SAVED

SAVED

I received this beautiful sign in the mail last week from my wonderful friend Christina. Who is also Lyla’s Prayer Warrior. I had shared something with her a couple a weeks ago about being “saved” and now I would like to share it with all of you! It is so powerful and I am so nervous that I won’t be able to write in words the true emotion but here I go:
I grew up Catholic and probably went to church until I was 12. Prior to committing to Lyla I had probably been to church 8 – 10 times in 24 years. (Awful I know). I had never prayed – well only when I wanted something or thought I needed something. When I was pregnant 3 years ago – The Doctor didn’t think the baby was going to survive. I prayed by making false promises to HIM – for example: “If you let this baby survive, I promise to do this or that” It’s important I tell you that I never Thanked GOD for all my wonderful blessings – Never! It never even crossed my mind. I thought my life prior to losing that baby was so wonderful because that’s the way we made it. Anyways, the baby in my belly did not survive. I was furious – furious at the GOD that I never thanked for all the good HE had done for me but furious for the ONE time I thought he let me and my family down. I might of even used the “hate” word. It was His fault! Again, HE had nothing to do with all the wonderful things in my life but he now had ruined my life – or so I thought. Then in December of 2007 Owen was placed with us in foster care. Then July of 2008 Sara was placed with us in foster care. We were so in love with these 2 little ones – I just can’t tell you! There were many times we thought we were going to lose them. That’s what happens when you do foster care – and it was very very scary. I still hadn’t even thought of Thanking GOD for these two beautiful children even if it might have just been temporary. But I sure shouted out to Heaven demands that they better not be taken away from us. Yep, I was not NICE!!! We adopted Owen in March of 2010. I found Lyla in May of 2010. I was obsessed – with finding a way to bring her home. She was on my mind and in my heart constantly – it was even hard to breath sometimes I was just so caught up in her. I never considered for a second that this might be a call from up above – Nope never crossed my mind. We committed to Lyla in June of 2010 – I had sent an e/m to Zoya’s mom thanking her for blogging her journey – Sarah’s blog was so special and gave me the courage to know we could do it too! So when she replied with:


So I'm jumping up and down with joy right now! I am amazed at how God used ME for this little girl. You see, Liliannah has a story with me! One woman that follows my blog lives in Switzerland and we have emailed back and forth a lot. Through emailing she let me know that her daughter, who is now an adult, was born with a missing hand...it was a great story of how she overcame this obstacle...but the important piece of info is that she was born without a hand. The day she told me this I was looking on Reece's Rainbow website and came across Liliannah, and noticed her profile stated that she was born with a missing hand. I immediately thought of this friend in Switzerland and emailed her asking her if she'd be Lilliannahs prayer warrior through RR. She was so excited and signed up to pray for this angel. They sent her a picture and she has prayed for her to find a family every day for the last month. I will have to look to see what date exactly I emailed her about Liliannah. I am wondering when you started looking at her and if God led you to her as a result of her prayer warrior's prayers! How awesome and amazing!!!!!

Well then it hit me, WHOA – this is something way bigger then me!!!
Then I got my first e/m from Christina, Lyla’s prayer warrior that Sarah had referenced:

Dear Summer and family

Finally I come to you...I wrote you tons of emails in my mind.... :-) ,
since Sarah Basile sent me your blog- and emailadress.....but still:
Where do I start? What can I say?
I am that Christina, Sarah Basile told you about, a stranger from across
the big water, the prayerwarrior of YOUR PRECIOUS DAUGHTER LILIANNA!
As I write: DAUGHTER !!, tears of JOY are coming again, a overwhelming
feeling of a THANKFULNESS to our GOD, I did not have often in my life,
is overflowing me again and again.....But still: I have almost NO words,
I still can hardly believe, what is going on here, what happened in the
last few days, weeks, months.... how we all came together: Sarah, Zoya,
Lilianna, you, me......!!! Is this true???Lilianna has a FAMILY!!! And
this family is YOU!!! Just amazing!!
So I reach out to you, to let you know, that Lilianna has her special
place in our hearts since the day Sarah told us about her: May 4th!!
And since June 6th, you, your family, has that same place there!! Me and
my family just want to let you know, that we KEEP PRAYING for you, that
we would LOVE to come with you on that journey, and help you, to bring
your little sweetheart home!

 She had also sent pictures of Lyla and how she had a beautiful little shrine set up for her.

