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Saturday, February 27, 2010
Helping Your Internationally Adopted Child Learn English...
How a Pig Named Babe, One Nameless Squirrel and Thinking Outside the Box Worked for Us
Over ten years ago, we adopted a child, nearly five years old at the time, from another country, Romania. It was a leap of faith and I won't go into the details of how and why that adoption took place except to note
that my father came here from that same country.
My father (now deceased) was always proud and grateful to be an American citizen and he had urged us to bring another child here. At the time, many children in Romanian orphanages were developmentally delayed. We'd taken training as foster care parents but we couldn't turn away from those images of children literally turning their backs to the wall and dying, for lack of simple human touch, love and care.
It was no surprise to discover that our son wasn't even on the growth charts and had speech and hearing delays when he got here. Since I'd networked with other adoptive parents, I also wasn't alarming by other things we saw. To keep this short and get to the main focus, learning English, I'll simply suggest that readers try to imagine.....
Read the rest of this great article HERE. Read more...
Friday, February 26, 2010
Meet the Families of Reece's Rainbow - The Nalle Family
I want to introduce you to the Nalle family. They are adopting from Eastern Europe! You can follow their adoption journey on their blog!
I've asked some questions to help you get to know Rob and Julia Nalle!
Elijah (11) and Benjamin (15)
Tell me about yourself and your family. We are a family that is deeply committed to Christ and to each other. We have two sons who are three years apart. We have been homeschooling them for the past 5 years and have enjoyed the challenge involved with teaching every subject. Fortunately we have an incredible Homeschooling Christian Co-op with about 450 students who attend so our kids get a wonderful balance between home and 'school.' We have a small building business and we are also deeply involved in writing a history curriculum for Homeschoolers and Christian schools. It is currently available at www.biblioplan.net
We are privileged to have both Rob's parents living nearby and Julia's Dad living next door. We spend our days working, writing, taking our boys to all their activities (drama, swimming, boy scouts, church events) and having a family movie night once a week complete with homemade popcorn dripping with butter.
We are deeply committed to Christ, to each other and to our kids. We have two sons by birth, Benjamin (15) and Elijah (11) and are working to adopt another son from an Eastern European country. We spend our days building houses, writing homeschooling history curriculum and taking our kids to all their events!
What can you tell me about the boy you are adopting?
Aaron is five years old and has just recently been transferred to an institute. He has arthrogryposis - a condition that affects the range of motion in his arms and legs. He is cognitively normal, active and smart!
Tell me why you decided to adopt a child with special needs?
Pure and simple - The Lord touched our hearts when we saw Aaron's picture and read that he had been transferred to an institute. After several weeks of agonizing prayer and weeping, we knew that we could not walk away from Aaron.
What would be your advice to anyone wanting to adopt?
Pray. We have been in awe of how God touched our lives, moved in our hearts and drew us to Aaron. It was God-inspired.So please keep their family in your prayers and if you can help in any way, thank you! Click on 'Grab this' to put their button on your blog!
Grab This ButtonFor other ways to help the children from Reece's Rainbow, please read the How You Can Help page on the Reece's Rainbow site! If you are looking for a gift idea for someone, your donation can be your gift!
Are you adopting? If you'd like to be featured on the 'Meet the Families' segment, please CLICK HERE. We'd love to feature your family!
If you have a blog, we'd love for you to put our Meet the Families Button on it!
Grab This!
Be sure to right click on the box below and then select all.
Click to share this family on twitter!
Read more...
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Other Angel Of The Week.. Jeanne
Meet Little Jeanne B. Born July of 2006.
There is no medical information on this little girl, but as you can see by the picture, her eyelids would need correction by surgery. Do not know how much Jeanne's sight is effected.
What little information we do have on her is, she is calm and affectionate.
This little girl has stole my heart, and I pray that she finds a family soon. She is going to be 5 this year and she will be transferred soon.
If interested in Jeanne PLEASE contact Andrea the Executive Director at reecerainbow.org. bamaroberts@comcast.net
Jeanne has 759.00 in her grant fund.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Angel of the Week
Meet Sterling!
Sterling is doing very well!
He is such a cute, loving and playful little lad! He will be a welcomed and smiling addition to any family! Could he be who is missing from your family?
He can be found here: http://reecesrainbow.org/atriskwaiting.html
 Boy, Born August 8, 2006 |
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Vaccinate your family?
Vaccination for hepatitis B infection should be considered essential for families contemplating intercountry adoption. While the risk of an adopted child from abroad being a hepatitis B carrier varies from country to country, concerns over the possibility of transmission to others can be alleviated if family members seek the readily available hepatitis B vaccination series before the child arrives.
Read the rest of the article HERE! Read more...
Friday, February 19, 2010
Meet the Families of Reece's Rainbow - The Lorenz Family
I want to introduce you to the Lorenz family. They are adopting from Eastern Europe! You can follow their adoption journey on their blog!
