In the last few weeks:

-The cat has disappeared
-I ran over the dog
-We had 3 surgeries and 2 hospitalizations (if you include the dog)
-We went out of state twice
-Joseph had staples in his scalp
-Joseph had the heimlich maneuver performed on him at school
-Several people in our family have been treated for strep throat
-We got a french drain around our house
-I sent two kids to a state level music competition
-We had our last soccer game
-I decided to homeschool one more child next year
-We concluded this year's homeschool group


-We found out we are in the process of getting a new cousin, pictured below.....
:))))))))))))))))

Luke the dog is still around and doing just fine. He was supposed to be an outside dog, but well. You know....

Here is the french in the process of being laid. I think Simeon and Joseph have discovered their calling in life.

After watching the workers for two days, Zoya became pretty attached to them and  it was hard for her to see them go. She gave them big hugs, and two kisses on each cheek. Then she kissed their hands. ha

It is so interesting to watch her around people. She will go up to anybody, I mean ANYBODY, and hug them....grocery store clerks, strangers and church, random kids at school.  In the world of adoption and attachment,  this is considered a bad thing, but I personally love how loving she is. She really knows how to make somebody's day!

The girls like to sit up on Daddy's truck and watch him work in the yard. I thought they were so cute I had to take their picture.

John reminds me more and more of my Grandpa all the time and I LOVE it. He planted a garden in the back and is teaching our kids how to take care of it.

This photo represents the significant progress we have made with Joseph, and I just had to stop and take note, to document how far we have come. Do you remember there was a time when we never would have allowed him near a stack of plates, a full cup of ice water, and a table set with food? He has settled down so much both at home and at school, and has really become such a pleasant and sweet and obedient (for the most part) little boy. Miracles DO happen!

How sweet is this....Zoya was praying for Joseph and Ava the other night, tucking them in bed, and giving them both kisses. She even sang a little lullaby to Joseph. What a blessed mama I am!

Just had to share this little video I took while I was making dinner tonight. You can hear Joseph and Ava in the background. They like to shake their fingers at each other and say 'NO' for no apparent reason. ha. Zoya and Hope get along pretty well (especially considering they are only four months apart). In fact, Hope told me recently that Zoya is her best friend. :)

Anyway, this wasn't a particularly earth-shattering, funny, or unusual moment, but I just thought it was sweet to see my little girls dancing on the trampoline together, while Joseph and Ava, who are also best buds, scolded each other in the background. And then the dog who is alive and healthy goes strolling by. I was just thinking how much I loved my life, and I had to get up and capture the moment. The loud noise is the beans boiling and the chicken grilling I guess.

I'm glad my 9 year old boy taught me how to use the video camera function on my phone, and how to post it on Youtube. ha. You'll probably be seeing a lot more of these videos now that my kids are teaching me to be more technology savvy.

Easter Sunday, rather than dressing up and going to church and getting cute family pictures taken afterwards, John and I spent the day in bed with fevers, coughs and sore throats, while the kids watched TV and fended for themselves. We were out of groceries, and John, feeling better at one point, went to pick up some of the essentials. The store we normally go to was closed for Easter Sunday, so he was on his way empty handed. I sent him a text reminding him that we hadn't done anything for the kids for Easter, and could he please pick up a couple of Easter baskets for the little ones, and some things for dying eggs. So he stopped at Dollar General and picked up dye but no eggs. ha. Thankfully there were still 5 left in the carton, not enough for everybody to dye even one egg, but at least the older kids didn't feel like they needed one. John and I were feeling too tired to hide eggs but the kids had their own little Easter party while we tried to get over our misery. I have taken two rounds of antibiotics in the last month or so for strep throat, and I'm pretty sure it's back.

Today, after I dropped Simeon off with a friend who was taking him to a birthday party, I went to pick up Ava who rides home with a friend who we carpool with. While I waited, I was trying to make some calls to the geneticist's office, where I was supposed to take Zoya an hour later. I was wanting to see if they or another doctor in the office could run a quick strep test on me so I could kind of kill two birds with one stone. All you moms know how hard it is to be sick when you're trying to run a home! There is no time for mom appointments! Might as well try to be seen along with your kids. I kept getting the runaround, or wrong numbers, or disconnection. So there I was in my car, having a pity party over all of Zoya's recent setbacks, and how miserable I felt, and I started crying right there in my car while I waited. Soon my friend arrived and noticed my red puffy eyes. She was understanding and sympathetic, although I just hate to cry in front of other people.

