Monday, January 31, 2011

Love Her, Love Her, Love Her

I just LOVE this girl so much!!! 

Yep, Blowing Raspberries

Our little Bellie (Thanks Bambi - we all call her this) is adjusting so well.  It is just Amazing!!  She has had what seems to be a million medical appointments and she just goes with the flow.  I am so proud of her!!! 

Pediatric Opthamologist :  Wants to put her under so he can get a good look at her eye and then we can schedule eye surgery for the cataract.
Hearing:  Wants to put her under for a brain response test.  The audiologist does believe Isabelle has some hearing.
Cardiologist:  Is amazed at the wonderful work the surgeon did in EE and he has no concerns with her heart!  He did say that she had a lot of work done to her little heart!
Dentist:  We will go Friday as she has 2 visible cavities.  Poor Princess!
Lab:  Most of the labs have come back great, except the H-pylori which she tested positive.  She will start the meds (4 of them ) tonight.  We are still waiting for the giardia results.  Thank you so much Patty and Jill for letting me know about these 2 tests!!!!
Evaluation for PT,OT and Speech:  Scheduled for February 16th

Bellie goes to sleep smiling and she wakes up smiling.  When we go to her crib to pick her up, she smiles, laughs and then puts her sweet little arms up.  THERE IS NOTHING BETTER!!!!!  It is like she is looking at us and she just can't believe she has another day in this life.  That's all I can think when she gives me this smile.  I cry when she does it and I cry when I think about it!  I have never felt a LOVE like this from anyone.  I wish I could explain it better!!

Our family as a whole is changing - it is so Awesome!!   This little one is teaching us all so much!! 

I Honestly can't believe how LUCKY and BLESSED we are!!!!! 

Friday, January 28, 2011

A New Angel Has Entered Heaven

This is so sad and so unfair!!! 
Why????

Taylor wrote this for Sandra:

In the night sky a lost star was born

Unfortunately in an era when love was worn
She waited her turn to finally shine
But was only shown one bright line
HE gave her the choice to choose her light
And she accepted at last one fine night

The cold world lost another soul
And sweet Sandra had to pay the toll
HE told her she had one task to take on
To shine her brightest when the world turned dawn
The lost star was no more lost, but now found
In a paradise of love, with love's only sound



Please Help - Please Do What Ever You Can!!!!


Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Isabelle

Great news!!! 

Isabelle's chest x-ray was negative - NO TB!!!  YAY!!!!
Neck x-ray - negative - YAY!!!
Thyroid tests all came back normal - YAY!!!
She is NOW up to date on immunizations - YAY!!!!

Tomorrow she has an appointment with the Pediatric Opthamologist and we will find out what they can do for her cataract.

Thursday she is scheduled for an echo and a hearing test. 

She is a very busy little girl and handeling everything like such a CHAMP.  I am so proud of her!!!!


Last night Isabelle fell asleep for the 2nd night in a row with her big brother Conor! 

Loving her bib made by Aunt Christina!!!  Thank You Aunt Christina - I Love You!!!!

She is the sweetest little thing!!!!


Always happy to get a kiss from her Big Sister!!  This Girl gets more kisses than anyone!!!!!

"Whoa - No one told me this chair vibrates"

"This isn't so bad"

"Sure is making me sleepy"

Thank you for the outfit Anderson Family - it is so comfy and cozy!!!!!!

Today when we went for her x-rays the wonderful lady at the registration desk took a look at Isabelle and said "you were both blessed to have each other" and she came over and kissed Isabelle on the head and said "I have to kiss this beautiful baby"!!!   I am crying just typing this.  Oh my - People see it!!!  They do get it!!!!  LOVE IS AMAZING!!!!  And it just makes me think of sweet Masha and all the orphans laying lonely in a crib.  It is so not Fair - they are so deserving!!!  Now if a stranger can come kiss my sweet ANGEL on the head, well then Masha will find her FOREVER FAMILY - I just Know It!!!!

FAITH, FAITH, FAITH, FAITH, FAITH, FAITH, FAITH, FAITH, FAITH, FAITH, FAITH, FAITH!!!!!!!




