Orphan Sunday

About two years ago I saw a blog that a college friend of mine reposted on FB, in that blog I was lead to a site that had pictures of children who needed adoption...I saw this picture



this picture burned into my heart.  I looked at this child's hands, see they are fisted and she is not holding the toy.  But yet there is a sweet smile on her face.  I read that she was in a mental institution and was in urgent need of adoption.  I was amazed at how much this child (didn't know whether she was a boy or girl at this point)  looked like Sam.  I turned off my computer.....I logged off and went to bed, just sick....then I couldn't sleep.  I thought "Oh my God what if that were Sam????  Alone, in an adult mental institution, blind, hungry.... I laid on my bed and prayed for this child and then tried my best to forget this child.   I wouldn't go back to the site.  I told myself that we had NO money, we had already "done our part for the orphan crises by adopting Shad and we had fulfilled James 1:27"  I told myself that we had a small home and a child that would need care for the rest of our lives....  Plus since this child was very white (LOL)  I figured the child was from Russia or Eastern Europe and I had SWORE I would NEVER EVER adopt from there (it is WAAAAAAAAAY toooooo crazy to adopt from any of those countries.  Oh I had heard the horror stories.....

But then it was going to be Orphan Sunday November 2011....I had this great thought that would totally clear my conscience ...we'd take up an offering for the child!!!!!!!!   There we go!

So I got up in church and shared how we could as a church help this child.....

 Then by that afternoon I was back on the computer trying to find that child again......   Then I had a great thought, we'd just raise the money for a family to adopt her and two other blind kids I found in my search for her.  Our church had just been fully remodeled, we had no debt and I thought it would be a "good thing"  to fund raise for these kids....especially that one that looked like Sam.

That only lasted a few days, I was able to track down info on the child and found out it was a girl.  By that Thursday, she was my girl.  Just 100% mine.....heck no I wasn't going to raise money for anyone else to go and get her!!!!  I was going to go get her!!!!!!   Thankfully my crazy husband was thinking the same thing:)   She was OUR girl!!!!!!!!!!

And so she is....my sweet little girl.....   I started the paper trail, stayed up several nights to get things done as quickly as possible and just 4 months later we were on our way to bring her and our "surprise" girl home.....

WELL. it's Orphan Sunday once again....and there are two children heavy on my heart. 

First there is Angela, the girl we sponsor through Life2Orphans  

 

yes that is me holding her on her bed  (the girl next to her is the girl Lucien that you all helped raise money to get her home!)  Angela is 12 years old and has CP, she is about the size of a normal 8 yr old.  She has the same spirit as Sarah and Lucien, sweet happy, loving.... she is from Ukraine. 

 

 

The second is Timothy

 

 

He is also 12 years old and is from China.  He is blind and has some CP, with no mental delays.   I know someone who knows him personally and he is just a wonderful sweet boy. 

 

Will you really pray for these two children????  Pray that a family will step forward for each of them.  Ask God if you can be that family!   Consider giving to both or either of them!  You can help them get a family!!!!

 

I've felt that I should concentrate on raising money for these two kids specifically for now.  So every penny that comes in will go in a dedicated fund for them until they are listed with a ministry.  

 

 Grace Haven Ministries is going to be setting up a page for Angela.  The Shepherd's Crook is working on Timothy's situation also.  I speak with some people who actually know Timothy and we know he has a file and is ok'ed for international adoption.  No agency has taken his file that I know of at this time.  However he can be requested by a family and I have info about him.  So let's get these two older kids into a family!!!!!!!! 

 

I know our family's story touches many of your hearts and I appreciate all that has been given towards Orphans this year ( I think close to $2000 that has come through our church and I know some of you have given on line to various families/children in honor of our kids and I so appreciate that!    Can you give again???

 

Just $5 from each of my daily readers could be $15,000....or do a yard sale or car wash in their honor....  After January, our family will do some type of fund raisers for these two.   Every penny that comes in will go towards a grant for these two separately. There are no "overhead" costs.   If you'd like to designate your giving towards one child then it will be designated.  If not it will all be divided between the two children. 

 

Once their grants have been set up, whatever has come in for them will go to the different ministries (both of them I know and appreciate and TRUST) to be held in a fund until a family steps forward. 