As if I could have felt any worse, five minutes later, I pulled into my driveway and was greeted by the dogs, as usual. They ALWAYS run up to the van to greet me, and they always get out of my way before I pull into the driveway. Well today Nellie did not move out of the way. I heard a loud yelp and I slammed on my brakes. My heart was pounding: I was certain that I was going to find my beloved dog dead under my van. Lo and behold she was bloody, shaking, but not dead. I had to physically pick her up, all 64 pounds of her, and put her in the van. I took some of the kids with me and left others at home and we rushed her to the vet. It appears that I would have completely run over her head if it were not for the thick layer of gravel that was just laid down our driveway a couple of weekends ago. Instead she was able to pull free just before the tire totally crushed her. :(((

Of course we did not make it to Zoya's geneticist follow up appointment that I was on my way to...the one that we've been waiting weeks for.

As you can imagine, I feel really horrible about this, but I am relieved to report though that Nellie is going to be fine. She is scraped up, swollen, has two broken teeth which will need to be extracted and a swollen jaw.....but she is alive.  And her tail is wagging. I was just telling John two nights ago what a great dog she has been, and how I am not looking forward to losing her someday. I am so thankful that today wasn't that day.

I love that I am blessed to know so many good-hearted people. Even before she knew about the dog incident, one friend emailed a gift certificate to Applebees with a note that said:

No sick Mama needs to be in the kitchen.  You deserve a break.  So please accept this gift as my way to make your burden lighter. <3
Galations 6:2

Another brought over strawberry shortcake. We enjoyed the loveliest dinner and dessert at home tonight, and I didn't even have to cook. It was so nice and it really made my day.

So all is well. I am thankful for so many things.....family, faith, health, good friends, but tonight mostly that our sweet Nellie is going to be OK. :)

And hopefully she's learned her lesson about cars.

So....
After I sent a second picture to the cleft palate surgery nurse, I got a call at 8:30 on Friday morning, saying the surgeon wanted us to come in ASAP. Another trip to Little Rock, and another surgery Friday afternoon. The surgeon explained that some of her palate had disappeared. She had to reinforce the stitches that were still remaining but she was not able to repair the hole until the tissue is allowed to heal. She (Dr. Buckmiller) thinks that Zoya must be sucking on her tongue at night while she sleeps, since the hands that she normally sucks on are restrained. The suction effect must have pulled out the stitches. So what this means is that half of the hole in her palate....is back. I can't tell you how depressing that is just to type out. Poor girl has had so many setbacks. The doctor explained that Zoya does not have much going for her in the self-healing department: a poor nutritional status, low immune status, her age, her activity level. She says while it is rare for a cleft to come undone like that, Zoya would have been at risk and so it was no huge surprise, I guess.

So one surgery has basically turned into three surgeries. We will have to start all over again once the tissue heals itself, in six or eight months. Meanwhile we keep doing what we're doing, giving her liquids only, and keeping hands and objects out of her mouth. I did ask about the retainer, which one person commented about. The surgeon said they don't typically use the retainers because it traps infection. She was willing to consider it, but the orthodontic surgeon was out (Good Friday) as were other doctors whose opinion would have come in handy. I think it might be a good idea for the next surgery so I will definitely bring it up again.

We have a follow up in Little Rock next week. I am soooo thankful to our wonderful friends, the Lorraines, who have opened their home up to us over and over again. It came in real handy on Friday night when we were discharged late. I have not been sleeping well since I'm up multiple times every night making sure Zoya hasn't gotten out of her restraints, or gotten twisted up in her tube feeding tube. So I was so grateful to be able to stay with the Lorraines. It's fun to reminisce about our time together in Ukraine while we were adopting Joseph and Zoya, and they were adopting Oksana.

Zoya update

Well it's been 9 days since Zoya had her surgery and I wanted to give a little update.

First of all, I have learned a lot about Zoya in the process of having to keep arm restraints on her at all times. I guess I shouldn't say I have 'learned' a lot, because I already knew these things about her, but her personality traits have become even more evident.

