Four years ago today

Four years ago today, I was in Labor & Delivery hoping to have the twins. Only our doctor was not so ready for me to have them. During this precise hour she ordered yet ONE MORE round of Terbutaline to stop my labor, again, for the 6th or 7th time. I WAS NOT HAPPY. I had been laboring at home for nearly 2 days when I finally told Shawn we needed to go the hospital. Never in my wildest dreams did I think the doctor would try and stop labor again. I was exactly 35 weeks 6 days--twins are considered full term at 36 weeks. I was HOURS shy of 36 weeks gestation.

Turb was pushed in my side and we were sent home an hour later. My contractions stopped entirely for 45 minutes and then came back but they were extremely unpredictable.

Shawn and I drove home and over the next 12 hours my body TIRED to get back into a good laboring rhythm with my contractions. Just after 1 in the morning, Sunday, July 1st, 2007, Shawn and I were back at the hospital handing Jared off to my dad and Pam in the ER parking lot and heading back into the hospital.

I was tired, angry, grouchy and down right mean at this point in time for I had been laboring for 30 hours UNMEDICATED and I was not NOT going back home again.

My doctor, being the great (can you feel the sarcasm) doctor she was, would NOT admit because I told the nurse, "If you come back in this damn room with a needle there better be a shot of Stadol in it because I am NOT getting another shot of Terb". Well, the doctor decided I could stay and the nurses could watch me but I could have NOTHING. NO Stadol. NO Nubaine. NO Terb (since I had refused it) but she would NOT admit me until my body started to dilate more.

Nice. Real. Friggin. Nice.

I labored, in full labor, for the next 5 and half hours before she would admit me and allow me pain medication. I was dilated to 6 cm by that point. The anesthesiologist was called in for my epidural and he arrived within 30 minutes to administer the worst epidural EVER. My feet felt like they were the size of Texas and I could feel NOTHING. Doctor arrived 45 minutes after he administered the epidural--time now is 7:45 am July 1st.

Doctor ordered my pitocin at full drip immediately and said, "Don't worry, you won't feel it. Let's get this done."

Nice. Real. Friggin. Nice.

Joseph was born an hour later at 8:50 a.m. and Jackson 14 minutes later at 9:04 a.m. Both boys seemed to be doing great and Dr. was gone by 9:45 a.m. Long enough to deliver the placenta and stitch me. She never looked at the boys, but did say "Goodbye, I'll call and check on you tomorrow". She did call and said I could leave when we were ready to go on Tuesday.

So here is a trip down memory lane in pictures

21 weeks pregnant...Jared was the age the twins are NOW!

23 weeks pregnant

28 weeks pregnant

28 weeks pregnant

32 weeks pregnant

Just got the epidural--it wasn't pretty! LOL

Joseph fresh from the oven and weighing 6lbs. 4 oz. & 20 inches long

Jackson fresh from the oven and weighing 5lbs. 13 oz. & 20 inches long

Mommy meeting Joseph for the first time

Mommy meeting Jackson for the first time

Joseph and Jackson one day old :)

This pretty much sums it up :) the twins at 8 months

Joseph sitting pretty!

Jackson

Jackson and Joseph

~Christie~

ONE extra....can mean the world

Many of my readers already know what Down syndrome (or Trisomy 21) is but I imagine, out there, somewhere, someone does not. So here you go, a very cool tutorial tool if you will.

To find out after your child is born if they have Down syndrome (T21) you will need a test called a karyotype. A karyotype is a snapshot, if you will, of your chromosomal profile. Generally, a person is born with just 46 chromosomes--the person born with T21 has 47 chromosomes. Just ONE extra and that difference depending on where you are born in the world, can make all the difference in the world too.

Check out this cool, and I mean ROCKIN' COOL, karyotype. It is in color!!! I have borrowed this from Rick and you can find his blog about Down syndrome by clicking here: NOAH'S DAD.

That bright pink arrow points to the exact location that Trisomy 21 occurs. There are 3 copies of that 21st chromosome instead of just 2. If you are born in the USA and have T21--it is highly likely you will have access to therapies, education, supports and most of all a loving family. If you are born in Eastern Europe and have T21 it is highly likely you will be abandoned at birth, shunned by your family and left in the confines of an orphanage, uneducated, unwanted by society and unloved.

