Semi-Finalists!

Someone sent me a message to let me know we are Semi-finalists in the van contest:)
http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/selah-clanton-zephyrhills-fl/
Evidently the choice of winners is more than JUST how many votes someone gets!  So we'll keep our fingers crossed!  Winners are notified on May 30th.  We REALLY need a van now that we will be moving.  When we no longer live near the church, it will be hard to get Selah to church on the weekend.  We like for us to keep that tradition together as a family.  It's thanks to all of you that we made it this far!!!  And especially to Denise who nominated us:)


Well I got my first sunburn of the season:)  I sat outside talking on the phone and didn't realize how much sun I was getting, I have some red legs tonight!  We are having the most beautiful weather, it will be the last little "cool spell" before we hit summer temps.  If only Florida could stay like this all summer long!

Well this is short tonight,  Steve & Shad went with some friends to see Godzilla:)  We've been chasing the little ones around all night.  Sam got all the soaps/shampoos he could grab during his bath, then he leaned over and started pooping while Jon was getting him dressed, I caught it...BEFORE it hit the floor...yep, something new every day... I KNEW I should have set him on the toilet.  LOL  THEN he grabbed a cereal box and turned it upside down on the kitchen floor.....It's funny all these little "toddler behaviors"  he really has just started doing things like this.  he never used to get into things but now he grabs everything he sees!   And for some reason, Sarah was very needy today and wanted to be held, a lot....AND she ate FOUR fudge popsicles bars.  She cried for another one but I started rocking her in the rocker:)   So they kept us busy!

The ONLY thing Jon wants in the new house, is a built in baby gate to keep Sam out of the kitchen!  he gets into everything....daily! 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!!!!!!

Pictures of the property & some medical news

We're still catching our breath over here ......as you can imagine the new house is quite the topic of conversation with us and our nurses:)  Exciting times!  Steve went and did 5 hours of our "sweat equality work" at their thrift shop today.  He had a really good time, you'd thought he got paid for being there as much as he liked working:) 

Yesterday I took Sarah to the neurologist.  He confirmed that she has CP.  Actually he seems to think it is worse than we thought.  He believes she may have some issues with her hips.  We've had an appointment for her to see someone but that is not until August.   I don't' think the doctor thinks she will walk independently  ever.....  I've been coming to that conclusion myself.  She has hit such a plateau in all her motor skill areas, this might be as far as she goes.  IF she'd been worked with as an infant and toddler, it might have made a difference.  But being tied to a bed, didn't help matters. 

After talking to her PT today, I do know I'm not agreeing to any type of surgery, it just wouldn't give her much change and it would be at a high price to her.  I can't see my Sarah in a body cast (worst case) for months.   She doesn't have the understanding & I'm just not sure she could handle it emotionally.  She has NO pain from the impairment at all. 

The neurologist could see how bonded Sarah and I are and he remarked on that since most kids coming from a mental institution have bonding issues, not my girl:)   After Sarah decided he wasn't going to give her a shot, she warmed up to him and played back & to with him. 

I'm ok with all of this......we adopted Sarah knowing full well what we were committing to.  We'd hoped we could have eye surgery for her, and that was impossible due to her eye's condition.  We really hoped she'd walk on her own but....   Nothing changes our love for her.  We adopted her where she was and are committed to whatever happens.  It's not a big deal for us, and she is a happy girl regardless.  She has love now and plenty of food and that's enough for Sarah:)  Love my girl!


Well here are some pictures of the property:)

 

 

this is taken from the back of the property looking towards the front right side.  There are too many bushes to get all the way back

 

 

the old house that is being torn down is behind us.

We are about 30 feet from the back property line

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure what this fir like tree is, but we had one in my front yard growing up!

 

 

this is from the front of the old house, love that we are further back from the street.

