Gotcha Day Anniversary - Three years ago !

 

Today we celebrate Maggie's Gotcha Day. Three years ago we met Maggie for the first time. She was tired and cranky and we were overwhelmed with how much we loved her. 


Maggie has blossomed into such a beautiful, sweet and silly little girl.

 

But, she is quick to say that she is a big girl !
 

Four years old !
 

Happy Gotcha Day Maggie !!!!!!

Happy Gotcha Day - Two Years ago !

Two years ago we were handed a beautiful, sweet little baby girl. 

And the adventure began.

Maggie and I watched her Gotcha Day video today and she was a little unsure of it all. She told me baby Maggie was sick and sad.

Our little baby girl is getting so big now and the changes in her are ENORMOUS !  When we first met Maggie, she could not use her hands, walk, talk, communicate, look us in the eye, play with toys. Nothing.

 We love you so much.
You are a brave and captivating little girl with so much life and love to give.
Happy Gotcha Day Maggie !

Are You My Mommy ?

Please take a look at these beautiful children that are on the shared list (or will be on the shared list soon).  They all have a special need of hearing loss and are so cute.  I can't stand it !

Hearing loss can be a scary special need at first, but there is so much technology now that enables children that have all levels of hearing loss to hear. For example, Maggie wears a BAHA hearing aid on a soft band and she has wonderful hearing as a result.  There are also cochlear inplants that will allow a deaf child access to the hearing world.  Amazing !

The IRS and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

How's that for a title ? 

This is what Maggie thought of the IRS audit !

 The government has a wonderful adoption tax credit for qualifying adoption expenses.  So, we kept every receipt, cancelled check and statement that had to do with Maggie's adoption just in case we were ever audited.  And this was the year the IRS decides to audit almost everyone that has adopted recently. Which is funny to me because after you have gone through all the paperwork, Hague, governmental,adoption, jump through hoops yah yah  - you just kind of go with it. I think it is safe to say that if you have adopted Internationally, you are pretty organized now with records and paperwork and the IRS is not so intimidating.  Let's pray they think my record keeping is as good as I think it is !

And then if the IRS wasn't enough, Will had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Last Monday he went to a farm with Chuck and a friend. Then two days later we noticed two ticks, but three bites.  We extracted the nasty things and then prayed, researched tick bites and kept an eye on him.  He has had tick bites before, but for some reason this time we were worried. On Friday he started getting a bad headache, and Saturday he started running a fever and had joint/muscle pain. By Sunday, Will was feeling very bad and had nausea/vomiting along with the fever/headache/joint/muscle pain. I am so thankful his doctor was aggressive and we admitted him to the hospital for IV antibiotics because he couldn't keep anything down.( Usually, you can treat RMSF with oral antibiotics  - Doxycycline - and it is very effective). 

He is doing great now and bouncing off the walls. Thankfully, we caught it early and were able identify it because we saw the ticks.  It is very treatable, but unfortunately the symptoms of RMSF are much like a virus or flu and can go untreated  which can be fatal. So, we are praising God for His protection once again over our children. 

wordless wednesday.

Mandarin House ( Maggie's Gotcha Day Celebration)

Can't wait to watch this.

Watch this show on Jan. 8th. Love it !!!

It's about a couple that unexceptionably adopts a group of children.

And it has Brooke White ( from American Idol).

Yeah for family friendly movies on adoption !!!


:30 Change of Plans from Moms4FamilyTV.com on Vimeo.

Adoption Paperwork.

I am still doing adoption paper work one year later.

In the state of Alabama, you have to apply through your local courthouse to re-adopt.  The re-adoption will then allow us to get Maggie an Alabama birth certificate.

Personally, I think it is crazy to have to re-adopt my child that is fully adopted and fully my child. Crazy !!!

But, since I am at the mercy of this insane governmental laws right now, I spent most of the day yesterday doing paperwork and gathering the necessary forms so that we can re- adopt our already adopted daughter.

I was told you don't have to have a lawyer in order to re adopt in Alabama.  So, I just did all the work myself.

I figure if I can put a Dossier together for China, I can fill out a couple of forms.  And I did.  It was pretty easy and the clerk at the courthouse said it looked fine.  So, I am not sure why some people use a lawyer and spend hundreds of dollars ?  Let's pray I did everything right and we will not have to hire a lawyer.

Now for some pictures.  Merry Christmas !

One Year Post Placement

 In 30 minutes our social worker wil be here to complete our one year post placement adoption paper work that must go to China. 

One year?  Does time really go by that fast ?

Almost one year ago, we met our beautiful daughter.  She was a shell of a baby, unable to use her hands, she had no language or communication, no desire to eat,  no hearing, and no concept of love. 