I've asked some questions to help you get to know the Lorenz family!
Liza
Tell me about yourself and your family. Rick and I have been married 5 years this July and between us have 7 children. My 2 sons live with us full time and his daughter is with us every other weekend. We both have a heart for orphans and a passion for adoption and couldn't wait to add to our family through adoption.
What can you tell me about the little girl you are adopting?
Liza is 4 years old and lives in an orphanage in Eastern Europe. We've been told she is silly and we think she is beautiful. Everyone in our family thinks she'll fit in just fine.
Tell me why you decided to adopt a child with special needs?
Rick is adopted and I always wanted lots of kids, by birth and adoption. At first were looking into infant adoption, either international or domestic. But, Rick kept feeling like we were supposed to adopt a slightly older child and because we both seem to be drawn to those who are last to be chosen it was only natural that we eventually found Reece's Rainbow and fell in love with Liza.
What would be your advice to anyone wanting to adopt?
Pray, pray, and pray! Then look at every avenue and decide what is best for your family. And don't be afraid to think/look outside your comfort zone- you might be surprised just what you can handle after all. After all, the Word says: "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me."So please keep their family in your prayers and if you can help in any way, thank you! Click on 'Grab this' to put their button on your blog!
Grab This Button
For other ways to help the children from Reece's Rainbow, please read the How You Can Help page on the Reece's Rainbow site! If you are looking for a gift idea for someone, your donation can be your gift!
Are you adopting? If you'd like to be featured on the 'Meet the Families' segment, please CLICK HERE. We'd love to feature your family!
If you have a blog, we'd love for you to put our Meet the Families Button on it!
Grab This!
Be sure to right click on the box below and then select all.
Click to share this family on twitter!
Read more...
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
People Magazine - Available the week of 19 February
Reece's Rainbow is highlighted in the Heroes Among Us section. We are so excited about this opportunity to raise awareness, and we are READY for an increase in inquiries and donations. This is the biggest international media opportunity we have had so far.
Any questions can be directed to me off line at bamaroberts@comcast.net
Thank you for your continued support!
Andrea Roberts
Here is a preview:
Read more...
As One We Can...
This is Olga for the Norman family
Joe and Lea Ann have 2 bio. children and now they can't wait to add to their bunch with this beauty! Their dossier is complete and now their just waiting for their USCIS approval to come. Soon Olga will be meeting her family! :) You can follow their wonderful journey to Olga here:This is Deborah
Alexandra
and handsome Liam for the Adams family..
The Adams started with their journey for two, but have added and now will be bringing home 3 blessings! Their a family who has a heart for orphans and a home that is filled with children who are orphans no more :) This will be their 7th, 8th and 9th adoptions. :) Unfortunately, they don't have a blog to follow but our gifts will still be of help as we pull together to help them home their little ones.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Angel of the Week
Meet Lena!
I know there is a family out there for this very deserving little girl!
Lena is a beautiful little girl with brown hair and brown eyes. She was born with Down syndrome, but also struggles with the effects of possible CP and likely some autistic tendencies.She can be found here: http://reecesrainbow.org/atriskwaiting.html
 Lena (36) Girl, Born November 2, 2004 Lena is a beautiful little girl with brown hair and brown eyes. She was born with Down syndrome, but also struggles with the effects of possible CP and likely some autistic tendencies. She is able to walk on her own and is described as very active, but she does not socialize very much with the other children and is non verbal at this time. It is children like Lena that break my heart so badly, because in an institutional setting, which she is facing soon, she will just continue to close off into herself and truly become one of those children we envision as "institutionalized". :( I know there is a family out there for this very deserving little girl! I have $60 in my grant fund towards the cost of my adoption! |
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day!
| Happy Valentine's Day! This Valentine's Day, we have chosen to highlight and fundraise for our OTHER ANGELS, specifically the older children over the age of 6. These children have other special needs, not Down syndrome, but are still patiently waiting for their "forever families" to find them and bring them home. Click HERE to see our amazing collection of Valentine items, including notecards, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, tote bags, and cool teen-wear! All proceeds (from ANY items from our store, Valentine or otherwise) between January 15th and February 28th will be equally shared among these very deserving children as adoption grants. These items make great gifts for family, friends, and teachers, and serve as a year long reminder of your support of this ministry. Items purchased will ship directly to you within days of your order! You are also welcome to donate directly (without a purchase) to the child of your choice via check to: Reece's Rainbow PO Box 4024, Gaithersburg, MD 20885 or by clicking the Paypal link below! ***BE SURE TO DESIGNATE THE CHILD YOU ARE SPONSORING IN THE NOTES SECTION OR SUBJECT LINE*** Please HELP OUR MINISTRY by including an extra 3% to all Paypal donations to help cover those fees. |
If you have a blog, be sure you get our Valentine's Day buttons!
As always, Thank You for all you do to support Reece's Rainbow!
Read more...
