Rex Is Five

Our family recently celebrated Rex's fifth birthday.  That, in and of itself, is so hard to believe for me.  When we first saw his little face, he had just turned one and was a baby.

Rex in March 2010

Now he's a strong, confident preschooler.

First, Rex celebrated with his friends at school.  We love his classmates and his therapists and the way the entire program is set up to provide individualized care for children who are cherished.

Rex took fresh fruit and gluten-free, dairy-free mud pie in to treat his fellow students.

Next we had a party with family and friends at our local fire museum.  Rex had so much fun and we were quite impressed with how well he did opening his presents, showing interest in all of them, and then trying hard to go around the room for high five thank yous.

Really delicious, homemade
gluten-free, dairy-free cake balls

Finger foods
to suit the many food allergies among our guests

Rex and some of his guests
playing in the firetruck

Opening gifts surrounded by friends

Rex got to spend his actual birthday with his favorite people: his dad, his sister, his oma, and his mama.  He got to do his favorite things, like swinging for hours, riding big escalators, lounging on the floor with a snack while listening to music, enjoying back rubs, playing in our sensory room in the basement, and eating his favorite pizza for dinner.  It was a birthday fit for our little king.

Happy fifth birthday, Rex.  Daddy and I are so proud of how you're growing up and getting better at navigating our world each and every day.  We can't wait to see what the next year holds for you.  We love you.

Help Us Bring Her Home Adoption Auction

Our adoption auction to help us bring home Big Sister launched this morning.  There are 33 items up for grabs.  The auction runs for only one week through March 9 and is our final fundraiser.  Please take a look and spread the word via social media:

http://martiniadoptionauction.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Viviane, Craig, Rex, Emilia and Big Sister waiting in Eastern Europe

IAC 271 & 272 Results

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 271 which was held on January 22, 2014:

1) German dossier from October 2009 referred a female child aged 3 years and 1 month with features in health status

2) German dossier from May 2010 referred a female child aged 2 years with features in health status

3) US dossier from June 2010 referred a male child aged 2 years and 5 months

4) Spanish dossier from June 2010 referred a male child aged 4 years and 4 months

5) Dutch dossier from June 2010 referred a male child aged 4 years and 8 months

6) Spanish dossier from October 2010 referred a male child aged 6 years and 7 months

7) French dossier from June 2011 referred a male child aged 1 year and 11 months with a family history

8) Italian dossier from July 2011 referred a male child aged 8 years and 2 months

9) US dossier from June 2012 referred a male child aged 1 year and 10 months with features in health status and a family history

10) US dossier from June 2013 referred a brother and sister aged 10 years and 5 months & 8 years and 11 months

11)  Italian dossier from July 2013 referred a male child aged 9 years and 10 months

________________________________________

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 272 which was held on January 29, 2014:

1) German dossier from May 2010 referred a female child aged 1 year and 11 months

2) German dossier from June 2010 referred a male child aged 2 years and 5 months

3) United Kingdom dossier from July 2010 referred a male child aged 1 year and 6 months with a family history

4) German dossier from July 2010 referred a male child aged 5 years and 1 month with a family history

5) French dossier from January 2011 referred a male child aged 3 years and 2 months with features in health status

6) Danish dossier from April 2011 referred a female child aged 1 year and 4 months with features in health status

7) Italian dossier from August 2012 referred a male child aged 8 years and 7 months with a family history

8) Italian dossier from October 2012 referred a female child aged 8 years and 8 months with features in health status

9) US dossier from November 2012 referred a male child aged 2 years and 5 months with a family history

10) US dossier from March 2013 referred a male child aged 1 year and 6 months with a family history

11) Italian dossier from October 2013 referred a male child aged 9 years and 11 months

12) Italian dossier from November 2013 referred twins, male and female, aged 9 years and 3 months

13) US dossier from January 2014 referred a waiting child (#2208) with a profile on the MOJ site

14) US dossier from January 2014 referred a waiting child (#2201) with a profile on the MOJ site

15) US dossier from January 2014 referred a waiting child (#2247) with a profile on the MOJ site

T-Shirt Fundraiser Success

Our t-shirt fundraiser closed last night, after selling 63 shirts and raising over $1000 toward the cost of our adoption of Big Sister.  We want to say thank you to everyone who supported us through this fundraiser and hope that when you wear your shirts, you will think fondly of our children.

Now stay tuned for our adoption auction which will launch next Sunday, March 2.  There will be more than two dozen items up for grabs, valued at well over $1000.

Have a happy week!

Wedding Bells

Last night our family had the pleasure of celebrating the wedding of our friends' daughter.  We had a great time.  My kids really enjoy a good party.

Emilia shaking a leg with our neighbor Joey,
adopted from Ukraine

Rex cutting a rug with his daddy

Congratulations to Emily and Frank and best wishes for a happy marriage and wonderful life together.

Our Queen Of Hearts

Today we had a cardiology follow-up for Emilia at our local children's hospital.  By all tests and measures, Emilia is doing great.  Her EKG is normal, her oxygen saturation is fantastic, and her scar is healing beautifully (more on that in another post).  As we knew prior to the surgery, she continues to have a mild heart murmur which is completely safe and normal.

Emilia's surgery is considered a total success.  Everything has turned out so well, in fact, that today we were told that Emilia will not need antibiotics for the rest of her life whenever she has a dental or other medical procedure.  This is such wonderful news.  We will have another follow-up in 3-4 months and if everything comes up clear then, Emilia will only need to see her cardiologist every 1-2 years from there on out.

We love our Queen of Hearts!

T-3 ... Shirts That Is

We have 4 days left to sell 3 more shirts.  I am going to count it down here on the blog as orders are placed.  Spread the word and hurry for your chance to help us bring Big Sister home by purchasing a tee with the Rex and Emilia hand print design.

https://www.bonfirefunds.com/family-forever-help-us-bring-her-home-1

Thanks to everyone who has committed to making a purchase.