …Read More
Life with an AFO
February 13, 2017
AFO, Courtney, limb difference, Orthopedic
I will never forget the day we received “the call.” I had just walked my son into preschool and came back to the car to see a missed call from our adoption agency. I quickly dialed my social worker’s number and she said she had the file of a beautiful little girl she wanted to …Read More
Waiting to be Chosen: Sean
February 12, 2017
Children Who Wait
We had the pleasure of hosting Sean this winter, who came from the Jilin province in China. Sean is a very sweet, well-mannered and inquisitive boy. He is very interested in how things operate such as the washer/dryer, mixer, dishwasher, etc. He has a very relaxed personality and rarely seems upset or bored. Whatever you ask …Read More
Joy! Faith! Hope!
February 11, 2017
adopting again, atrioventricular canal defect, complex heart defect, double outlet right ventricle, February 2017 Feature - Heart, heart defect, Heart System, pulmonary atresia, Tetralogy of Fallot
These three little words. God planted a seed of love in our hearts, and this is the fruit that grew through the adoption of three little girls. Our story began in 2011 when our biological children were 14, 12, and 10. Our heavenly Father was teaching my husband, David, and I and our family so …Read More
Waiting to be Chosen: Frannie
February 10, 2017
Children Who Wait
Meet Frannie! Frannie, born July 2015, has immensely adorable chubby cheeks. When WACAP workers visited this cute little girl in April 2016, caregivers said she was an easy baby who didn’t have a temper. At that time, she could lay on her tummy and hold her head up. As of October 2016, she is now …Read More
He Is A Gift
February 9, 2017
adopting a boy, Family Stories, February 2017 Feature - Heart, Heart System, HLHS, older child adoption, pulmonary stenosis, single atrium heart disease, single ventricle heart disease, TGA
Our son, Matthew, is eight years old. He came home last year in May 2016. Throughout the adoption process and shortly after arriving home, God reminded us that Matthew is a gift. My husband and I would hear “He is a gift” over and over again. God had to remind us. He had to because …Read More
Waiting to be Chosen: Tate
February 8, 2017
Children Who Wait
LOOK at this little LOVE! Tate is two years old and listed with Small World Adoptions. It sounds like he has captured the hearts of his foster parents as his file says he has a deep bond with them. His present physical state is good, his physical and mental development is all normal. He is …Read More
February Special Needs Focus (and Favorite Family Stories): The Month of Hearts
February 6, 2017
advanced heart failure, ASD, complex heart defect, double outlet right ventricle, Favorite Family Stories, February 2017 Feature - Heart, heart defect, Heart System, HLHS, PDA, single atrium heart disease, Tetralogy of Fallot, TGA, TGV, VSD
The term special needs can sound scary. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Our goal at NHBO is to equip and inform parents – replacing fear with knowledge – as they navigate the beginning stages of special needs adoption. And then encourage and support those home with their special needs kiddos. We do …Read More
Fighting for Her Heart
February 5, 2017
Family Stories, February 2017 Feature - Heart, heart defect, Heart System, hospital stays, surgery, Tetralogy of Fallot
Just over four years ago, I was waiting in a cold government office in Zhengzhou, China to meet my second daughter. I had hesitantly said yes to adopting a child with a heart condition. In saying yes, I had armed myself with knowledge and facts and learned everything I could about my daughter’s medical diagnosis. …Read More
Preparing Your Child for Medical Interventions: How to Pack for the Hospital
February 4, 2017
February 2017 Feature - Preparing Your Child for Medical Interventions, hospital stays, Medical Momma, Rebecca, surgery
Special needs don’t always equal medical needs. But sometimes they do. Many of our children require therapies, treatments, hospitalizations or surgical procedures. These can be potentially anxiety-producing for any child, but significantly more so for a child with trauma in their past. So, this month we are focusing on Medical Interventions and how you can …Read More
The Anniversary Blues and Saying Yes All Over Again
February 3, 2017
adoption realities, Whitney
For those of us on Facebook, the Facebook Memories pop-up might just be one of the favorite parts of having an account. It’s fun to see what happened on “this day, X number of years ago.” Sometimes the memories make me giggle, like the picture of my third child sitting in the dishwasher. Sometimes that …Read More
Selenez Waits
February 2, 2017
Children Who Wait
Meet today’s beautiful waiting child, Selenez! Selenez is a darling girl who is described as a bit shy, sweet natured, kind, caring, quiet and intelligent She is on grade level in her studies. She is simply a beautiful twelve year old girl who is paper ready tp be adopted with a special need of spinal …Read More
Waiting to be Chosen: Addison
February 1, 2017
Children Who Wait
Meet sweet Addison! Addison is an adorable five year old little girl who has waited a long time….. She was only one day old when she was found. After living in the orphanage for one week, Addison was moved into foster care. Her foster mother is a retired doctor who has not only taken very …Read More
Straight into the Fire: Our Road to Rosie
February 1, 2017
complex heart defect, complex medical, Family Stories, February 2017 Feature - Heart, Heart System, medical expedite, Tetralogy of Fallot
February is the month of hearts. And here at NHBO, we are all about hearts this month, too. This February, we will be sharing stories of children with congenital heart defects – from minor to complex – and how their families found them. pursued them, and brought them home. ……… After adopting our first daughter …Read More