Monday, January 24, 2011

More Pictures

Yay - We had a Wonderful Visit with the Anderson Family


Molly is one of those people that "get it"!!!  So Awesome!!!!

Molly wants to help Reece's Rainbow and she has some fundraising ideas!!!  LOVE HER!!!!


I am so Blessed to have such a wonderful FRIEND!!!!


 Mikael helping Isabelle - Too Cute!!!!!

Too Precious - I think Mikael and Amber would Love a sibling blessed with an extra chromosome from EE - Don' t you?????  Love You Molly!!!!

Thanks for this outfit Denise and Ella Grace!!!!


Isabelle started to show some interest with toys today!!!

Sara is rocking Isabelle while Owen is trying to teach her colors with flash cards!!!


Oh I Love this picture - Sara is rubbing her head so softly and Belle is just eating it up!!!

Sara is telling Owen he is doing it all wrong and Belle is raising her hand with a very important question


Where is Belle?

Sister Tubby Time

Too Funny!!!!

Thought maybe she would take a nap after her tubby  - NOPE!!!!

She would much rather play

and be too cute for words

So then we decided to go for a drive

Trying to nap again

Nope, her brothers came home from school and loved her up

Nothing like a snuggle with your big brother

Love to end the post with a SMILE!!!!!!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Pictures

On our flight home was the most beautiful young lady who had also just been adopted from EE.  Her name is Lena and she just loved Isabelle.  While we were flying Alina came and got Isabelle about 4 or 5 times and just loved her up.  It was Awesome!!!!

I know it is crazy but we didn't start taking pictures until yesterday.  We came home late Thursday and then Friday Isabelle had a Doctor appointment.  She had 4 immunizations and some blood drawn.  She was not the happiest little one - Poor Baby.  Unfortunately we are not sure if Isabelle is able to hear, we will have a hearing test this week - Please Pray she has some hearing!!!  She has to have some other tests done too but the main concern of her pediatrician right now is her weight.  We need to get some meat on those bones!!!! 

Owen giving Belle kisses! 

Putting meat on the bones!!! 

Falling asleep with her brother Conor. 

Oops - Conor fell asleep too!!!

Sara just LOVES her new sister.  It is the cutest thing.  She wants to help her with everything.  She calls her "belt".  "I want to hold Belt", "I want to feed Belt", "I want to hug Belt"
Isabelle loves touching Sara's face and hair - I have to get a picture of her doing it because it is sooo precious!!! 


Hugging Belt

Holding Belt

Blowing Raspberries with Belt


Sara thought Isabelle would look super cute in her pink cowgirl hat - She was RIGHT


Sara is so proud of her ability to accessorize her sister

Belle not sure if this is the hat for her

Isabelle cracking up with Sara and Daddy in costume

Looks like even with so much fun around someone is getting a little sleepy

BAM - OUT just like that!!!!!  So sweet!!!!!

Good Night Princess!!!!!

Oh My is this little girl something so special.  We are so Blessed!!!!!  We Love her so very much and we will be forever grateful that GOD chose us!!!! 

My reply

Anonymous said...



Why are you adopting more kids when your biological children would rather stay with a stranger in Eastern Europe than come home with you? Honestly, what are you thinking? You need to beg your child to not leave you stranded in eastern Europe and then you stay up all night, thinking she will leave as you sleep, yet you obstinately believe you can take care of more children? I'd love to hear the reasoning on that. I loved the comment from Heather saying: "I tend to think that Satan knows perfectly well how Isabelle is going to change you and your family and he was doing everything he could possibly do to in a last-ditch effort. Not that he would make her cry, but just how he got you and Taylor down like that." Good thing we have a talented demonologist on the roster here. I never would have guessed that Satan could manipulate a teenager to throw a fit about some European boytoy but can't manage to make an infant with down syndrome cry. You people really need to start using some reasoning skills and not leave everything up to your imaginary God. I’m sorry for my harsh comments, but you people need some sense knocked into you. I’m seriously concerned for your newly acquired daughter. You take her out of an orphanage and then immediately show her a “2 hour” screaming match. The kid must have been terrified. Please, just start thinking rationally, and good luck –I think you’re really going to need it.