Zoya is independent. She is resilient. She is tender hearted, and she is a pleaser. It has been an incredibly challenging 9 days for me, her mother. And it has been incredibly challenging for her. (And goodness, we have another 11 to go!)  Arm restraints are teaching Zoya what a mother is for. It has been an incredible bonding experience for us, because there are certain things that you just can't do, no matter how independent you are. She knows she is not supposed to put things in her mouth for these next few weeks , and I am so unbelievably proud of her for trying so hard. Last time I blogged,  I told you she can get out of the restraints with little effort. However, it has not been in an attempt to break the rules about hand sucking or eating. Instead she keeps taking off the restraints to blow her nose, or to pull herself up on a swing set,  scratch an itch, or change her clothes. She just doesn't seem to understand that she can ask me for help. She even removes the restraints so she can disconnect herself from the feeding pump in the morning.

We have been playing a game, and it's called Pretend You are My Baby. I am the mom, and she is my baby, and I have to take care of her for awhile until she can get her arms back. Then she got the idea that SHE wanted to be the mom, and that *I* would be the baby. So now our bedtime ritual includes me laying on her bed with her while she rocks me and sings me lullabies. ha. What a little mama she is.

Anyway, all of that said, as hard as we have tried, and as compliant as I think we've been with keeping things out of her mouth, it appears that the stitches in her palate came out prematurely, and as of tonight a small hole in her palate is back. I emailed the nurse a picture of it, and she says it does not look good and it looks like we're going to have to do this all over again in a few months.

I don't think she has been sucking on her hand-although I don't know for sure since she has gotten the restraints off in her sleep once or twice. However, any snoring or sucking on her tongue, which she does both, causes pressure on the sutures.  I think that is what did it. So, this is not what we wanted to hear obviously, but we did know it was a risk, especially with her being the age that she is. We will have a follow up appointment next week so we should know more after that. Meanwhile we keep doing what we're doing until we can get back to the doctor.

*On an unrelated but more positive note, our insurance company has finally agreed to pay for the  Pediasure. So to those of you who have clipped coupons or sent us your extra cases..Thank you! You have gotten us through a tight spot and now it looks like we're set from now on.

My kitchen...

When we moved into this house three years ago, we loved everything about it, except I knew that the kitchen would probably drive me crazy. I didn't mind the size of it at all but the shape and layout was clearly not well-planned.

 Look at this design. Who would put the sink, dishwasher, pantry and refrigerator all in one corner? Do you notice the sink has no counterspace to the left of it? Which means there is nowhere to put the dirty dishes and pots and pans. Everything ends up piled in the sink all the time. The 'bar' area isn't a bar area at all. There is no space for anything but a couple of candles up there! Certainly nobody can actually eat there!

So now that we are a family of 9 this kitchen has gotten really crazy. You can imagine how many times a day there are two or three people over in that corner: One opening the fridge, one in the pantry, and one at the sink. When I am cooking I am usually tripping over little ones. I would love to have a bar area where they could watch or help out without getting under my feet or in the way of my cabinets. All my counter space is opposite of the sink....which means that all my messes; the pancake mix, the milkshakes, the cookie dough, gets splattered on the tiles and drips down my black cabinets and on the floor on the way to the sink. Although I love black paint, it is the worst color for kitchen cabinets (in my opinion)...could there be a worse color to show every little drop of milk and greasy fingerprint?

This is the view from the front door. Do you see the little desk space? At one point we had a computer there, but little hands (Ava and Joseph) were constantly banging, and pulling cords, and drinks would spill. Now it is just wasted space used to accumulate our junk.

Anyway, we found a cabinet maker, and are planning to rip out the sink and replace it with an island with actual seating around the sink. Eventually we might want to do something with that desk space to make it more useful, but don't really want to have to re-do the entire kitchen in the process, if we can help it. What do you think? Just wondering if anyone with a big family (or not) has advice about practical kitchen remodeling on a budget.

Right now we just have formica countertops which I don't mind at all. I also wouldn't mind upgrading to something a little more long term, quality, if the price is right. Just curious what features you love or hate about your kitchen. What would you do? (Should I just suck it up? ha)

By the way, on the other side of the kitchen is a hall, 3 bedrooms, and a bathroom. We have considered knocking out the hall to expand the kitchen but that is way out of our budget. Maybe when we win the lottery! :)

Happy birthday Liesel

Well I found the cord, and it was tucked behind the computer all along! So now it's time to catch up on photos. First and foremost, Liesel's birthday....