Amazing the difference in cultures even. Amazing how just one little piece of genetic material can literally make or break a person depending on where they are born. Amazing the people who are FIGHTING to save children born with T21 in Eastern European countries right now.

WE KNOW THEIR WORTH---shameful that so many people don't. But please, remember, there are good people, educated people in Eastern European countries too. There are some families who want nothing but the best for their child--like Elaina's parents. She was born in April of this year and they are helping to find her family. There is Joshua's babushka, who was so upset with her children for having given him up for adoption--the Warner family will reap the reward of their loss and my heart hurts for his babushka. There are some mother's who would have given everything for their baby who was born out of a very ugly circumstance--yet, they just COULD NOT keep that child.

Lack of supports, complete and utter shunning of people who keep their child is real and it happens. It happens because disabilities are NATURAL and their society tells them disabilities are AWFUL, HORRIBLE, SINFUL situations that must be avoided at all costs.

Thank God, Almighty, my child was born in the USA and I know the blessing of Down syndrome. Thank God, Almighty, He opened my eyes to the plight of orphans in EE countries. And THANK GOD, ALMIGHTY, HE has a child waiting for me.

Some day soon, there will be ONE less orphan all because of ONE extra chromo and ONE life changing moment.

~Christie~

Just ONE verse

James 1:27

New Living Translation (NLT)

27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

~Chrsitie~

The difference ONE can make

Today, while talking with Andrea Roberts, it hit me the difference ONE can make.

You see, Shawn and I were NOT looking to adopt. AT. ALL. Not right now anyhow. I was happy championing for other children. Praying for them. Donating when I could. Sharing stories every chance I got.

And then?

Well, then, ONE boy changed that for us.

ONE boy, across the seas, God used him to open our hearts to adopting now. This boy came to me via Lisa Warner in a video---she was asking me to share his story. Help find him a mommy and daddy like I had for Peter. I steadfastly agreed and in the middle of finding a way to download the video on my computer so I could share his story as we knew it---I felt the CALL of GOD to adopt.

I contacted Shawn in an e-mail! Yes, you read that right. E-mail. Nice, huh? Anyhow, I asked Shawn to pray over it and give me his answer when he was ready and I would not bother him again until he did. Well, answer me he did; he too believed we should begin the process to adopt. All because of ONE boy.

This ONE boy's story has grown and taken turns that are amazing. God has used him to soften our hearts to adopting, he has used him to reveal other children. He has used him to keep us plugging along even in the face of the shutdown. God has used this ONE boy to make us certain we are on the right track and adoption is the right thing for our family. Everything has a purpose.

I am grateful this ONE child is burned into my soul even though the future is uncertain---shutdowns, timelines, paperwork...yada, yada, yada.

Thank you God for Alexander and the difference ONE can make.

FRIDAY....FRIDAY.....FRIDAY!!!!!

It's Friday and that means pay day for many people. Julie and Cam need just $1100 more to say that Peter has a full fund and their financial burden will be relieved for this adoption. What can you go without this week to help them out? Can you eat ONE less time at Panera or McAllister's Deli (that stuff sure is good but it ain't cheap). Can you drink one less grande mocha latte from Starbucks? Can you buy one less toy for your screaming child throwing a fit in the middle of Target? Can you donate even just FIVE BUCKS? Five bucks, really, just FIVE bucks? Of course if you want in on the Dell Laptop Giveaway, Julie is asking for at least a $10 donation BUT even $5 will make a difference. I am praying for one HUGE donation. I know there has to be someone out there ready to bless them BIG TIME.

Julie, Cam, Kai and Lilah will be ever so grateful.


You see, Peter is a child waiting for his mommy to come and get him. He is in dire need of heart repair. His family must be ready to get him when the shutdown is over. They MUST be fully funded in order to get to him, bring him home and turn him over to the expert cardiologist at Texas Children's Hospital.

