Magic Shoes

Remember the movie where a little kid who has no family somehow gets ahold of some magic shoes worn by some great basketball player, and when he puts them on, he plays basketball really great. Like the shoes are magic or something. I can't remember the title exactly.

Well, today I put Madalyn's converse shoes on Anna. Madalyn had been wearing them outside practicing walking on the grass. Afterwards, Anna wanted them on so her P/T and I decided to let her try them for fun.

Well, it was like putting on the magic shoes. It was like she knew she needed them and stood right up and started taking steps like crazy. Before this, she was NOT taking steps at all! She has been standing, cruising, etc for quite some time. She has been able to stand up in the middle of the room by herself, but would just sit or fall back down. So this was a complete surprise!

I tell you...magic shoes! :))
Ha Ha!

Really, it is probably because the shoes are supporting her feet more and she felt more comfortable to take steps. As a matter of fact we are heading in tomorrow for her appointment to get her feet measured for the Sure Step Orthotics that were recommended by Pat Winders (amazing PT for kids with DS). Perfect timing, I would say....

I am afraid that soon I will have 2 little walkers on my hands!

Ha!! Well enjoy this little video of some of Anna's first steps. And if you make it all the way through, you will get to see Madalyn signing "more" as well. These 2 girls crack me up! They are so good for each other. :))

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Up Syndrome

It is in my very humble opinion that when you have a child with Down syndrome, your life is truly blessed in an "extra"ordinary way. You look at everything you do and experience in a different, but certainly extra special way.

You just do.

For our family, watching and helping our daughters learn and grow and seeing their successes are "extra" special! We know they have to work so much harder to achieve something a typical child can do. It just makes their successes extra special!!

I first heard about Rachel from my mother-in-law. She lives in Texas and had read about her in the Dallas newspaper. Anyway, I checked out her website and thought it was WAY cool!!

Then I happened upon this video clip about her that was really inspiring and I knew I had to share it!

Here's Rachel



She has Down syndrome. But she likes to refer to it as
Up syndrome!

I LIKE THAT!!

Because ever since our daughter Madalyn was born with Down syndrome....

The joy our family has experienced has gone waaaay UP! :))

Here's the video. I highly encourage you to watch it.
Along The Road: Now that's what I call: "inspiring!

Here's another different clip of Rachel:
http://http://w.espn.go.com/espnw/news-opinion/6594902/an-unforgettable-night-unforgettable-girl

Read the story, watch the video. You will not be disappointed!
And here's Rachel's blog:
http://www.prettyspecialworld.com/

And I'm sure that Rachel's mom must be extra proud of her daughter!!
I would be!

A New Baby Girl in the Family!!!

Well, she's not actually a baby.

She is really 5 yrs old......



Isn't she pretty??

Her name is Lola!!

...she was a showgirl. With yellow feathers in her hair, and her dress cut down to...

Well, you get the point. :))

Ha Ha!! She's not really a showgirl.

But she's a pretty little paint, isn't she?

She is Daniel's horse.

And he has always wanted a paint horse.



So he is pretty excited she's finally here.


It's always fun to welcome a new member of the family!! :))

Prayer Request Update

Just wanted to post a quick update. Thank you to everyone who prayed for the precious baby girl I posted about yesterday. She has made it through her surgery and is doing very well so far! (Sorry, at this time I cannot mention her name).

Please continue to pray for her. Please pray that there will be no complications and that she will have a very speedy recovery! And also for peace and strength for her parents.

God is good....All the time!!

Have a great weekend everyone! :))

Prayer Request

I have a special prayer request. I know there are some awesome prayer warriors out there, especially when it comes to praying for children with Down syndrome and other special needs. I'm just hoping some will come across my blog and take a few minutes to pray for a special little one.

There is a very sweet little baby girl who just happens to be blessed with that extra chromosome and who is about to have open heart surgery tomorrow. I do not know all the details, but it is more than a "typical" VSD or ASD repair. All I really know is that it is a pretty significant heart defect. She is only 3 months old and has had to wait a bit to grow a little bigger so that she could have this surgery.

I remember when Madalyn had her surgery. The night before surgery was rough. Having to do all those pre-surgery things, plus not knowing what the outcome would be... Then when we got there, it was sooooo hard to let her go. Handing her off to these people knowing what they were going to do to her. (Not in a bad way, cause what they did was great!) They fixed her heart and that was wonderful.

I can say that now. But at the time, it was terrifying to think of what they were going to do to her little body and to not know if I would actually get her back in my arms again. Probably the scariest thing our family has ever had to do!



Right before they took my little ladybug - Nov 2009
Hanging on tight...




Anyway, would you please take a few moments to pray for this young family and their precious baby girl?

Thank you so much and I will try to post any updates about how she is doing as soon as I get news!

Nellie

Meet Nellie!! She is living in an orphanage in Eastern Europe. She is 4 1/2 years old. She has red hair. She is in danger very soon of being transferred from her baby house to a mental institution.
Yes, she is only 4 1/2!!

This little girl has reminded me of our daughter Victoria ever since I saw her picture on RR. I'm not sure why... Maybe it is just because she is soooo precious and cute!!! :))

This is Victoria in her orphan clothes back in September when we were there in the same country that Nellie is in....

I really think Victoria would have been just like Nellie, if we had not gone and brought her home!!! If she had lived in her CRIB for another 2 years, like Nellie most likely has. Victoria pretty much stayed in her crib for all of her first 23 months, prior to us breaking her out of that orphanage and bringing her home. No joke. No exxageration!! She could not even sit up on her own or hold a toy in her hand.

That makes me really sad!!

Cause look at how far she has come since then!!!

Sitting perfectly now...



And crawling.

There is so much hope for these little ones!

ALL THEY NEED IS A FAMILY!!!

Anyway, I have the privilege and honor to get to be Nellie's 5/5/5 Warrior!! That means I get to advocate for her, help raise money towards her adoption, and hopefully help this beautiful child find her FOREVER FAMILY!!
What an awesome privilege and responsibility!
I have until July to raise $5000 toward her adoption fund. Won't you please help me raise money to save this child from life in an adult mental institution??

Nellie is a beautiful little girl! And it will truly be devastating for her to be moved....

Here's what the Reece's Rainbow listing says about her....

Nellie (6)
Girl, Born November 9, 2006

Nellie is about half done with the pictures! "Stop taking photos and come get me already!", she says. Beautiful carrot top red-head with bright blue eyes. She is already 4 now and facing the institution VERY SOON, hoping someone will consider Miss Nellie!

MORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE, can be adopted with any other children in orphanage 3 or 6.

$5008.80 is available towards the cost of my adoption

Opinions Needed

OK, so now I have a question for all of you adoptive families or just any families with multiple young children. A friend of mine had a great idea for a give-away fundraiser. She has a stroller just like the one pictured below, except it is a quad (for 4 kids).

We need your opinions!!! Would this be a good fundraiser to help raise money for orphans? It seems like most people are giving away IPADs and such. This is not an IPAD, but yet a very useful and practical item for a family with lots of littles! Like mine!! :)) Please leave a comment and let us know if you think this would be a good fundraising idea!!

Cute pic added to show actual children in the stroller.

Sorry,the children pictured are not included in the stroller give-away...