PRAYERS FOR QUYNH TOMORROW

Dear Friends and Family,

We have our long awaited apt. at Ar. Children's Hospital tomorrow, with the entire team that treats Quynh's condition, (KTS). We will be visit with her specialist in Vascular and Lymphatic Malformations, her Orthopedic Surgeon, her General Surgeon, her Intervention Radiologist and a couple of others. We will also get to see her loving team of nursing and administrative staff.

It will be a long day for all of us. We treasure your prayers. We know Quynh will need one major surgical intervention on a lymphatic/vascular tumor that has grown on her lower body. She is also ready for another significant laser treatment on her legs . We would like to plan for and schedule these procedures and hospital stays while we are there tomorrow.

On a happy note, she will get to show off her "walker skills", and she is a delight to watch! She is quite fast in her walker now, and loves to show off riding her trike. Her care team will be so pleased to see her doing all of those things!

Thanks for caring and praying with us!

Marvin and Carol and family

ps...please pray for all the kids at home as they are engaged in lots of activities and it is a tiring day for all.

UPDATE ON WAITING LITTLE BOY...LEWIS

Happy Monday!

I am going to show again the first synopsis of little "Lewis", posted earlier in this blog. However, at that time, the information we had was a few months old. I still tear up when I read his report of how much he wants his own family!

Today, I received an excellent updated report on him, and hope to have new pictures soon.
Just below is the original report. I will post today's update in a different font right below it.

thanks for caring!
Carol

3. Lewis was born on March 7, 2004, with inversion deformity of both lower limbs, left deflection deformity of left palm bone, as described by the Chinese physician.

This boy has touched everyone's heart that has seen him. The following was written by his caregivers...
He has strong character, loves singing, watching cartoon program, and likes to be praised and encouraged. He is kind, can share his food with other children. He wants a family and healthy body. He is afraid of being called the disabled boy. If someone says he has no leg, no mother, he would be angry, and not play with him/her.
Liming is clever and lovely. It is his great luck to be adopted by a loving foreign family and take therapy for his limbs. We hope he could have a happy family, recover soon, get good education, and grow up healthily. That is the hope of all of our staff.

New Update don on February 21st, 2010

Ou Li Ming, 85cm, 12.5kg, 48cm head, 54cm chest, 20 teeth.

1, He gets up around 6am, then wash face and brush teeth. Usually he has a piece of bread, some congee for breakfast. He likes to watch TV when he eats. He goes to school after breakfast. He has lunch around 11:30am. He usually eats rice with meat, egg and vegetable. Then he takes a nap. He has a snack time around 3pm with a piece of cake, a cup of milk. He is not picky at all. He has dinner at 6pm then goes to bed around 8pm. He can eat and drink by self. He will ask if he needs anything. He gets up once or twice during night to pee. If he needs to drink water, he will just go to get for himself. He likes to be pat when he sleeps. He knows to go to rest room by self with helping him to take the pant off. He poops once a day.

2, He can climb up and down stairs alone, play slide. He can hold the chair to go around. His right hand has full function and his left hand can help when it’s necessary. He can pack his school bag, open pencil box and hold pen.

3, He knows to call different people by age, he knows many animals, he can say many words, he can tell what he wants, he can communicate with people well, he can tell the size and colors. He likes to watch cartoon. He likes to sing with the TV, copy when Ad. says, he likes to play blocks.

4, He is very easy going, knows to share with other kids, likes to be praised.

WHAT IF GOD'S SPEAKING?

THIS SONG...WELL IT CAME ON THE RADIO RIGHT AS I WAS PRAYING 2 YEARS AGO, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT OUR DECISION TO ADOPT QUYNH. USUALLY LYRICS MOVE ME SOME, BUT THESE PIERCED MY HEART. THEY RETURNED TO MY MIND OVER AND AGAIN, AND LED US TO SCRIPTURE. OUR FAMILY BECAME GRIPPED IN UNITY IN OUR PRAYERS AND OUR CLEAR DECISION THAT QUYNH WAS PART OF OUR FAMILY! HOW BLESSED WE ARE!

QUYNH'S FIRST TRIKE RIDE!

BELOVED PORCH SWING

A many times painted porch swing
sits forlorn with the last drifts of snow
cozied up in its corners...

It is a special place
I've cried there
laughed hard and loud with friends
kissed my sweetie
rocked my babies
and watched my sprawling 18 year old
lounge with a good book on lazy summer afternoons

On this cold dreary winter morning
it fills my soul with good memories
and hopes of the fun of spring and summer to come

Of easter eggs that will be tucked in the same corners that snow resides now
and little girls with dangling bare feet, squealing with joy
we'll watch beautiful sunrises and sunsets
and feel the warm breezes and scents of spring

Carl, the cat will stretch his regal body in the sunlight
I will kiss my sweetie
and the world will be right...

in our well loved, etched with worn, and a bit enchanted porch swing.

If A Dog Were Your Teacher

If A Dog Were Your Teacher
Author Unknown
In honor or our canine Harlan family...Chase and Wiggins

If a dog were your teacher
These are some of the lessons you might learn...

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face
to be pure ecstasy

When it's in your best interest
practice obedience
Let others know when they've invaded your territory
Take naps and stretch before rising
Run romp and play daily

Thrive on attention and let people touch you
Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do
On warm days stop to lie on your back on the grass
On hot days drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree
When you're happy dance around and wag your entire body

No matter how often you're scolded
don't buy into the guilt thing and pout
run right back and make friends

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm
Stop when you have had enough
Be loyal
Never pretend to be something you're not

If what you want lies buried
dig until you find it
When someone is having a bad day
be silent .....
...sit close by.