Also love the whole time we were there, no cars went by:)

 

the boys exploring off the side of the yard

 

 

inside the garage (that is staying and becoming a shed)

 

 

 

 

outside of garage

 

 

Beautiful property!  The neighbors on the left side are on the other side of their property. Can't even see their house.   The neighbors on the right side are closer but the shed is in between us and their house is set back.   No one across the street and not sure about behind us since the trees/bushes were so intact.  I can't believe I lived in NYC, now just being in Tampa stresses me out, I don't feel like I can breath deep till I get on some of the back roads:)  I'm so glad this is not a subdivision or in town!  I guess you can "take the girl out of the country but you'll never get the country out of the girl"  LOL

 

 

 

An update on Sonya

http://www.gofundme.com/78kap0

ALL the money came in and they are going to have surgery this month!

BUT the last bit $14,000 came as a loan, which is great BUT we'd like to see them not have any debt from this surgery if possible.  Please think about giving still.....please pray that more will come in.

And please pray for Sonya that this will work, with no complications!

 

Also an update on Connie, the lady I requested prayer for:

the surgery went good, no complications, they got all but a small amount of the tumor out.

the doctors are concerned that it might be cancer.  The results are not yet in.  She is already home!!!!!

Please pray for her!

 

 

We are approved!

God is faithful......

We were approved by Habitat for Humanity for a 6 bedroom/3 bath home.....  We are in awe of God's goodness to us.  I had turned the paperwork in last summer and just assumed we were turned down when I didn't hear back.  At the time, we were fighting with insurance to retain Selah's nurses so that was my focus.  Another first homeowner program had turned us down because we basically have no credit.  When I quit working when Sam was born, we paid off our credit cards, cars and from then on used cash only.  We did not feel we could afford to maintain any debt.  We actually thought that was the best thing to do, but we learned that's not what banks want to see.  However HH looked at our credit situation differently.  So when I got the call last week, I was floored. 


Being in ministry we had always leased a home, so we would not get a call to move and then have a house payment.  Owning a home, was not a big deal to me and if you know my husband, he really is not one to feel he has to acquire things.  Our idea was more to be flexible.  When we took this church, and moved to the parsonage, it was great.  We were able to remodel it based on our family at the time, just the three boys.   We were able to squeeze the girls in and things worked well for us.  Even after the adoption, we felt like we could manage with all of us living here.  We love the area, the property and living in the country.

When the accident happened, we realized that we would have to evidently move.  Some people wanted us to remodel the church's parsonage.  But I knew  that wasn't a good idea since this is not our own home.  If Jon were to resign as the pastor or retire, we'd have to move.  If we'd put a lot into remodeling an area for Selah, it's not like we could take it with us.  PLUS we needed time.  After a traumatic event, people are counseled not to make big decisions for at least 6 months.  I felt a bit pressured to make some decisions at first, but the only thing I could think of was just getting home with Selah.  It took us six months to get her home.  Then we had to adjust to our "new normal"  having nurses in the home 24 hours a day, the boys gave up their room and sleep on the floor in the little kids' rooms.  They've never complained.....   But I think we needed that time to just catch our breath. 

Once we got turned down last year by the one first time homeowner's program, I didn't think this route would work for us.  So I just prayed and told God our needs.  I was able to give Him the situation.  And I refused to let myself get worried or anxious about it, nor would I get envious of other's situations.  I really believed God would work out WHAT we needed, WHEN we needed it.  I didn't want to rush the situation and we have so much to concentrate on anyhow, that I just "let it go"

The one thing I couldn't help but worry about was Selah.  I want everything to be perfect for her, but there are things that are complicated now and will only get more complicated as she gets older.  Giving her a bath is hard, Just carrying her down the hall, makes her stiffen up and it is hard to turn her in our small hallway to get her in the bathroom door when she stiffens up.  Her wheelchair barely fits in the hall/doorways and she has lots of equipment we have to put in other rooms, or awkward places since there is just not room for it in her room.  It makes it inconvenient on the nurses and for Selah.  Also the nurses have to empty all her secretions and mucus in our bathroom, Selah has MRSA in her nasal/trach areas and that has been a concern for the rest of the family.   And obviously in such a small home, if one of the other kids gets sick, it's harder to shield the nurses and Selah from them. 