I think also there will be an on line link that you can give through when everything has been set up. But right now you can give via a check to :

 

GRACE CHURCH

ADOPTION FUND

7060 Berry Road

Zephyrhills Fl 33540

(you will get a tax credit for this gift!) 

 

 

Timothy is the most urgent, time wise as I believe he will "age out" and not be eligible for adoption after Jan 2015!!!!!!!!!  

 

Angela is the most serious case as far as needing medical care.....

 

They both have urgent needs please help them out!

 

If   WHEN a family steps forward for these kids, I will promise you that I will help  all I possibly can in your adoption by raising money and praying for the adoption! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remembering Ukraine and a little boy from there who needs our help!

Hey I'd like to start this blog by sharing about Gavin and his family.  Gavin WAS an orphan but he is home with his family now.  The family adopted him KNOWING he needed life saving surgery.  He needs a new kidney and has a live donor but there are expenses the family needs help with.  Here is their fund raising page http://www.gofundme.com/Gavins-kidney-fund  You can give directly on their page!  They have a family blog also  http://lifeasathomas5.blogspot.com/?m=1  and you can read their whole story there.  If you could help this family it would be great!!!!!  This cutie pie would have died for sure if this family hadn't stepped forward to save his life and give him a family who will love his during his medical challenges. 


Today was a busy day.  Jon took Selah this morning to HBOT and I took her this afternoon.  While she was in HBOT Steve and I went to the library!!!  Woohoo!!!   I LOVE libraries but don't have a chance to go as often as I'd like, which would be weekly!  I got some books form one of my fav new authors, Rhys Bowen,  that I've not read before.  I can't wait to read them!!!

 Selah was so tired yesterday that she slept straight from 5pm to 5am this morning.  She slept through diaper changes and everything!  Today she seems very stressed.  It might take her a few days to relax and get back used to being out so much. 

Some friends of mine are in Ukraine right now adopting....I look at the pictures, read the blogs and all the memories come back to me.  I've never had an experience like Ukraine and the adoption of the girls.  It felt like pure magic, except for the food and the train.....  and my constant upset tummy aka bathroom runs.....    But other than that, it was like a magical trip.  I don't mean that everything I saw was beautiful, but I fell in love with Ukraine and the people there in a way I've never felt before.   Having my kids with me, exploring the whole country, living right with the people....I'll probably never have an experience like that again but it's in my heart.  It makes me sad that we will probably never adopt again.  I've never really grieved about not having anymore biological kids, that is all finished as far as I am concerned (I certainly hope so)  But I do grieve deeply that we won't adopt again unless Selah had a complete miracle healing.  In fact, we had hoped to go back to Ukraine for Jon to preach at a few various churches but we probably won't ever be able to do that either.   THAT makes me so sad.....  It's so odd, that a little country that I had to look up on a map to remember exactly where it was would affect me do deeply.   There is always a "low grade longing" in my heart to go back there.  But some days the longing is so strong I could cry.  I've been to other countries and Never felt like that.  I mean I've liked everywhere I've gone and if something is on tv that I recognize like the Panda Bear Research place I went to in Chengdu China with Shad, I think it's cool but nothing pulls me like Ukraine does.  I truly didn't want to leave there when it was time to go LOL  I kidded around that I knew I'd really have more work to do with two more children but it wasn't that.  I just didn't want to leave there.  I did want American Food....REALLY bad but I loved Ukraine:)  It's hard to explain but we could have just stayed there and worked with the kids in the institution and I think I would have been happy for the rest of my life. 

Please keep praying for Selah and her time in HBOT!   Pray that God will grant us a miracle!

Back in HBOT!!!!!!

Selah is back in HBOT!

Started today, 2x a day for 20 days....

We are praying God will use this to heal her.

 

 

 

She seemed to be watching Nemo with great interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She handled it great.  Some kids or even grownups can't do HBOT without having to have tubes put in their ears, but she is able to clear her ears by swallowing.    The staff check Selah's ears to make sure there is no redness or bruising.  Plus Selah can show if something hurts her.  I'm so thankful she can manage without the tubes.  If she had a problem, it would be hard for us to find a doctor who would prescribe tubes since most doctors don't agree with HBOT. 