Peter was blessed by the efforts of Patti (A Perfect Lily blog) getting his story out and her fundraising efforts. Peter started out with a grant all his own of $15,347 and Julie has been raising money ever since. Their fund is filling up at a nice steady pace but there is MUCH to be done still. Julie is shooting for a grant of $25,000 so they have wiggle room and then she can donate the remainder of their fund to another little boy who has won a very special place in her heart.

I have added a link to Julie's FSP for Peter. She is running a Dell Laptop Giveaway til July 5th. Leave a comment HERE for the amount you have donated and I will get the list to Julie of donors here so that you get added to the Laptop Giveaway. If you donate $10 you will get one option, $20 will get you 2 options, $30 will get you 3 options---you can also earn freebies by sharing on Facebook, blogging or Tweeting about the giveaway.

Here are the specs:

Processor

Intel®Core™ i3-380M (2.53GHz, 4Threads, 3M cache)

Operating System

Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-Bit

Display

15.6" High Definition (720p) LED Display with TrueLife™

Memory3

3GB3 Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz

Hard Drive

320GB4 hard drive (5400RPM)

Video Card

Integrated Intel® HD

Optical Drive

8X CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive) - w/ Roxio Burn 1.0

Case Color

Mars Black

Wireless

Intel®Centrino® Wireless-N 1000, 802.11 g/n

Security Software

McAfee SecurityCenter, 30-Day Trial

Primary Battery

Lithium Ion Battery (6-Cell) – Up to 4 hours, 2 minutes of battery life*

Camera

Integrated 1.3M Pixel Webcam

Warranty

1 Year Limited Hardware Warranty (Mail-in repair in 10-14 business days - Shipping included)


Sounds like a kickin' setup!! Come on! You are helping to bring home a boy who needs to get home ASAP. You are making a difference in his life. YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY GIVING HIM A CHANCE AT LIFE.

~Christie & Julie~

Double Post today... TWO families in need

I won't lie, Peter is my main priority but I promised a lady who CHAMPIONED BIG TIME for the child we hope to bring home that I would help her and her friend spread the word about their $5 for Friday fundraiser bash.

This is the blog of Amy V: BabyMatthew

and this is Jacki's blog: FamilyBlessingsThroughAdoption

Just so you know this is NOT a tax deductible giveaway if you place a donation in their family chip-in.
HOWEVER, you can make a donation to their adoption agency by doing this:
Mail a check to the adoption agency. Please make sure to write "for the Henry Family" in the subject line. This donation is tax deductible, as the agency is a 501(c)(3) charity.

Mail to:

World Links International Adoption Agency
418 Jefferson Avenue
Scranton, PA 18510

I am at it again.

There is a child waiting for his mommy to come and get him. He is in dire need of heart repair. His family must be ready to get him when the shutdown is over. They MUST be fully funded in order to get to him, bring him home and turn him over to the expert cardiologist at Texas Children's Hospital.

Peter was blessed by the efforts of Patti (A Perfect Lily blog) getting his story out and her fundraising efforts. Peter started out with a grant all his own of $15,347 and Julie has been raising money ever since. Their fund is filling up at a nice steady pace but there is MUCH to be done still. Julie is shooting for a grant of $25,000 so they have wiggle room and then she can donate the remainder of their fund to another little boy who has won a very special place in her heart.

I have added a link to Julie's FSP for Peter. She is running a Dell Laptop Giveaway til July 5th. Leave a comment HERE for the amount you have donated and I will get the list to Julie of donors here so that you get added to the Laptop Giveaway. If you donate $10 you will get one option, $20 will get you 2 options, $30 will get you 3 options---you can also earn freebies by sharing on Facebook, blogging or Tweeting about the giveaway.