BUT we have managed and we have managed with plenty of smiles.  Our family rolls with the punches and this has been a big punch, almost a punch out but God has given us grace.  Since our life changed with Sam's birth, I've determined "to learn to be content in whatever state I was in"  I truly believe we get ourselves in trouble when we are discontent and complaining.  I'm not saying I'm Ms Mary Sunshine all the time LOL but when it comes to our home life and what we have, I'm very careful to keep my heart from uncontentment and envy.  I try to count my blessings, not my needs or wants. 

I'm not sharing this to prove how good of a Christian or a person I am but to share how God helped me maintain my heart.  When I'd begin to feel unsettled, I would pray about it and remind myself that most people in America including myself have a higher standard of living than the majority of the world by just having clean drinking water.  I'd think about the orphanages I've been to and realize, my life is easy to compared to so many. 

My kids really had hoped that Extreme Homemaker would chose us, as someone had sent in a recommendation but even tho that was fun to think about, I was a bit hesitant really in my heart about that.  We just live a bit more simpler than that.   This is more, us.  We are involved, we will be working and we will also have a mortgage.

God has been so faithful to walk with us through the darkest deepest valley.  He was with us in the good times, He provided for our adoption of the girls and He was with us every second during the crises time following the accident.   I don't have all the answers of WHY things turned out this way.  But I know His hand has held us.  He has taken care of our needs, helped us with the nursing situation, given us the strength to work through the grief of a near drowning and how that changed our lives forever while still making new memories with the other children.  When you have four more kids, you learn life goes on despite heartache.   And once again He is providing for our family in a way, that we could not have imagined a week ago.  We believe "every good gift comes down from above"  so we look at this gift with thankfulness. 

So my heart is thankful and of course we are excited.  The boys are really excited about having their own rooms!  YEAH!  I have to brag on them, they aren't perfect but they've never really complained about anything, not about losing their room, not about having to have all their stuff put in the church's office in boxes, not about having so many nurses/therapists/teachers come in our home.  They've made our lives so much easier by keeping a good altitude.  I appreciate Steve & Shad a lot for NOT adding to our stress and burdens.  In fact after living in ONE room at Ronald McDonald House for over 4 months, and then almost 2 more months in a hotel, our house seemed quite big when we finally got home after the accident.  It was like a dream to even be home.  And they were great when we were at the RMH and the hotel.  Steve did his schoolwork and watched over the little ones AND volunteered at the RMH as did Shad.  I appreciate those two a lot! 

So the next steps are to work on the plans of the house so it is suited for our needs.  We are going to start on our hours - we have sweat equality hours to do-  Steve is starting tomorrow at 9 am:)    The old home on the property will be torn down and the property cleaned up.  Actually building won't start till October, but that time will go quick. 

We have grateful hearts tonight, now the burden & worry Selah's ongoing physical needs is gone.     She will have an area devoted to her.  We are blessed and humbled by this.  That is what means the most to me (although I am quite happy to have my own little bathroom!!!!!) 

Happy Mother's Day 2014!

Love being a mom to my five blessing- they each have a story of how they miraculously came into our family both by birth & by adoption. Each story is unique, each story is unusual & I love it! You know we can't do things like everyone else:) Thank you God for Steve, Shad, Sam. Selah & Sarah! I'm BLESSED!

 

I love this selfie my bearded baby took of us.  I still remember our first Mother's Day with him while we were living in NYC!  I was THRILLED to be a mom:) 

 

After 6 years of marriage, I really didn't know if we'd ever have kids, and was SHOCKED beyond belief when I found out I was pregnant.  I never knew that baby I was carrying would bring me the joy he has.  I've enjoyed him from the day he was born, through all the stages, which were easy with him, to today, growing up, getting ready to graduate.....  He gave me a very easy introduction to motherhood:)

 

 

My boys!

