Holiday Fundraisers For Eden

If you're local to the Cincinnati or Indianapolis areas, please consider being a part of these two fundraisers for Ella's best friend Eden.

My friend and musician and soon to be adoptive mom, Julane Lund, will hold a benefit concert for Eden on December 6, 2015 from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm at the Mooresville First United Methodist Church (900 Indianapolis Rd., Mooresville, IN 46158).  Julane will perform world and inspirational music with various instruments.  Free will donations toward Eden’s agency grant fund will be accepted. 

To learn more about Eden: http://reecesrainbow.org/80331/eden-3

To learn more about Julane: http://julanelund.com/bio

My cousin Maria and I are selling homemade Christmas sugar cookies for $6.00 a dozen decorated and $4.00 a dozen plain.  For more information, please email me at viviane 8 at yahoo dot com.

IAC 333, 334 & 335

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 333 held on October 1, 2015:

1) Italian dossier from March 2015 referred a male child aged 9 years and 11 months

2) US dossier from September 2015 referred a waiting child (#2897) with a profile on the MOJ site

3) US dossier from September 2015 referred three waiting children (#2621 & #2623 & #2625) with profiles on the MOJ site

4) US dossier from September 2015 referred a waiting child (#2526) with a profile on the MOJ site

5) US dossier from September 2015 referred a waiting (#2535) with a profile on the MOJ site

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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 334 held on October 8, 2015:

1) French dossier from February 2011 referred a female child aged 5 years and 10 months with a family history

2) US dossier from October 2012 referred a waiting child (#2984) with a profile on the MOJ site

3) Italian dossier from December 2012 referred biological sisters aged 8 years and 10 months & 6 years and 2 months

4) US dossier from December 2014 referred a male child aged 2 years with features in health status and a family history

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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 335 held on October 15, 2015:

1) French dossier from January 2011 referred a male child aged 4 years and 7 months

2) Italian dossier from October 2013 referred a female child aged 7 years and 7 months with features in health status and a family history

3) Italian dossier from November 2013 referred a female child aged 3 years and 4 months with features in health status and a family history

4) Italian dossier from May 2014 referred a male child aged 9 years and 1 month

5) US dossier from October 2015 referred two waiting children (#2865 & #2868) with profiles on the MOJ site

6) US dossier from October 2015 referred two waiting children (#2798 & #2799) with profiles on the MOJ site

7) US dossier from October 2015 referred a waiting child (#2873) with a profile on the MOJ site

8) US dossier from October 2015 referred three waiting children (#2813 & #2814 & #2815) with profiles on the MOJ site

We Are Thankful

For our oldest child, our spitfire

for her exuberance and zest for life

for her curiosity about everything

for her sense of humor and wit

For our only son

for his deep and undying trust in us

for the hard work he does doggedly every single day

for the lessons he teaches to others

For our baby girl

for the purity of her love

for her warmhearted acceptance of everyone she meets

for her joy winning over her pain

We are grateful that these children are ours
to love, teach, support, guide, protect, and enjoy.
We are grateful that they are healthy, happy, and thriving.

On A Day in May

Earlier this year our family attended an event that had a lot of movie characters walking around.  Emilia was totally smitten with Anna and Elsa and when they went up on the stage to perform, it was a dream come true for her.  She clapped and danced and cheered and sang along and I could barely keep her in place.  For the final song, Let It Go, Anna and Elsa asked any children who were interested to join them on the stage and Emilia practically bolted up the stairs without hesitation.  Not only that, she confidently took Anna's microphone...

... and sang her little heart out.  I just stood there in awe, tears streaming down my face, watching my little girl with severe apraxia of speech be the most self-assured and assertive that I have ever seen her in a public situation.

Unfortunately, my camera was in the stroller and the stroller was on a potty break with Rex, so I thought I would never ever have proof that this actually happened.  Until today when a friend sent me these pictures which I will treasure forever.

Sisterhood

My girls are like any other sisters.  They quibble daily and sometimes they don't play or share well, but they also love each other fiercely.  I have been told multiple times by staff at their school that when they see each other in the hall or in the restroom, they run into each others' arms and hug and kiss.