Well Friends, Then I knew – OH MY – HE IS RIGHT HERE WITH ME!!!!! Signs left and right, up and down, under and inside – just everywhere. I can’t even explain how I felt. Then it also hit me how incredible selfish I have been over the years. I had been so lost!!! HE had been with me all the way – every step even though I an been an ungrateful little brat. That little baby in my belly did not survive so that we would become foster parents. We would of never ever found the two that were meant for us if the little precious one survived. It was all making so much sense………I was overwhelmed. I was on my knees, crying like a lunatic begging for forgiveness. Thanking Him for all my Blessings. Each day after that night I started to be conscience of everything I did or said – Would it make GOD proud? I started going back to church, reading devotionals. Reading the Bible – even though it is very difficult for me to understand. LOVING different – Loving with all the LOVE I now felt from HIM. It has been so AMAZING.


The bottom line is, I feel like Lyla saved me!! I have not been able to give her the same gift she gave me and it does hurt. But she SAVED me and I am forever grateful. This is the part where I can’t hold back the tears so I will end this now.


Just want you ALL to know that you are all such a huge part of my testimony – constant reminders of God’s work – I am truly BLESSED!!!!!


THANK YOU GOD!!!!!!

Thank you Lyla for SAVING Me!!!!!!!!!

Sign made by:  http://nogreatergift.blogspot.com/

Thank You Christina - For EVERYTHING!!!!

Even though I knew...........

Even though I knew we were not going to be submitted yesterday - it is still so SAD!!!  I have followed blogs that are submitted the same week their dossier arrived in EE.  I am starting to think maybe we wont be bringing Belle home this year.   Our dossier has been in EE for almost 3 weeks and I had faxed the whole entire thing 6 weeks ago - so I am not sure what the problem is but I am thinking it must not be good!  I feel so helpless - I have 2 little girls that I love with all my heart and I can't do a thing to help either of them!!!!  Each day that goes by is another day that they lay lonely in a crib with out the love of a Mommy and a Daddy.  WE want so desperately for them to be HOME with us - so we can treat them like the princesses they are meant to be.  Please GOD see that our dossier is submitted this Thursday!!!

Another thing that is keeping me down in the dumps are these beautiful little children with epidermolysis bullosa.  I just don't understand - it is so unfair that these children suffer so!!!  This one precious little boy that I have been storming HEAVEN for is Tripp.  Please visit Tripp's blog:  http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/2010/10/day-4.html.  OH MY - I just cry, cry and cry!!!!  I just don't get it - WHY???????????  How much can this family take, really????  Tripp suffers every day of his life with unbearable pain!!!  He needs morphine to take his bath!!!  PLEASE GOD HELP THIS ANGEL!!!!  Please HELP all the children suffering with this NASTY disease!!!! 

The only way I felt I could help is to donate to Carson's fund to find a forever family - so I did donate.  This little guy has to suffer with this EB and live in an orphanage!!!!! This is absolutely unthinkable!!!!   Please if you are financially able to help go to Carson's blog and give what you can:  http://onthewingsofabutterfly-eb.blogspot.com/ !!!! Thank YOU!!!!!!  Please God Find a Forever Family For Carson!!!!!!!

Guess who is People Magazines Hero of the YEAR?????

So beyond excited to report that Andrea Roberts (Reece's Rainbow) is one of People Magazines Hero of the year for 2010.  The magazine prints that Andrea "had 30 percent of more than 66,000 votes online to become our first Readers' Choice Hero"!!!!!!!


Honestly any one that knows her and what she does - knows that she absolutely hands down deserves this award!!!! 


And now one of the biggest magazines in our country KNOWS IT TOO!!!!!!!


Please know that I found Reece's Rainbow from People magazine.  In February they did an article on Andrea and the Amazing work she does to find forever families for orphans with Down syndrome.  I read the article and got right on the computer to check out the site.  Well, this is how I found my 2 daughters, Lyla and Isabelle!!!! 


I am so excited to think of all the people that will find Reece's Rainbow now and will want to help too!!!


Thank GOD for this wonderful Woman!!!!   Andrea, I am so thankful for everything you do and thank you for advocating for all the beautiful orphans including my 2 precious daughters.  GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!

Sisters Forever!!!!!

I don't know too many things better than that!!!!

Wait and Pray

We just got an e/m that our dossier will "hopefully" be submitted a week from Thursday.  The team has not received approval to submit our dossier from the SDA yet.   So of course I jump to the worst conclusions that this must mean something is wrong.  A few of our documents will start to expire in December - not sure that this will have any impact but it does make me a little sick to think about it!  I keep trying to remind my self "God's Perfect Timing", right????  So Relax because there is absolutely NOTHING we can do but WAIT and PRAY!!!!


This journey is easily summed up by saying, WAIT and PRAY!!! 


But at least why we wait - we are loved - we are fed - we are warm - we are kissed - we are FREE!!!
I can't say the same for our sweet little girls - I am guessing that WAITING is all they can do  -  Wait and Pray that a family will come rescue them from the brutal conditions in which they live.  All the beautiful orphans deserving of a Loving family - they just wait, wait, wait!!!!!


So who is waiting harder for?????   NOT US!!!!! 

