Way Back When...

So yesterday evening I decided that I wanted to spend my evening looking through old photos.  I got in the attic and dug out the bin, dragged it down the stairs, and into the living room.  Now mind you this is easier said then done. Lol.  The bin is quite heavy, and our attic was a mess.  So I had to some-what organize it before I could even get the bin out of the attic.  The next task?  Getting it down the stairs without crushing myself.  Although this was a totally possible task, at the time it seemed, impossible.  So as I slowly and careful slid the been down the stairs, with me in front of it guiding the way, I was terrified that it would crush me! :P  Once I accomplished that task, and managed not to crush myself, I grabbed a cup of coffee and my mom did the same. We then sat down and started to go through the bin of photo albums.  

The first album I looked through was filled with baby pictures of little Luke (The eldest.).  Luke was born 6 weeks premature, and weigh about 4 pounds.  He was SO itty bitty!  We found a weight chart in that album and come to find out that Oliver, who is 4 months old weighs a little over 9 pounds, and was 2 weeks early weighs less then Luke did!  When Luke was 3 months old he weighed 12 pounds!  Crazy right?

I then found a bunch of baby photos of my self that I never knew we had!  I was an extremely chubby baby, I had some pretty cute rolls. ;)

We also found bunches of photos a Luke, Caleb, and I.  We were like the three amigos, the three adorable amigos that is. :)

Cute right?  So fun fact!  When I was a baby my parents would say "Lyssa, make your poochie face!"  and I would do this...

In all of the photos that my parents have of me I am smiling like there is no tomorrow. :)  Well I mean we do have one photo where I was upset, cause they put my swim suit on me and I didn't want it on.  So....I threw a fit.   I was still cute though. ;P   Here is another photo, that I just love.  I'm actually looking at the Camera, Luke is smiling at me and I'm not sure what Caleb is doing.... Lol.

But we were cute kids! :)  We were only able to go through part of the bin last night, we still have many more albums to look through, and my dad also claims that there is another bin in the attic.  The wonderful adventure will continue this evening!  

--Alyssa

Allison!

Today I'm going to right a post about an adorable little girl named Allison.  Although I love all kids of every skin color, Special need or no special need,  Dark skinned babies always catch my heart,  I love their eyes & just everything about them!  Allison is a dark skinned baby girl!  She is 2 1/2 years old & has CP (Cerebral Palsy) she can sit up unassisted.  Her profile states that even though she is squinting in this picture her sight is not impaired! :)   Allison needs a momma & papa to call her own!  Her adoption seems like it will be easy but yet I think it might very for different people!  So with out further-a-due, Meet Allison!

How absolutely precious is she?  I love her little hands & feet,  they just make me smile.  Here is a link to Allison's profile,  please give it a look & see if this sweetie pie is yours! :)  http://reecesrainbow.org/43638/allison



God Bless,
Alyssa

Waiting Children - Heart Problems

Alright today's waiting children post is going to be for the sweet kids with heart problems!  

Are you ready for some cuteness?

Meet Gwen.

Girl, born September 2009

has siblings (not available for adoption)

blue eyes; blonde hair

FAS; delay of physical and psychomotor development; heart murmur

She was born at 37 weeks, discolored amniotic fluid was present. 2.3g and 42cm at birth. Facial features are typical for fetal alcohol syndrome. During infancy she was observed for anemia, hypotrophy, and was ill with respiratory diseases often. She receives individual physiotherapy, music therapy, and speech therapy. Difficulties in learning due to her insufficient concentration of attention and hyperactivity.

Update April 2011 (18 months old): Gwen is walking along furniture, can sit herself in a children’s chair, attempting to walk independently (2-3 steps). Speaking short words such and bye-bye and wave goodbye. She is interested in toys, takes them into her hands and manipulates them and assembles a pyramid with big rings. She can assemble a small pyramid with someone’s help. Eating solids, drinking from a cup with assistance. Has a good appetite. She enjoys baths and sleeps calmly.

Meet Catherine.

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Catherine S.

Date of Birth: March 2009

Gender: Female

Eyes: Gray

Hair: brown

Character: calm

OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS, not Down syndrome

Holoprosencephaly, Aplasia of the nasal bones fracture, Congenital heart defect, Eye atrophy

Just like our Julia with Cockayne Syndrome, Holoprosencephaly is a life-shortening condition.   You can read more about this condition athttp://www.holoprosencephaly.net/Holoprosencephaly  Catherine deserves to have a loving family of her own!  There is simply no place in society for her in her native country.   Further medical info will be available with submission of first dossier packet.

SINGLE MOMS WELCOME!

Meet my curly haired sweet pea, Leann!

Girl, born January 2009

Heart condition – Double discharge of vessels from the right ventricle (after surgery); Urinary/urethra condition – Ureterostomy (after surgery), atrophy of the anus, colostomy (after surgery)

Additional medical diagnosis available for serious inquiries.

Leann is a very clever, cheerful, jesting girl.  She speaks well, and is very sociable.

Meet Davis!

Boy, January 2010

Epilepsy; Congenital cytomegalovirus infection; Acute myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)

Sweet little Davis has so much potential!

Large families welcome, travel required.

Meet Barrett!

Boy, born October 2011

This little love has a heart defect and numerous other health issues:  condition after resection of coarctation of the aorta, aneurysm of interatrial septum with multiple defects perimembranous (VSD), laryngotracheomalacia (collapsed airway), micrognathia (abnormally small jaw), tracheostomy

It’s suspected that Barrett may have Pierre Robin syndrome or a chromosome deletion. Families should be prepared for additional health needs, just in case.