Big sis reading to little sis

A few nights ago, we heard Emilia crying in the wee hours. This isn't altogether uncommon as we think she has occasional nightmares. Usually when we check on her, she is asleep even though moments earlier was whimpering.  This time around when I went in to see her, I found both Ella and Emilia snuggled together in Emilia's bed, three blankets piled on top of them.  Emilia was semi-awake and continued to snivel even as I tried to comfort her. After a minute or two I said, "Look Emilia, Ella is right here with you.  She loves you and she will protect you."  Emilia turned her body toward Ella, took one look at her big sister, closed her eyes and went back to sleep.  Talk about melting a mama's heart.

In other sisterhood news, Ella spent quite a bit of time on providing safety messages for Emilia in our driveway.  What you can't see in the photo is that when you get to the end of our driveway where it meets the road, it says the word STOP really big.  Made me laugh out loud when I saw this creation.

And one day I checked in on the girls in their room.  They were sitting on the floor playing some made up game on the Candy Land board.  Ella looked up at me and said, "Mama, please don't bother us."  Okay then, daughters, carry on.

Autumn Afternoon

Family Walk

Emilia's Together Forever Day 2015

THEN - November 14, 2011

25 months old

* malnourished, anemic, failure to thrive, unrepaired heart defect
* nonverbal, unable to eat solids or chew, or control the muscles in her speech apparatus
* spent her days sitting in a corner rocking, sucking her thumb, clicking her mouth, covering her eyes and ears, whimpering inconsolably
* unable to endure physical closeness and affection
* developmentally delayed
* traumatized, sad, scared, neglected, weak

Emilia's first night with us, her family

NOW - November 14, 2015

* a tiny, healthy dynamo
* speaks in short sentences, sings songs, eats whatever she wants, albeit slowly
* spends her days playing, learning, interacting, and belly-laughing
* snuggle bug who says I love you
* developmentally delayed
* happy, observant, funny, sweet, active

Happy Together Forever Day, Emilia.

I will never forget 
what you were like when I picked you up from the orphanage, 

a lost and lonely wisp, a shadow of a child,

which means I will always be thankful for 
and appreciate deeply what you are now.

You are so playful - 
boots, umbrellas, hats and costumes are your daily picks for fun.

You are so funny - 
there's not a day that goes by 
you don't make me laugh with your antics or insight.

You are so loving - your hugs and kisses are simply the best.

You are so joyful - 
you delight in life's little pleasures 
and remind us to be in the moment with you.

You are so beautiful - inside and out.

We love you forever and ever and ever.

Picture Of The Day

Rex and I with Dr. Temple Grandin

News From MOJ and NGOs in Bulgaria

Accredited Bulgarian NGOs and officials at the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice met today to discuss issues in international adoption.  Among the topics were statistics on children waiting for families and registered families, a possible service for connecting with birth families, and compulsory inscription of children into the international adoption register as soon as certain objective, legal conditions have been met.  For details, please go here.

Shoes, SHOES, ShOeS

When you have three kids and two of them are hard on shoes, costs for footwear quickly add up.  Ella especially goes through shoes so fast due to her particular gait which routinely grinds holes into the soles of her shoes.

Bought on 9/25/15 - Hole in Sole by 11/6/15

My finger sticking through the hole
from the inside of the shoe

So, we were thrilled when we came upon a Stride Rite going out of business sale at the mall.  Shoes were selling like hotcakes and we were quick to join the crowd.  We purchased 22 pairs of shoes for $263.20.  That's less than $12 a pair and, according to the receipt, $951.05 in savings. Our kids should be set now for the next two to three years in terms of footwear.  Wahoo!

Our loot

Rex's new shoes - all pretty much the same-
shoes with no fasteners are great for him

Ella's new shoes

Emilia's new shoes - she's my kiddo who'd rather be barefoot

Picture Of The Day

Our September/October fireplace art, showcasing the kids' best work, before coming down today to make room for November/December.

World Adoption Day 2015

First Professional Football Game

IAC 332 Results

The following results were issued in IAC Session 332 which was held on September 24, 2015.