Wow - what a song!!!!

A very good friend (Thank you Teri) sent me an e/m with the lyrics of this song!!!  This is just perfect for all of US!!!!  Yes, you too!!!! 

"Welcome To Wherever You Are"

Maybe we're different, but we're still the same

We all got the blood of Eden, running through our veins
I know sometimes it's hard for you to see
You come between just who you are and who you wanna be
If you feel alone, and lost and need a friend
Remember every new beginning, is some beginning's end


[Chorus]
Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life, you made it this far
Welcome, you gotta believe
That right here right now, you're exactly where you're supposed to be
Welcome, to wherever you are


When everybody's in, and you're left out
And you feel your drowning, in a shadow of a doubt
Everyones a miracle in their own way
Just listen to yourself, not what other people say


When it seems you're lost, alone and feeling down
Remember everybody's different
Just take a look around


[Chorus]


Be who you want to, be who you are
Everyones a hero, everyones a star
When you wanna give up, and your hearts about to break
Remember that you're perfect, God makes no mistakes

And the link to hear it:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjyP37kDJ4I

"GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES"

Chin Up Sister!!

Yes, yesterday was a yucky day!!  But I received so many wonderful reminders that this is not our plan - this is HIS!!!  And in "HIS perfect timing" it will all work out!!!  Plus, I need to remind my self how blessed I am to be on this journey.  How many people actually get the opportunity to follow their heart????  Not too many - most people I know just think "well, it could never happen" or "nope, it is too much work".  And I was blessed with a BEAUTIFUL family that thinks "WE are going to make this happen" and "We will do what ever it takes"!!!  Thank GOD for my wonderful supportive husband and our Great kids.  Also I am beyond blessed with the wonderful new friends I have made on this journey.   I have honestly met (well on the web) the most wonderful people EVER.  In the past few months I have seen LOVE like I have never seen before.  Love for Orphans, Love for Wives, Love for Husbands, Love for children, just LOVE, LOVE and more LOVE.  I am so grateful that I am able to witness so much of GOD's work!!!!    We are overflowing with blessings - So I need to keep my chin up and keep this truck on truckin - and all will be just FINE!!!!!


And I did have some ice cream last night Rebecca - Thank You!!!! 


Love you ALL - And Thank You So MUCH!!!!!!!!

:(

Well, we can NOT visit Lyla while in EE and we were NOT submitted today :(

We haven't heard from the Doctor yet - And still No update on Lyla's condition.

We will pray for submission next Thursday!!! 

We will continue to storm HEAVEN for Lyla!!!!!

Way tooooo much waiting!!!!!

This is how I feel!!!!!!  I think I am the egg!!!!!

4 Prayer Requests, Please!!!!

1)  Please Pray that we will be able to visit Lyla while in EE!!!!!  That would just be the MOST BESTEST gift EVER!!!!!  I am waiting to hear back from Reece's Rainbow to see if this is possible.

2)  Please Pray that Dr.Novick is able and willing to correct Lyla's little heart.  I haven't heard from him yet but I am going to call his office today and get the scoop -  I hope!!!! 

3)  Please Pray that our dossier is submitted tomorrow.  I would think if we are submitted tomorrow it would be a pretty good chance that Isabelle would be home before the end of the year.  Wouldn't that just be something???????

4)  Please Pray for Anabella's Family!!!  Precious Anabella lost her fight last week with Epidermolysis Bullosa.  A quote from her father:  "I love that I CAN believe that she came here to teach us all about strength, perseverance, love, commitment, priorities, and faith"!!!!! 

Tracey is a Mom of a little girl with EB and she is also adopting a little boy named Kullen from EE.  As a matter of fact she just got her date to meet her new son - I am so excited!!!.  She recently found out about a little boy with EB in EE that she is now advocating for.  He needs to find a FOREVER FAMILY QUICK!!!!!!  Please visit her new blog for Carson:  http://onthewingsofabutterfly-eb.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much for your help with all of these requests!!!!  GOD BLESS!!!!!!

So Happy for a Haircut!!!!

My sweet Nicholas finally got his hair cut! 

Before

After

Hair styles are something we decided a long time ago were not worth ever fighting about with our children.  Nick has tested this decision many times.  He always wants to grow his hair and it drives me crazy!!  I have no idea why it makes me a nutty fruit cake but it does.  I just love him so MUCH and think the world needs to see his whole beautiful face!!! 

Honestly, I love this kid not matter how he wears his hair!!!  And I am so proud to be his MOM!!!!!

Isabelle will be Tres Fabulous!!!

Can't you just see her in this?   

And how about these cute shirts?

I had to get the shirt that matched the dress

Okay, now that we have her wardrobe - we are ready!!!!

Let's go get her NOW!!!!!!!

