A Fun Adoption Blessing

My friend, Cherie, whom I met on an Arizona adoption site, was throwing a big celebration party for her kiddos.  In leu of gifts, she asked people to bring a donation to our adoption fund.  She knew we met our goal, but wanted to give us a little extra wiggle room and/or a jumpstart on some of the medical things Ramya need once we get her home.  It was a really fun party; we had a blast!  It was an amazing party with jumpers and cotton candy and a clown, and so much more.  A HUGE thank you to Cherie, her family, to everyone who donated to our fund, we really, really appreciate your generosity and support!  Our adoption fund is now $260 larger!

The Amazing Story of how the Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy Came to Be

I love this story and just had to pass it on.  A doctor and his family moved across the sea to provide neurosurgical care for those without access to it, and in the process, he invented the endoscopic third ventriculostomy procedure, so cool!!  What a great story!

http://vectorblog.org/2011/02/building-neurosurgical-care-in-the-heart-of-africa-one-doctor’s-story/

We Are Happy To Announce...

That we can officially post photos of Ramya!  We are so excited to show off our beautiful little girl!  We haven't yet decided how many photos we want to post, but for now, here's a little teaser...

A Free Adoption Book Giveaway

We have an amazingly written book called Motherbridge Love by Barefoot Books that we love.  In celebration of getting our NOC, we are giving away one copy. 

Here's a little about the book:

Cherish the special bond between parent and child with this beautiful, anonymously written poem. Through the exchanges between a little girl and her adoptive parent, this poignant selection celebrates love and family.

Text royalties from this book are donated to Mother Bridge of Love, a charity that reaches out to Chinese children all over the world in order to develop a connection between China and the West, and between adoptive culture and birth culture. Xinran, the acclaimed Chinese author, broadcaster and journalist, is the founder of Mother Bridge of Love.

You can enter by following the steps below. Good luck!

a'>http://www.rafflecopter.com">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hip Hip Hurray! Help Us Celebrate Today!!

I got a call today from Jessica, our adoption coordinator at WACAP, and....

Our NOC is approved!!  We are one step closer to bringing our sweet Ramya home! 

We still have quite a road ahead of us to bring Ramya home, but we are getting closer!  The remaining items that need to be done to get her here is the India court process and applying for (and obtaining) her passport.  The court process can be anywhere from 3-6 months long and the passport process takes another 1-3.  Our best (though unlikely I am told) time frame is 4 months.  On the longer side, it could still take 9.  The good news is that we can now send her gifts and letters, so at least she will know we are here waiting for her and wanting her. 

PLEASE pray that our adoption moves supernaturally fast through the court system at a speed only God can provide!

In other news, Madi's wheelchair is officially adjusted and we have about 2 1/2 months off before we have more appointments.  WOOT!  Today is a great day!

Our New HKFOs Are Here!

Today was appointment 1 of 2 this week, and thankfully, after tomorrow's appointment to get Madi's wheelchair adjusted, we are done for THREE months (other than therapy)!  WOOT!  Today we went and picked up Madi's new HKFOs.  Ron Whiteside, at Hanger, worked really hard on them and they look amazing! He finished in record time for her too!  Madi was being a bit of a stinker and not wanting her picture taken, so I'll have to get some better photos tomorrow.  Poor Ron was trying so hard to get her to smile, but she just wasn't having it.  We're so excited to have her HKFOs (aka "up-ups") back!

LOVE this!

A fellow mom with an amazing little guy with spina bifida wrote this and I love it!  Thanks Joanna Penny, I just had to share!