Kellan

This is a long over-due post, I'm sure no one was waiting for!  My point of this post is mostly for myself, but also for Kellan's caregivers, to help them understand his way of communication.  Kellan will turn 3 on Oct. 2, and likely start preschool for children with special needs soon after.  His daycare has grown accustomed to him, and I don't think they have too much trouble, but I know he gets frustrated when he's wants something and the person doesn't understand.  So my goal is to alleviate some of his frustrations!  Kellan has several words he says, and lots of signs, so here goes!

Signs:
Mommy
Daddy
eat-sometimes he puts all his fingers in his mouth
drink-looks like he signs it next to his head instead of at his mouth
please
thank you-he makes a "gaa" or "ka" sound while holding out his hand, we are working on this!
Night-night-signs and says "Nuh", or "Ni"
hat
kitty-makes whiskers sign with his hair
more
puppy, doggie
pig, and he snorts!
ball
sheep
fish
Kellan
baby
cry-he signs it in response to "what's a baby say" (waa, waa, waa)
shhh
monkey
bear (and roars)
sit-he does his pointer fingers and taps one on the other
done (holds hands out to sides)
ice cream!
Calliou (the cartoon!) he pulls on his ear, we don't know where he came up with this!!
down, he points down and says "dow"

Spoken words:
Ma-pretty much everyone is Ma!
No!
Yeah
ball
hi
bye
mine, usually preceeded by NO!
boo (peek a boo)
go
oww
down, sounds like dow

Sounds:
"woo woo"-puppy
moo-cow
tiger and bear-roars

Gives "five" and fist bump or knuckles

Gives kisses and hugs

He can identify our family members in photos, including my neice

He love to sing songs, Slippery Fish, Wheels on the bus, Twinkle Star

I'll edit this as I remember more, as he reminds me!  Haha! 

The Journey to Our Son in Bulgaria: The Great Thirty Day Giveaway - please share!

The Journey to Our Son in Bulgaria: The Great Thirty Day Giveaway - please share!

Meet Brady Murray

Meet Brady Murray.  He is quite an amazing man.  So many of my fellow Reece's Rainbow advocates are women.  But now there's Brady.  He has taken us by storm and is doing wonderful things for RR.  Please read on, this is from his blog.  Keep up the awesome work Brady, and thank you!! The picture at the bottom is him and his adorable son!!

My family and I have loved being able to work on behalf of the children on Reece's Rainbow since finding this great organization. It's for this reason that I had a hard time sleeping because of the excitement after hearing about this announcement!

Two months ago, Ironman announced a contest called Kona Inspired. How it works is they have given the general public an opportunity to submit a 90 second video based around the theme, "Anything is Possible". Winners receive a spot to race in the Ironman World Championship in October, but most importantly, they will race as a media athlete and have the opportunity to share their story on NBC's nationally televised broadcast of the championship this year! THIS COULD BE OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN'S STORY WITH THE WORLD!!!

After reading Ironman's press release we immediately went to work. This is an opportunity to help these children in a way that I never imagined possible! The video came together with the help of many wonderful people and we submitted it. 105 videos were submitted. After over a month long preliminary public voting, we just received word that we are one of the top 15 videos and will compete in the final round of voting June 4 - June 18!!!

Please take a moment to WATCH, VOTE, and SHARE our video as much as possible throughout the day from your home computer, work computer, laptop, phone, etc! We need to be in the top 2 videos at the end of the day on June 18.

KONA INSPIRED VIDEO LINK

Thank you for your time and willingness to make the dream of these orphans of finding their forever family a reality!

A second chance

This post will be short, but not very sweet. A dear child's photo has haunted me for months. She is almost 9 and lives in a mental institution, just because she has Down syndrome. Her "before institution" picture shows an adorable, somewhat chubby cheeked little darling. Her "after institution" picure shows an emaciated, drugged looking, sad, unaware angel. Is she being mistreated? Most likely. By staff, by other "inmates", because that's what it is, a prison. No, prison wouldn't be this bad. She's most certainly severely neglected. Older, stronger children probably steal her food. No one cares about her. No one. Not one person. Well, that's not true either. God cares. And She has an army of warriors who love her, and who are refusing to let her continue to go unnoticed. The biggest problem here is that she's in a region that's only open to Canadians. But nothing is too big for God. I have complete faith and confidence that her forever family is going to find her, and soon. Won't you please share her desperate situation? I apologize I cannot pst her photos here, I'm on my iPad and am not that tech savvy! So please follow the link and look at the horrific "after" photo. Then tell me she doesn't deserve a family. http://reecesrainbow.org/32168/ksenia-k Please also see these wonderful posts about this angel as well! http://textgeorge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/removing-faces-and-guessing-whose-next.html http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcallmecrazycbus.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F05%2Fnot-too-late.html&h=4AQE_6GaHAQEhoaZp8UmfZzcX1ijVVIAyJFbLlbJYtqI3bg