 

 

So all three little ones has PT, OT and ST assessments between her sessions of HBOT.  The assessments were just to figure out what they'd have evaluations for.  Sam is not getting evaluated for PT which was fine with me as I don't think he needs much help in his gross motor skills.  I hope to get their evaluations done soon.  I thought today was for evaluations...it's so much to keep up with at times.  I'm happier with the school system, I've actually met some folks who are NEW (at least to us and their positions) who seem to care about my little ones.   Several of the folks that just GRATED on my nerves are gone.   One was so inefficient that the person was taken from one high position and put over the vision and homebound kids.  That person did not care at all about Sam or even the staff that worked for that person in my opinion.  But these ineffective people just bid their time and then go and retire and make lots of money off the state.....  Several that I felt were beyond burnt out are gone or transferred to bother someone else thank God LOL  I don't "suffer fools" especially when it comes to my little ones!

 

 

 

Had to show off Sarah's ( and Sam's) new horse!  they had both outgrown the first horsey we had bought for Sarah  and I mentioned to a friend, Mrs Black who worked at a child's consignment store to keep her eye out for a BIG horse.  I'd looked around some but hadn't seen one.  She found this beautiful one and gave it to Sarah.  As you can see, Sarah LOVES it.  She spent a lot of today on it!!!!    

 

 

 

 

 

She is very serious about riding:)

 

I LOVE this little girl!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I bought her the first horse because of this picture of her when she was at the baby house...

this is before she went to the mental institution.  What a cute little baby girl she was!   So wish we could have gotten her back then!  When I saw this picture, before we got her, I went out and found her a horse and kept it in our living room.  The day we got home, I put her on it and she immediately smiled!  I thought I would cry!  I felt like she was taken care of better at the baby house and that the rocking horse was a good memory. 

 

 

she was about 2 or 3 in this picture. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Yesterday was a busy day for me but Selah dressed up in her Red Riding Hood outfit and her Monk Nurse dressed as a Monk:)  We had a good time and had pizza for lunch.

 

 

Sometimes I wait too long to take pictures, she was getting annoyed she'd been outside for awhile

 

 

 

 

 

Selah and her Ukraine dolly

 

We were planning on taking the kids trick or treating (yes we "celebrate" Halloween  to some degree) but I had somethings to do with some friends and Jon had to work late.  But we had a good fun day.    I had a "treat" because I got to spend time with one of my "besties", her daughter who I love and our "grandma"  We all had a good time together!

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Real-Life-By-Yvonne/1405082996394656

 

Is my new FB page for the blog.  It may make it easier for you to comment or ask questions on the page or in a PM.  I'd love for you to go and LIKE the page:)

 

Please keep Selah in your prayers as we start this HBOT again and YES she is still on the fish oil study too:)  Just pray that it all works together to bring healing to her little brain. 

My Real Life Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Real-Life-By-Yvonne/1405082996394656?notif_t=page_new_likes

Please go and like the FB page I created for the blog.  I thought it would be a quicker way to connect.  And it is specifically about the Blog, not just Selah although I still have her page up also!

https://www.facebook.com/selahclanton   

17 years ago today......

17 years ago today.........

I went in for a procedure to have my dead twins taken out of my uterus.  We had known for a week that they were dead.  Our insurance had tried to get me to agree to go to an abortion clinic to have the procedure done but I refused....that refusal saved my life. 

We went to the VERY same hospital, St Luke's Roosevelt in NYC, that we had Stephen at.  In fact we had brought him home from the hospital a year to the day that I had to go in for this.

We got up early and left Steve with some friends.  It was going to be an "easy" procedure and I'd be home by the afternoon.  Well, it didn't quite go like that....

Following the procedure I had DIC (Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a rare, life-threatening condition that prevents a person's blood from clotting normally. It may cause excessive clotting (thrombosis) or bleeding (hemorrhage) throughout the body and lead to shock, organ failure, and death.)  I came very close to death and it was very frightening.  To prevent my death, I got massive amounts of blood and blood products.  It was an awful day.  Somehow I stayed conscious but did get to a point I couldn't see.  I knew things were bad.....it was just awful.  By the evening I had stabilized but was put in ICU for a few days.