Here are the specs:

Processor

Intel®Core™ i3-380M (2.53GHz, 4Threads, 3M cache)

Operating System

Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-Bit

Display

15.6" High Definition (720p) LED Display with TrueLife™

Memory3

3GB3 Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz

Hard Drive

320GB4 hard drive (5400RPM)

Video Card

Integrated Intel® HD

Optical Drive

8X CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive) - w/ Roxio Burn 1.0

Case Color

Mars Black

Wireless

Intel®Centrino® Wireless-N 1000, 802.11 g/n

Security Software

McAfee SecurityCenter, 30-Day Trial

Primary Battery

Lithium Ion Battery (6-Cell) – Up to 4 hours, 2 minutes of battery life*

Camera

Integrated 1.3M Pixel Webcam

Warranty

1 Year Limited Hardware Warranty (Mail-in repair in 10-14 business days - Shipping included)


Sounds like a kickin' setup!! Come on! You are helping to bring home a boy who needs to get home ASAP. You are making a difference in his life. YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY GIVING HIM A CHANCE AT LIFE.

~Christie & Julie~

Put up or Shut up

well, that's an attention grabber for sure.

I came across this blog just in the past couple of days. Click here: My take: On adoption,Christians should put up or shut up.

There are so many points that are spot on within this article and really got me thinking. In the article, the author mentions, "But how many sermons have you heard on the biblical mandate to care for orphans?" He goes further with this next statement.

"When was the last time you heard your pastor declare, “if you choose to adopt a child we will stand with you. We will provide respite care, financial help and do everything possible to meet the needs of that child?” I was shocked into silence. I've never heard those words in any church I've attended. EVER.

Now, my own Pastor has asked about our process and we did try to get together and so I could share our story and we could share with our congregation---timing just never worked out and our Pastor just left on a MUCH needed sabbatical. I am not complaining about not sharing our story---our story will be told when God is ready to reveal it; but the point above is, as a Christian, I had never been taught the biblical aspect of caring for orphans in a sermon setting in any church I have attended.

My own Pastor was a foster parent for many years, he knows we Christians are called to care for the orphans as the bible tells us in James 1:27. I wish this sort of teaching was shared more in the church--maybe there would be fewer orphans. The initiative started by Dr. James Dobson in Colorado has proven putting the message back in the church CAN make an impact.

And if Christians aren't willing to follow God's mandate in caring for orphans then they have no place in telling/deciding who can and CANNOT adopt orphans in NEED. Caring for orphans does not mean adoption for everyone, it means doing what you can to help those who hear the call AND answer it. Stand beside us. Support us. Offer you help. Offer your heart. Offer what you can. Support is something to be treasured in a journey like ours. Not all families adopting have support of their own families and loved ones. Fear is an ugly, ignorant emotion and I've learned it rears it's ugly face in many situations for families adopting.


We cannot all adopt and no one person can "save them all"...but we can save ONE at at TIME and we all need a little help, encouragement, support, love and prayers. If you are supporting families in caring for orphans---thank you. If you aren't I pray this article touches you in a way that changes you.

~Christie~

The children from RR who are waiting now.....

Here is a link to all the children listed on Reece's Rainbow in the country experiencing the shutdown right now. If you are led by God to adopt (and if you are a Christian...we are called to care for orphans in some manner) you could register now with RR, begin your homestudy and paperwork and then be ready to go when the program reopens later this year. We hope later this year means in the fall.

Just click on CHILDREN WAITING IN EE to find the child calling you.

Adoption Requirements for different Eastern European countries can be found by clicking INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

and if you are ready...click here NEW FAMILY INFO to contact Reece's Rainbow to begin the process

There are many more children listed on Reece's Rainbow, check them all over---I am simply pushing for the children in the country WE will be adopting from :)

Staying the course

Today, I mailed our immigration paperwork packet to Lewisville, TX. It will arrive by 10:30 Monday morning. This is the last piece we needed to travel to get our child. HOWEVER, getting it accomplished now does nothing to help us travel before the new entity reopens and that is likely to be in the fall.

Shawn and I have decided to stay the course and continue on as if the shut down/slow down were not happening. God has brought us this far, we will not quit on Him now.

Keep praying for everyone attempting to adopt right now. This is certainly a journey not meant for the timid :)

~Christie~

Crying in my Cheerios?

Nope, not gonna happen. I am not going to to do it. I've cried enough tears for another child this past week.

I will not cry over the delay.

I will not cry over Alexander waiting.

You know why? Because this is all part of God's bigger plan. I trust it. I know it.