(Julia, I so want you to be resting under a tree with the sweetest of lemonade - you sooooooo deserve it, so I promise I will panic first and post later!)

All better!!!

Just got an e/m from our state side dossier team - that our dossier is where it needs to be. 

Oh My, THANK YOU GOD!!!!!

Sorry for the "freak out" post below - I guess I'm just a little bit on edge!!! 

Uh Oh

I am FREAKING OUT!!!!

I don't think it is a good thing when you get an e/m from your dossier team asking for tracking information for your dossier that was delivered last week????????????????????

OH PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, let our dossier be in the right place!!!! 

Fabulous Family Day

We had a fabulous family day today.  We went to Port Farm and enjoyed all the activities they have to offer.  Slides, Corn Maze, Pumpkin Slingshot, Corn Box, oh and Yummy Food!!!  What a great way to spend a beautiful Fall day!!!

This will be our LAST Fall Festival with 5 children.  Next year I hope to show off 2 more daughters!!!

"Now this is the LIFE"

"I can't believe you found me"

I know I can fly, I know I can fly, but just in case Thank GOD Daddy is right there

Sara is putting the food in the goats mouth and Owen is trying to put it in his nose. (poor goat)

"Look, I am a BIG boy"

Nick and Sara in a very serious race

Being upside down is always so much more fun in a corn box

Now Mom and Dad need a nap!!!!!

Love 'em so MUCH!!!!

I can't ever say it enough, I just love these two crazy kids so much!!!  Dave and I are constantly asking each other "How did we get so LUCKY?".  We are so very GRATEFUL for these PRECIOUS GEMS!!!!!!!!

This beautiful little man is always so happy and easygoing!  He is a huge snuggle bug and he has the biggest heart - he just loves and loves!!!!

This Princess can't even take a second from her busy playground time to look up for a picture.

I Love this spunky girl so much.  She is little but she has an attitude as big as TEXAS.  She runs this house and she is very proud that she has everyone that lives here wrapped right around her tiny little finger.

Thank you GOD for bringing these WONDERFUL children in to our lives. 

Oh My, Adoption is GOOD!!!!!!!!!

Patty and Julie

Great news came today for two of my Reece's Rainbow Friends.  Patty found out her dossier was submitted yesterday to bring home Beautiful Jenny!!!!   And Julie got her appointment to go and meet her precious little girl Dashlyn (who happens to be in the same orphanage as Isabelle)! 

It is the BEST feeling to see these Families get closer and closer!!  I can't explain it at all.  I just cry the happiest of tears!!  I cry happy tears for both Mom's, both families and for Dashlyn and Jenny!!!  Oh my, the love that has been put in both of these adoptions!  The dedication and the determination.  It has not been an easy road for either of these families BUT it didn't matter they kept trucking right along.  

I am so proud to call these women Friends!!!!   

Thank you GOD for finding these families for Jenny and Dashlyn - How Blessed they will be!!!  And how BLESSED these families will be to have Dashlyn and Jenny!! 

Yep, its a WIN WIN!!!!!!!

No News = Good News

I have not heard anything yet but I am sure someone would of told us something if there was something to tell!!  So I am much calmer now.  Little Anne Marie's passing just made everything much more real yesterday. And with Lyla being so sick, well it was just a reminder that there are no promises in this life!!!

Thank you so much AGAIN for all your thoughts and prayers - I can't tell you what it means!!

And Sweet Heather, after your day yesterday and you still reach out to help others - You my friend are a very Rare Gem!!!!  Thank You!!! 

I have met the most amazing people since starting this journey!!  It is such an indescribable feeling to finally meet people that "get it".  People that understand, people that want to help, people that will FIGHT until the bitter end and people that just LOVE children no matter what!!!!  It doesn't matter where a child lives, what a child looks like or what diagnosis a child may carry - if a child is in need - that is all they NEED to KNOW!!!!!  We are blessed to be called to this journey and so very blessed to make so many new Friends that want to make a difference.  Thank you Heavenly Father!!!!!

Paranoid?

The Doctor has not replied to my e/m's regarding Lyla.  And this evening Lyla's picture is not on Reece's Rainbow's, "my family found me" page any more.

Please tell me I am just paranoid??????  I did e/m Andrea - Oh my I hope her response is not was I am fearing!!!!

Oh Please GOD - let her still be living!!!!  Please, Please, Please!!!!! 

Beautiful Anne Marie

The children in orphanages with special needs are said to be on "borrowed time"!  This is a very sad truth!  I found out today that the beautiful little girl you see above is now in Heaven!  It is not fair that her short time on this earth was with out the Love of a Family!!! 

Please HELP!!!! 

Go To :  http://reecesrainbow.com/

Pray, Donate, Adopt - Do what ever you can to make sure this is the last child to die with out the love of a forever family!!!!!!! 