I was so sad over losing the twins and then to deal with almost dying myself was very hard to deal with.  As time went on we found that the NYC blood supply had been compromised and several people at my hospital had received tainted blood.  A few contracted Hep and a few got HIV.  I was beyond terrified!!!  Since I had gotten so much blood, I had to have HIV tests done on a regular basis for some time.  That was always in the back of my mind.  Thankfully I never tested positive for anything and now don't worry about it but it was a really hard time for me. 

There are so many memories of that time that are imprinted on my mind. 

Of course, I was very depressed over losing the twins too and then the added stress of the health issues.....it was a very hard time.  My comfort was my cute little one year old Steve:)  He was adorable and like having a live doll:) 

There are times when I fantasize about what life would be like if the twins lived and were healthy.....In my mind, I'm pretty sure they were boys but not 100%.  We were supposed to have DNA testing done but somehow it never got done and their bodies were released to the funeral home for cremation.  I think about how wonderful it would be to have even more children than we have now and for all of them to love each other and be there for each other.  I always feel like Steve got "shorted" by not having them in his life. 

There is nothing that is redeeming about the situation to me except that I lived.  And maybe it did teach me how NOT to deal with trials since I went "stark raving mad" for awhile. 

Sitting here today I can't help but think I've had MORE than my share of heartaches....maybe that sounds silly & selfish but HEY, it's been rough! 

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Continuing the fight for Selah's formula (although some came in yesterday!) and her inhaled antibiotic.  I got the kids and myself all haircuts today after school since we all needed them and I know I wouldn't be able to do it once HBOT started.  Thanks for keeping us and Selah in your prayers.  We are praying for her to show some more progress this time around!!!

ESP-my experience!

ESP or extrasensory perception is perception occurring independently of sight, hearing, or other sensory processes. 

Growing up I had some unusual experiences.  I still don't really know exactly what to think of those experiences. 

The first thing I remember is playing outside (remember when kids stayed outside all day long?)  And I'd keep hearing my name called.  I'd go to the back door and ask my aunt what she wanted.  Time and again she'd tell me she didn't call me.   We didn't have any kids living around us and we had plenty of land.  I was probably 8 or 9 years old when that happened.  I didn't like it, it made me feel odd.

Then as I grew a bit older, I'd KNOW things, just know them.  For example, one day I was in our garage and I "knew" my uncle was going to die.  I can remember where I was standing when the thought came to me.  It scared me so bad.  Within a few months he died, he was diagnosed with cancer just a few weeks before he died.  As far as I know he was not sick acting that I remember or knew consciously.  I was about 12 years old when that happened.

Then as I grew a bit older, strange things started happening.  At night we'd hear things, like voices in the house.  At this point my aunt was hearing them too.  Also several times I was attacked in my sleep by "something"  my clothes were pulled on and I was scratched.  Several times we even called the police thinking maybe there was someone in our house. 

So as things progressed, I'd still hear my name called, I still "knew" things.....  My aunt actually became somewhat concerned and told me that our family had a background in "white" witchcraft.  She told me I had an uncle who could "water witch" (find water by using a stick) and another one who could cure warts and stop bleeding by reciting a bible verse....a verse from the "book of Moses" not from the Bible.

As a teen I was trying to live for God so I went to my pastor.  He really didn't know how to deal with it.  He suggested sleeping with a bible and "anointing the doors and windows with oil"  Well that didn't do anything.....

Our church changed pastors quite frequently so in a few months we had another one and this guy and his wife took me serious. 

I KNEW in my heart that none of those things were from God.  The way I knew is that the "knowing" and the voices  did not bring any peace.  (btw my aunt also heard the voices LOL so I'm not psychotic!!!!!  We could never understand the words, it was like a murmuring) 

So they taught me that as a Christian I had authority over the devil and I didn't have to do silly things, I could just speak the word and command evil to be gone.  I asked God to take away the "ESP" and then I by myself, told all those things to leave....and it left!!!!!!  Forever! 