Barrett desperately needs a family to give him the love, attention and medical care he needs to thrive.

God Bless,

Alyssa

Waiting Children: HIV+

So I am going to try & do a "Waiting Children" post at least once a week.  So that you guys can see all of the beautiful kids faces that needs mommas & papas :)  Today I have chose a few HIV+ kids to show you guys! Enjoy!  (Click on the kids names to visit their profiles!)

TASHA

Girl 1hg1x-15

Date of Birth: March 2007

She is a bright little brunette with expressive eyes. She is actively interested in the outside world. She is happy to communicate with others and she loves attention. MANY additional photos available. HIV+

For more info and parent support on adopting and raising a child with HIV, please visit http://www.projecthopeful.org/ 

JEFFERY

29xdx-23

Jeffrey was born in early 2008. He is living with HIV. He has recently been transferred from the baby house to a decent older child’s orphanage. He has access to excellent medical care. He has a calm demeanor and is described as being active and agile. He likes participating in his developmental lessons. He understands everything that is said to him. He does not have any known siblings. Additional photos are available.

For more info and parent support on adopting and raising a child with HIV, please visit http://www.projecthopeful.org/ 

KALI

DOB August 2010.

She is an active and sociable girl. She loves to play with toys and move around. A positive emotional tone. According to a recent adoptive family: “She is very affectionate and she just wants love and hugs. She is a very sweet toddler. She is active and independent, already potty training and learning how to put away toys, take off her shoes, etc. At each visit, she would see me and my husband and she would come right over to see me. She gave me many hugs and kept looking into my eyes and say ‘Mama?’ She seems to be attached to her nannies and I believe the transition to a family would be a pretty easy one for her. With such a low child to caregiver ratio, she receives a pretty good amount of attention for a child in an institution”.

Her adoption status can be clarified on behalf of a serious adoptive family. Additional photos available.

CASEY

Casey

October 2009

22q81-23

He is a good-natured, friendly boy. He is active and developing well. He is a leader. He is happy and doing really well. He quickly masters new tasks. He has formed emotional attachments with his caregivers. He is often smiling and he is cheerful and optimistic. He understands everything that is said to him. He is an affectionate boy.

The children in this baby home have excellent access to medical care.

Additional photos available. Up to 3 children in the home. Applicants should be no more than 50 years old. Unrelated children cannot be adopted simultaneously in this region. His status will need to be clarified at the time of inquiry or commitment. Donations cannot be accepted until this time until his adoption status is clarified..

God Bless,
Alyssa

Giveaway Time!

So a wonderful mom has donated a rag quilt for us to raise money with!  So first thing is first I need you all to go like her page to show how thankful we are that she donated this quilt! Here is her Facebook page "Sew Bright Kids" Alright now that you have "Liked" her page, I shall explain this giveaway to you! :)

All of the money raised in this giveaway will help us pay to beginning cost of an adoption.  Things like a homstudy.  It's not cheap & just the beginning things can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000.  So we are asking for your help! :)

How this will work is, you will be entered to win this Rag Quilt (Approximately 30"x38") 

Close up of the pattern on the fabric.

2 more prizes have been added to this giveaway! :D  Thank you Allison! 

1. The Path to Home by Edgar A. Guest. First edition book of folksy poetry. Copyright 1919. 

2. To Have & To Hold by Mary Johnston. Historical novel set in colonial Jamestown, Virginia. Black and white illustrated plates. Circa 1900.

The entrees cost :

1 Entree = $5

5 Entrees = $10

10 Entrees = $20

I will let this run for 3-4 weeks.  When the giveaway ends the winner will be chosen using Random.org.  I will then contact you & get you your prize!  Easy enough right?  Praying that God will bless us through this giveaway! :)   There is a Chip In on the right side of the blog labeled "Adoption Funds" & that is where you will donate the money for your Entrees!  You can also enter this giveaway by sharing it on your Facebook, just make sure you comment & tell us that you shared it!

God Bless,
Alyssa

Will you help?

I have just got permission from my dad to start raising funds for the up front cost of adopting internationally.  Now for those of you that know me you probably have an idea of how stoked I am! Any who, I wanted to tell you a little about the need of the orphans over there.

So i'm not just talking about adopting a "Typical" child, but a special needs child.  Down syndrome to be specific.  Children overseas that have special needs have no room in society over there.  They are orphaned at birth, sometimes because the parents can't care for them & other times because they will just be a "Burden".   Whatever the reason, these kids only have a small window of hope & a chance at a new life.  When they turn5 years old they get transferred an adult mental institution where it's very slim that they will survive their first year.  Because of the lack of money for medical care for these kids they are very malnourished.  Some cases worse then others.  This is my cry for help, a plea for the church to rise up & be a voice for those who can't speak for them selves.

In the Bible, James 1:27 it says "Religion that God our Father excepts as pure & faultless is to look after the orphans & widows in their distress & not to let ones self be polluted by the ways of the world."  So right there it says to look after the orphans. That should be instruction in & of it's self.  But in Proverbs 24:12 it says "Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act."  So as the verse says our eyes have been opened & now we are held accountable to act on this matter.  Especially knowing that kids dye daily in these places because the conditions are terrible & the medical care is limited.  


So now that I have informed you of the conditions & the urgency of these kids, I  would like to say that I will be fund raising so that we will have the money for the up front cost & there will be a "Chip In" on the right side of this blog so that you all can donate if you feel lead.  No mind you we don't know which little one God is going to entrust to the Goodhue family yet.  But we will be ready when He shows us.  


Thank you for reading & I hope you will follow us on our journey.
God bless,
Alyssa

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