Precious Anne Marie, may you now rest in peace!!!!! 

In Memory of Anne Marie:  http://www.reecesrainbow.org/inmemoriam.html

Too Little

I just erased a post I wrote earlier, ooopppsss! 

My post was regarding my surprise when I found out Isabelle is most likely wearing size 12 month clothes at age 2 1/2.  I guess I wasn't surprised but just sad.  It's just another reminder that her 2 1/2 years of life have not been at all what we would want for our daughter.  I try not to think of what she or any orphan for that matter have been through.  I try so hard on just focusing on what we can do for her when she is home.  What we can do to make sure she is always Loved, Safe and Comfy Cozy!!! 

I have followed adoption blogs where children five years old are weighing 15 lbs.  I have seen pictures of 5 and 6 year old children with absolutely nothing on their little bones except skin.  I read a post of a mother who is visiting her new daughter now, who is 5 years old and her clothes are size 6 months.  This Mom is scared that her new daughter might not make it on the flight home.  I mean can you even imagine seeing a 5 year old little girl that tiny?  It is so sad to see these precious little gems failing to thrive.  Is it a money thing?  Is it that the care givers just don't have enough time?  I don't know but I am so GLAD that Isabelle will be home soon.  We will make sure she gets proper nutrition and hope and pray she will Thrive, Thrive, Thrive.

To be very honest, I am scared, so scared for what we might see while we are on the other side of the ocean.  Many families post they can't even talk about some of the things they saw.  That the smells, sounds and some of the sights will haunt them forever.  I do not doubt this and I am sure I have not even ever come close to seeing anything like what we will encounter.  God will open our eyes and then it will be up to us to do SOMETHING about IT!!!! 

Please pray for all the orphans of the world - Please pray that they will have forever families very soon!!!  Adoption is not for everyone but there are so many other ways to help these beautiful children.  Please visit http://reecesrainbow.com/ and look at the many ways you can help!!!! 

Thank You!!!!!

Dossier has been DELIVERED!!!!

Oh my - our dossier has been delivered!!!!!  It was such a relief to see this on the ups tracking site!!  I feel like it took forever!!!!

We are getting so very close to meeting our precious daughter  - this is just so AMAZING!!!!

Now we wait for our dossier to be translated and then submitted to the SDA (The State Department on Adoption and Children's Rights )!!!

Okay - so now we just wait!!!!!!  Did I mention how much I dislike very much waiting????  Well this journey demands patience - and it is so HARD!!!!!

Hey, where did the weekend go?

This weekend went by so fast - I can't even believe it!  We had two of the cutest little boys for respite for 4 days.  They are 2 1/2 years old (same age as Isabelle) and they were so FUN.  Owen and Sara had a great time with them.  Well except when Daddy would pick up one of the boys - Sara wasn't a fan of that.  She made it known very quickly to the twins that he was "MY DADDY"!!!  I think Dave would intentionally pick up the boys just so he could hear her say it - he is so PROUD to be hers!!!  It is really something so special to see!  I am so lucky to witness so much love - honestly, nothing is better!!!!! 

In August I bought Sara's adoption outfit from Gymboree.  Yes, I spent way TOO much money!!  But it was going to be such a special day and I just wanted to get her something we wouldn't normally buy!  So I DID!!  So from spending an obscene amount of money on one outfit they reward you with $50 in Gymbucks!  Today was the last day that I could use them or they would expire.  You have to spend $100 to get the $50 off - so yes they are a very, very smart business!!!   So I decided I wanted to use the gymbucks for Isabelle's "gotcha day" outfit.  Oh my, did I find something perfect!!  I am so excited to put in on that sweet little girl!!  Since the orphanage shaves her head frequently it seems, I didn't get a hair bow.  But I did get the cutest little beret ever!! 

Unfortunately I didn't get any e/m's from the pediatric cardiac surgeon for Lyla!  I so hope I will hear something tomorrow.  If not - I will e/m him.  I am trying hard not to annoy him since he would be doing the worlds biggest miracle for us!!!  Please GOD!!!!!!!!!

As for our dossier - well it didn't get to it's destination on Friday as promised by UPS.  It will get there tomorrow.  My plan is to wake up at like 3 am to track it - to make sure!!!!  Not that I can do anything about it but I sure will feel a lot better knowing it is where it needs to be!!

I hope everyone had a Wonderful Weekend - GOD BLESS!!!!!

Dossier Tracking

Just checked the UPS site for the latest info on our dossier, here it is:

10/8/2010 8:37:00 AM IN TRANSIT TO KOELN (COLOGNE),  DE

I have no idea where that is and I am going to look it up right after this post.  But it gives me the chills just knowing it is getting closer!  Our sweet little Isabelle will have a Daddy, Mommy and lots of siblings very soon!!!