Once during my freshman year of bible college, some odd things happened, like my lights would come on by themselves and the clock radio would too.  Again I said the same thing and all that stuff was gone!

I just felt I should tell this experience.  I am NOT into giving any glory to the devil (yes I believe in a real defeated devil)   But there might be someone struggling with this who reads my blog.

Over the years as a Christian I have had some experiences that have been amazing.  God has certainly spoken to my heart things that came to past.  The first time I remember that happening was right after all this other stuff got dealt with.  I was a senior in high school.   I went out to our mailbox, opened it and took out a flyer for Southeastern College and when I touched it, I KNEW I was going to go to that college!!   I can remember that moment vividly.  It was a "knowing" that came from God. 

I believe God still speaks to people.  I believe whatever you hear MUST line up with scripture.  Obviously there is no scripture in the Bible telling anyone to go to SEC but it was a decision that would take a lot of work on my part and some miracles on God's part and it honored God. 

I've had a couple of dreams that I KNOW was from God, both dreams, were of the Rapture of the church.  Very real and they have stuck with me for many years.

God spoke to me several years before Sam was born, when I was deep in a valley and told me that I'd have a son named Sam and he would change my life.....well.....   How did I "hear" God?  In my heart, I guess.....at the time I was alone in the car and almost wondered if the words were said aloud as they were so LOUD to me. 

I believe that God sent that woman to me in the Mall before the accident to tell me NOT to be afraid of the future.  Her words didn't' bring any fear to me, but they certainly brought a lot of comfort after the accident happened. 

GOD has given me a lot of discernment.  I think some of it comes from the life I grew up in ( as far as seeing some craziness and being able to recognize the same kind of craziness in others LOL especially in church and church behavior.)  Some of it came from my job as a probation officer, learning about human nature (believe me if you were any type of law enforcement you had NO doubt of the sinfulness of man!!!)   And some of my discernment is God given.  The reason I think it is God given, is because first of all I renounced any type of witchcraft of ESP that might have come through my family or any sin I ever did.  Second, with the knowing, comes a peace and an answer. 

For example one time a minister wanted to get involved with our ministry while we were in NYC.  I told Jon "no way do not get involved with him"  I said he was a pervert and a homosexual....  My husband got on to me for saying that since I had NOTHING to base that on and the minister was rather popular.....fast forward a few years and he was on the front page of the newspaper for his deviate actions and arrest.......Let's just say THAT newspaper got thrust in my husband's face.   I didn't say that about the man to be mean to him, just I knew if we worked with him, we'd be caught up in problems. 

Other times I've told my husband not to trust certain people and without fail.....there are problems with them.  I don't say to be mean to them, we still love and minister to them, but we are careful.   I think God gives that discernment. 

The devil will always have a counterfeit to the REAL thing that comes from God.  But remember the real is so much better.  When I'm "impressed" by God to do something or "led by God's spirit"  it is for the good and there is a peace.   There is such a difference from what I felt growing up. 

We have a friend who is Wiccan and we got into this conversation one time.  He thought I was wrong not to cultivate the "gift" I had.  But I knew where that "gift" came from and I was not willing to play that game or pay that ultimate price!


I'm not all into "there is a demon behind every bush" or the popular idea of "breaking generational curses"  However we did pray over our children that IF there is such a thing as a generational curse, that it be broken.  None of my children have ever experienced anything like this.  They are not fearful at night and we have a grave yard on the property LOL

So like I said, I just felt I should share this.  This is something I seldom talk about but I did feel I should this time.

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Today I got to eat lunch with one of my BFF's we have a Tuesday Tradition and it is wonderful:)

I got some more of my errands done but life and other things threw me some more...

This was my FB post this morning.....
 

"Well we had a crazy experience last night. Something was "off" with Selah's inhaled antibodic Tobramycin. It smelled like Elmer's Glue and me and the nurse was coughing. She took it off of her and we called the doctor, It was really frightening for us as we had a strong reaction to it. Thankfully Selah handled it better than we did. She's been on it for months and it does not have a smell li...ke that. Now they will have to investigate everything before she can use it again. The prescription is thousands of dollars for a month and we don't know what is going to happen to it.

