Meet Remi!
July 30, 2018
Children Who Wait
Oh goodness, just look at this tiny sweetheart! Remi is the cutest little guy, born in June of 2017 with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect (PFO). At the time his file was prepared, he had motor delays. He slept a lot and was said to be very mild-mannered. He loves colorful toys and …Read More
Attachment Through the Years: 4 Years Home
July 29, 2018
adopting two at once, Attachment, attachment activities, attachment challenges, July 2018 Feature - Attachment Through the Years, Medical Momma, Newly Home, Rebecca
Attachment. It’s a word that, at some point of the adoption journey, will bring every parent to their knees – either in frustration over all that seems to be lacking or gratitude for heart-shaped milestones reached. This month we are focusing on attachment over the long(er) term… not weeks or months home. But years down …Read More
Waiting Child Spotlight: Xia
July 28, 2018
Children Who Wait
Meet Xia – she is a cheerful, smiley 9 year old! Could you be her forever family? Xia loves to dress up in pretty clothes. She needs some help to determine the front and back of her clothes, but she can put them on independently. She cannot wait to show her friends her pretty outfits …Read More
Waiting Child Highlight: Paisley
July 26, 2018
Children Who Wait
Princess Paisley is one year old and has a file full of diagnoses as a younger baby. Her update now sounds as though she is doing well. The orphanage staff says, “she is active, lovely and sweet. She is our little princess.” Her special needs are listed as: Premature infant, Hydrocephalus, Cerebral Dysplasia. She can …Read More
Attachment Through the Years: 2 Years Home
July 25, 2018
adopting a boy, adopting again, Attachment, attachment activities, attachment challenges, Brandie, cocooning, July 2018 Feature - Attachment Through the Years, large families, rejects mom
Attachment. It’s a word that, at some point of the adoption journey, will bring every parent to their knees – either in frustration over all that seems to be lacking or gratitude for heart-shaped milestones reached. This month we are focusing on attachment over the long(er) term… not weeks or months home. But years down …Read More
When All This Feels Too Heavy
July 23, 2018
a father's perspective, Dads, first weeks home, first year home, Newly Home, Randall
“We’re not gonna make it.” Maybe you’ve felt that. Maybe you’ve even been so desperate to say it out loud. There are times when you’ve looked around at the carnage and the chaos of your family and social worlds and have thought, “We’re not gonna make it.” Maybe you’re feeling that right now. I hope …Read More
Waiting to be Chosen: Rachel
July 22, 2018
Children Who Wait
Rachel is a beautiful little girl, born in September of 2014 with Down syndrome. Rachel’s file is very dated, prepared when she was just a year old. At that time, she was making good eye contact, rolling over, babbling, and grasping nearby toys. She attached well to her caretakers and loved rolling from one side …Read More
Ten Fingers. Five Toes.
July 21, 2018
adopting a boy, adopting two at once, amniotic band syndrome, amputation, June 2018 Feature - Orthopedic, limb difference, missing arm/leg, Orthopedic, prosthetics
It’s summer, and time to celebrate one of my very favorite days… my “youngest little’s” birthday! I am the mama to four amazing, yet very different boys, and I relish celebrating everything about these sweet souls. Especially this little guy – Johnny. This is Johnny-Cake’s second birthday home, and I am forever humbled that God …Read More
Sweet Silas
July 20, 2018
Children Who Wait
Silas is a handsome and happy boy, born in November of 2007 with cleft lip and palate. He has since received surgery to repair both. Silas is said to be extroverted and active. He is friendly when greeting new people and gets along well with other children. Silas enjoys group activities and any sports that …Read More
Attachment Through the Years: 5 Years Home
July 19, 2018
adopting a boy, Attachment, attachment activities, attachment challenges, Contributor Q and A, July 2018 Feature - Attachment Through the Years, Kelley B.