Unfortunately I have not heard back from Dr.Novick yet :(

The little twin boys we are having for respit are sweet little love bugs!!  Oh my, so wonderful and so fun!!!  It was interesting getting 4 toddlers ready this morning before we had to be at work but WE DID IT!!!!  And I would like to note that we made it to work on time and the big kids made it to school on time!!! 

Thank you so much for joining us on this journey - it is so exciting!!!!  I want you to know that I read all the comments over and over again left on this blog.  It amazes me all of the wonderful people that take time to be a part of this and wish us well.  I hope all of you someday feel the support we have felt over the last few weeks.  It is something so special and we feel so BLESSED!!!!!!

Both Girls

LYLA:  I got an e/m from Dr.Novick and this is what it said:

Our team will be in (sorry - he listed where he will be but I can't post that)  in  November, if you want the child operated upon let me know and quickly

I responded ASAP with "OH YES I DO"!!!!!!  But again explained I have no legal rights to Lyla and I have no power to set anything up.  I asked for his recommendation on what I can do.  This is by far one of the best e/m's I have ever received but I am scared I didn't explain our situation clearly enough to him in my prior e/m's!!!  PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ISABELLE:  Our dossier was in Philadelphia PA on 10/07/2010 at 12:48 AM.  That was the last entry - I am so sure it is flying over the BIG ocean as I am writing this.  Oh my goodness - this is very exciting!!!!!!!!!

We LOVE BOTH these girls very much and I just can't believe how lucky we are to have this opportunity!!!!! 

William M. Novick, M.D

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!  I talked with Laurie today at babyheart.org and she was beyond kind and so super sweet.  She gave me the name of a pediatric cardiac surgeon and his e/m address.  She said send him an e/m and tell your story.  Well, I did!!!  And he e/m'd me back - Can you believe this????  He is in Egypt right now and he took the time to e/m me back.  WOW!!!!!  Unfortunately his question for me I wasn't able to answer :(  He wanted to know what surgeons said it was a "risk".  I was honest and said I didn't know and that I didn't even know what hospital Lyla was in.  Now I wait for his response.  Oh, and Laurie told me often they hear from parents in foreign countries that Doctors are not willing to "risk" surgery and this is when Dr. Novick steps in and does some miracle work.  She told me she couldn't promise me anything but that I should definitely have some "HOPE".  Oh my and I do, I have HOPE and FAITH!!!!!!  THANK YOU GOD!!!!!    And did I mention they have another trip planned to the area where Lyla is at the end of October beginning of November!!!!!  Who's plan????  Oh ya, GOD's plan!!!!!!!

Check out  the website:   http://babyheart.org/


Going to bed tonight one heck of a happy camper.  Dossier is off and Dr.Novick knows Lyla's story!!!!  This was a VERY VERY GOOD DAY!!!!!!


Thank you for all your prayers - They are working!!!!!! 

We are getting so close Isabelle!!!

I never expected the range of emotions I would have when mailing our dossier out to EE.  Many families post how hard it is to let those documents go - well I now officially understand.  It's just unreal!!!  Here is this stack of documents that mean so much.  Each page, Each signature, Each notary, Each authentication and Each apostille were the steps necessary to bring home our daughter.  It is very stressful - there are lots and lots of rules - we had a checklist to go with each document.  I mean this is serious, serious stuff!!!!  These papers save a child's life - Perfection is absolutely necessary!!!!  We had to rely on many people and had to trust that they would understand the urgency in processing them quickly.  I have protected these documents as if they were living.  They were always locked away safe and sound and when I handled them - it was as if they would cry if I touched too hard.  I'm not kidding - I was obsessed with keeping them safe!!!  And then BAM just like that you had them over to a USP clerk and she throws them in an envelope, prints out a air bill , sticks it on and throws in a pile to be shipped out!!!!  I think I stood there for like 10 minutes - thinking "WAIT - WHAT JUST HAPPENED?????"  - I might of even said it out loud, I honestly don't know.  I did hear the clerk say "okay, they will get there on Friday, that will be $155"!!!  So now I am out of the trance - I pay her, get my receipt and I exit that store.  I get in the van, call Dave and start balling "Honey, It's on it's way" and he said "Good Job Sweetie"!!! 

So I will be tracking that dossier probably every second until I see the confirmed delivery!!!!

Please GOD see that our dossier gets to our facilitators SAFE and SOUND!!!!!!!  And Thank You for making it possible that we were able to get everything done by the deadline!!!! 

Yep, GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!

Isabelle HAS a BUTTON!!!