 

 

me, Sarah and Jon

 

We ate at Cracker Barrel on our way to visit a church member in the hospital.  I usually hold myself back but hey it's Mother's Day so I got fried shrimp, hushpuppies, and 2 servings of fried okra.  Plus biscuits and honey.....YUM!

 

As you can see, my family can't quite stay up with me when it comes to southern food....This is what the backseat looked like on the way to Tampa!

 

LOL!!!!!!

 

 

This is not staged and I almost wrenched my back to get this picture!  I do believe Shad is his father's child LOL!!!!!

 

 

Hope you all had a marvelous weekend!  If you are a mother, Happy Mother's Day.  I know for many Mother's Day is hurtful, it was for me for many years.  When I was a child, I didn't' have a "real " mother and that was embarrassing  (although I loved my aunt)    Then as an adult, I didn't have children for many years.....I know the sting.  We just do not make a big deal of Mother's Day at our church.  I guess knowing the sting that many women have felt, we realize it is a sensitive area.  The church we pastor, used to do a full big production for Mother's Day and I saw several women grieving for various reasons.  Over the years, we've scaled back and it's mentioned, but not promoted.  It really happen unconsciously, and now I'd certainly find it hard to start emphasizing it.   I think we are at church to have our  minds on God, not earthly relationships...that's just my opinion, based on years of knowing how some can be hurt on Mother's Day.  It's probably a different perspective, but it's where we are more comfortable.  Y'all know I LOVE being a mother, but I see church as more a time to focus on God and our relationship with Him.  Go out afterwards and celebrate your mom.....

 

Totally off the beaten path here.....but I REALLY feel a church service and sermon should be devoted to God.  I'm not comfortable with any Non spiritual emphasis such as the 4th of July or Father's Day, Mother's Day....preaching about politics, anything like that....

 

When we were in NY and Selah was so sick in the hospital, we went to a church and the preacher 's WHOLE sermon was on the upcoming 2012 election.  I was so broken inside, I didn't give a fart about who the president was going to be at that point (and I find all that interesting)  But you see, that pastor didn't know a broken hurting mom sat in his congregation that morning. All he cared about was getting his views across (and I agreed with most of them, but it was not the time or place)   When we left I wryly said to Jon "Good thing I didn't need a word from God this morning" 

 

So in the same sense, you do not know what pain someone is bringing to church with them.  Maybe they don't need to be reminded of losses.....of their mom, of a child, of infertility, .......  they need to hear a word from God that will give them the strength to carry on.....

 

Ok off my soapbox......

 

 

Please pray for our church member and dear friend Connie.  Her husband is our Spanish pastor and they both volunteer in the prison ministry on a weekly basis.  She has worked with Jon for years (having just retired from the prison as administration)  She cared for the inmates when she worked with them and she still does as a volunteer.  She loves my kids, Sam usually sits with her during church now......Anyhow she has a brain tumor that is causing seizures.  At first it was thought to be non cancerous now, they don't' know.  She is having surgery tomorrow at 1 pm.  PRAY that the doctor can get it all out and that it is not cancer.   She is such a blessing to so many people and dearly loved by her family.   We were able to go and sit with them in the hospital today, her room was a room full of joy as she recounted stories of how God had worked miracles in their lives, brought her and her husband together, how she became a Christian.....just uplifting and precious.   If you heard all the laughter and praises in that room, you'd have NO idea anyone in there was going to have brain surgery in less than 24 hours!  God be with her is my prayer!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Pool Party

                                       JUMP!
   

 

 

Sarah loves the pool

 

 

Shad and the lizard

 

 

For all you Shad fans....

this is how you know the day was fun LOL!

we went over to my close friend's house to eat pizza & swim.  The kids had a blast.  Jon kept Sam since Sam can't go into pools with his implant but Sarah loved the pool.  Steve kept her in for about 30 minutes and she was thrilled.  Plus we had ice cream and that makes her really happy!