She had many signs of being in an institution (self soothing) - looking at hands constantly, rocking back and forth, wierd rolling of her eyes and head banging.  And oh ! How we loved her at first sight !

And so began the loving and nurturing of Maggie.

Also lots of therapy, hearing aids, prayer and time.  One year.  Our baby is so different now.  So special and so sweet. 

Ok, I'll have to finish this later...the door bell is ringing.

Help bring Anna Faith home.

Please go over here  and enter the giveaway for a $500 Walmart gift card !  Just in time for Christmas !!

All proceeds will go toward the adoption of the McKNIGHT family's special needs daughter - Anna Faith. 

Please, please,please join me in supporting this incredible, life changing thing called ADOPTION.

Orphan Sunday.

Last Sunday was Orphan Sunday, and I meant to write a long post about it. But, instead, here is a quick one:


This beautiful little girl of ours was an orphan, abandoned at birth. Unthinkable. But true.

My heart is so burdened by the millions of orphans in our world and we should be doing more.

I know Chuck and I have a heart that aches for more children. Specifically children that no one wants.

Please join us in prayer today for serious revival of hearts toward orphans.

For families that will say yes to the fatherless.

That orphans will know mercy and love.

The LOVE of a forever family.

Advocating for a beautiful girl.

Please take a look at Ruby.  She is a beautiful girl in need of a loving family.  My heart is breaking knowing she will age out in three years and that she has had to wait so long for a family.  I have spoken to several families that have met Ruby and know her personally.  They ALL say she is a very sweet, thoughtful, smart girl and would be a blessing to any  family that adopted her. Her special need is very minor - a port wine stain on her face that could possible be lightened with a laser procedure.

Madison Adoption Agency is waving all their fees, she has an additional $3000 grant and then there is the $12,000 tax credit that is available.  She is also being advocated/sponsored by Love Without Boundaries.
Please go here for more info or contact Madison. ( I will be out of pocket for a couple of days)

Join us also in praying for Ruby.  Could she be your daughter ?

Images Of Adoption.

If you haven't checked out the new adoption website We Are Grafted In, then head on over and see what an encouragement this site is.  It's a Christian website/forum all about adoption ( International and Domestic).
The most recent post is titled Images of Adoption and there's a picture of Chuck and Maggie that I submitted.  I am so thankful for this site and for all the wonderful families I have met through the family stories and forums.  

Wo Ai Ni ( I love you Mommy)

PBS has a documentary on adoption that is very good.  I watched it yesterday and cried the. entire. time.  It is about a family adopting an eight year old girl ( with special needs) from China.  The girl is from Guangdong province, which is where Maggie is from.  A lot of the footage of China is exactly what we saw and experienced.  Also, the Civil Affairs building in Guangdong where the family meets their daughter for the first time is also where we met Maggie for the first time. The movie shows the reality of adopting an older child and the struggles that both the little girl and her family have.  The movie is streaming online until Nov. 30, 2010.  Go here to watch it.

Velcro Baby.

Maggie has been very clingy lately or as the adoption community calls it " The Velcro Baby Stage".  She wants to be held a lot and only wants mommy to hold her ( Daddy is very sad and trying to not get his feelings hurt).  This is a normal stage she is going though and I know it is helping our bonding.  But....kinda of hard to get stuff done around here when Maggie is clinging to my leg and crying to be held.  It is so pitiful and I am a pushover for her sweet fat cheeks and dimpled hands !  Oh well, some things will have to wait while I love on my velcro baby.

Maggie Updates

Maggie has been with us six months now and boy has she changed !!! She is feeding herself now and loving real food.  Her favorites are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, burritos and lasagna.  Maggie is also tolerating getting her teeth brushed now - still not loving it though.  She can also do the sign for "more" and "all done".

We think Maggie just gets prettier and prettier every day.  Her hair is really growing long and I am not sure what to do with it because she has to wear her headband ( bone conduction hearing aid) every day.
 Any suggestions ?

She loves her American Flag and we are looking forward to celebrating the fourth of July this year.  Independence Day has a whole new meaning now !

This picture was taken in China on the famous Red Couch in Jan. 2010.  Maggie was fourteen months old.  I am still A-MAZED at how much she has changed in just six short months.  She is catching up so much developmentally now and babbling more and more.  We LOVE her so much and although I have said it a million times I will say it again " I can't imagine our life without her".  She is an amazing little girl so full of life and personality.  Every day she surprises us with something new she can do.  It's like she just changed over night ! Unexplainable, except I know that LOVE had everything to do with it. Thank you Lord for the gift of Maggie !

