A New Look

In case you hadn't already noticed...we changed the look of our blog and the title, too!  So if you were a little concerned that you were not at the place you thought you were supposed to be, don't worry!!  You are at the right place, it just looks a lot different!  :))

A Few Facts

Since it is Down syndrome Awareness month, I figured I'd better do a few blog posts with some facts about Down syndrome. Here's a couple to start with.

What is Down syndrome?
Down syndrome is a genetic condition that causes delays in physical and intellectual development. It occurs in approximately one in every 800 live births. Individuals with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. It is the most frequently occurring chromosomal disorder. Down syndrome is not related to race, nationality, religion or socioeconomic status. The most important fact to know about individuals with Down syndrome is that they are more like others than they are different.

The Cause  

      Down syndrome is usually caused by an error in cell division called nondisjunction. It is not known why this occurs. However, it is known that the error occurs at conception and is not related to anything the mother did during pregnancy. It has been known for some time that the incidence of Down syndrome increases with advancing maternal age. However, 80% of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age.

Health Issues

Many children with Down syndrome have health complications beyond the usual childhood illnesses. Approximately 40% of the children have congenital heart defects. It is very important that an echocardiogram be performed on all newborns with Down syndrome in order to identify any serious cardiac problems that might be present.

Some of the heart conditions require surgery while others only require careful monitoring.  Children with Down syndrome have a higher incidence of infection, respiratory, vision, and hearing problems as well as thyroid and other medical conditions.  However, with appropriate medical care most children with Down syndrome can lead healthy lives.  The average life expectancy of individuals with Down syndrome is 55 years, with many living into their sixties and seventies. 

And I've decided to add my own Down syndrome fact for the day.
Children with Down syndrome are SUPER CUTE!!!!

(More DS facts to be continued...)

Thankful

Just so very thankful tonight, 

for the many beautiful 

blessings in my life...

Our Before and Afters

Seems like there have been a lot of before and after pics going around lately so I decided to go back and look at Anna and Victoria's pictures from a year ago.  Wow have they changed!!  Check em' out...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Victoria was 21 months old when we met her.  She weighed 12 lbs and could not sit up or hold a toy.  She didn't even have enough energy to hold her head up for very long.  She didn't even really know how to be "held" in our arms. 

 

Before

After



A year later she weighs 20 lbs, is crawling, pulling to stand, climbing, and learning sign language.  She loves to hold books and turn the pages, play with toys and watch baby signing time.   What a special blessing our little Toria is!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anna was 19 months old when we met her and weighed 14 lbs.  She could crawl, sit up and play with toys.  She was cute as could be, but very serious and rarely broke a smile.  She was very curious and thoughtful about all that was going on around her.

Before

After

Now Anna weighs 23 lbs and is walking all over the place.  She is still very curious and gets into everything. Did I say everything?!  She is very smart, knows lots of signs and will mimic almost anything you do.  She is intense (especially about her food) but is also a very happy girl.  She loves to smile and laugh and be the center of attention.  She has gone from a baby to a little girl so fast!  We sure do love this little lady!

A few more pics of them together...

 At our apartment in Kiev (Oct 2010)



At home in Colorado (Oct 2011)

Need I say more?  We are so blessed!!

Bring Our Children Home

What a great song with pictures of former orphans!  I love it!
So very thankful for the Father that loves them more than we 
do and will help us bring our children home!

Four Girls Still Waiting

Four beautiful little girls waiting for their forever families.  All these girls
are in China, just waiting, waiting waiting...
Are you their Mommy or Daddy??

Meet Callie!!  Callie is already 5 years old, just like our Hailey.  She
needs a family soon!  Isn't she just adorable?

Girl, Born February 24, 2006

From a missionary who visited with her in August 2010: “ Callie is an active girl who enjoys being outdoors. She can drink by herself , go up and down stairs, and play ball.”

More photos available, along with full social history and medical records. 

$1074.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

And here's Tara!    

Looks like Tara just turned 9 years old. Wow!  She has been waiting
a really long time!! :(
Girl, Born September 30, 2002
China
She is extroverted and can express her feelings very well. When she is happy she will greet you warmly and embrace you enthusiastically; if she thinks that she was treated wrongly she will make sharp sound and cry loudly to blow off her discontent. She has made great physical progress and can go up and down stairs and loves to dance around!
Please contact: Ky Bower

$660.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption! 

Meet sweet Penny!

She is a little peanut! Only a little over a year old! She would adjust
easily into a family I'm sure!! She is just precious!!


She giggles when she is teased. She likes to shout out loud when she is happy. When she sees food, she gets very excited. She turns her head when her name is called. She enjoys listening to music and having her foster family sing to her. She likes to play with dolls and enjoys being outdoors. She is a child with Down Syndrome and an ASD heart defect waiting for her permanent home.

$0.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!
 This princess was born in June, 2010.

And this is Erika!

  Looks like someone shaved her head.  :(   She will be even more
beautiful when her hair grows out! 

Girl, born October 2009

This sweet little girl has been in care since she was approximately 5 days old and is waiting for her forever family. Upon admission she was found to be 18.8 inches tall and weighed 6.6lbs. She has been diagnosed with Down’s syndrome as well as a heart murmur. She reportedly likes to dance with adults. She also enjoys playing with her peers whom she likes. She is described as an active little girl with strong adaptability and clear likes and dislikes. She enjoys playing and excitedly screams and laughs when she does. As of April 2011 she was able to walk alone, respond to her name, wave and follow simple instructions. In May 2011 she was 34.2 inches tall and weighed 30.8 lbs.

This little girl is in need of a family who are comfortable and prepared to parent a child with Down’s syndrome. To adopt this child, applicants must be 30-54 years old and meet an income requirement of $30,000 plus $10,000 per additional family member, with $80,000 net worth. More than 4 children in the home may be accepted.* See country criteria for complete requirements.


For more information on any of these children or to learn more about adopting a child with Down syndrome or other special needs, please visit Reece's Rainbow!!

We're More Alike Than Different

Presenting the "We're More Alike Than Different"  youtube clip that I think is so awesome!  It's well worth a few minutes of your time to watch and see what just a few adults with Down syndrome are doing with their lives!  And if you would like to see more about them, you can go to the National Down Syndrome Congress and watch the full video there that shows more about the lives of the people in this clip.  It is worth a few minutes of your time as well!!   :)) 

"See, we're more alike than different!!"

P.S.   Don't forget to scroll down and turn the music off on my playlist before you try to listen to the video.