Aubree Update!

***Updated on 7/10/13 to include more info from people who met Aubree. New info in parenthesis***

 

Aubree

 

 

 

(Aubree loves to go outside and pick flowers! She also knows how to write and has memorized around 100 poems and songs.)

From a gal on a short-term mission trip who spent some time in Aubree's orphanage recently:

Aubree is a happy, loving, and well-adjusted little girl. She is popular in her groupa and loves to talk to people and attend the Montessori program at her orphanage. That being said, she is a child you don't want to turn your back to. She bites, pinches, and hits you when she wants attention or is jealous.  (Same gal adds later, "That typically happens when she is very excited. During our one-on-one time or when she was taking her classes she was very sweet and loved to show off her journal.") She is also very dominant and wants to have your attention at all times, which is difficult when there are other children in the room. ("These kids just have a short amount of time with their visitors and they know it and they crave attention so badly. This girl is a sweetheart and would be a great daughter. Dave and I were there for 21 days and had tons of interaction with the girls especially. She never did that [pinching, hitting, etc.] to me. They all really loved my husband." ~Jane)  While she is very smart, I believe she has some mental delay, though how much of this is due to being raised in an orphanage environment is unclear. She was thrilled when I told her a lot of people loved her and were praying for her, and in the right family she would thrive.

(I told her that many people loved her and were praying for her to find a family and the look on her face was indescribable. It was like "Really? People love me?")

I can't imagine having to vie for attention all the time! I can't wait to see this girl in a family who cares about her and gives her their time and attention! The missionary suggested that making Aubree the youngest child or only child in a family would make her super happy. 

I loved this update because the last update was so heart-breaking--Aubree clinging to a dad's hand (as he was adopting her friend), begging for a Mama and Papa of her own, crying for a family to love her. It's nice to see her relaxed and in her social element. She sounds like a goofball! And cheerful and happy and well-adjusted among her peers. And she pinches... which just makes me love her more. I don't know why. ;)


As far as the small glimpses of Aubree's AMC in her legs only it seems she has straight legs and club feet. They are small from not getting a lot of weight bearing. I don't know the condition of her hips, but I do see a dimple on her side that indicates that she is affected there. But I wouldn't put walking out of the question once those feet are fixed and she starts weight bearing! Her arms are strong and so she can transfer and is pretty mobile. Pretty much from what we do know it looks like she will be 100% independent one day!

Aubree has 13 months to find a family!!! Please share her file! Go here to learn more!

Bill has a family!

Bill/Liam

 

We just got word that Bill has a family! Bill (or Liam as he was listed in China) spent five years in a Chinese orphanage and two years with a temporary family in America who were not a good fit for him.

 

Now he has a WONDERFUL family! (Friends of friends.) He is in great hands now!

 

(Thanks for letting us know, Ani! We do worry about "our kids." ;))

 

First Oscar/Oliver, then Cauis and now Bill!

 

Come on Raymond and Aubree!!!

Caius has a family!

Someone said yes!

 

Caius has a family!

 

Go here to read all about them.

(And their family blog is here.)

 

Three families wanted this little guy. Three!

 

I wish all our kids has as many pictures as this one so people knew how great they are. Then they'd all have families!

 

AMCers rock.

 

Congratulations Caius!

 

A family is coming for you!

 

You're going to have siblings who love you and help you. And parents who cuddle you.

 

Say bye-bye orphanage! My mommy's coming!

Our focus for June: Oliver (Oscar)

Oliver

 

 

Over the last couple of weeks there has been a small sharing campaign to find little Oliver a family. New Day Foster Home put up a video of Oliver that we could share. CCAI (Chinese Children Adoption International) had Oliver listed as "limb differences" but many AMC families noticed that it was arthrogryposis right away. (We're so smart. ;))

 

 

 

He looks to have classic amyoplasia, the most common type of AMC, affecting all four limbs. The contraption they have him in seems to be a supination splint since his shoulders are a bit inverted. (Just a guess.) I see contractures in his knees, wrists, elbows and clubfeet. I also see stretches and serial casting in his future. Based on the number of kids we know with amyoplasia we can tell you he'll be mobile, functional, ambulatory and do well in school. That's a prediction we'll put money on!

 

Last month Oliver was picked up by Reece's Rainbow and given the code name Oscar. And then last week Oscar got a family!

 

 

 

Oscar is on the My Family Found Me page!

 

So we are waiting to find out who the family is and what their needs are.

 

I love when a kid gets a family, and it's even more exciting to happen so fast!