This past week, God answered to HUGE prayers for me. In doing so, it broke my heart for another child, yet it has given me so much hope for the boy we want to bring home.

I've said before God has told us to wait at nearly every turn of this journey. I could blame the fiasco with the first agency---but it would do me no good. God protected us through that. I could blame the month long wait between our first meeting with the new agency and our social worker---but it would do me no good. God blessed us in the situation. We were given a wonderful social worker who turned out an APPROVED homestudy in A MONTH (23 days really). And during that wait, God showed me the angel that lead me to Alexander and has allowed me to share his story by pushing for others to tell it--I will tell his story when the time is right.

Shawn and I had decided we would wait for a definitive "answer" before filing our immigration paperwork. We aren't going to do that now. As soon as we have our finalized homestudy, I am mailing that application and I am gonna let God do His work.

I know where Alexander is right now (and it gives me much solace to know his location after many months of NOT KNOWING ANYTHING for certain). And we are praying God will let us bring him to our home forever---in His time and by His will.

Keep praying for everyone pushing to meet the SDA shutdown deadline. Pray for the families over there. Pray for the children who are waiting to come home and pray for the ones who simply won't live long enough to get rescued through this shut down. Keep praying for our family.

Thank you, thank you all.

~Christie~

A setback

We learned today that the country we are seeking to adopt from will be shutting down the adoption process temporarily. We hope to learn much needed information during this shut down and be ready to travel sometime by the end of this year. Pray for the families there now and those working feverishly to submit their dossiers.

Pray for the children in waiting. Pray this transition is fast and smooth.

Wanna get a Laptop for just 10 bucks????

Below is a post copied from my nettie bff, Julie. I am blessed to have been a part of their adoption story--see, I saw Peter (thru Patti's blog) and went crazy trying to email EVERYONE I knew (that was over 400 emails) in order to find his momma. I prayed so hard that night, I prayed and cried myself to sleep. I prayed he would find his family SOON. And soon it was, the very next morning there was a family ready to commit to him and I had no idea it would be Julie. NONE.

Once you read the details come back up here and click on this collage of Peter and it will take you to Julie's blog to donate for the giveaway.

Here are the details of the giveaway:

Dell Inspiron 15R Laptop giveaway

A $10 donation = 1 option. Every $10 is another option.

If you donate for up to 3 options ($30), then you get one free option by reposting/blogging/twittering our giveaway.

If you donate for 3 options ($30) or more, then you can get 3 more freebie options by reposting/blogging/twittering the giveaway on 3 different sites.

So either 1 freebie or 3 freebies.


The fundraiser will run until July 5th, 2011. Random.org will choose the recipient of the laptop and it will be posted on Julie's blog on July 6th and then the laptop will be sent to the lucky person. Julie has already purchased the laptop and it is in Julie's possession in original packaging.

I WANT IT NOW.....

Yes, that is one heckuva way to get your attention :)

I want donations, LOTS of monetary donations. I want prayers, LOTS of prayers. And I WANT THEM NOW.

But, not for me, I want them for the Warner family. They leave in less than 24 hours to ransom Joshua (a.k.a. Cliff) and to say fundraising has been difficult for them is a HUGE UNDERSTATEMENT.

I've pushed for them during our own fundraising time and I am PUSHING NOW. They still need about $2000. They can still have donations made to their FSP by clicking here WARNER FAMILY but once they return home for their 10 day wait, I am not sure they can keep fundraising (I need to clarify this but never seem to remember to ask someone).

What a blessing it would be for Lisa and her hubby to KNOW they do NOT have a financial burden for this adoption any longer. I am not doing a fundraiser for the family, I am simply asking you to GIVE, give GENEROUSLY. Seriously, if we can get 400 people to donate just $5 *the cost of a supersized meal* they will be so blessed.

What can you go without today so that Joshua can have a HOME forever. LOVE. FOOD. WARMTH. COMFORT. SAFETY. FAMILY. FOREVER.

Get ready friends, my posts are going to get harder and harder from here on out. Joshua is so blessed to have been 'well' cared for until his rescue. There are SO many children who have NOT EVER been 'well' cared for. There are children LITERALLY WASTING AWAY before our eyes.