I feel like I've been dealing with all kinds of stupid stuff lately like that! Her feeds got ordered but didn't come. Then our nurse finds they (the company) has the order all wrong and we have one order form the doc and they have another that would only give Selah 500 calories a day instead of the normal 1000+ UGH!!!!!!!"

 

Still dealing with this tonight!

 

 But after I picked up Shad from school, we all went outside for 2 hours.  The boys pushed the little ones on the swings, listened to music and talked.  And our nurse figured out a great way to use the beanbag on the big swing so Selah is more comfy.  She did great outside, very interested in everything!!

 

A NEW THING WE HAVE NOTICED!!!!!!

 

Selah has responded to noise or pain since about 8 weeks after the accident.  However she usually turns away from the noise or pain.  Just in the last few days she has consistently turned towards whoever was talking to her NOT away from.  When she got her shots, she looked down towards her leg!  This is something that the rehab told us to look for and then to come back once it started happening....yeah right Yvonne said REALLY sarcastically!  Never ever taking my girl back to that "rehab"  It's exciting.  Friday starts HBOT!!!!   We are praying that God will use this to heal her brain!!!!!  Please keep our sweet LaLa in your prayers.  She was so relaxed and contented outside.  I'm so glad when we do things that make her obviously happy. 

 

 

It's Monday again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just some pictures from after church.  I like to take pictures of all of us together. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah had taken off her socks and shoes, she is a whiz at that! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selah was beyond ready to go inside!  She had a little tear so we hurried up.

 

 

 

 

Oh paperwork and phone calls....that is all I did today.  It is so overwhelming!  One of the nurses, Rose, really helps me with some coordination of prescriptions and helps us to just order the things we need from the medical supply company each month.  She realized that the prescription for Selah's feeds are wrong and has been working since last week to try and get things straightened out.  We are still working on it.  Selah was not sent the right amount of feeds so she ran out early.  Last night and tonight she is getting apple juice and pedialyte.  We are not happy as our nurse ordered things more than a week ahead of time!   The doctor's office said it was ok for her for a couple of days but it still makes me mad.  She gets such a special formula, there is no way to get it anywhere else.  I do have some Pedisure, we gave that last time when the company ran late and Selah got a lot of gas and just felt awful.  We won't do that again to her.  I'm ordering a few weeks supply so this will never ever happen again.  Our insurance won't pay for it but I don't care, I want it on hand!  I had to do that with the mickey buttons/gtubes and they were so expensive but after her's messing up and not having one on hand because "the insurance won't pay for it yet"  I said "forget the insurance we will just buy some and be on the safe side!!!!!"

 

 

Well I have a lot of loose ends to tie up this week so we are ready to start HBOT on Friday.  Once we start it, that is the focus.  It seems like I have so much paperwork (insurance , bills, stuff for the church...)  it just paralyzes me some days.  Right now, I need to "grab the bull by the horns" and just do some stuff and I just can't get myself to do it!  I hate that, never used to be like this.    But hey my closet and the little kids' closets are cleaned out LOL  I like that kind of work!

 

And I have a chicken casserole cooking.  It's really easy, it reminds me of a dish my mother in law used to make. 

 

 

 

CHICKEN CASSEROLE

 

1 box of Uncle Ben's wild rice ( I use 3 boxes)

 

1 can of condensed cream of chicken soup  ( I use 3)

 

1/2 cup of milk  ( I use 3/4 cup)

 

2 1/2 cup of hot water  (I use 3 cups)

 

you can add mushrooms (no way!) and green onions

 

Lots of pepper, I put lots!

 

Chicken or Turkey- sometimes I use the canned chicken from Sam's but you can use shredded chicken or turkey.  Or what I used today about 6 boneless/skinless chicken very thin.  I put them in raw, but have also used cooked chicken. 

 

cook at 350 for an hour.....it's so good!

 

I have a dish of green beans and usually a bread and salad with it.  It's easy, pretty healthy and very good.

 

 

I also made a trip to the grocery store today....NOW that is avoiding paperwork LOL!  Needed some meats and ideas so I could have some good suppers this week and things to cook in the crock pot once we get started on Friday!  

 

Hope you all have a good night.  Please pray for Selah as we are getting ready once again to start HBOT!