Angel Tree!!

Last year deciding to sign up for Angel Tree brought Ewan home. This year I was too reluctant to even look at the list of waiting kids. It scared me! Ha! But, the friend I blogged about in the post previous to this one is crazy. I mean, she is still working on funding her own dang adoption, but that doesn't stop her generous heart. I was in the midst of a secret fundraiser for her when she messaged me asking to help her to an Angel Tree. I had to laugh, but how could I say no? We teamed up with a few other friends and got this cute girl!

Her advocacy name is Trudy. She is 11 years old, lives in China, has Down syndrome and is Hepatitis B positive.  I have first hand experience parenting a child with Hep B, and it's not too big of a deal. As long as the child's body doesn't recognize the virus as foreign, it doesn't affect the body. If and when the body starts to try and fight the virus, this causes liver damage. Blood work is needed yearly to monitor viral counts and check liver function. If at some point the body starts fighting the virus, daily medicine combats the virus. It's easy to get vaccinated for Hep B to protect family members, but using simple blood precautions will easily help prevent the spread of Hep B as well. According to her Reece's Rainbow profile, she was found at about one year old. She is independent, can speak simple words and numbers, can read simple children's song and words, love music, gets along well with other children, likes helping people, and loves to be praised. She can draw, do jigsaw puzzles, and play with toy blocks. She dances to the music, loves watching cartoons, and enjoys being outside. 

This beautiful girl needs a family! To help her find her family, we will be advocating for her as well as helping her fund with Reece's Rainbow grow! Any donation of $35 or more will get you an ornament with cute Trudy's face on it! How awesome is that!? In addition, I'm trying to think of something the boys and I could make to send donor and raise money. I cannot wait to see this darling girl's grant grow! Please consider giving a donation to help Susy find a family this holiday season!!

Birthday Boy!

Today is Milo's 3rd birthday! I can't even believe he's such a big boy! He has had an adventurous week and was able to start preschool this past Tuesday! For nearly the whole time we've had Milo, I've been pretty vocal that I was not interested in sending him to preschool. I mean, I don't send babies to school. I've never even had a babysitter for any of my kids that wasn't a grandparent and the very, very occasional aunt for crying out loud! Why would I send a child that can't walk, talk, or even feed himself to school?? It sounded so absurd! As the time got closer, though, I had many people talking to me about it and I finally realized it's not the same type of preschool my other kids have gone to. This is a special school where specialists will continue to work hard with Milo to achieve new goals, much like Early Intervention. We met for his IEP a week and a half ago and I was so impressed! He only has five other kids in his classroom and they have about 7 adults in there. His IEP goals were reasonable and obtainable. The specialists and teachers were committed and lovely and I left SO excited! I *might* have cried in his IEP meeting. I didn't mean to! I just wanted to express that we absolutely adore Milo just as he is. We will also, however, do anything for him to reach his highest potential, whatever that is.

He goes to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays for three hours. He's only been twice, but it seems to be going well! The teacher comes to pick him up at the door in a wagon. So cute! Here are some first day of school pictures!

Milo has always been a happy, easy-go-lucky kind of kid, but lately he is so smiley and cheesy! I cannot imagine a sweeter child if I tried. He loves to give hugs and kisses and has the sweetest spirit I know of! We love him so very much! He smiles this big all day long. I don't know what we did to deserve this child. I know to so many that don't know him he seems in his own world. He does makes a lot of funny noises and is always doing funky things with his hands. It can be hard to interact with him, because he doesn't make eye contact and oftentimes doesn't seem to pay attention to you when you're talking to him. The thing is, though, he really is! And if you take the time to really get to know him, you'll fall madly and deeply in love! He is just the best. It doesn't take too much to get to know him, either. Just a willing heart and a few minutes to connect.

We did a huge party for Milo last year, so this year we had a low-key immediate family celebration. Yesterday we went to Milo's favorite place: Chuck-E-Cheese. So funny, but this is a sensory-seeking kid's Mecca! See what I mean!?

Milo had fun eating pizza, walking around looking at the lights on the games, and riding some rides. After Chuck-E-Cheese we headed home and enjoyed some ice cream cake. A combination of Milo's favorites: ice cream and cake! 

Milo gobbled up his cake and ice cream and loved when we sang to him. Today (his actual birthday) we had a yummy dinner and more ice cream for this little guy. I can never express the love I have for this boy. He is perfection and we are beyond blessed to be his family! I can't wait to see what this year holds for him!

There is a little girl in China who was chosen by a family. They recently travelled and decided she is not what they expected, and as a result she was left in China. They disrupted her adoption, and she has now had her file pulled. This means she is deemed unadoptable and no longer has a chance at a family. Her only hope is if a family is willing to fight for her SOON. If they were to plead with China and her orphanage there is a chance they could relist her. Please share her sweet face! She was left because she was displaying many institutional behaviors. I have first-hand information for anyone interested. She reminds me so much of my sweet Milo. There is some darling video of her looking in the mirror and laughing. She will absolutely thrive in a family! She just needs to be given a chance!! I believe there is a family out there for every child. Could you be "Juliana's" mom?