Do you have $5? Do you have $10? Can you spare $20? What can you give to save a child from a life of struggle and strife? If all you have is prayers to offer, will you join me in this specific prayer?

"Dear, heavenly Father, my finances simply don't allow me to spare even $5. Lord, you know the needs of the Warner Family. I pray you pour out your financial provisions for this family in need. Lord, give them exactly what they need according to your will for this adoption. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen"


~Christie~

Check 1, Check 2.....

As many of you know, we received the rough draft of our homestudy this week. We also lost a stateside (SS) helper and gained a new one. I was very happy with our previous SS helper and very very pleased with our new one too.

Anyhow, our SS helper has checked our study, made a couple very minor changes and asked me to send it back to our social worker for her to fix. Once that is done, then our social worker will email it back to the SS helper and myself. SS helper will give it one more good look and have our checker in the country the child is located in check it over.

So long as it is all good (and we have no reason to believe it won't be ok'd) we can get our final copy and file our paperwork for immigration; which, by the way, we have just learned is being expedited for the country we are going to due to law changes affecting the children (in general) and their ability to be internationally adopted.

Many families and children waiting for their forever homes can be seriously impacted by the changes about to take place and thank God above he is giving mercy to many of those families with the announcement of the expedition of cases for this specific country.

Keep praying for us, still no word on the huge prayer we are awaiting an answer on from Him.

God bless

*Christie*

Learning it all over again.

Yesterday was an emotionally draining day. Yes, we had prayers answered--but they are prayers that broke my heart.

I have so many answers today, in the light of day after just sleeping about 4 hours of sleep.


I now understand why we experienced the hell we went through with the first agency, I understand why my pushing got me nowhere. I understand why God told me to wait, that He needed more time. But most importantly, I know where my child is---our huge prayer is pertaining to this.

I know that Andrea from Reece's Rainbow showed me grace yesterday and helped me along.

What I don't know is many things. Things I cannot share. Not yet, maybe not ever.

Keep praying, we are waiting for ONE more HUGE prayer to be answered.

*Christie*

An answered prayer?

I believe we've had a prayer answered today. In time, maybe someday, I can share it with you.

In the meantime, pray, pray for the children who still don't have families coming for them. Pray for the families going for children.

The decisions made today will last a lifetime.

~Christie~

Breathe........

I JUST REVIEWED OUR HOMESTUDY ROUGH DRAFT!!!!!!!!!!!

Soon as adjustments are made I can fax it to our gal over there and if she says it is good then we get the FINAL COPY and FILE for IMMIGRATION!!!!

Hold on baby boy!!! Mama and Papa are coming!!!!!!!!!!

*this just in....our language map and Russian in 10 minutes a day arrived today*

LOVE IT!!

*God bless and keep praising HIM*

*Christie*

What a difference a day can make.

Well, it is true the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Our social worker did indeed speak with our references today. Kelly told me that the social worker was very nice on the phone; I told her, yes, I know she is. She is truly someone I think I would enjoy being friends with.

I got an email also today, that said, "HS agency says all is good and they will be approving you ;)"

Thank you GOD! This is just what my weary soul needed today. I had a pretty good conversation with Tonya W last night. She told me, "We all need to hold our children with an open hand". She also said something to the affect--God loves AJ more than I do and He is more capable of caring for him than I am. She was IS so right. I finished our conversation, shut down my computer and went to AJ's room to pray, knelt on the floor at the edge of his bed and prayed. 

I admitted my frustration, my fears, my hopes, my wants but more so I told God that if Shawn and I were but a vessel to bring AJ his family should it not be ours then I would accept that. I would love God no less, I would love AJ no less. He would be mine in my heart forever as I am in God's heart forever. 

Well, today, God rewarded me with a bit of hope. I am so thankful. SO VERY THANKFUL. Knowing, finally, this homestudy will be in our favor after all the hell we went through with the agency from our town is such sweet reward. We are on the right path, we are following in obedience and it feels SOOOOOO good.

Thank you all for praying alongside us. A HUGE prayer has been answered today.

