Rainy Monday......

Ah......a nice rainy day, my garden is growing. Usually on Mondays I really try and get a lot of stuff done but Sarah wanted mommy to hold her and mommy loves to hold her:)  Then went over piano lessons with Shad and taught it to Steve since he is starting classes tomorrow too.  Then I had to play for awhile LOL, it's been awhile since I've played, managed to butcher a few hymns.  I did get about 5 loads of laundry done and supper is cooking (chicken parm, shells, garlic bread and salad)  And I managed to get a few appointments scheduled.  I have a date for the biopsy on my thyroid, that is something to look forward to isn't it? 

So I've checked on our contest, we are at 1,369 votes.  Please vote today... the extra vote  answer is 20 hours is how many hours a week a caregiver gives care....20
http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/selah-clanton-zephyrhills-fl/
thank you all for your votes and sharing it. PLEASE keep sharing as we'd love to win a van for Selah

Speaking of Selah, she has just been a little different the last few days, her oxygen levels have been a little low (but not bad) and her heart rate a little high.  We really think it is because she is coming off all the BP meds (her BP has been perfect-but the meds were also given to help her heart rate)  I always feel a little unsettled if everything is not perfect with Selah but we think she is ok. 

So we are not surprised at the vote in Ukraine.  But we are concerned that Crimea is not where Putin will stop....  please keep praying for Ukraine. 

Life is so uncertain.....

My Crazy Day

Do you ever have "one of those days"?   Well I just had one today!

Yesterday was a perfect day, we took Sarah with us to our sister in law's dad's memorial service, she was perfect in a new dress, behaved perfect.....we looked like we had it all going on in the parenting department....Fast forward 24 hours.........

This morning started out fine, I got the little ones bathed and dressed for church, blow dried Sarah's hair, got a bow in it.  She had on a new black & white sundress with colorful flowers on it.  Sam had on his little black & white suit.  Ironed the older boys' clothes, they both looked good.  The nurse had Selah bathed and dressed nice.  We make it to church early.  I helped Steve do a new song for our worship service on the computer so it would go up on the screen. I'm meeting and greeting everyone....

It went straight downhill from that point on.  As the worship began, one of the guys came to tell me he thought Sarah might need a diaper change.....I went to pick her up from her spot  in the altar area and checked....well my son and one of my best friends said I said a word that should not be uttered in a church, by a pastor's wife.  At that point the music minister loudly began playing the piano.....there was POOP all over the floor....the NEW carpet.....  I did not even know what to do!  Another friend came and helped me walk Sarah out so we wouldn't' get poop anywhere else, while my other friend cleaned the carpet.  I had to clean Sarah from just about head to toe and throw everything into the washer.  We go back in church, and as I walked in, Selah started spitting up mucus, so I put Sarah down, and ran and got paper towels to clean Selah up. 

Things settle down for a few minutes, then Sarah pooped again and I took her to change her and just went home with her.  The nurse came over to, since Selah was bringing up all this mucus (which is good) 

Then after church we go out to eat.  Sarah got so excited that she fell out of her chair, just spun right out of it.  Sam was beyond grumpy....go to put Sarah in the car, she'd pooped again.....had to change her clothes....in the parking lot. 

We drive up to our house and there are TWO police cars there and our nurse outside....I fell out of the door of the van thinking something had happened to Selah....  Thank God they were there because the church's alarm was going off.  Someone (my oldest son) had left the church door unlocked but the alarm system on.  Someone had come up to the church and opened the door and left when the alarm went off.  Nothing was taken but it was a good scare!

I go back to the house, Selah had to go on oxygen, because for some strange reason her oxygen levels are dropping.  She is not sick, we think she may have a mucus plug.  I should say we don't' think she is sick.    Not sure if I shared but the new neurologist took her off of two meds that worked on her blood pressure.  she had needed it right after the accident but her BP is always low now and which means her body can regulate her own BP and she doesn't need extra help.  Right now her BP is perfect, but her heart rate is a little high but still fine.  We think it will all level out after awhile.  Right now we are all just watching her to make sure things are ok.

