Happy Birthday Times Two

Today my sweet girls turn 9 years old! It is so hard for me to believe that they are nine already. Where did the time go? They have grown so much. Can you tell they love each other? Here they are at 4. This was taken at their preschool graduation. Happy Birthday Riley :) Happy Birthday Peyton :) I just love my girls so much! Riley's kindergarten picture. I just love this picture! Peyton's kindergarten picture. I love this picture! Wow! They really have grown over the years!

Nine years ago my girls were born and immediately taken to the NICU.

Peyton was there for 4 long weeks.

Riley was there for 3 long weeks.

To look at them now you'd never know they spent a minute in the NICU!

Happy Birthday to my sweet girls! I love you so much!!!

My Heart Feels Heavy These Days

My heart hurst alot these days. It all started over a year ago right after the Earthquakes in Haiti. That is when I thought about adoption for the first time. That is when I found Reece's Rainbow. Within just a few months we made a commitment to bring home a little girl with Down Syndrome. She has been home with us for 6 months now. Some days I look at her and I cry. I cry for her mother who let her go. I cry for her and for other children like her that their Mama's and Papa's gave them up because they just don't know any better. I cry for the doctors who tell these parents that their children will never learn to read or write. That they will never have a job. My heart just hurts. Yesterday I found out that these three beautiful boys all lost their families. They had someone coming to get them. I cried for them and I cried for the families who had to let them go. What a difficult decision to have to make. I am sure they are hurting and I hurt for them. There are days that I cry for those that have gone on to heaven because they never knew the love of a Mommy or a Daddy. These angels all died so young. They died in an orphanage. Some had families working hard to bring them home. Others did not. These five angels died this year. It's only March and we have lost 5 angels already. Can you see yet WHY I cry over this?

Then there is this family who is fighting for their son as we speak. They went before a judge and were told NO. They were told they could not have the boy they came to adopt because he has Down Syndrome. These people believe that he is better off in an institution than in a family. This makes me cry. I don't understand how any child would be better off in an institution than in a family.

This little boy's Mommy and Daddy love him so much. They traveled across the world for him. They are fighing to bring him home even after the judge said NO. They are appealing. There are two more families in the same region that are to go before the same judge and prosecuter. The thought that this judge will say no breaks my heart. I can only imagine how scared they all are.

Then there is this precious angel fighting for her life. Her family went to her country to adopt her and had to take her straight to the hospital from the airport. Why??

Because this is what she looked like when they peeled away her clothes to get her changed for bed. She had been bundled up in so many layers and underneath all those layers is what this amazing little girl looked like.

People wonder why I cry for these children. They wonder why I care so much. The question is WHY don't you. My heart aches for these children and it will continue to ache for these children. I won't stop advocating for them because they need a voice.

World Down Syndrome Day

Because of you, I love a little more. Because of you, I take time to give an extra hug goodbye. Because of you, I live today, before I worry about tomorrow. Because of you, I will fight harder and longer for what I know is right. Because of you, today, I am me.

Fun Times

Look at me on the slide! This is so much fun :) I have learned lots of new play skills. It's so much fun to mix a leaf of lettuce in a frying pan. You should try it some time.

Big kids LOVE to play too. Doesn't matter if it is with big kid toys or little kid toys!

This girl LOVES the phone! I wonder how much longer until she asks for her own cell phone. Yikes!!!

It is amazing to watch this little one learn and grow. She does something new just about every day. Half the time we didn't realize she could do the things she does. (Hope that made sense).

What a joy my girls are! They are so much fun! Love, love, love my girls :)

More Tea Party Pictures

The big kids enjoying a tea party with their little sister. I wonder WHO is having more fun.

She is so cute!

Sharing. How sweet!

Three pretty girls - clean too :)

Tea Party Anyone?

I was quite surprised the other day to walk into Milana's bedroom and find this... Her sisters got the little chairs set up for the baby dolls and put them up to the table and then Milana just took over. She loves playing with the little McDonald's playset and she enjoyed serving her baby dolls food even more. (Which is very surprising given her food issues - yes initially she did try to eat the plastic food).

I can't even begin to tell you how much fun Milana had doing this. She was very upset when I tried to tell her it was bedtime. We actually found an icecream sundae in her bed the following morning :) I guess she felt that her doll might need a midnight snack!

This really goes to show how far this little girl has come since she came home 6 months ago. When we first brought her home Milana had little interest in toys and dolls. The only thing she enjoyed doing was talking on her toy cell phone. (She always saw her caretakers walking around talking on the phone so this was all she knew about pretend play).

I have to say that Milana is quite lucky to have such amazing big sisters who play with her all the time! I'm sure they are a big part of why she has developed such amazing play skills.

And of course we are lucky to have her in our family! She is an amazing little girl. Isn't she just adorable?