--Cheers




I did appreciate your honesty up until the part that you said, "I’m sorry for my harsh comments". Why would you be sorry if this is how you feel? Why use the word "harsh"? Why sign the post "Anonymous", why not let me know your name and allow me the opportunity to give you the reasoning you state you would love to hear? I knew when I started this blog that not everyone would understand where I am coming from. You have your right to your opinions as do I. What I would ask from you as that you please don't make any assumptions!!! Let me help you with a few of the things you stated that are just not true.



My bioligical children (plural) didn't want to stay in EE - it was one biological child
I never begged Taylor not to leave me stranded in EE- I begged her to calm down and talk to me reasonably 
Isabelle is not an infant with Down syndrome - she is a toddler
I don't have an imaginary God
There was no 2 hour screaming match - that would involve two people screaming
Isabelle was not terrified - actually she was way more interested in playing on the floor and laughing
Being up all night with worry of one child doesn't have anything to do with not being able to take care of children - It has to do with Loving them more than anything.
I am not sure if Heather is a  talented demonologist - I would have to check


I appreciate your concern for Isabelle!  I am concerned about her too.  I think my concerns differ a little from yours.  I am concerned that people will make instant judgements about her.  I am concerned that people feel they have to label her.  Why did you feel that you had to put "an infant with down syndrome", why do you have to describe her with "down syndrome"?  How about an infant with brown hair and blue eyes?  Or an infant with the sweetest personality ever?  Or just an infant?  But again she will be 3 next month - so she is a toddler. 

Please feel free to leave me your contact info and I would be happy to answer your questions. 

Thanks!!!!

Friday, January 21, 2011

A Bit Of Honesty

I have debated with my self if I should post some of the ugly.  I decided that I absolutey should.

I'm not being dramatic when I say that I had 2 of the scariest days of my life while in EE.  January 18th and 19th of 2011 are two days I will never forget. 

January 18th I was holding Isabelle and Taylor asked, "Mom, can I stay here another week?".  My answer of course was "absolutely not".  Taylor had met a boy in the region Isabelle's orphanage was in.  He is a very nice young man and I too liked him very much.  But I was not about to let her stay there alone for another week.  Taylor did not appreciate this answer and could NOT AT ALL understand where I was coming from.  She was beyond upset and she got to the point of saying she was just going to leave.  Leave the apartment and head back to the boy by her self.  I have never, ever in my life been so sick with fear.  What was I going to do???  I tried thinking quickly of all my options.  I couldn't think of any except to beg her to please reconsider.  Now in most instances I have control.  This one - I had none - I was defeated.  Taylor knew that I was nervous in this city of the unknown and she knew she had the upper hand.  Even though I am the parent - I promise you when I say - I had nothing to go on.  We argued - she screamed at me for about 2 hours.  I was crying begging her to please calm down and talk about it reasonably.  Well, then she left.  I just sat there holding Isabelle, praying as hard as I have ever prayed.  Begging that she would be safe.  She returned after 15 minutes and I Thanked God.  She was still furious with me and made me promise some things before she agreed to go home to the USA with me.  Those promises are for another post.  I was so scared to sleep.  I was afraid she would leave while I slept - so I didn't sleep and she didn't leave. 