So this has been one crazy day.....all I want to do is to go to sleep! What a day.

Hope you got a good laugh, we laughed too.  I really don't believe I said what I was accused of saying BUT I can't be positive.....LOL



Ok we are over 1000 but please go and vote!
The answer today is :  OEM = original equipment manufacturer!
You can get TWO votes if you vote now!!!!!
thank you so much1!!!!!

Don't forget to VOTE!!!!!

We are at 904!  I'd love to open up the computer tomorrow morning and see us over the 1000 mark!

You can get TWO votes again today.......  The answer is TRUE  (but I've forgot the question LOL) 

PLEASE go and vote for LaLa!

http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/selah-clanton-zephyrhills-fl/


Actually we did say if we win the van, we are going to put across the back window "La La's Van"  LOL   Sweet girl will have her own van.  We also do not plan on using it much unless she is in it.  We'd keep our other two vans (Jon's is 14 years old but a good work van and mine is much newer and our one for all the kids)  Selah's would be one, that we'd want to keep the mileage low on because we'd need it for years to come.  Most handicapped accessible used vans that we have looked at have been around $30,000 even with over 100,000 miles on them.  (for the record, we've never bought a NEW car that cost that much!!!!!!)  so this would be something we'd plan on using for years and years to take Selah to appointments, to the park, to therapy......  What a difference it would make in her life!!!!

I'll tell you last Wednesday when we took her to the neurologist....  Our nurse carried her out to the van and strapped her in the middle passenger seat, it reclines so we put pillows around her.  she is just too big for the carseat anymore.  Then he took the wheelchair and put it in the back.  We drove there, took out the wheelchair )it's a deep area behind the rear seat so you have to pull the darn thing out and it is heavy)

Then we had to put her in the chair, IN THE RAIN.  You can't just throw her in, she has to be buckled in and the medical office, didn't have an overhang. 

Then after the LONG appointment, we had to take her out of the chair, position her in the car and put the wheelchair back in the back...... drive home.....and just take her out of the car and carry her to her room....come back for the wheelchair later.....

It would be so nice to just put her in the chair at her bedside , wheel her out....wheel her into the van and go.....I can't even imagine how much easier it would make her life  (and ours !)

Thank you for your votes and your help!  We would NOT be at 904 with YOU!!!!!!

Relationships

Well my possibly possessed blog page is at it again.  For several days, I had no problems loading anything....now we are back to being crazy!   What I see is only two pictures, then I save and publish the blog and I can see all the ones I've uploaded, but in different sizes.....UGH!!!

These are pictures of my husband's family/MY family after the memorial service of my sister in law's dad (she is married to one of Jon's brothers)  We also have one of our close friends & her son in the pictures too.  They are family to us also.

The service was perfect for Mr Addison, I'm sure he would have liked it.  He was 86 and in decent health.  He sat down to watch tv last week, and passed away in his chair.  He lived a full long and interesting life.  So it wasn't a tragic funeral BUT it is never easy to say goodbye to someone you love dearly as my SIL and her kids loved him. 

A funeral always reminds us of eternity, and of what is REALLY important in this life.  You know what is important?  Our relationships with each other.  Nothing else matters at all.  As you see our picture is missing a few kids of ours, my friend Jackie's husband and their daughter....  add all of them and that is a huge part of my life. I want to hold close & dear to me these ones who matter the most. 

We  also look back at funerals.  At Mr Addison's we heard of his years of playing professional baseball and his childhood in Philly.  The slideshow had pictures of his parents, brother and early pictures of Val and his brothers too....  Pictures are very meaningful to me.  Sometimes I will stare at a picture and remind the moments that went on before it and the ones after it.....

It made me think back again to the ones in my life, the ones who have lived LIFE with me....it's all about relationships......     so hold your people close, don't let things come between you.  It's not always easy to be close to people, but be there for each other.  Cause it all comes down to relationships. 

