This beautiful little girl is Helena, is 7 years old and is listed with Holt International! Helena has spina bifida, including sacrococcygeal meningocele and tethered cord. She is an active girl who can walk, stand on one foot, skip, and catch a ball. She can draw a person, tie her shoes and pick up a …Read More

The story I’m about to share is my battle with depression and anxiety that intensified after our first two adopted children came into our lives. I could share so many funny and sweet tales of our family and our precious kiddos, and I hope to have the opportunity to do so in the future. I …Read More

After a family’s dossier is logged in and they’re officially LID, our agency provides a resource packet containing information about what to expect in the coming months, different scenarios for Gotcha/Family Day, what travel will look like, and more. When we received that packet for our first adoption, of course, I practically memorized it. That …Read More

36.9990° N, 109.0452° W is the only place in the United States where one can stand in four states at the same time. This was not always the case in US history. The boundaries of western territories shifted over the years, morphing into different shapes. Lines were crossed, crossed out, and redrawn as people fought …Read More

For me, the week between Christmas and New Year’s is when I want to throw myself into lots of projects. Many projects I have put off all year and I feel this huge push to get them done. This year two of those involved printing my blog into a book and creating Calla’s lifebook. I …Read More

Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a group of inherited genetic skin disorders. There are five major types of EB and within each type there are subtypes. People affected by EB are often called Butterfly Children when they are younger as their skin is as fragile as a butterfly’s wings. Though it is a debilitating, painful, and …Read More

Beautiful Fia is waiting for her family to find her. She is now 2 years old, but her report was written when she was only 18 mo old. Her agency (CHI) has asked for an update. Fia was found when she was 10 months old. In her report as an 18 month old, Fia enjoyed …Read More

The arrival of 2018 is extra special for those of us around here. Because 2018 marks ten years for No Hands But Ours. That’s right, in October, NHBO will officially turn ten years old. We’d love to hear from you, our readers. We want to know where you are on your own adoption journey, what …Read More

Applebee just turned 1 year old and waiting for a family. Born 9/2016, Applebee is postoperative for congenital anal atresia. His file states hearing loss of both ears; and left ankylotia (Stricture or imperforation of the external auditory meatus of the ear.) He is a Children’s House International Partnership file, with a Special Focus designation. …Read More

Happy 2018! It’s a brand new year, bubbling over with possibilities and, most likely, a smidge of regret and hope to make a few changes. Maybe some of those hopes include reading more. Or getting connected with other adoptive families locally or online. We’ve put together a few of our favorite (adoption-related) things: books, websites, …Read More