TIME TO SHOUT OUT LOUD!

I haven't posted in a while, because, well....our life is normal, which = boring.......

But, I have something to say and I want to SHOUT IT OUT LOUD!

THERE ARE CHILDREN IN UKRAINE WHO NEED HELP!

The people who have adopted from Alex's Baby House are like a family to us.  The Mamas keep in contact and we love each other so much! 

There are many families who are special to us and one special family just returned from adopting two children from the Baby House and another who had been transferred from the Baby House to an institution.  The little boy who was in the institution was in bad shape.  Since being transferred, he became withdrawn and was dehydrated and malnourished when they got home to America. 

This sweet family witnessed some things that no one should ever have to witness and some things that no child should ever have to endure.  One of the children who is a target of the mistreatment is from Alex's Baby House.  He and another little boy had a family committed to them and for reasons unknown, they did not even go for their referral.  These boys have been in all our prayers, hearts and minds, but especially in one family's heart. 

You see, the Enskat family adopted three precious treasures from the Baby House.  While they were at the Baby House, they witnessed Olson and Everett being transferred.  The children were crying and clinging to their nannies as the nannies pulled away, (crying themselves) and ran back into the Baby House.  The car drove away, taking the boys from the only home they had likely know.

The Enskats have committed to adopt Olson and Everett.  They need to move quickly and they need help. 
 Please see the link below on how you can help the Enskats bring Everett and Olson home.  This link tells more of the story and gives information as to how you can support the family.  There is an awesome give-a-way.  You can participate in the give-a-way, you can share on Facebook and your blogs or you can donate directly to their FSP.  All the details are below.

Now is not the time to be quiet. 
NOW IS THE TIME TO SHOUT ABOUT THESE BOYS AND SAVE THEM!

Go here for the full story and how you can help:
http://doloski.blogspot.com/2012/09/raising-funds-for-real-life-love-story.html

Update on Children for Alex's Baby House

This is Sveta. She is has a family and I am not sure, but think they should travel soon
Lena has a family, but she is not yet available. They have to wait before they can submit.

This is Vika. Her Mama and Daddy just met her in person this week and are in the paperwork chase to apply for their court date. Vika was at Alex's baby house, but was transferred last year.

Sweet, sweet Vera! Her Mama and Daddy have their SDA appointment on June 2nd. They leave for her country in just four days! AND...they live close enough that we can visit!

This is Danil. His parents have an appointment on June 6th, I believe.

He is no longer at the baby house, but has been transferred



This is Virginia. Her parents have committed and are in the beginning of paperwork pregancy....and....they are also adopting precious Brigette, pictured below.

So cute!

This is Willow. She has been adopted, but we do not know anything about her family yet.

These children still need families.

Vincent

Ryland - look at that smile!

Nadia - precious!

Miley - would love to have a clearer photo.

Maxwell - look how handsome!

Karina needs a family now! She will not survive much longer without it.

Howell needs a family too.

Love to all,

R & T & A

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

Our sweet boy

Daddy and Alex with their snowman - Alex is about to throw a snowball at Mama.

Our house in the snow...notice Alex beside the steps. He wanted a picture with "my home." So glad he has a home to call his own.



Our crazy family!

Mama and Alex

Down the hill. He looks so small.

Alex and Daddy trying the sled

It began snowing last night. This time, Alex is not sick and got to play!
Tim took me to work. The car lot was closed. The nursery was closed.

The roads were not very bad as it was pure, beautiful snow. I measured in our courtyard at work and at 10am, we had 5.5 inches of snow.

Tim took Alex out this morning and they started a snowman, but the snow was too soft to complete it. They also tried to use the sled, but it was too fluffy for that too.

Before lunch, the snow turned to sleet, so it was fluffy snow with a crunchy, icy cover.

I went in early and skipped lunch, so I left around 3:30. When we got home, we all went outside and played in the snow. Tim finished the snowman and Alex and I played with the sled, threw snowballs and took pictures. I tried to show Alex how to make a snow angel, but the crunchy, icy topping on the snow made it impossible. We had so much fun!

Don't know if we will make it in tomorrow. I doubt that the nursery will be open. We will just have to see what tomorrow brings.

So glad we got a good snow this year. It brings back lots of memories from our time in Ukraine last winter.

Love,

R & T & A

Our First Christmas as a Family!

As usual, we have been very busy!

We started our Christmas celebrating on Sunday, Dec. 19th at my dad (Papa) and Step-mother's (Granny Carolyn). Everyone had a great time with the exception of my oldest step-sister who was really sick and ate, then got into bed. That was just the beginning of effects of illness on our holiday plans. Alex got a sled and wagon from Granny & Papa - more on the sled later. We do live in the South, you know.....