1) Dutch dossier from October 2010 referred two brothers aged 5 years & 3 years and 2 months

2) Spanish dossier from December 2010 referred a female child aged 3 years and 1 month

3) Swedish dossier from January 2013 referred a female child aged 3 years and 1 month with features in health status

4) Italian dossier from September 2015 referred a female child aged 10 years and 7 months

Southpaw Cornucopia

As you know, Southpaw is our favorite, make-us-drool catalog and today we drove to their garage sale at their warehouse.  We were not disappointed and bought lots of fun stuff for the kids at heavily reduced prices.  We paid $183 total and, checking online for the real prices after getting back home, we realized that everything we bought would have cost us around $1200 at retail.

Some of the biggest finds: a maze balance board for $10 (retail $55), a scooter board for $35 (retail $150), a two piece floor seat with straps for Emilia for $20 (retail $350), two exercise balls for $1 each (retail around $20 each), a phonics modular flip chart for $10 (retail $55 or more), finger weights for $5 (retail $70).  And $295 worth of books for about $10.  You can't know ahead of time what they will have for sale at these events, but it's well worth stopping by.  They had adaptive bikes and tricycles, tons of floor mats, weighted vests and blankets, exercise bands, etc.  I wanted to buy everything, but the van is only so big.  There were lots of OTs and teachers etc. shopping and I think as this sale becomes more well known, Southpaw will see even bigger crowds there.

Some of these things have been hidden away
and will be Oma's Christmas gift to the kids

Escrow For Eden I

Our family knows Eden.  We have seen her smile, heard her voice, and felt her touch.  One of us used to sleep right next to her for years, bonded to her like a sister.  This is why, as a family, we have been raising funds toward an agency grant for Eden to help alleviate the costs of adoption for a yet-to-be-found family who will eventually bring her home and provide her with the love, stability, support and medical treatments she needs.

Over the summer, we had a yard sale and also sold things at local consignment stores.  Friends and family donated items they no longer needed for us to use for this purpose.  Thank you to all who gave and made this fundraiser possible and to my cousin Maria for all of her help.  Along with a few additional cash donations, we raised $550.  The money has been paid into an agency grant fund designated for Eden at Hopscotch Adoptions and will be provided to the family committed to adopting Eden after a successful registration trip.

Stay tuned for more information on fundraising opportunities in the works and if you want to help, please contact me directly.  For more on Eden, please email Hopscotch.

Falling For Fall Part 2

Way back when in the summer, several families who adopted from Bulgaria decided to organize an autumn getaway to a horse ranch in Indiana.  Last month our plans came to fruition when we all met in Brownsburg for a weekend of friends, food, and fun.

On our way through Indianapolis on Friday afternoon, we made a stop to meet a college friend of ours for a little while at a park. This was a great break from the drive for the kids as they got to play and run around outdoors on a gorgeous fall day while we chatted.  Then we drove the final stretch to the cabin and settled ourselves in.  As we waited for others to arrive, Craig took our Armenians to see the horses and, surprisingly, both loved them and wanted to try riding.  We spent the evening catching up with friends, laughing, playing and eating.

Bedtime snack with my son

The next morning began leisurely with a big potluck breakfast followed by exploring the ranch, riding, photo shoots, etc.  Rex and Ella enjoyed their time with the horses and Rex started saying the word horse.  We didn't even try to get our tiny Bulgarian homebody to ride, but she did like watching the horses and petting the goats and cats.

In the afternoon, we had a sensory saw dust search for the kids.  Needless to say, everyone needed a bath afterward.

On Saturday night, we let the kids put on their costumes and play as they pleased in the cabin.

My girls loving on Olaf

Us parents had the opportunity to sit and talk about our experiences.  It's truly refreshing to spend time with others who get it, who don't judge, who can advise or simply relate.

After saying our goodbyes at the cabin the next morning, we headed to my alma mater to spend a little bit of time with two special young ladies who attend there now.  They treated us to a tour and to lunch.  Rex absolutely loved walking around campus.

My senior year bedroom and bathroom windows.

And we were so thrilled to see our friends.

On the way home, the wee Martinis were all tuckered out from so much fun during a great weekend.