My Family

This is our Christmas card photo. It was a bit windy that day but it turned out great. Can you believe that was taken in December? Welcome to AZ. We have to drive 2 hours north to play in the snow but I don't mind a bit. No shoveling driveways or getting my car out of a snowdrift. What's the flip side? Well, summers of 110+ Oh well, that's what pools are for. =-)

Update

We got new pictures of Max! I just cannot believe how cute he is!! I am sad missing out on time with him. Hurry Serbia Hurry! Our documents have been sent to the Orphanage Ministry Officials to get Max ready for the adoption and approve us. The international adoption attorney is still out on paternity leave and won't be back until January now. But, at least they sent everything to the orphanage without waiting for him. So, what now? Who knows? One month, two, three? We are ready whenever.

Today is my daughter's 6th birthday. (With Max, we will have 3 December birthdays!) She is so excited and is telling everyone, "Happy Birthday!" She is such a ball of energy and has never met a stranger. I know she is going to light up when they sing to her at school today. Happy Birthday Tia Bug!

Bittersweet day

Today is my oldest son's birthday. (Wild Angel #1) He would be 9 today. It is hard to believe I would have a nine year old! He passed away when he was 13 months old from pneumonia. He is the one who opened doors into a life we never knew we could have. He is the one who required the most care and yet always had a smile. It was a great smile--you know, the kind that just lights up a room. Every year I buy Christmas flowers to put on his grave on his birthday. It never gets easier. I am always fighting tears in the check out lane wishing the flowers were for anything but a grave. This morning I went to the cemetery while my kids were at school. I started for the cemetery feeling good about the day. My sister called on my way there and we began to talk about how much we missed him and what he would be like now. That was all it took for my waterworks to start. I am happy knowing he will never have another surgery (he had 15) and knowing he is with my dad and others we love. But, oh how I miss him! I don't really know how I survived except to say the sun kept coming up everyday and I had no choice but to function. I was given a lot of strength through the first few months thanks to everyone's prayers. He brought so much joy and love into our home. He is an amazing person and I can't wait to see him again. Happy Birthday Braxton! We love and miss you!!

Isn't he a doll?!

I am finally able to put Max's picture on our blog! Now you can see how adorable he is. He will fit right into our family. He is ll months now. I am sad he is growing up without us but I know I will still be privileged to his first steps and many more firsts. That is something I will treasure. I am just happy to share him with you.

Not yet

We got an e-mail a few days ago from the orphanage facilitator/physician. Apparently, the attorney in charge of International Adoption is out for "a few weeks" for paternity leave. GREAT. So, even though our paperwork is translated, it is stuck on his desk until he returns. Once he gives the OK, it is passed on to the Orphanage Ministry Officials. And we continue to wait. SO, I guess we are not going to Serbia anytime too soon. Bummer. The only positive is that it is nice to plan Christmas knowing we will be here. It will make life a bit harder financially next year because we won't get our money back in April now. Oh well. I will just plan my "due date" for the end of January and go from there.

Max was sick with the flu last week which is always worrisome. But he is doing good now. A few days ago, he had his psychological evaluation to determine his development levels. They wanted to have new, updated info to give the officials when our paperwork gets to them. The physician said, "he was so good. He needs a forever family ASAP so he can start Early Intervention." She is such a wonderful woman.

I am glad he is not (and NEVER will be) in a institution there. My heart was broken as I looked at the recent articles and photos of Serbian Institutions. I am glad God can see the big picture, because it is an awful life here on earth for some children. I told one of my friends that I just want to adopt 50 children and open my own home here to give them better care. The truth is that the change needs to start with community awareness there. If the only choice being presented to women there is abortion or orphanage, they do not have the supports in place to help parents raise their children at home and in public schools. Perhaps, I should bring 50 parents and physicians here to see how much love our children bring and how amazing they are. I bet showing them my 5 year old who can read, would blow their minds!!! Oh, how I am blessed. My children are truly the reason I breathe everyday. All 3 of them have taught me SO much in such a short time. I look forward to my future with them (Max included)!

Translation begins

After 2 full weeks our paperwork finally made it to Serbia.  It is being translated into Serbian right now.  The Social Worker for Max is starting his paperwork today to get him "cleared for adoption."  It could take a month, 2 months or even 3.  We'll see.  We got new pictures of him and I can't believe how much he has changed from 7 months (the last pics we had) to 10 months!  It really makes me wish I was there seeing the changes.  His hair has grown in and he looks so much older.  I can't wait until he's ours so we can post pictures of him.  He is really tiny but in his pictures he looks very proportionate, not skinny.  At 10 months old, he is only 12 lbs, 12 oz.  We can fix that.  My 3 year old is an eater and he will show him how! lol 

The facilitator/physician at the orphanage asked us to bring books on Down syndrome.  She said the orphanage is getting more and more children with DS.  She wants to learn more about it and teach her fellow physicians.  I think this is a great teaching opportunity.  I hope it helps some of the doctors realize having a child with DS is not gloom and doom.  (As they typically tell parents.)  We have so many friends who were told about their child's diagnosis in very unpleasant and out-dated ways.  Maybe, over time, things will change in Serbia and more therapies and opportunities will become available for our kids.   I would love to see the number of children with disabilities coming into the orphanage decrease in the future.  And NOT because of abortion but because more moms and dads have the supports in place to raise their children at home.  I don't know how to convey my appreciation for the life I am blessed with.  My children are amazing, wild and crazy sometimes, but amazing. =-)  I would never change them! 

Bye-Bye Dossier

Today was a big day! I finally got to mail my dossier (paperwork with every detail of your life) to Serbia for translation and approval. Now we wait. And wait. I am very optimistic though. I feel so strongly about this process that I can't help but think it will move quickly. It has only been 3 months since we decided to adopt. So, even 6 more months would be a normal pregnancy. Heck, at this point I would still be throwing up everyday!! =-) So, our goal is to be holding him on Christmas morning with our 2 other angels there and I'm quite sure our first angel, Braxton will be there too!

I am going to enjoy my waiting time too. It is always fun to get the nursery ready and get all the clothes washed and ready. We are reading up on Serbia and what sights to see while we are there. I want to make a nice scrapbook of our journey so Max has that forever. Our 5 year old is getting excited too. She knows "baby Max" is coming around Christmas time. I still haven't figured out how I will get the strength to leave them for 2 weeks. We'll save that worry for later!

Thanks to everyone for all your support! Saturday is our big Buddy Walk! I am so excited. We have such fun every year meeting new families and catching up with past friends! It will be a great day.