"Dads For Adoption"

Chuck here, I am guest posting for Kathy.  I have been thinking about posting my thoughts since our "Gotcha" moment.  I am overwhelmed.... In an awesome way!  This adoption has truly changed my life.  Now I know everyone just said.... Duh.  But the change I am speaking of is more than just another child in the house.  It's a God change.  I see life different.  Grace, Mercy, Love, Affection, Tenderness, .....  It's all different now.  My kids have changed, my wife has changed, and I have changed.  My walk with the Precious Father is changing.  It truly scares me to death to think I almost missed this.  I was the one with doubts, fears and what ifs....?  I want to say right here right now that there is nothing on this earth like a wife that hears the voice of God.  My wife heard God and it changed our life.   From the moment, December 28th 2009 ~ 4pm (in China), Kathy handed me Maggie it was like a light switch was flipped.  I saw it.  I know I am rambling....  The video below is good.  Coach "O" says exactly what I was going to say and its in a video.  To learn more about this family click here.

Chuck

Survival Mode and Nesting.

I remember when we brought our boys home from the hospital and we were so tired and didn't know what to do.  So, we kicked in what we affectionately call " Survival Mode".  We did what we had to do to get through the first couple of weeks.  We let our babies sleep with us, we ate terrible fast food, the house did not get clean and we let our babies sleep in the baby swing or car seat ! 
Well, here we are again in " SURVIVAL MODE".  Our fridge is stocked with Coke ( we usually just drink water) and cinnamon rolls and we've been eating sandwiches for lunch and dinner for the past week. The boys have been sleeping on pallets in our room and they have played way too much WII.  It is just like it was when we brought our babies home. But, we are packed, the house is not a total disaster and we have tried to really focus on the boys this past week. Actually, it was Chuck that mentioned we were in "SURVIVAL MODE" and it hit me - even though we are adopting and the circumstances are different - bringing home Maggie feels the same as bringing home my boys.   Even down to physical changes in my body, lack of sleep and emotional highs and lows.
Oh, and I also am nesting really,really bad.  I nested with the boys and this is no different !
Everything seems cluttered and I have an overwhelming desire to throw away everything and clean.
Even my Blog seems junky and cluttered ! My wonderful friends are coming over this weekend to mop and dust for me while we are gone to take the boys to their Grandparents. I am so thankful for their love and support.
I am also thankful for all the prayers that are being said for us and for Maggie. We are stepping out on Faith right now in every area of our lives and it has been incredible to see God's hand in everything and His purpose fulfilled.

In seven days !!!

Beware: Very random

Yes, In seven days we will be boarding an airplane and heading to China !
It is so overwhelming to think about.
I have been really, really busy with Family Christmas', paying bills ( yuck), and getting all Maggie's paperwork together.  I have not even started packing for Chuck and me. I am stressed !!

I don't want to be stressed and really don't like it, because...

I am so ready to focus on Maggie and nothing else for a while !

Whew ! So glad I got that out in the open.  Her bags are fairly packed, the car seat is bought ( but not put in ) and her stroller is ready. Santa is coming early and then another family Christmas, then we will say good bye to the boys ( how will I do this ?), drive home, finish packing and cleaning and leave for Atlanta.


Chuck has become video happy and is a little obsessed with posting video on my Blog. Sorry.
I will go ahead and apologize about how dorky I am in videos ! No one wants to see Chuck or me anyway in a video - it's Maggie who will soon be video taped-OH JOY !!
I can't wait for everyone to 'meet' her on video !

There are eight families in our Travel Group.  I am looking forward to their friendship in China and meeting their little ones.

Orphan Sunday 2009

Today is Orphan Sunday.
All across the world, People are speaking up for the Fatherless.
Today, the orphans voice is being heard and lives will be changed, children will be adopted and God's people will make a difference.

Chuck and I shared our heart for Orphans today at church.

God truly gave us the words to speak.
We pray that people all over the world open their eyes and their heart to care for the children who have no family.

Operation Giggle !

Have you ever just wanted to do SOMETHING to make a difference ? Have you ever wondered how to begin ? Operation Giggle is wonderful opportunity to make a difference !

Please visit Julie and go HERE to buy a raffle ticket to help raise money to ship Christmas presents to the beautiful children at The New Day Foster Home.
**The raffle starts Monday **


This is the sweet little dress - SIZE 2T ( would be super, duper cute monogrammed !)I made and had the privilege to donate. Each $3 ticket puts your name into the bucket 1 time. All proceeds from the raffle go to the freight expense to ship the gifts to China for the kiddo’s. They really need these funds. So far they have raised $250 and they HAVE to raise around $1000 in November to cover the shipping. Let’s rally together to raise this freight money so the New Day kids will have a great Christmas!!