At the end of our lives, jobs, money, homes, cars, even ministry won't matter, it will be the relationships that you treasure the MOST!

 

 

High School

http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/selah-clanton-zephyrhills-fl/


I'm afraid I'm going to sound like a broken record before long BUT......PLEASE GO VOTE!  We're at 657 and getting behind.  I've not looked on the site at others because I don't want to feel like I'm trying to beat someone else specifically  but one of my friends did, just to see if we were ahead.  We're about in the middle....I really need your help to win this for Selah.  Handicapped Accessible vans are very expensive, much more than we could afford, we've looked into it already.   We also looked at the possibibly of converting our newer van into one but the cost is still high and we'd lose one or two seats and that wouldn't work since there is so many of us and when Selah travels, she must have the nurse with her.  Our other van is 14 years old LOL and we don't' trust it out of town!  So please go and vote daily.  Some days you have the possibility of voting 2x.  Today the answer to the question is CONVERSION! 

Please share our link with your friends on FB and email lists....if you belong to a civic organization please share it with them too.  We'd really appreciate it!

AND THANKS FOR THE  657 votes we have thus far!!!!!!


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Steve and I spent the day together at his friend's house.  He is FINISHED with ALL his high school work!!!!!!!!  Today he finished his computer science class, he was able to get some help from his friend who is an expert on all things computer!  I had a GREAT day talking with his mom. who has been a friend for a long time but I'm just now getting to know her better.  This large family lives on some of the most beautiful farm property in the state of Florida.  Florida actually has some ridges and the one in our area is so pretty, I love Florida, but this area doesn't look like Florida with small rolling hills.  I have to really watch my "envy" when I'm at their home!  LOL  It's one of the prettiest places around.  They have started a small farm and it was neat to see a new baby calf.  For some crazy reason I also tried to pet a bull LOL, when his mouth came towards my hand, I reconsidered !!!!  It was a nice peaceful day.  Jon took care of the little ones, and did his sermon today.  I think I owe him!

Our church is taking up an offering for Ukraine on Sunday and the boys were working on doing a dvd off ALL of our videos and pictures of Ukraine.  I watched all of them, some for the first time in over a year.  To watch Selah walk, make her funny little noises....I just broke down and sobbed in front of all the family.   So glad I have those little memories but my God, I miss her so much.  I wanted to reach through the screen and take her hand.  Please still pray that we'll get that miracle for her.  I'd be glad to give up a handicapped accessible van and anything else we could ever be given, for her to come back to us......


Hope everyone has a great weekend.  don't forget to vote daily for Selah but more importantly, pray for her daily!!!!!!  Thank you all!!!!!!

Funny pictures....

Please take the time to go and vote!  We are only 29 votes from 500!  You can get TWO votes today by answering the question right.  MAY IS Mobility Month.....


http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/selah-clanton-zephyrhills-fl/


Here are some pictures of me and Brownie today.  I took her to the dog groomer, she is all shaved and clean.  Someone put Brownie in our fence years ago.  We estimate she is about 13 or 14 years old.  We've enjoyed her from the first day and have felt blessed to have a dog like her.   Some mornings when I go out, she is slow to wake up and it scares me.  I love this old girl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here I am in a real throwback Thursday picture....

1988 to be exact...

My college roommate's wedding

Not sure if I'll EVER forgive her for allowing me to wear a "mullet" so happily.....

 

 

 

LOL she is really a BFF and the great thing is they are moving to our area soon!!!!!  WOOHOO Let the good times ROLL!   My life will never be the same!

 

 

This is a short blog, got babies to get to bed longer one coming.....

 

Please vote!!!!

 

 

this is too funny....that is me, MISSING the bouquet....BUT not for lack of trying.  Look at all the other girls, just being sweet & pretty....I've got my shoes off and I'm going for it!!!!  LOL I got married 1 year and 2 months later LOL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Burman's experience with Reece's Rainbow (Part 1)

 

Well this is the walk of victory.....

Shelly and her four new boys, home at last!

(thanks to the photographer!)

