pics and some news

Bohdan after swimming, cuddled in a blanket. The boy is such a cuddler!

Working with his OT, Kimi. He was sitting up like such a big boy and was having a blast!

Caius playing by the pool.

Asher Easter egg hunting.

So I have been trying and trying, calling and working on getting Yuri services, therapies, anything. The child needs help. So today we met with a social worker and a nurse to try and enlist the three SN kiddos in a Medicaid waiver program. What would this mean? It means that we could actually get therapies for Yuri. I could get respite. Bohdan could get therapies after his birthday.

To qualify you have to show a medical need to receive this help. Caius might qualify since he has a G-tube but it is unlikely the other two will. Can I just say.... GRRRRRRR!!!!

I'm so irritated. All I want is for Yuri to get help but it is seeming impossible. We have good insurance but no home health companies will take us because we don't have a Medicaid backup.

I have kinda been putting all my hopes in this basket. I have been told by more than one professional that Yuri should qualify but now it is not looking so good. Please pray that he qualifies.

I'm meeting with a woman this afternoon to continue trying to get him into the school system where he can get some therapies even though it won't be as intensive as he needs.

just some pics

So I walked into Asher's room and found this. A chalk outline of his Teddy Bear 'Harley'. Apparently Harley was covered with baby powder and then fled the scene.

Caius being a big boy and sitting up for Ms Kimi, his OT.

Grandma Di and the twins. I love this pic.

Look at his hair blowing in the breeze. Its getting long and soft.

I thought this pic looked sweet. Too bad its not. Notice Bohdan is not happy because Yuri is banging his head on his back.

Caius sitting up so straight He has started pulling on his clothes and looking in them like "What going on in there?"

These are pics of me and my girlfriend being ridiculous.

The winter took quite a toll on our plants and we had to cut back our palm and now it looks like a huge pineapple in the middle of our front yard. And what else are you supposed to do with that but take pics. :o)

still tweaking the blog

I'm still working on the blog but this is it for now. This is now the adoption and the family blog all rolled into one. It will keep the noknots.blogspot.com address cuz its easy. I've been trying to get a pic with all four of them and this is the best I have gotten. I figure it is pretty true to real life.

My girlfriend is working on a post that will walk you through Yuri's diagnosis but I can tell you that it is Septo-Optic Dysplasia and nothing more. Which is comforting knowing we aren't still looking. Thank you for all of you who left me a comment with links to more information on this. You were right SOD does account for all of his issues. I guess since it is so rare the doctors didn't know all about it. I am generally the person that will research things and not just take a doctors word on it but I've been a little busy. :o)

I took Bohdan and Yuri to the Dentist today which went surprisingly better than I had expected. Bohdan's teeth are great! He is cutting 5 teeth right now though, 2 of which are molars, YUCK! Yuri's teeth are fine but we are having to watch his front two to make sure they don't go bad, they are on the cusp. He is cutting 4 molars! Poor little dudes! I was happy to hear that overall their teeth are in good shape. Thank you Jesus!

Storming Heaven for Vanya

This is a post from Adeye's blog. You can read it here.

April 15, 2011

SO URGENT!!!!!!

Dearest friends,

Oh my goodness....my heart is aching.

I come to you today begging for your help. Yes, I'm begging.

We desperately need a family for Vanya as soon as possible. Many people have inquired about adopting him. But things have changed and we URGENTLY need a family who is paperwork ready--one who has already done their home study and has USCIS approval. We need a family who can get to him quickly.



While I am not at liberty to give any details, I can tell you that Vanya's situation has turned into a critical need for prayer. He needs a paperwork-ready family to commit to him in the next few days...before it is too late.

Time is running out.

Do you know of a family who is already adopting a child from Ukr*ine? Do you know of someone who is traveling to adopt a child from there soon and may consider adding this precious boy to their adoption? Either a family who is already adopting, or a family who has all their paperwork ready and has been waiting on the Lord to show them the right child.

Friends, we urgently need your help....PLEASE spread Vanya's story on blogs, social networks, and adoption discussion groups. We absolutely have to find his family soon. The finances are not an issue--God has provided them. Now all we need is the right family--one who will say, "Here am I, Lord, send me!"

With all my heart I believe that Vanya's family is out there. Why? Because I believe that God has provided in a miraculous way for this boy to come home. I believe in miracles in 2011! I do.

Please stand with us in prayer over the next few days...trusting that Vanya's family will come forward. How desperately he needs them now.

Pray, body of Christ! Pray without ceasing. Pray until Vanya is rescued and safely in the arms of those who love him.

Thank you for helping us today. Thank you for praying and bringing this boy before the Father. Thank you for trusting with us. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.

"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matt 17:20.

"MOUNTAIN BE MOVED!"

Any family who thinks they may be able to get to Vanya quickly, and would like more information, please contact Chris Malone at the Eli Project as soon as possible.

You can read Vanya's full story right here.

Child labor

No children were actually made to work.

Yuri fixin' the car.

Bohdan overseeing Asher's hair cut. He had to make sure I was doing it correctly.

Asher digging up this plant.

Washing the car.

Doing the dishes.