 

 

If his family sets up an FSP through Reece's Rainbow (meaning they need to fundraise) we'll be sure to help. Right now we have no way to help and just want to celebrate with them! If you were looking to give a donation to an AMCer this month, please still consider the Blackmon family. They are in country right now picking up their two children (one is an AMCer) and are still a bit short. Go here to help them! Their need is much more urgent.

 

 

New Pictures of Caius!

I cannot stand how cute this guy is! Please someone adopt him soon!!!

Here is a post with LOTS more pictures of him! He's doing well, playing with a ball and has two teeth coming in!

Original picture and description here. 

Our child for May: Bradyn!

While we were still setting up Bradyn's month of awareness, he found a family! We have a little over two weeks to help them raise $5,200 in order to travel to meet their sons (Bradyn and Steven) on May 18th since Bradyn is being added on to an adoption already in progress! The family has a $200 grant through Bring Hope starting now and ending May 3rd. It's a drop in the bucket, but let's help them get it all! If their account reads $5,700 before the end of the day on May 3rd then they receive the $200 grant. The family will also be fundraising like mad between now and May 18th. To donate to them go here.

Here's their story written by Tiffany Blackmon, Bradyn's new mommy:

 

Troy and I met in August 1991, during college at Texas A&M.  We dated for several years and were married in January 1994.  We have 5 biological children.  The oldest is 14 and our baby turned 3 today.  Our adoption story started in October when we saw a picture of Steven.  In the past, we had said that one day we may adopt, but never had taken any steps toward it.  A few weeks after seeing Steven’s picture, Troy and I sat at dinner one night and seriously discussed Steven.  We had never considered a special needs child, but because of our experience with our son, Colton, we felt like this was something we were being called to do.

Within a week, we had received information of Steven and had committed to him. 

 

This long process was beginning.  During the next few months, we started looking to add another child to our adoption.  We felt like we could care for another child, but “our” child was never available.  Every time we found a child waiting (that we were drawn to), there was some reason that we could not adopt.  They were either with another agency or had a family already commit to them.  It was a very frustrating time!

Our dossier was mailed to Bulgaria on March 5 for only 1 child, Steven.  It was translated, authenticated and ready to submit on March 22, the same day I got an e-mail from our agency with information on Bradyn.  We immediately knew he was the one!  We got more pictures of  him on March 25 and drove to Austin to Apostille commitment papers the next day.  During this time, I was able to get information about AMC from Alexis and several other momma’s which has been so valuable in planning Bradyn’s care.

Currently, our dossier has been verbally approved.  We are waiting on a signature from the Minister of Justice and travel dates for our first trip.  We should get to meet our boys soon, hopefully the week of May 18^th.

Bradyn turned 3 yesterday.  He spent it without a party, without a cake and balloons, without a family.  It will be his last birthday alone.  We are excited to add him to our family!

This was the first picture we saw of Bradyn

We believe that all children are a blessing.  God has called our family to love and care for these two boys.  He has blessed us with so much!  He has blessed us with the ability to provide a great place for these little guys to grow and to call home.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after
orphans and widows in their distress.        James 1:27

Adoption is expensive!  Total cost for bringing the boys home is estimated at $32,000.  We are currently raising money to pay our final fees to our agency and our travel expenses for our first trip.  We need $5200 for this step. 

You can follow our adoption story at www.fiveplusonemore.blogspot.com

Meet our focus for April: Bill

"Bill"

This is Bill (a.k.a. Liam from An Orphan's Wish). Bill was originally adopted from China, but is available for adoption here in America. He is currently in Texas but anyone from anywhere in the US can adopt him. His AMC primarily affects his arms. As you can see he has wrist contractures and shoulder involvement. But great range of motion in his elbows and no leg involvement! He seems to do everything a typical boy his age does and is mobile and independent and smart.

Bill does need a special kind of family dynamic where he is the youngest and smallest.  

Bill's adoption costs will be minimal (as far as adoptions go) so we are not fundraising at this time for him unless an interested family steps forward and needs the help. Creating a Family's site where Bill is listed notes:

Cost for this adoption are uncertain at this time, but will likely be around $5,000-$8000. Bill may be eligible for a monthly adoption subsidy from the state (depending on where you finalize the adoption). The agency can provide more details on this possibility. 

So right now we're just doing a sharing campaign. Can you share Bill with anyone interested in adoption? He has been transferred a few times and needs a permanent, forever home. Thanks!

If you are interested in adopting Bill please contact Krystie at Children's Connections: krystie@childrensconnections.org.