I have mentioned a few times on this blog that Reece's Rainbow has these AMAZING women that volunteer their time to help adopting families.  Lu is the SAINT that designs these beautiful buttons.  She also volunteers her time to help families design blogs and she helps with blogging etiquette.  There are some rules we have to follow when blogging about international adoption - we do not ever want to upset the other side of the ocean.  Can you imagine the tragedy????  So Lu is the sweet moderator of it all!!!  There is also a yahoo group for all of us working with Reece's Rainbow and Lu always seems the first one to raise someones spirits if they are having a down day.  Her posts on this group also involve some of the most wonderful prayers I have ever read!!!!

Thank you LU - you are an absolute ANGEL!!!!!!!

Isn't the button perfect????  LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful, Beautiful Belle!!!!

I just got permission to post this picture AND I am SO PROUD to do so!!!!!

Look, this is Isabelle!!!!  I am going to be the MOM of that precious little Princess!!!!!

Yuck and Yeah!!!

The Yuck:  The apostilled document did not come today :(   So I called Albany to check and they said "We didn't receive any documents from you to be apostilled".  I said calmly but starting to tear up, "the tracking shows that you received it Friday, October 1st".   She said "Well I am sorry, it's not here, I will take down your phone number and call you if it comes in.".  AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!  Yes, I'm crying again at this point because the fear of re-doing, having notarized, having certified and then apostilled in a very, very short time frame is bombarding my brain.  I tell myself "Calm Down" and "Think"!  I call Fed Ex and they tell me who signed for it, the time and date.  So I call Albany back fighting back tears and try explain how important this is and I tell her the name of the lady that signed for my precious documents.  She says "I will have to speak with my supervisor", she put me on hold for what seemed like 17 years and I was just trying to set up a Plan B.  She gets back on the line and says "It was mailed out last Friday"!!!

I said "Thank YOU SO MUCH!!!!"

Now, there were a lot of things I wanted to say, many words that are not nice!  But I was truly so relieved that "Thank you so much" was the first thing out of my mouth!!!

Please, let it come in the mail tomorrow so I can send off these Life Saving Documents to EE to bring our sweet Isabelle HOME!!!!

The Yeah:  We got a call today to do respit for a set of 2 year old twin boys!!!  How fun!!!  I am so excited!!!!!!  Owen and Sara will have so much fun having 2 little friends over for the weekend!!!!

Haven't heard from babyheart.com yet!!!   I will post as soon as I hear something!!!

Oh, and I am waiting for permission to show you the pictures of Lyla and Isabelle!  I'm telling you, be ready because these are some good looking girls!!!!  And thank you so much for asking to see them!!!!!

Dossier, Lyla and Isabelle!!!!

I had so hoped that our last apostilled document would of been in the mail yesterday - but it wasn't.  So TODAY must be the day that we mail our our dossier to EE!!!  It is very bittersweet!  These last few months the plan was to mail these documents to adopt Lyla and now, well - it is a little different.  Now, today when these go in the mail, they will be heading to EE to save Isabelle!  So, Yes I am excited and Yes I am very sad!!! 


I have been so blessed to e/m with a wonderful lady who also wanted to adopt Lyla but the timing wasn't right for her family yet.  In our correspondence she mentioned that she had pictures of Lyla!  I couldn't even believe it - I was so excited!!!  I asked if she would be willing to share them to me - And she did!!  I had no idea, didn't realize for a second that looking at these pictures would send me just a little bit over the edge.  I couldn't stop crying!!!  The beautiful little girl in these pictures looked so HEALTHY and absolutely GORGEOUS!!!  How could she now be dying?????  I was a MESS!!!!  I was trying very hard to get it together but I couldn't.  I was grieving for sure and I was so MAD that all of this could of been prevented.  After a few hours I "woke up" - and decided I needed to do something for Lyla besides crying at my computer!  So I looked for the number for baby heart dot com and wrote it down.  But I didn't even know what hospital she was in????   How could I call them with no information????  So I sat for a little bit and opened a new e/m from Christina (Lyla's prayer warrior - I had shared the new pictures with her too), her e/m was pretty simple - CALL BABY HEART DOT COM!!!!   Absolutely - there was the sign I needed!!!!  I would call them and let them know what I did know and maybe they could help from there.  Unfortunately the lady I spoke with said I would have to call back today (Tuesday) to speak with Lori!  You betcha I will!!!  Isn't all just Amazing???  How things work in perfect time???? 


THANK YOU GOD!!!!!!!!!!!


Lyla needs surgery to survive - that's the bottom line!!!!!  So please, please keep praying for this ANGEL!!! 


Now all about Isabelle!!

