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.