 

No these are not the children Shelly and her husband originally planned on adopting in Ukraine.  These are not the ones she left America for on December 8, 2013.....but they are the ones she returned home with on February 23, 2014!

 

Till now this could not be shared and this is not the whole story.  But this is a start.

 

I am happy to announce I am back and working with a computer now. For those of you who do not know my suitcase was lost in the Frankfurt airport and in it was my computer. Unfortunately, I believe it was taken rather than just lost because it was my carryon and not a check in. I have been without a computer for the last two weeks but in a way it has been a blessing because I have really needed this time with my family to try and find out new norm.

Speaking of new norm....that has been my main priority lately. If you all will recall we were planning on and prepared for older children and two boys and two girls but instead came home with four handsome young boys. This has meant redoing room arrangements, changing out closets and clothes and deciding who sits where at the dinner table. I have not been able to communicate with you all as much due to all of this but in all honesty I really needed this time for my family and to process all that happened while in Ukraine in addition to all the events that led up to the trip to Ukraine.

The boys are all adjusting so well to their home and family life. In all honesty I cannot believe we have not had to make any medical emergency runs or had any huge adjustment issues. Other than technical aspects such as who sits where in the van and dinner table, it is as if the boys have been with us for so long. This is so different than any other adoption experience we have had. I did have a ton of pictures to share with you but unfortunately those too were on my computer so any and all pictures you have seen are thanks in part to the many friends who have taken them. I do promise you that I will get some new ones taken and a whole post dedicated to the boys soon. Time seems to be spoken for these past few days so I will get on that soon.

As for how I am doing as so many people have pm's me to ask... that is a tough one to answer. On one hand my life is complete and perfect in all the ways I once dreamed of. I have what I consider to be MY perfect life. At the same time I have been processing the events of not only the 11 weeks in Ukraine but also the months of turmoil that led up to that time. I won't lie and say it is like when you are in labor and how you soon forget the pain of labor once you hold your child in your arms because that has not been the case. It was tough over in Ukraine. The toughest thing I can honestly say I have been through. I am not just speaking of the conflict that was happening all around the country but I am speaking of the loss my husband and I have had to come to grips with. You see we fought for, prayed for, planned for, and loved four beautiful children by the names of Catherine, Haven, Larson, and Jackson. But those children did not ever get to know the joy of being loved by a mommy and daddy. They are not enjoying the moments of playing in their backyard, going on outings with mom and dad, or being tucked in at night after having a bowl of ice cream. Instead, their lives were played with by the likes of those who think they lay claim to those children. Catherine is not sleeping under the beautiful warm, afghan made for her by a loving woman who prayed so hard for her. Larson is not hanging out at the Lego table with his brother Ethan building all sorts of creations. Haven is not playing dollies with her sister Reagan and whispering at night to each other. Jackson is not getting all of the therapy he deserves so that he can gain a level of independence. No. Instead they are all still languishing in the institution. This hurts me. It hurts my husband. God knows. He knows how much we love those children. He knows how very wrong the actions of Reece's Rainbow director and BOD and their facilitating team is. Our family and so many many of you fought hard to bring those four children home and into our family yet RR and their associates felt it was their "right" to determine if and how that would be. Our children were suddenly "not available to us once we were in country and that is a story upon which I cannot dwell but rather the story behind their grants not being disbursed and the attempt to silence our family is one that I shall bring to the forefront. Children's lives were played with and their futures left in shambles and that is something I will NOT stand for. I will not be silenced and my silence cannot and will not be bought at ANY price. I am not perfect but my love for those children is and that love is what will spur this declaration of my intolerance for the bullying and hypocritical actions of Reece's Rainbow and anyone else involved.

 

 

2nd installment

It is time a big heartfelt thank you is sent out to so many friends I know and the many I do not know. Brian and I truly were shown the love of you all who helped us to bring home our four boys. While in country literally thousands of dollars were raised in just weeks so that we could continue down our path of bringing home our four children.