Ooops. We only had two candles. Jude had the idea to make them into two ones, for 'eleven'. Clever boy.

Her daddy gave her her very own flower garden to plant. Liesel and her cousin had fun planting them on their birthday sleepover. Incidentally don't you remember how much fun sleepovers are for 11 year old girls? It's fun to have cousins close.

We celebrated with a girls night out. Two cousins and two aunts. We went out for Liesel's favorite, sushi (even though she had already eaten sushi with her dad at lunchtime).

Next we went to Starbucks. While the moms enjoyed caramel macchiatos, the girls enjoyed strawberry frappucinos. Yum! We played Headbanz....."Everybody knows but you". You have to guess the word on your head by asking yes and no questions about it.

Lots of laughs were had, especially when Aunt Marlita had "toilet paper" on her forehead.

I am so proud of my girl. I can't believe how fast she is growing up. Happy Birthday, Liesel!

Cleft palate repaired

Zoya's cleft palate repair was a success, and we are so grateful for the wonderful care from the wonderful people at Arkansas Children's Hospital! She and I returned home yesterday afternoon. She is feeling so good it is hard to believe she just had mouth surgery yesterday. Wow.

Here are a couple of photos from the hospital:

The Child Life social worker showed her pictures of children in surgery and post surgery and gave her ECG monitor stickers to play with. How clever. Zoya had been going around the waiting room that morning showing all the people her cleft palate, and telling them in her own way that she was going to get it repaired today. :) So I think she was already somewhat prepared, but it was nice to have this anyway.

Charlie, the nurse anesthetist (Loved him!) asked her what kind of goofy gas she wanted to smell before she went to sleep. She picked bubble gum. Here Charlie is explaining that after she smells the bubble gum, she will get very sleepy and then it will begin to smell like dirty socks but not to worry because she would be asleep by then. ha. As you can see Zoya was absolutely mesmerized by Charlie. He was so, so fun.

Surgery took about three hours but all went just as planned and we went home the next morning. The hole is now totally repaired and we will be going back in a year or two for another nasal surgery and possibly a re-do of the lip.

For the next three weeks, she can't have anything in her mouth other than liquids through a cup (not a straw, not a sippy cup). She can't blow her nose or cough, or brush her top teeth. Because she sucks her hand,  and because she tends to put objects in her mouth, we had no choice but to put her in arm restraints for the next 3 weeks. Ugh. Can we say stressful.

The night before we left the hospital I kept dreaming she was eating carrot sticks, tortilla chips. I even dreamed she had a bicycle hook in her mouth. LOL. Well would you believe the minute we walked in the door one of the kids was eating chips and offered her one. Oh dear. Thankfully another kid caught it in time. Sigh.

Meanwhile I have experimented and experimented with these arm no-no's using Velcro, safety pins. tights, jackets. Every time I would come up with a new plan she would say, "Good idea, Mom!", very enthusiastically, right before she proceeded to get out of it. :)

Let's just say for  having developmental and motor delays, the girl sure can maneuver her way out of a straight jacket! 

So today I texted John this picture showing him that I had FINALLY found the solution! Jacket underneath (to prevent arm rashes), turned backwards (so she can't unbutton it), sleeves folded up over the ends (so she can't pull the velcro off), and safety pinned to the shoulder for extra security.

Wasn't I smart?

Nope!!

About one hour later she came out of her room holding this dress that she wanted me to help her put on. The jacket was crumpled up on the bed STILL BUTTONED. The Velcro strap behind her neck was removed. So she managed to get the whole thing off and then put the restraints back on her arms thinking I wouldn't notice.  haha. I noticed all right!

Don't you think it's going to be an interesting three weeks?

Zoya's big day

To read more about Archie and his story, and to see the winners of the raffle, visit Bethany's blog.

By the way, I have met Bethany's kids in real life and YES they really are as gorgeous as they appear in pictures. :)

I am way behind in family updates, photos, even a birthday celebration (Liesel) that I need to blog about. One slight problem: The little cord thingy that transfers pictures from the camera to the computer is missing,  and it is very difficult for me to blog without photos. So the photos and updates will have to wait.

Meanwhile....