*Christie*

For lack of sounding like a crazy woman...

Please keep praying, I have been in contact all day with the adoption manager of the agency we are using.

One thing I know, God will do this in His time, when He is ready, and by His will alone. Still, I refuse to sit by and not try to convey the gravity of Alexander's situation.

I am praying for the rough draft of our home study, I am praying for a positive recommendation for this study as well. I am praying we are approved for one male child, aged 0-7 years, born with Down syndrome. The sooner we have this study COMPLETED, the sooner we can file our immigration papers AND then we can travel.

It is true our agency contracted with us and guarantee the study DONE in 60 days or by July 16th (but was told by the adoption manager that many times it is more like 30-45 days).

It is also true we requested expedition from the very beginning. It is true two of our references were somehow lost in the mix of paperwork that was given to our social worker.

It is true that on the 18th of May the social worker said she would contact those two references.

It is also true, that as of today, she has not contacted those references.

It is also true our social worker had an emergency update she completed this past week.

It is true I contacted the social worker 15 days after our visit to see if she had contacted the references and let her know the best times to reach each individual. It is also true that social worker told me, "for planning purposes, I have found it is best to have in your mind the full 60 days til finished draft. Then when I get it done earlier, it is a nice surprise. I really hate to give you an estimate of when I'll have the draft to you...every time I do that, I seem to get a delay and don't make the estimate. Please rest assured that I will get it to you as soon as I possibly can. I know that you want it done as quickly as I can do it."

It is also true, once we get this study our I600A is ready to be mailed (already in the envelope and waiting--just needs the cashiers cheque and homestudy) along with a letter requesting expedition due to medical concerns for the child born with Down syndrome, a congenital heart defect and, more than likely, severely malnurished.


So, that is where we are, treading water and all the while knowing *without a doubt* the conditions Alexander's surviving in right now are deplorable at best just eats at my soul.

You know since I began this journey, I have known NOTHING--so why is it that I am surprised the agency and social worker won't tell us anything either? I have no idea.
I have pushed, pleaded and begged. I can do no more other than pray.

The House Family

There is a family right now, oceans away. Yet, I am tied to them somehow.

Lindy is the mommy, Genesis the daughter, Guy is the daddy and the two boys they are rescuing are Gabe and Levi---Alexander may have been theirs, a different time, a different day. BUT he is gone. When they inquired about him they learned he was already transferred. They are at his old orphanage ransoming Gabe and Levi now.

Lindy has shared videos on her blog of Gabe and Levi and their story while in country right now. Click hereTHE HOUSE'S. Genesis noticed a little girl in Levi's group was wearing the tank top Alexander wore in his video with the ball (you can see it in the upper right hand corner of my blog side bar). There are remnants of him there but that is all.

I should be somewhat grateful he is not there, or else they may have adopted him as well. He was moved so we could ransom him--this provides me no comfort. None. Today is not a good day. While I am overjoyed with all the adoptions taking place right now it is hard. Most recently, one family how started their journey just 9 days before ours learned they will be traveling--just days from now. It hurts. Envy has no place in my heart, but the pain of knowing Alexander must still wait is rough.

Please keep praying for us. Please. We still need our homestudy finished--our home visit was exactly 3 weeks ago today and then we will file for our immigration.


thank you ~Christie~

Legacy Of An Adopted Child

Once there were two women

Who never knew each other;

One you do not remember, 

The other you call "Mother".

Two different lives

Shaped to make you one;

One became your guiding star, 

The other became your sun.

The first one gave you life, 

And the second taught you to live it;

The first gave you a need for love, 

The second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality,

The other gave you a name;

One gave you talent,

The other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions, 

The other calmed your fears;

One saw your first sweet smile, 

The other dried your tears.

One sought for you a home

That she could not provide; 

The other prayed for a child

And her hope was not denied.

And now you ask me 

Through your tears~

The age old question, 

Unanswered through the years.

Heredity or environment

Which are you a product of?

Neither, my darling-neither, 

Just two different kinds of love!

Author Unknown

I did not write this poem, but it was given to us at our adoption training. I felt it worth sharing.