The voting for the van is over.....we had 11,736!   That is a lot of love for our family!  Thank you!
the winners will be contacted May 30th.  I was actually going to look on the site to see if we are in the top level with the votes but I don't see how to access anyone else page.  Oh well, we will find out soon!

Speaking of finding our soon, we will find out next week if we are selected for Habitat for Humanity's home project.   Lots of things to look forward to!!!

Hope you all have a great weekend! 

 

 

Last Day to Vote-----two years ago HOME!

This is the last day for voting for Selah in the wheelchair accessible van contest!!!!!
http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/selah-clanton-zephyrhills-fl/
Today's answer is TRUE!
Thank you all for the time and effort you made to vote, we've had over 11,000 votes!!!!


We went and got a hitch put on our van today, first step towards getting a trailer for hauling our kayaks.  I've gotten very tired of trying to put them all in the van and the back being open.  The last time we were kayaking it was just crazy! 

Sarah got the xray for her tummy to make sure she is not impacted anymore.  Lord knows I hope she is fine because I do NOT. EVER. want to have to do a TWO days of Mirelax with her again!!!!!!
Shad also got a "pee" test done.  He thought it was funny.  He is going to start taking a pill to help him stop bed wetting.  Since his surgery last year he has almost quit.  It seems to be a physical problem more for him than anything.  We were BOTH excited to hear about this medicine! 

We got home to find out Selah's hospital bed has quit working or at least the head of it has quit working.  So I called the company and she'll get a new one on Monday.  In the meanwhile, we have turned her around in bed since she likes some elevation of her head.  When I came in, she was lifting her head up and seemed a bit ticked off:)  I LOVE when I see her show anything-even irritation! 

So it was a long day and we went out to eat for Mother's Day since Sundays' tend to be quite busy for us.  Sarah ate THREE bowls of Pasta Fagolia soup at Olive Garden.   The waitress seemed surprised.  I love OG since they will puree the food for her.  It makes her very happy. 

Thankfully this morning I started a beef stew in the crock pot- crock pots are so very wonderful1

 

 

And so easy

potatoes, carrots, an onion, celery, and some stew meat pieces

I use a packet of "beef stew flavoring" and I use beef broth to give more flavor AND a lot of pepper:) 

Cook it for 8 hours and YUM!

 

 

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Today is two years since we came home from Ukraine with our girls.

I love this picture taken the day before we left Ukraine

Sam, Jon and Selah taking a nap in our Kiev apartment.

Who knew in just a few weeks that the three of them would be involved in an accident.  Look how Selah is holding Jon's hand, so sweet.  I'm so glad I took this picture, I was afraid I'd wake them up but I didn't and I got this sweet picture!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look I'm still smiling in between Selah and Sam somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean:)

 

 

Jon held Sarah the whole trip basically.  She was a snuggle bug!

 

 

Sam is quite the world traveler:)  Sitting by Steve

 

 

Selah did not like the seat belt!

 

 

Finally in Tampa!

 

 

All the kids together in the van!

 

 

 

 

 

HOME!

Selah finally in her crib!

 

Sarah in her crib, sound asleep on her tummy

she doesn't sleep like that now but did for months.

 

Sam had a matching crib

 

So glad my girls are home, their region is in turmoil now and I doubt their adoptions could have been finalized....so thankful for being able to get them home!!!!

 

Hope you all have a great weekend! 

Sad News again......

Again I have sad news.....little Yuri passed away.  It seems he had an infection and went in to septic shock.  A volunteer tried to save him after he'd been ignored for 5 days....and then he died in the volunteer's arms.  Poor baby.....https://www.facebook.com/SavingBabyYuri   please say a prayer for his family who were coming for him.  My fear was that Sarah would die before we got to her, she seemed so weak, I can imagine how they must feel.