I planned to take some time off for Christmas. I had Thursday, Friday and Monday off in addition to the weekend, when I am normally off. We have had two different viruses sweep through work and the week of Christmas was unbelievable! In addition to the viruses, we had people on leave and someone who quit with no notice. All of this going on not to mention the usual Christmas festivities that I was trying to coordinate. Wednesday began great, but quickly went downhill. Then at around 2:30 I got a call from the nursery and Alex was sick. Well, Tuesday night he had a fever, but it broke and we thought he was OK. I had to rush out of work, leaving things undone, literally shoving them at my Nurse Manager.

After waiting at the doctor's office for over an hour, she said that he had an ear infection and "almost walking Pneumonia." Poor baby - and did I feel like a bad Mama. We spent the rest of Christmas vacation doing breathing treatments, taking Zithromax and Motrin, etc.
I had taken off Monday, the 27th to do some after Christmas shopping, but kept Alex at home to continue breathing treatments.

Alex did feel well enough to celebrate Christmas at lunch time on Christmas Eve with my mom (Granma), sister and three nephews. After that, we went to Tim's parents (Granny & Grandpa)for Christmas Eve dinner and presents, etc. Alex said he had a good time at Granny & Grandpa's with his cousins, uncle and great uncle. On the way home, we saw Santa's sleigh flying near our home, so we had to hurry up and get home! Alex was yelling, "hurry, Daddy, go faster! Hurry Daddy!" We got home and got him to bed just in time for Santa!

I have probably told everyone before that Alex gets up by 6:30 - 7:00 every day. I had to wake him up after 8:00 on Christmas morning. At first, Alex was not sure what to think about his toys. After some coaxing, he finally started to look at his toys. For the first time since we have been married, we stayed at home all day on Christmas and the grandparents came to visit us.

On Christmas night, it began to snow! We have not had a white Christmas in South Carolina since 1963 - before my time, but not Tim's - but he was too young to remember at 11 months old. It was really pretty for most of Sunday, then began to melt later in the day. The roads were clear, but they cancelled our early church services and Sunday school. I was not going to be able to help with Sunday school that day anyway because we didn't want to take Alex out.

Now for more on the sled.....of course, we didn't mention it, but Alex remembered it. He asked and asked to go outside to play with his sled. I was heart broken that he couldn't go out and play in his first snow in America. Of course Papa said to just let him go down the hill one time. We all know what that result would be.

Alex went back to school on Tuesday and I went back to work - dealing with more call-offs. I think I finally got caught up on Friday!

We had a wonderful Christmas with our son and family. We have so much to be thankful for - as my dad said in his blessing at our Christmas dinner - we have our son and he is HEALTHY! This year we thank the Lord for all of our blessing, but especially for our son and for his healing powers and that Alex does not have Hep. C. Our God is an awesome God.

We are also thankful for all of our friends who we met through our adoption process and upon returning home. We are especially thankful for our church family and the other families who have the Nikolaev Baby House connection. What a blessing for all the children who were adopted from there this year and for those who will be going home with their families in the next few months.

We hope everyone has a wonderful new year.

Love to all,

R & T &A

Update on Children in the Buttons to the Left

Sweet Vika is still awaiting a family. She had surgery on her feet and is doing well. There is an updated photo of her on Reece's Rainbow.

Miss Sveta is hopefully getting a family. They are in the process of adopting another little girl in another region and have opened their heart to Sveta.

Beautiful Alina's family is in Ukraine as I type, awaiting their court date.

Timofey is doing well after some major battles. He now has a head full of dark hair. He still has to have surgery on his leg/hip.

Niko, Sasha and Vera's family is in the final steps of preparing their dossier to submit for adoption. Little Vera had surgery at the same time Vika did. They got to go to the beach as they awaited surgery!

There are still some special children at the Nilolaev Baby House who need a family. Vadim is the same age as Alex and we have learned that he is smart and active. He is in the process of being prepared for a prosthetic eye. Danil and Lena are HIV+ and are precious. I believe they are in the same group as Alina and Sveta. There are also some other children available - Carolina, Olga, just to name a few.

There are also several other adoptions in process from the Baby House.

Please keep these children in your prayers and consider donating to their adoption funds on Reece's Rainbow. Donations can also be made to the Nikolaev Baby House. Contact me for information and check back on this blog and facebook for info on Christmas Warrior and Christmas Angel programs for Reece's Rainbow.

Thank you for supporting and praying for the orphans of Ukraine.