Stephanie who has just been back from adopting 2 little boys from the same orphanage that Isabelle is in.  Also sent me a picture!!  In the picture are 2 BEAUTIFUL little girls.  One laying down and one sitting.  Well, I just assumed the princess laying down was Isabelle because in the Reece's Rainbow picture someone is holding her in a sitting position.  So I shared this picture with another wonderful MOM who wanted to adopt Isabelle but the time wasn't right for her family.  She KNEW that Belle was the one sitting up!!!  So I asked Stephanie and it was confirmed that our sweet little Belle is able to SIT!!!  OH MY!!!!!!  I cried again (yes, I am crying a lot lately)!!!!  Yes, she is 2 1/2 years old and what a blessing that she is able to sit all by herself!!!  OH MY!!!!!!  THANK YOU GOD!!!!!  I can NOT wait to hold that little love and just kiss her sweet little face!!!!!!  WOW are we so lucky - so blessed to be able to adopt 2 of the most GORGEOUS babies these eyes have ever seen!!!!! 

Behind the Scenes

I always blog about adoption, well that is why I started this blog!  And although it is very hard sometimes to concentrate on other things because an international adoption is pretty mind boggling - we do have a life.  A wonderful life that I am blessed to live.  This post is about our two oldest children, Taylor and Conor.  I am so thankful each day for these guys!!! 

This is homecoming weekend and it is so much fun for the kids.  Taylor is a junior and Conor a sophomore.  They both play soccer and both had homecoming games this morning.  It is rare to catch them together as they both are living very busy lives these days!!!

Here they are all dressed up for the homecoming dance.  I keep looking at this picture - when in the world did they get so grown up????????  Wasn't it just yesterday that I was putting pigtails in Tay's hair and yelling at Conor for breaking ANOTHER window playing Hockey in the house.  When did this happen?????

 They make me smile, they make me laugh and most important they make me proud!!! 

 I LOVE BEING A MOM!!!!!!! 

 And these TWO make it a very easy and rewarding job!!!!!!

Better Day!!!

Our family is feeling so much better today and I want to Thank All Of YOU!!!!  We are just so BLESSED to have so much support!!!  To know that our 2 sweet girls are in so many prayers - well  it brings me to tears - Happy Tears!!!! 

I was so unsure if I should post about sweet Isabelle - I wasn't sure if our followers would understand.  I didn't even know if I understood what was going on.  We had to decide what we were going to do quick because we have to get our paper work to EE ASAP.  If we waited too long (like a day or two) a little girl would have to stay in an orphanage (or crib) for 6 + more months.  So that wasn't an option!!!  Knowing Lyla is in a hospital brings me some peace that she is being watched over by wonderful kind nurses.  It is very helpful to think this way.  So when we found out that we wouldn't be able to bring Lyla home we knew we had to make some decisions.  We knew right away that we wanted to bring a little girl with Down syndrome home.  But how would we ever pick one????  All those beautiful little girls, all of them needing a family to love them and keep them safe.  IT WAS BRUTAL!!!!!  I couldn't do it!!!!  I tried for hours looking at all the precious little girls and I couldn't do it!!!  There was no way!!!  So after little sleep I went back on the computer at 6 AM and tried again.  Nope, it wasn't going to happen!!!  I called for my husband and told him he would have to do this.  He said "I can't" - I said "You HAVE to"!!!  He realized very quickly after seeing the desperation in my eyes that this was something he needed to do.  I showed him all the little girls that were an option for us to bring home.  (We were approved by our social worker and USCIS for a little girl with Down syndrome between 8month - 4 years, to have changed this would of taken too much time)  This was very painful for him too, I hated myself for making him do this but I really knew I couldn't.  He chose a beautiful little girl in one of the poorest orphanages and said "That's HER".  She had her little hand on her chest as she was telling Dave "Please Pick Me" - WELL HE DID!!!  She was listed as Mariya and her birth date was 2/21/2008.  She was the perfect age!!!  I knew she would thrive with Owen and Sara!!!

Now, the name "Isabelle".  I called Dave from work and told him I had requested a button be made for her.  But we would need to decide on a name.  We decided to think about it.  While at work I wrote down these names, Elle, Ella, Bella, Belle, Taya and Ava!  I called Dave a few hours later and asked if he had thought of any names, he said "I thought of one, Isabelle".  I looked at my list and saw that I had Bella and Belle - so this was perfect.  I had two of the names that went with Isabelle - it was meant to be.  Then a little later as I looked at my list I realized that "elle" and "ella" on my list too and these could also be nicknames for Isabelle!!!  WOW - I felt so good about her new name!! Thank you GOD!!!!

My Goodness this is a long post!!!

I have a request:  Would the wonderful lady who left the comment on 9/30/2010, signed "Anonymous" please e/m me?  You mentioned you have followed our blog since day 1 and I would so like the chance to get to know you.  I LOVE so much that you fell in love with sweet Lyla too!!!  My e/m is:  summer@stny.rr.com - I hope to hear from you!!!!

To All of You - Please know that we feel truly BLESSED and we know GOD's plan will often be a little different then ours but HE has sent his ANGELS (all of you) to protect us!!!!!