I've decided to merge our family blog and our adoption blog since they are one in the same and I don't have time to keep up two blogs, technically I don't have time to keep up one blog. Which brings me to my next point.

Many of you said that you missed the "Truth" post and didn't know how. Well this is what happened. I started that post the same day as the "prayer request" post, actually before. It took me almost a week to write it. When I finally finished and posted it it posted back to the day I had started it. That gives you an idea how long it takes me to write a post! LOL.

Prayer Request

Remember way back when I asked for prayer so we could sell our house in New Mexico? Well the Lord has answered that prayer and we are under contract with a buyer. It is actually our 3rd contract because things keep falling through.

Anyway we are set to close on the 15th of April but the underwriters aren't liking the appraisal. more specifically the adjustments that the appraiser made. This is the only thing that is standing in the way of selling the house. Please pray! It would be such a huge blessing to only make one house payment! Thanks!

Truth

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalms tells us that while we were still in our mothers womb that God knew us. He made us just the way that He intended and He doesn't make mistakes.

Getting the news that your child has a special need is not something that any parent wants to hear. We want the BEST for our child and as humans in this society the BEST is normalcy. To have every opportunity and to succeed in the world that we know. Problem is that we are limited by our understanding. Reading the book 'Radical' by David Platt helped me to accept Caius' diagnosis. He said that we are created for one purpose and that is for God's glory. So I have to trust and believe that God has so much more in store for Caius and all my children with SN than could have been accomplished without their SN.

I still struggle though. Every once in a while the diagnosis of Down's Syndrome will jump up and bite me and I will feel sad for Caius. And this is coming from a Mom who adopted special needs kiddos. But that is just my pride, insecurity and humaness. I know God called us to Bohdan and Yuri specifically but I still wonder, Why? I'm ashamed to admit that I have often wondered what God could have possibly been thinking with Yuri? Surely he is better suited for a children's home instead of a family. Surely everyone would be better off that way.

But then I'm reminded that God doesn't make mistakes and that He placed these two babies in our home for a reason. I don't know what that reason is but He did and with His help we will succeed.

So to answer some of your question from the comments this is my response. Adopting these two babies has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. I mean it is right up there with Caius' open heart surgeries. And I thank you all for your comments even the hard ones.

In particular, one of the comments asked, would he be better suited for institutional life? I'm glad this was asked to me because it made me answer. It made me cross over to the other side of the question and here is my answer. NO.

He seeks out attention. He wants love. Granted he doesn't know how to process it. He claps and laughs when I get him out of his crib. He crawls to me and holds onto my leg to stand. He does this while I get ready and watches me put on my makeup. He signs 'more', 'daddy' and 'please'. He craves praise! He mimics our sounds, kisses, raspberries, 'mama, ect. He shakes his head whenever he sees me, even if I'm just passing by, in hopes I'll return the shake.

-Is he tough and hard to deal with? yes.

-Is he learning? yes

-Is he making progress? yes

-Is he getting better? yes

-Does he know me? Yes

-Does he know I am his Momma? Yes

-Does he still have manic episodes? yes

-Are his manic episodes lessening? yes

-Is he ever going to be normal? I don't know

-Will he ever be independent? I don't know

-Did God call us to him and Bohdan specifically? Yes

-Knowing this would I change anything? No

- Do I believe God has a plan for Yuri? Yes

-Do I believe that God is going to use Yuri for His Glory? ABSOLUTELY

So yes, I'm a poopy pants and when days with Yuri are bad they are REALLY bad and I share them with you all probably more than I should and definitely more than I share the good days. But when days with Yuri are good they are amazing!

So from a momma who has had a rougher happily ever after with adoption than you would read in fairy tales let me say this: If God is calling you to adopt, if He is nudging your heart, Go!!!! Follow!! Obey!! you will be so much better for it. These children deserve a family! Even the hard ones. They have had a rough start so yeah love is a foreign thing to them but you can teach them what it is. You can show them. It is worth it! All of it!

I feed on all of your prayers support and advice and I thank you. Thank you for riding this roller coaster of a journey with me.

This is Trixie, Yuri's new buddy. They have been playing together and this is how I found them this morning.

And a little off topic

- I think we have a diagnosis for Yuri but I will save it for another post.

- the balls we took to Ukraine we found at Wal-Ma*t but don't tell anyone I went there. I just went there with my mom while I was out of town (Ern :o))

update

Last Thursday we took Yuri to the Opthamologist and he confirmed what the Geneticist said about Septo-Optic Dysplasia. So Yuri now has a diagnosis of Septo-optic Dysplasia and he is legally blind. This is all good news because he has a diagnosis which helps get him services and we can get help from the blind community.

We have appointments with a dentist, an ENT, and an endocrinologist to see if we can figure out what else is going with our little guy.

I took him off dairy completely and he has still been throwing up here and there. I have now taken him off of wheat also so we shall see how this goes. He seems happier off of both.

Super awesometastic news is that he has gained 4 pounds!!! FOUR! How cool is that!

Any way here is some pics for ya.

This lil boy was born a Texan. He loves being outside and playing in water!

Swimming in our huge pool outback.

I think we are going to have to upgrade.

'I'm sitting up and I have a cord! YES!"

Mr. Handsome making noise, er I mean music.

The twins having a blast.