January 19th Isabelle woke up in the morning so happy.  She was smiling and laughing.  I was exhausted from crying for 12 hours and not getting any sleep.  But we had lots to do at the Embassy, so I had better get it together.  I was still very emotional, I couldn't hold back the tears.  So I got Belle dressed and ready to go.  I asked Tay if she was going with us and she said "no".   Then I realized how exhausted I was physically and emotionally and I asked her if she would please come and help me.  She did.  So we get to the Embassy and Belle just doesn't seem to feel good.  A lot of squirming and grunting noises.  Then she starts screaming and doesn't stop.  We left the Embassy and there are lots of people outside the Embassy and they are just staring at us.  One man came up and held Isabelle's foot and was yelling at me in Russian because she didn't have a shoe on. (The shoes I brought were too big, the kept falling off so I didn't put them back on).  So we are looking all over the streets for our driver and we can't find him.  I am starting to feel so stressed and burnt out.  Taylor was so helpful - Thank God!!!  She would hold Isabelle and she would help find what ever papers the Embassy needed - I was useless.   I decided to go back in the Embassy where at least she will be warm and maybe we can find the other family that was there.  So we go back in and she is still just screaming.  I felt so bad for her.  Nothing I tried helped.  We got to a chair and I sat and rocked her, she started to calm down a little.  We found the family and we all went back outside and then found our driver.  Then we had to go to the medical.  Isabelle stopped screaming for about 30 minutes but after she had her exam she started screaming again and didn't want to stop.  Then we had to go back to the Embassy but we had 45 minutes before our appointment.  So our driver dropped us off at a diner.  We went in and same thing, every one just stared at us because Isabelle was so upset.  She fell asleep after about 10 minutes and then it was my turn.   I sat in that diner and just cried like a baby.  I had nothing left - I was done- I was defeated.  I had thought I just made this huge mistake.  I just took this baby out of the only home she has ever known and I thought this was a good idea?  I couldn't believe what I had done.  No one asked Isabelle what she wanted.  We just all assumed we were doing the right thing but she was suffering now because of this huge transition she had to make.  So I was thinking about Taylor and Isabelle and Oh My - What have I done???  I honestly believe I had a real nervous break down.  I am not sure what one really is but I had something that I have never felt before.  I couldn't stop crying and I couldn't make sense of anything.  Poor Isabelle cried the rest of the evening until she went to sleep.  I was starting to feel better but then I started stressing about the flight.  How was she going to be able to travel?  How would we get through 22 hours in travel?  I thought I had posted on this blog asking all of you to please pray for Isabelle ( I just realized today that I had posted it on another blog - just another example of what a MESS I was) Then I got on my knees and cried and begged GOD to please help.   And did HE ever.  We had the BEST trip.  Isabelle was the BEST baby traveler EVER.  She just played, smiled and reminded me every second why we were bringing her home.  I hate that I questioned even for a second that I was doing the wrong thing.  It was NEVER that I didn't Love her, but I thought maybe it just wasn't fair to her.  I was so WRONG!!!!  She deserves a new life!  And she is just so SWEET, so LOVEABLE!  She deserves every bit of this new life!  She deserves every kiss, every hug, every "I Love You".  Yes, the transition is not easy on her little body but she is in the RIGHT PLACE. 

7 months of an emotional roller coaster this journey has been and I guess it can take a toll.  The reason I decided to share this is because if anyone else loses direction they can know that they are not alone.  I hope never to be in the dark place again!!!  I am just so Grateful we are all home.  

Thank You GOD!!!!!!!!

Pictures tomorrow, I promise.  I just felt I needed to get this one out of the way and put in the past right where it belongs!!!!!!

Right Where We Belong!!!!!

WE ARE HOME!!!!!! 
We had the most amazing trip home.  We met so many wonderful people - I have so much to share but I am pretty tired.  Our little Isabelle was so Awesome!!!!!  All those prayers did the job and I think we had our very own team of angels with us the entire trip.  I am so GRATEFUL!!!!!!

I can't even believe it is OVER.  I can't believe that the little girl sleeping in that crib in our house, in our room is Isabelle.  She looks so Beautiful and so Peaceful!  How did this all happen? 

WE ARE BLESSED!!!!!  GOD IS GOOD!!!!!

We are so Thankful to all of you for all the support, prayers and advice. 

Pictures soon I Promise!!!!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

WE GOT HER!!!!

Oh Yes, we do!!!!! 


Taylor took a video of Isabelle leaving the orphanage FOREVER.  I tried to download it but it is taking forever.  It was so emotional and the nannies were so sweet, one even had a angel costume on.  They had set up a little shrine for Isabelle and oh my was I a mess.  I could not hold it together.  Neither could Tay!!  I am going to post the few pictures we did get of gotcha day. I will also post some pictures of the train, first bath and having the whole floor to explore.  I think the pictures tell it best anyways!!!