Please pray, as tomorrow is Zoya's big surgery day. I will be leaving tonight for Little Rock; Cleft palate surgery is scheduled bright and early.  Please pray for a smooth recovery. Our biggest challenge will be keeping Zoya's hands out of her mouth these next few weeks. :(

(Also, pray for John as he will be home trying to work and care for the remaining six kids!!)

I'm not sure whether I'll be update the blog, but look for updates on facebook, if you'd like.

How cool is this.....

Kirill's Chip-in goal was not only reached but exceeded. As a result, the overflow will be going towards the adoption of this little orphan boy. His name is Archie.

Thanks again to all who have given to help Kirill . The fundraiser will continue until Monday morning. The same rules and prizes will apply, but two children will benefit instead of just one.

A big thanks to Bethany Balsis for doing this for Archie and Kirill. (Bethany, you have some serious fundraising skills).

Kirill's Mama

This is Kirill, the little boy whose fate is in the hands of a Russian judge; And beside him is Tesney, the woman who wants to be his Mama. This video makes me cry.

I am super thrilled to see the Kirill fund rising rapidly. We are already to $8,000 and it is only Day 2!

You should know that that painting is valued at around $3,400! So go have a look again. Also, several new items were donated today for the drawing. I am honored to be a part of this. Kirill deserves this and so do the Davis'. Thank you for being a part of it too!

7 Day Blitz for Kirill

Two more prizes were added to the fundraiser today.....

An autographed book by Conny Wenk of Conny Wenk Photography....

Schmetterlingszauber

autographed by Conny Wenk

.....And these adorable frames!

Organic Bloom Frame

by Lindsey Smith Photography

• 16" x 20"
• choose from a variety of styles and color combinations

I can't believe we are halfway there already! THANK YOU on behalf of Kirill and the Davis family for your generosity!

Oh my goodness! Almost $6,000 for Kirill in just over 24 hours! I am speechless. Keep spreading the word to get Kirill home!  Thank you!!

A 7 Day Blitz for Kirill

On March 17, 2011, the Davis family sat in a Russian courtroom and listened as the judge rejected their plea to adopt Kirill, an orphan with Down syndrome. "The judge said, “Your application to adopt is rejected.” The basis given was that Kirill was “not socially adaptable” due to his “medical condition” and he was better off in an institution than in a home with a family. As the judge read her ruling, she stated several times that we were a good family, that we met all the criteria to adopt a child, but that she would not approve our adoption because Kirill has Down syndrome. She told us that we could adopt another child, because legally our application had no problems according to Russian adoption law. She said she would approve our adoption for a “typical” child, but not this child. Why? The only reason? Because he has Down syndrome." 

Being an adoptive mother to a Russian orphan with Down syndrome, I could expand on the million-and-one reasons Tesney and Greg's rejected application to adopt has deeply affected me. But that is not what is important.  

What is important is that they are appealing the judge's ruling to the Supreme Court of Moscow and they need our help.

The Davis family has been through so much already... and now they have been slammed with astronomical unforeseen financial hurdles in bringing Kirill home. In order to just begin the process of filing their appeal, they had to pay $2,500. They have been told that they should plan to attend the Supreme Court hearing, which is a trip to Russia they never planned to have to make... add $3,000 - $4,000. If the Supreme Court overturns the ruling, they will have to return home and wait for a date to travel to Kirill's region to reappear before the original judge in their case... add $4,000 - $5,000. Assuming everything goes as planned, they will remain in country for the 10 day waiting period and finalization of their adoption... add $3,000 - $3,500.

So how can you help? A few of us adoptive mommy bloggers have put our heads together to create a 7 day blitz for Kirill.

::

Our first prize...

Canon EOS Rebel XS Digital SLR camera

donated by Lisa, Charissa, McKenna, Renee and Bethany 

or

$500 gift certificate to B&H Photo

Read all about the camera here.

And... a lifetime membership to ClickinMoms. An online haven of all things photography... tips and tutorials on everything from how to use your camera to editing your images to starting a photography business.

Our second prize...

Cirque

by Lisa Tarkett Reed

Approximate gallery value: $3,400

• recently juried into the FMH Crestwood Gallery for the Celebration exhibition
• completed in 2010
• oil on canvas
• measures 3 feet by 4 feet

Oil paintings by regional artist, Lisa Tarkett Reed, celebrate and explore the relationships and patterns in nature. Reed’s paintings are inspired by her growing collection of natural objects. Flowers, crystals, rocks, leaves, shells and bones, collected by Reed over decades, provide points of departure in her work. As Reed layers line, shape and color, she discovers and plays with the geometry, relationships, and patterns inherent in organic forms.
 