You know often I am asked "WHY international adoption when there are so many kids that need homes in the US?"  This is why.....in so many countries, there is just not the resources  or the care for special needs children.   The American foster care system is not perfect, but when something goes wrong, the people involved are punished and investigated.  Not so in so many other parts of the world. 

For us personally, we NEVER thought about really doing an adoption.  After Sam was born, we were MORE than overwhelmed.  BUT God allowed us to see Shad's picture and we knew he was our son.  Then we were done, three boys, didn't think again about adoption....THEN God allowed us to see Sarah's picture....we were in love with her......then God allowed us to see Selah's picture.....and she was our child too....   I can't explain it but these three were our children.....just like they were our biological, somehow the stork just put them in the wrong country......  so it's not like we set out to do this.....God showed us and opened the door for us and we CHOSE to walk through that open door instead of looking away!

I believe Sarah would not be alive today if we had not adopted her, she was weak, and had lost her will to live.  She was like a shadow of a tiny little bird.  It was beautiful how she opened up to us, even while in the mental institution.  Now she is so happy and such a tough girl. 

Thank you if you gave towards Yuri's adoption.  I don't know his parents plans but maybe after they have time to grieve, they may find room in their heart for another child.   I will let you know when I hear something.  You can follow their story on their FB page.

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Our friend who did the photo shot for us won a photography contest with this picture. 

 

this is what she wrote about it

Kandi Fields Bailey To me this picture sums up the whole story. Sarah couldn't even hold her head up when they got there. Her head was shaved bald, confined to a crib all day. Many people would see her as irreparable, undesirable, too much work. The Clantons saw her true worth and have loved her unconditionally and thoroughly since they first laid eyes on her. Before that even! This picture captures the contented smile of a little girl who has known what being forgotten feels like. She is leaning into her mommy, who loves her, holds her, cares deeply for her. Truly, truly a new chance at life. What a gift!

 

 

Her words made me cry:)  Sarah is such a gift to us, I love how she is hugging me tight in this picture and smiling as she always does (except when she knows someone is taking a picture LOL). 

 

 

 

Shad and Princess fell asleep on my bedroom floor after school one day.  I thought this was so cute.  Shad falls asleep like an old man.  He is so busy, that when he stops, he stops! 

 

 

 

And this was dinner tonight!

Taco lasagna, yellow rice and Mexican corn

strawberry angel food cake for dessert.

I have a happy family tonight!

 

 

 

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

todays' answer is .....FALSE!

 

So thankful for a few friends who post this almost daily!

Jerry, Lori, Paula & Betty

they remind ME!

 

we are at 11,555!  Can't believe so many people took the time to vote for us!  WOW!

 

========================================================

 

Yesterday I got the last bit of paperwork in for the Habitat for Humanity Home.  We should know if we are chosen by Tuesday!  You know that is ALL we are talking about in our home:)  The kids are dreaming, the nurses are dreaming....LOL  I am dreaming of my own bathroom......lots of dreaming going on:)  

 

Update on Selah, her high heart rates are gone.  In fact she is back down in the low heart rates now that she has that new medicine for spascity.   She has an MRI scheduled for this month at St Joe's, we are not giving her the seizure meds until we have some proof she is having seizures.  The doctor thought she was but the EEG really didn't show any real proof of them.  IF there has been any negative changes in her brain, then we will give her the meds but we are not anticipating that at all.  We also have not given her the new med that could "wake her up more" based on the changes she'd had and the high heart rates she'd had, again we are waiting for the MRI to decide what to do. 

 

She is on Mirelax now and really going to the bathroom on her own:)  That seems to help a lot too.  We are all so happy about her poop:)  Believe me that is quite the conversation of some of our nurses!!! LOL  They are all very happy with things!

 

 

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Please keep little Yuri's family in your prayers.  Thankfully we know where he is now and he is not in pain, in fact he may understand things a lot better than any of us do now.......