(Still Under Construction)
When we were at the early stages of the adoption process for Ellie, I was trying to choose a site for beginning our blog. I opted for blogspot rather than other adoption sites, because I wanted to keep the blog for an extended period of time. After a discussion with my friend Joli, I decided our experiences might encourage others who were considering adoption of a child with spina bifida.
Now, six years later, we have adopted two more children with the same diagnosis of lipomeningocele as our Ellie. It is my hope that the links on these pages will be informative as well as encouraging to others.
For anyone considering adoption of a child with any special need I always want to say: You are adopting a child who just happens to have a special need. You are not adopting a SPECIAL Needs child. Ellie, Drew, and Zeke happen to have spina bifida. That does not define who they are. A medical file cannot let you know how it will feel when your child slips her arms around your neck and says, "I love you." It doesn't tell you how her smile will melt your heart.
The beginnings of this page will focus on Ellie since she has been with us for 5 years. I cannot imagine our life without her. She loves LIFE. She enjoys every moment. I am so blessed that God impressed upon us that she was OURS. We were anxious, understandably so. But, she has been a blessing to so many people. Had we let our anxieties keep us from pursuing her adoption, we would have missed one of the greatest blessings of our lives.
Parenting Ellie is parenting a high-spirited, vivacious, free spirit with the God-given tenacity to overcome any obstacle she might face. I spend 23+ hours a day just being her mommy. On average, less than one hour of our day has anything to do with taking care of her medical needs.
Information about spina bifida:
Check back later
Medical experiences with Ellie:
Our First Visit with Urology
Disappointment: Learning Ellie Needed to Cath
Our First At- Home Cath
Early Experience with Catheters
Learning to Cope with Catheters--Just a Way of Life
Orhtopedics:
News From Our First Visit to Shriner's
AFO's and Pretty Shoes
New Shoes--Many Tears
Passing Through Deep Waters
Using Crutches
Turning Heads---Using Hot Pink Crutches in China
School Life for Ellie
Ellie's Village
Ellie Min Chun
Josie-Tatum's MeiMei
2 comments:
Oh my heavens! THANK YOU SO MUCH. I am literally in tears here at my computer reading this page. We are on a journey to pick up our daughter from China who has SB. From the reports we have been given, we (and the doctors) are fairly certain she will not have bowel or bladder continence. Although we are fine with it and have "read up" on it, it is so touching to this mama to read your first-hand experiences. WOW! Thank you for this blessing of a page!
Thank you for sorting your experiences in your blog! We have our LOA and are waiting on our I800 now - hopefully traveling in August for our 2nd adoption from China - 1st SB. She is 2 1/2 and has lipomeningocele, club foot & deformed knee. I have been reading what I can, but I know the blogs tell me more about how life will be on a daily basis. Thanks for your encouragement!
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