Attachment. It’s a word that, at some point of the adoption journey, will bring every parent to their knees – either in frustration over all that seems to be lacking or gratitude for heart-shaped milestones reached. This month we are focusing on attachment over the long(er) term… not weeks or months home. But years down …Read More
Find My Family: Jay
July 18, 2018
Children Who Wait
Jay is an adorable little boy, born in August of 2011. He is diagnosed as having congenital heart disease (PA/VSD, MAPCAs, postoperative B-T shunt), cardiac insufficiency, and postoperative diaphragmatic eventration (left). Jay has a good appetite and is not picky. His favorite foods are apples, oranges, chocolate, and chips. He has no trouble eating, using …Read More
Nothing Is Impossible
July 17, 2018
apraxia of speech, cl/cp, Craniofacial, developmental delays, Family Stories, July 2018 Feature - Craniofacial, non-verbal, speech delay
We had been home with our Laura Cate for 12 months, when a family member made a statement that took my breath away: “Your adopted daughter just doesn’t have the same potential. She will never be able to do all the things your biological daughter can do.” /// We adopted Laura in October 2015, when …Read More
Waiting Child: Madeline
July 16, 2018
Children Who Wait
Madeline, born December 2007, is described as optimistic and sensible! She gets along well with the other children around her and enjoys playing aeroplane chess. One of her favorite activities is playing with Legos; she builds all kinds of cars and people out of them! Often when she is with her group of kids, she …Read More
Her Words Will Come
July 15, 2018
cl/cp, Craniofacial, Family Stories, July 2018 Feature - Craniofacial, speech delay, speech therapy
A few weeks ago my husband and I and our four kids were at Legoland for a day of fun in the California sun. My four kids are all what you may call opinionated, independent, and vocal. Our youngest may be the sassiest of them all, but she also has a profound expressive speech delay. …Read More
Urgent Waiting Child: Milton
July 14, 2018
Children Who Wait
Milton, a 3-year-old beautiful boy with a December 2014 birthday, loves playing with colorful toy cars and will drive them all over the tables and walls! He plays well independently and is able to entertain himself for a long time playing on the wooden horse or the swings. Sometimes after class his teacher takes him …Read More
Meet Joyanna!
July 13, 2018
Children Who Wait
“Hi, I am 12 years old. I am in 5th grade. I like singing and dancing very much. I also like to ride bike. I need to go to hospital three days every week to get treatment then go to school the rest of two days. I never fail my academic even I have to …Read More
Family Found: Our Search for our Daughter’s Birth Family
July 13, 2018
birth family, birth family, birth family search, DNA and genetic testing, orphanage, Post-Adoption contact
This is the story of how we found our daughter YuChen’s birth family 10 years and 5 days after she entered an orphanage in Ankang, Shaanxi province, China. I am trying to do my best to guard the hearts of two families and one very special little girl, so I will carefully share some of …Read More
Waiting Child: Danny
July 12, 2018
Children Who Wait
Eight year old Danny is an extroverted social butterfly who loves people! Danny gets along very well with others, and is good at communicating. Danny is almost 10 years old and is well behaved and obedient, he can follow directions easily. He has great gross motor skills as well as fine motor skills, with no …Read More
Beautiful Blakely
July 10, 2018
Children Who Wait
Blakely is a beautiful little girl, born in August of 2014 with Down syndrome. Blakely joined a foster family when she was seven months old. Her foster mother loves her very much and she is attached to her foster family. But a foster family isn’t a forever family. It is a gift to Blakely’s future …Read More
Dear Daughter: Explaining Attachment to My Child
July 9, 2018
Attachment, attachment activities, attachment challenges, Kelly, parent-to-child attachment, Trust Based Parenting
Parents talk about a lot of things with other parents. You know that already. Talking while we drink coffee together, talking over the phone, commenting on each other’s blog posts, commenting back and forth with friends on Facebook —believe it or not, all of that can help us help each other learn how to be …Read More
The Sparkle Jar: A Simple Way to Build Connection
July 7, 2018
Attachment, attachment activities, discipline, homeschool, large families, parent-to-child attachment, Sharon
I recently read a quote from Here We Read that said, “Give children more experiences, not things.” It got me thinking about our Sparkle Jar. I really hadn’t stop to ponder the what, why, when, where, or how because it’s something I have done in the past in my classroom and now in our home. …Read More
The Word that Shattered my White-Picket-Fence World
July 5, 2018
achondroplasia, adopting again, Developmental System, dwarfism, Family Stories, June 2018 Feature - Orthopedic
“We believe your baby has something called Achondroplasia.” “Achondro what?” my husband asked. I was six months pregnant at the time with our second child. Achondroplasia – it’s a word that changed our lives forever. I knew what that word was. It was a word that meant my son wouldn’t be the captain of the …Read More
Winning the Lottie-ry: Adopting a Child with Pseudoarthrosis
July 3, 2018
adopting again, amputation, Family Stories, June 2018 Feature - Orthopedic, missing hand/foot, neurofibromatosis, Orthopedic, prosthetics, pseudoarthrosis, Uncategorized
Newly home from China, we were settling in as a family of five. So when we realized we were going back to China for child number four, we felt quite surprised. A fellow adoptive mom uses the hilariously appropriate term “unprotected paperwork.” Uh-huh. We are happily nodding our heads over here in agreement. It all …Read More
His Story to Tell: Living Life with a Prosthetic
July 1, 2018
adopting a boy, amniotic band syndrome, amputation, Family Stories, June 2018 Feature - Orthopedic, missing arm/leg, Orthopedic, prosthetics, visible special need
We always thought adoption would be a part of our family’s story. After attempting a domestic adoption in between our two biological daughters, we read a story that pulled our hearts toward China. After a lot of prayer, we took a leap of faith. Just a few months later, we were matched with our sweet …Read More