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Sensory Integration: Tips to Consider
Sensory integration is a common concern for adoptive parents, esp. for children adopted internationally from an institutional setting. The following articles refer to sensory integration dysfunction as "SID", but you can also find it referred to as "DSI". This is to avoid confusion with "SIDs" .. "aka sudden infant death syndrome".
Children deprived of touch, movement and sound (in an orphanage, for example) may exhibit SID. They may be: overly sensitive to touch, movement, sights or sound; under-reactive to sensory stimulation (such as pain); seek out intense sensory experiences (body whirling); show co-ordination problems or delays in speech, motor skills or academic achievement.
A child with SID can't respond to sensory information in order to behave in a meaningful, consistent way; and may also have trouble planning and organizing, and thus have trouble learning.
Which children have SID? It's usually a considerable, though secondary, problem for children with fetal alcohol syndrome and often interferes with the development of children adopted after stays in orphanages. It may also be found in children with learning disabilities or attention deficits.
Carol Stock Kranowitz defines SID as the inability to process information received through the senses. She says that the child doesn't function smoothly, not because she won't, but because she can't. She has a disorganized brain and consequently disorganized behaviour. She could have enormous trouble doing ordinary tasks and responding to everyday events. --- taken from HERE!
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Sensory processing is the “procedure in which we take in sensory messages from our bodies and surroundings. Then we interpret these messages and organize our purposeful responses. This occurs when information about sensations is passed back and forth between the central nervous system (CNS) and nerves in the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system with the nerves that are outside the CNS” (Kranowitz, 2004). Sensory intake is happening constantly to each of us as we move through our daily endeavors and we respond accordingly. We receive all input through our senses...
You can read the rest of this article HERE. Read more...
Friday, February 12, 2010
Friday Focus on Down Syndrome - Black Belt
Black belt Tae Kwon Do student's latest achievement
Doug Penning cheers with his tae kwon do class at the end of a
practice Wednesday at Athens Tae Kwon Do Center
That sums up Penning. The 21-year-old will test for his black belt in the martial art Friday night.
The black belt is just another prize Penning, who has Down syndrome, has earned. He already has the praise of his teacher, the respect of his classmates and the love of his family.
Penning also has a date for Valentine's Day, a job at Chick-fil-A and a wealth of hobbies.
But tae kwon do is more than a hobby, he says. It's his passion.
The Black Belt
“A
black belt is a white belt who never quits"......
black belt is a white belt who never quits"......
is just another prize
Penning, who has Down syndrome, has earned. He already has the praise of his teacher, the respect of his classmates and the love of his family.
.
Read more...
Thursday, February 11, 2010
WAITING ANGELS-SISTERS CHRYSTYNA AND KAREN
Look at these BEAUTIFUL sisters Chrystyna born Jan 17,2002 and Karen born Jan 12, 1996. These girls have been WAITING SO VERY LONG for a family.
Chrystyna has developmental delays and possible FAS. She has so much potential and will be a precious gift to any family.
Karen who is Chrystyna sister does not have any diagnosed special needs. Both children can be adopted together or separately.
Please contact Andrea at bamaroberts@comcast.net for more information.
Chrystyna and Karen have ZERO dollars in there GRANT funds. PLEASE HELP !
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Connecting The Rainbow: fundraiser for families!
Connecting The Rainbow is the newest outreach program through Reece's Rainbow. The ultimate goal of Reece's Rainbow is for there to be no need for this organization to exist. In order to accomplish that goal, awareness must be raised in countries all over the world and families who make the choice to keep and raise their children with Down Syndrome need resources, materials and support. That is the mission of Connecting The Rainbow: Families Helping Families. You can read more about CTR on the website.
In an effort to raise money and gather the therapy supplies, developmental toys and other resources that the families in other countries need, Connecting The Rainbow has partnered with Beyond Play for our first fundraiser! Here is how it works:
1.)Go to the Beyond Play website. You can order any item from their website for your child, your school, your local support group, your church nursery, etc. You can also order one of the items on the CTR wish list or any other item that you would like to send to families and send it directly to us to support the project.
2.)When checking out, enter the code CTR10.
By entering this code during check out, Connecting The Rainbow will receive 15% of your total to use to buy more supplies and materials to send to families in Eastern Europe!
*If you prefer to call in an order, you can select what items you want to order and call in your order to Beyond Play. Just make sure to give them code CTR10 when placing your order*
We hope that all of you will partner with us and we reach out to provide resources, materials and information to families in Eastern Europe that are raising their children with Down syndrome. Their children are the very first step in changing the minds and hearts of their culture about people with Down Syndrome. We are excited to have an opportunity to be a small part of this change and hope that you will be a part of it too!
Any questions about this project or the fundraiser can be directed to shelley at shele337@yahoo.com
Please pass along this link and the share the blog button on your blogs. We look forward to having all of you join us as we work to Connect The Rainbow!
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