For those of you just catching up, the four children we have prayed for and worked so hard to bring home did not come home to our family. Not only were they not available to us but neither were their grants funds. Suddenly we were faced with the decision to adopt four other precious little ones. God knew the funds would come and how they would come. Trust became a major theme for me and hence my word for the year. I began focusing on that word as did Brian.

Our family chose to work with Grace Haven Ministries to raise the funds we would need for the boys. With the sudden turn of events we needed to raise what seemed to be an insurmountable amount of money. It seems like overnight the funds came in through friends, strangers, and anonymous people. Every time I turned on the computer the total of funds raised rose higher and higher. I personally felt defeated because I was not home raising that money in some fashion or another but so many of you reminded me of my word of the year. Listen, it was literally a miracle that those funds were raised! A MIRACLE!!

After a period of time it was brought to my attention that three of my boys had grants totaling over $8,000 through RR. Our attorney began communication with RR regarding the grants raised for MY BOYS but RR responded back with the fact that they now decided that they expect me to pay back one of the grants from our boys' Bulgarian adoption and then would give me the remaining funds but with stipulations attached. One of those stipulations was that I was to sign what is called a gag order which would prevent me from saying anything bad about RR or talking about anything with regards to them and this adoption. In other words all things I have shared about our experience with RR and our adoptions was to be taken down and I was to get others to do the same. We could not do that. Not when so many things were at stake and the main one being children. Our experience was ours to tell. Ours to share. We had shared facts and that was our right to. But not so much our right as our duty. Things were going on that were so wrong and to ignore it would make us just as guilty. No matter what amount of money we needed or that was available to us was going to have our morals compromised. We declined RR offer to release the boys' grants minus us paying back a grant (which was used to pay for our Bulgarian adoption facilitator's fees) and our signature stating we would no longer say anything about RR and what had happened to us.

Speaking for myself, I had never been so irate in my whole life to watch an organization I once so passionately supported utilize innocent children's grant funds to get back at someone who dared speak out against them. I was told that the reason RR decided to now demand repayment for the grant fund (even though they had not prior for over a year) was because I acted a bully towards them. Yes, it would have been easy on a whole lot of people to just take that money so that people did not have to work so hard to raise funds for us but then I could not look myself in the mirror. We were not going to take money and just let what was going on continue. We could have thought of ourselves and taken the money but that is not what any of this was about. It was and has always been about doing what is right and using funds that have been raised for children as a tool with which to silence those who dare speak out against RR is far from what is right.

I do not speak for others and their experiences even though I know there are many. I am speaking for my family and the experience we have had. So now my only questions are where did that $8,000 go and when will RR stop abusing families who seek truth and justice in adoptions?! 

 

 

(BTW the whole issue in Bulgaria was not the Burman's fault, it was again something that was out of their hands totally.)

 

There will be more to share......

 

I'm sad that this all has happened.  As you may remember my husband and I were hoping to adopt one of those girls before Selah's accident.  So I was overjoyed when I knew the Burmans were planning on adopting her and giving her a good life.  We raised money on here, over $1000 that went to the adoption.  I was so glad to be a small part of things.  THEN this happened.....the Burmans were told they could not adopt the girls, or the older boys either.  The girls were unavailable to them.  And that made it too difficult for them to adopt the boys in that region.... Long story short, those girls were placed BACK up on the Reece's Rainbow page immediately following the Burman's court date  for the little boys.  So WHY is it that the girls are now available? 

 

I'm heartbroken the little 8 year old girl, the size of a 2 yr old is still stuck in Ukraine.  Every time but once when I saw that precious child, she was drugged.  My heart was so pulled towards her.   The other little girl, who played with us daily and who wanted a mommy is still in an institution....so sad....I know those girls personally....  It's not some STUPID game that is being played by silly people. 

 

BUT I am so thankful for the four little boys who have been spared such heartache.  They were in a good orphanage where they were taught so much.  They won't be transferred to an adult mental institution when they turn 4 years old.  They are safe, at home with a loving family who can help them have the best life possible. 

 

So this is their experience, told in their own words.....