~Christie~

God is sooo very good

Wow...such a wonderful conversation. The one I have been praying for since June 2009 has come!! See, in June 2009 I made a Celebration Pamphlet for Parents who just learned their child has Down syndrome. I took this pamphlet to local doctors along with a copy of "Gifts" to be handed out to the first family that office served.

Well, I've never gotten any calls from anyone.

Tonight, I did and it wasn't from that pamphlet. I got a FB message from Jennifer that she had been contacted by a guy she knows looking for support for his sister because they just learned their child has Ds and Jennifer gave me her cell phone number.

I texted her this message:
This is what I sent her:

Hi,...I got your number from Jennifer. Your brother called her about the baby and wanting to get support connections. My name is Christie and I too have a child with Down syndrome and did not know until after he was born.

Please contact me anytime. And I mean that....anytime. Night or day. If you are grieving right now that is normal. If you are scared that is normal too. If you are mad at God it's Ok...he can handle it. But I promise, this walk gets easier with time and Oliver is going to lead you on a wondrous journey in life.

Congratulations on his birth! I am proud to call you a sister in mothering a child with Down syndrome.


SHE TEXTED ME BACK!!! Right away!!! And it turns out, I am also very good friends with her sister-in-law. It's a small world! God is so good, this baby has a wonderful mother so ready to learn about Ds and love her son! And can I just say he is absolutely gorgeous? She shared to pictures with me. I am so blessed!!

So, while his heart is healthy he is experiencing some health issues. Please pray for him and his team of doctors. In time, when she is ready and things have settled I hope to introduce her to many of us mommies on FB...in the meantime, trust me when I say he is beautiful and loved and so lucky to be born in the USA! Keep them in prayer please.

Night all!!
~Christie~

A stark contrast

In just one week, it will be 4 months since Alexander found us. My heart hurts. My soul aches. The waiting is hard, much harder than when I was pregnant with my boys.

See, waiting for them I knew SO much.
I knew where they were--safe within me.
I knew they were safe, tucked close to my heart, protected by my body.
I knew they were nourished--I fed them well.
I knew they played--I felt their kicks.
I knew they were loved--I talked to them, rubbed them, listened to them with my monitor.
I knew they were growing--my belly was an ever present proof of that fact.
I knew they were coming--all of them came early but I knew within a reasonable approximation of when they were coming.

Now? Well, now, I know virtually nothing.
I know his in an Eastern European country.
I know GOD is protecting him--I pray for that daily.
I pray he is nourished--but do not know.
I hope he gets to play--but this is not likely a luxury he knows any longer.
I hope he is growing--I fear he is very small.
I have no idea when he is coming home....none. This is so very, very hard. Especially since I believe I know what institution he is located in.

Relying on God, seeing the bigger picture is so very hard for me. I have no problem admitting this. God and I have talked, He can take it. He gently reassures me--He loves Alexander more than I do, to which I answer, "Then why can't he be with me? NOW?" And His reply? "It's just not time. Give ME time. I want more from you." That is what I hear.

Keep praying everyone. Please. Thank you.
~Christie~

C25K.....

I have never ran a day in my life...ever. I started the Couch to 5K (C25K) training today. It was nice. Weird. But it was. I was able to share a little bit with the ladies I ran with today also about adopting. I think that is what I enjoyed most.

After my run, I signed Jared up for more swimming lessons and signed Jackson up for summer T-ball too. After we got home, I made lunch for Kelly and I and made stuff for all the kids.

Kelly is my bff, we've known each other for 25 years and she brought two of her kids out here today to spend the afternoon with us. Brody got to swim in our kiddie pool with Joseph and Jackson. They had tons of fun. There was a beautiful breeze for us to enjoy while sitting under the sunshade sail too. Good times, great friends family and beautiful weather.

Then I got to thinking of Alexander...I wonder if he "played" outside today. I wonder if he will be terrified of water. I wonder if he had any lunch today at all.
Lord, I am so ready to go claim Alexander as our own and bring him home.

Continue to pray for us, please. And be sure to check out the links on my blog to Peter, Liam, and Joshua's adoption stories.

Thank you...

~Christie~