Special Mother's

For Mothers Day I give all my dear special mommy friends this beautifully written piece by Erma Bombeck. It explains why so many of us do what we do, because God has allowed our eyes to be opened. My day will be dedicated entirely to my awesome kiddos! I hope you all have an amazing day! Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen? Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity." "Forrest, Marjorie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia." "Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew." Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy." "Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel." "But has she patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it." "I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has her own world. She has to make her live in her world and that's not going to be easy." "But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps - "selfishness? is that a virtue?" God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'". She will never consider a "step" ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!" "I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice....and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side". "And what about her Patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid-air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."

Dear sweet Mika

Dear Mika,
Dear sweet girl, I have decided to give you this name in my letter to you because it means "Gods Child". You may not be anyone else's child, but you are definetly Gods. Mika I have loved you since the day I first saw your photo on another blog. For over a year I have wondered why you wait still, why no one has come forward as your mommy. Not too long after I started praying for you I started to wonder, has your mommy not come because I am she? Has God led me to you because you are supposed to be my daughter? My husbands daughter? My kids' sister? I believe so Mika. I pray every day and night that God shows me the way to you. I pray that He wraps you in His love. I lay in bed at night wondering, did anyone hold you today? Did anyone hug you? Have you ever heard the words "I love you", Or "Я тебя люблю"? I hope so, but I have doubts. I wonder if you are scared, hungry, sad, hurting. Who comforts you when you have a tummy ache? Does anyone know exactly what to do to make you laugh? Do you ever have anything to even smile about? I know we could give you a better life, a life you deserve. My heart aches thinking of you spending day after day in a crib alone. If I could, I would come get you tomorrow. I keep thinking nothing, no one, should be standing in my way. There's a beautiful song I listen to often, and it always makes me think of you. It's called A Thousand Years. It's so beautiful, just like you. My favorite part "beauty in all she is. I will be brave. I will not let anything take away what's standing in front of me". I will fight for you Mika. I will not give up. I will be brave. But you must be too. I know, you have been for 5 years, but you need to fight a little longer. Until you are home with your "matb", whether that's me or someone else, I will see that your life is not taken for granted. Until then Mika, listen to God whisper to you. He will tell you that you are not a mistake, that you are loved, you are wanted, your life is worth saving. I love you sweet Mika.

Teamwork Tuesday, Saving Stacy & OrphanLove

Yes, I do realize that it is Wednesday!  So I'm a day late and a dollar (at least) short, but here it is!  I'm taking the easy way out tho, and directing you to Melissa's blog!  I advocated for Stacy over the Christmas season, and duing that time fell in love with her.  She breaks my heart, so tiny, so sad.  Confined to a crib, and she's 5 years old!!  I know her momma is out there somewhere, and I pray she comes forward very soon!  Every day that she waits is another day that passes that she knows no love, that she's never been hugged, kissed, told that she is loved.  Will you pray for her with me?  And for her momma who's out there?  Hang in there little one! 

In the meantime, I have officially opened my Facebook "store", OrphanLove!!  Now I am REALLY excited about this because my mom is helping me make alot of the items (she's very crafty!) and all the proceeds will go to help Recces Rainbow orphans and families who are adopting them!  Now through Easter Sunday a portion of all the proceeds is going to the Rhodes' family, who is very close to going to rescue their 2 boys from Eastern Europe.  I "met" Mandy when the Christmas Angel season started last fall.  I have watched this woman selflessly advocate for other families and kids, trying to help them raise the money they need to go get their children, or find their families.  Well, now Mandy needs help, she needs to raise the last of the money they need to cross the ocean and get those boys!!  So visit my store and help them all at the same time!!