SAVING VIKA

Who is Vika?? She is an adorable little girl who was recently transferred out of a baby house into an institution. She is only 4 years old. She does not have Down syndrome but cerebral palsy which appears to only affect her lower legs. While we were visiting Isaiah in the orphanage we were always on the lookout for other kiddos who were listed on Reece's Rainbow. I was SO excited to see her being pushed in a stroller outside one day. I was SO nervous to go "talk" to the nanny as we were suppose to basically "mind our own business" but Darrell gave me the push to go...so we did. The nannies were very nice and allowed me to take some pictures. Vika, however, would not offer a smile as she was too busy sucking on a piece of a leaf. She has the most gorgeous eyes. She had casts on both legs due to a surgery which was offered free of charge by an organization from Switzerland.

If Vika is not adopted soon she will remain in this institution for the rest of her short life and most likely not be offered anymore medical care. Please consider helping her so this does not happen. The number one thing that prevents a family from following through with a calling to adopt is money. A few families who've adopted from this orphanage or will soon be are joining forces to try to raise her a full grant. This has happened a few times in the past where a full grant is raised in only a few short weeks and within a few days of that happening a family commits to adopt that child. It is a beautiful, wonderful thing that God is DEFINATELY involved in. We, alone, can not raise a full grant ($25,000) but God has a way of softening hearts and opening eyes to help the least of these. If after reading this you feel called to help in a small way (but HUGE to this child) click HERE and you will be taken to Vika's own blog. That is where you will find a chip-in to donate to help save Vika. It is a very easy process with just a few clicks of the mouse.

If after reading this you do NOT feel called to help save Vika but would like a chance to win a $800 gift card from Best Buy click HERE It will take you to the same blog and same chip in. The same few clicks of the mouse and then comment in the comment section your name and number of chances. This is a great giveaway just in time for some Christmas shopping. $5 for one chance or $25 for 6 chances. Can't beat a deal like that especially if you happen to be the lucky recipient of that great gift card.

No gift is too great or too small. All donations are tax deductible as they will automatically go to Reece's Rainbow and will be given to the family who steps up to commit to Vika.

THEN if you would so happen to feel called to link this blog or Vika's blog to your Facebook or email to family/friends that would be another AMAZING gift you would be giving. Please help spread the word. The families joining forces only know so many people but those people know people and so on.

Here is a picture we got when we saw her in July, 2010.

Your act of kindness will not go unnoticed.

Please consider donating so Vika can be the little girl running to her new parents like in this video and NOT the little girl at the end of the video.

Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

Amazing young man....Day 24.

His message could NOT be any closer to the truth to what happens everyday...everywhere...and it is THE biggest reason why we wish we could protect our 2 little boys from the cruelty of people with no compassion for those who are less-abled. I know the video is quite long but it is so worth it...at least I think it is ;) You might learn something.

I failed my 1st challenge :(

BUT...I made a goal to do at least 21 out of 31 days and IF I do one every day for the rest of the month I will only have failed by ONE. I will try my best even if the posts aren't directly related to information about Ds.

We have a BIG milestone happening for Isaiah. Two frustrating issues with him were his lack of doing anything with his hands except chewing/sucking on them and his lack of patience while eating. He is slowly but surely coming around with doing more with his hands and will hold toys now and actually look at them and put them in his mouth and even attempt to push buttons to get music to play. He has a long way to go to catch up to age appropriate but he will get there...on his own time.

A couple days ago I did something I've never done before with any of my kids except for birthday cake. I confess...I don't like big icky/sticky messes all over kids or highchairs or floors but I sucked it up and went for it in hopes of Isaiah trying to pick up pieces of food to finger-feed himself.

Yogurt...to start off with even just licking or mushing his hand to his mouth to taste food. He had NO desire to even try until I got it started and even then it took me to force his hand into the yogurt and to his mouth. And then I added puff cereal snacks to the mix and he was able to grab them with his fist and work them into his mouth.
Today I gave him chunks of bananas and prunes (he still has a major constipation problem going on) and he was much more willing and successful at it. He was even able to grab the puff cereal much easier and had more success getting them into his mouth. He EVEN attempted to chew everything which is HUGE for him. He has no idea what the concept of "chewing" means and EVERYTHING goes straight down...big chuncks and all. Very seldom will he choke/gag. I've never seen anything like it.

God's Plan...Day 12.

When Joey was a few months old I found an amazing group of friends online that belonged to a group we called "T/21 online". It fell apart a few years later, probably due to Facebook and MySpace...not really sure, but I'm so happy that we are coming back together through Facebook. Today the life of a little girl named Renee who had Ds and cystic fibrosis was celebrated at her funeral (a funeral is a celebration of one's life...as sad as the day is we should also remember all the good and celebrate the days we had with a loved one). She was only 10 and I remember her so clearly from T/21 online days. I can only imagine the pain the family is experiening as they now start their new life...their new normal...after the death of their sweet daughter/sister.


This video was posted by a member of T/21 online today and I just had to share.



***Update on Isaiah's eye appointment. He has farsightedness which will require glasses. He will also need to be seen in 6 weeks by another specialist as the eye doctor today noticed his optic nerves are larger than normal. He's not sure what this means...if anything...but wants it further looked into.

***Also patiently waiting to hear about the neck x-rays that were sent to Minneapolis for both Joey and Isaiah.

Vikings...Day 11.

Ok...this has nothing to do with Down syndrome. My original plan for today's post fell through and JUST when it started "falling" Noah started screaming with excitement that HE has the same number YES! YES! YES! I'm NOT at all a Vikings fan (or for that matter a sports fan) but I had a feeling it had something to do with someone named Randy Moss.

I noticed Noah was wearing a certain shirt and asked why...all he said was...VIKINGS SPIRIT!

10-10-10....Day 10.

Oct. 10, '10...only happens once every 100 years. Most of us will only see that happen once in our lifetime.

I thought I would post the Top 10 reasons why having a loved one with Down sydrome ROCKS!...our reasons anyway.

#10...We will have a buddy (well 2) for life.

#9...We will have a reason to act crazy and dance around the kitchen with guitar wooden spoons for much longer.

#8...We are learning a 2nd language...Sign Language.

#7...We will have someone to hold in our laps and carry on our hips longer.

#6...We will have more years of someone being TOTALLY excited when you walk in the door.

#5...We get to meet some amazing families even if just via the internet.

#4...Hugs and kisses never seem to run out.

#3...We are taught to forgive more easily.

#2...We are taught to practice patience everyday.

AND...

#1...We will always be loved unconditionally. Yes, we will always be loved that way by God too but people...not always so much.

More Alike Than Different...Day 9.

By the way...if you're looking for "Day 8"...you won't find it because there isn't one :(