In October 2011, Reed will have a solo exhibition at The Artists’ Gallery in Frederick, MD. Currently, Reed has a solo exhibition at Les Idees Gallery, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Reed has had solo exhibitions at the Sweetwater Center for the Arts, Gallery Lascaux, Gallery 937 and View from Zenith Gallery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as well as at Shenandoah University, Leesburg, Virginia, Figure Five Gallery, San Francisco, California and the Walker Fine Arts Center Gallery at Patrick Henry Community College, Roanoke, Virginia. Reed has shown her work in group exhibitions at the Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mary Condon Hodgson Gallery at Frederick Community College, Frederick, Maryland, The Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, Frederick, Maryland, Kentler International Drawing Space, Brooklyn, New York, the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, New Castle, Pennsylvania.

Reed has taught drawing and painting for over fifteen years in regional art centers in Maryland, Pittsburgh and Virginia and at private schools in Brooklyn and Virginia.
 
Reed earned a BFA in painting from Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and studied painting in Rome, Italy as part of the Temple University Abroad Program. Reed earned an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California.

In 2009, Reed founded Sister MamaCita, a Mothers’ Cooperative in the Arts and sister group to the Philadelphia based MamaCita, a Mothers’ Cooperative in the Arts founded by Melissa Tevere in 2005.

::

Our third prize...

Custom blog makeover by Bethany

You will get...

• custom header
• custom background
• custom signature and sidebar headers
• installation of pages
• installation of facebook/twitter/rss feed widgets
• and more!

::

Our fourth prize...

UltraHD Flip video camera.
donated by Joanne Charland, momma to Vinnie (a T21 friend)

Read all about the video camera here.

:::::

Our fifth prize...

Organic Bloom Frame

by Lindsey Smith Photography

 

• measures 16" x 20"
• choose from a variety of styles and color combinations

Our sixth prize...

Schmetterlingszauber

autographed by Conny Wenk

"Schmetterlingszauber is a book about the wonderful friendship of three beautiful little girls. Although they are colorful and unique like little butterflies, they have many more things in common that they don't.

They love spending lots of time together, whether they hang out at home or on the playground having fun galore. Sometimes they even have picnics on a beautiful meadow. They love dressing up like little princesses, polishing their nails, having little "imitation" tattoos, singing and dancing, telling bedtime stories to each other and of course, jumping on the bed.

They can be really wild ... but to me they are just three little butterflies."

:::

Our seventh prize...

(3) handmade hats.

donated by Heather Randlett, momma to Bridget (a T21 friend)

1. Newborn/Baby Beanie-Style Hat... This crocheted baby beanie is crafted with a soft cotton/bamboo blend yarn, adorned with a shabby chic crocheted flower. Perfect for cute newborn baby pictures.

2. Women's Beanie-Style Hat... This crocheted beanie-style hat is crafted with a super soft alpaca/acrylic blend yarn, with 3 beautiful colors - celery green, mocha, and cream.

3. Women's Ski-Style Hat... This knitted snug-fitting ski-style hat is crafted with a soft acrylic/wool blend yarn in a rich cranberry color.

**All are hand wash only, lay flat to dry.

:::

Our eighth prize...

$50 gift certificate to Uppercase Living

donated by Kristen, momma to Ethan (a T21 friend)

Rules

1) Every $10 donation using the ChipIn to Kirill will earn you an entry into the drawing for one of the prizes.
2) All prizes (except the painting) cannot be shipped overseas, thanks to Crystal who would like to cover the shipping fees if the need arises. Thanks, Crystal!
3) Donations will be accepted through Monday, April 11th.
4) Winners will be announced Tuesday, April 12th.


Please blog it. Please facebook it. Please tweet it. Please share.

We have a lot of love to give and $15,000 is nothing when compared to the army standing behind the Davis family. 

*If things do not go as planned for the Davis family, any leftover funds will be properly allocated in support of international adoption of children with Down syndrome.

How Fairy Tales Really End

My niece sent this. I thought it was hilarious. I think you will too.