Current Events Update

 We feel it is time to update you all on our current situation and it's effects on our adoption. On
April 18th, 2016 Tait was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. We were immediately admitted to Primary Children's Hospital where we would spend the next four weeks as Tait would go through Induction, the first phase of chemotherapy treatment. While we were in the hospital I contacted our adoption agency to let them know about the situation. They suggested that I write a letter to the Ministry of the country where our daughter was to explain our situation and the possible length of Tait's treatment and how it might affect our ability to meet deadlines. I also expressed our desire to continue with the adoption as we feel so strongly that we are connected with this little girl and that we would do what we could to continue with the progress of the adoption should they deem it admissible. We waited two weeks for a response. When we finally heard from them it was not what we were hoping to hear. They felt very strongly that we should focus on our child and the matter at hand and that they would be relisting her. However, if we were to find ourselves in a position to complete our adoption (completed paperwork, funds paid and able to travel) and she were still available, we would still be allowed to continue with the adoption. To say we were heartsick would be an understatement. Our adoption agency offered their support and will either hold our funds submitted until we are ready to adopt but would also support our decision to continue the process at whatever pace we were able and hope that our daughter would still be waiting for us.

 Tait completed his induction and achieved the objective of "remission" at the end of the first 28 days. For this we are grateful. This does not mean that he is out of the woods yet, only that he is where he needs to be to continue treatment at a lower risk than had he not achieved remission. Tait is currently in the Consolidation Phase of treatment. He still gets chemo daily and lumbar punctures and has to be seen weekly at Primary's in Salt Lake. He has been anemic and has had blood transfusions. He has side effects to the chemo but so far they have been relatively mild. This phase takes a couple of months. When he completes this phase he will go into Maintenance Phase which is less intensive but lasts a couple of years.

 So where does this leave us and our journey of A Sister For Tait? We are continuing to work as diligently as we can on our paperwork. We will continue to hold out hope that Tait's sister will be waiting for us. We will continue to be positive about Tait's diagnosis and hope for no complications in his treatment.

 We hope you will continue to follow and support us in this journey. We would love your prayers, positive energy and continued support both emotionally and (if you are in a position) financially. We appreciate your concern as we have noticed countless visits to our site. We will try to keep you updated of our progress from this point on.

Paper Pregnancy

   A fellow adoptive family referred to the long process of filling out form after form as a "paper pregnancy". I have to say it truly does feel like a pregnancy. Things seem to move in slow motion despite the fact that papers and fees seem to come due awfully fast. We are currently working on our Home study which entails obtaining background checks, certified copies of birth/ marriage/ divorce documents, parent training certificate (requiring so many hours of training), guardianship forms, and of course the 25+ page autobiography of your life. All of these have to be notarized. And this week we meet with our social worker for our final interview.

   We started this whole process in December and everyday it gets harder to not be able to see our little girl. I have faith that things will all work out in the end. I have had this feeling since the moment Cory said yes, so I just keep plugging along and ticking things off the "To Do" list. I have to give a huge shout out to all of you who have helped along the way. Your kindness and willingness to help means the world to us and we couldn't be more appreciative.

   Here is the video they sent me of our little girl when I inquired about her. Enjoy!

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful local Down Syndrome community. Here are our pictures from World Down Syndrome Day celebration 2016!

This is what it's all about

While we are filling out stacks of paperwork for our adoption some dear friends are half way around the world meeting their little boy for the first time!  I asked if I could share their story and they said yes! So grab some tissues and see what this adoption thing is all about. http://www.findingbabybrother.blogspot.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CubE84KfKz8&app=desktop

Oh, The Feels!

 This weekend some good friends of ours were blessed with the birth of their newest kiddo. Only this birth was a little different, as their newest addition is adopted. It was an amazing and crazy whirlwind of events that all worked out beautifully in the end. We visited them in the hospital and as I sat snuggling on their new bundle of joy I had to fight back the emotions. I think about our sweet little girl constantly. Every moment she is not here with us is a moment we could be making memories (however mundane they may be).

 As I held that brand new baby, I found myself envious of all the extra time our friends will have with their child.  Surely, our little girl knows nothing about the family that is missing her. Nor does she know about all the hours we put into the piles and piles of paperwork. I take some comfort in the fact that she has no idea of the suffering that I go through every day that we can't bring her home.

 As I held that little spirit so blessed to have  not just one family, but two families that love him so very much and want only the best for him, I am reminded of the miracle of adoption. I am so very grateful for the opportunity to, someday soon, hold our new child in my arms. To show her the love of not just one family but many. I will take comfort in the fact that at the end of this long, long process, there will be love and memories of our own to share.

Fundraiser frenzy!

 We have a thousand things going on right now trying to raise funds for our adoption! Yard sales, Bake sales, Bunco night, a paint night, Zumbathon, a concert... Yes we are crazy at our house. Fundraising is almost a full time job! Add in my actual full time job and teaching Zumba two nights a week and a very active 3 year old, you get one crazy schedule.

 I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank everyone for their support and help. I have so many people who have taken on various tasks of organizing events, advertising, brainstorming and allowing me to bounce ideas off of them. I truly appreciate all you have done and continue to do to help make this adoption a reality.

 Stay tuned as I will be updating with new events and fun things we have planned!

We are not Angels...

  I'm not sure why people say that kids with special needs are only given to 'special people'. As far as I know, my husband and I are not angels, nor are we saints. We are just two typical people who happen to have a child with Down syndrome.

  Don't get me wrong, we love our kiddo and try our very best to make sure all of his needs are met. Just as we have done with our other children. This is what a parent is supposed to do.  As parents our job is to make sure that those "needs", whatever they may be, are addressed.  If your child has bad vision, you get then glasses.  If your child has asthma you make sure they have medicine.  If your child struggles in school,  you make sure they get extra help. Sometimes this means you must learn certain skills to help your child.

 As a parent of a child with special needs we just learn what we need to to help or child.  If your child is nonverbal,  you learn sign language. If they are unable to to physical things you figure out a way to adapt.  This is what love is.

 Tait was not given to us because we were special to begin with.  Like any parent, having him has made us strive to be great patents. Our hope is that our adopted child can benefit from what we have learned so far in our journey. And that we can continue to learn through loving her.