...and nuzzle them gently.

Quynh's Section on the Dateline Program

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

ANOTHER HEART WARMING VIDEO

CHILDREN'S THERAPY TEAM, LOCATED IN FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS WILL BE TAKING A TEAM OF 8, INCLUDING OWNER/MANAGER KYM HANNAH, TO THE UKRAINE ON APRIL 10th -18th. If anyone would like to help they can call 479-521-TEAM. THANKS!

Our Ukraine Adoption Story from Amanda Clark on Vimeo.

VIDEOS THAT WILL MELT YOUR HEART

Our Quynh's wonderful physical therapist, Kym Hannah, (who is like part of our family) is taking several of her clinic staff on a unique trip to the Ukraine. Watch and learn more about their second very special trip coming up in April. It will warm your heart this Valentines Day!

Ukraine Orphans & Special Needs from Jim Evans on Vimeo.

A Story

Two years ago, during a time that was conflicting and at the same time , filled with evidence of God's truths, I kept recalling this story that I had read years before. Fortunately , an intense internet search helped me eventually find it again.


Time, facts, and situations are different, but the truths so vividly described and realized in this story are so affirming of LIFE, and reminded us of how intricately and perfectly God had designed and protected Quynh!

Enjoy reading it with me again today!

Love,
Carol




These are Dr. Loomis’ own words, recalling the delivery of a baby many years ago, before cesarean procedures were commonly used to rescue infants at risk. He called his story “The Tiny Foot.”

Two years after I came to California, there came to my office one day a fragile young woman, expecting her first baby. Her history was not good from an emotional standpoint, though she came from a fine family.

I built her up as well as I could and found her increasingly wholesome and interesting as time went on, partly because of the effort she was making to be calm and patient and to keep her emotional and nervous reactions under control.

One month before her baby was due, her routine examination showed that her baby was in a breech position. As a rule, the baby’s head is in the lower part of the uterus for months before delivery, not because it is heavier and “sinks” in the surrounding fluid, but simply because it fits more comfortably in that position. There is no routine spontaneous “turning” of all babies at the seventh or eighth month, as is so generally supposed, but the occasional baby found in a breech position in the last month not infrequently changes to the normal vertex position with the head down by the time it is ready to be born, so that only about one baby in 25 is born in the breech position.

This is fortunate, as the death rate of breech babies is comparatively high because of the difficulty in delivering the after-coming head, and the imperative need of delivering it rather quickly after the body is born. At that moment the cord becomes compressed between the baby’s hard little head and the mother’s bony pelvis. When no oxygen reaches the baby’s bloodstream, it inevitably dies in a few short minutes. Everyone in the delivery room is tense, except the mother herself, in a breech delivery, especially if it is a first baby, when the difficulty is greater. The mother is usually quietly asleep or almost so.

The case I was speaking of was a “complete” breech—the baby’s legs and feet being folded under it, tailor-fashion—in contrast to the “frank” breech, in which the thighs and legs are folded back on a baby’s body like a jackknife, the little rear end backing its way into the world first of all.

The hardest thing for the attending doctor to do with any breech delivery is to keep his hands away from it until the natural forces of expulsion have thoroughly dilated the firm maternal structures that delay its progress. I waited as patiently as I could, sending frequent messages to the excited family in the corridor outside.

At last the time had come, and I gently drew down one little foot. I grasped the other, but for some reason I could not understand, it would not come down beside the first one. I pulled again, gently enough but with a little force, with light pressure on the abdomen from above by my assisting nurse, and the baby’s body moved down just enough for me to see that it was a little girl—and then, to my consternation, I saw that the other foot would never be beside the first one. The entire thigh from the hip to the knee was missing and that one foot never could reach below the opposite knee. And a baby girl was to suffer this, a curious defect that I had never seen before, nor have I since!

There followed the hardest struggle I have ever had with myself. I knew what a dreadful effect it would have upon the unstable nervous system of the mother. I felt sure that the family would almost certainly impoverish itself in taking the child to every famous orthopedist in the world whose achievements might offer a ray of hope.

Most of all, I saw this little girl sitting sadly by herself while other girls laughed and danced and ran and played—and then I suddenly realized that there was something that would save every pang but one, and that one thing was in my power.

One breech baby in 10 dies in delivery because it is not delivered rapidly enough, and now—if only I did not hurry! If I could slow my hand, if I could make myself delay those few short moments. It would not be an easy delivery, anyway. No one in all this world would ever know. The mother, after the first shock of grief, would probably be glad she had lost a child so sadly handicapped. In a year or two she would try again and this tragic fate would never be repeated.

“Don’t bring this suffering upon them,” the small voice within me said. “This baby has never taken a breath—don’t let her ever take one. You probably can’t get it out in time, anyway. Don’t hurry. Don’t be a fool and bring this terrible thing upon them. Suppose your conscience does hurt a little; can’t you stand it better than they can? Maybe your conscience will hurt worse if you do get it out in time.”

I motioned to the nurse for the warm sterile towel that is always ready for me in a breech delivery to wrap around the baby’s body so that the stimulation of the cold air of the outside world may not induce a sudden expansion of the baby’s chest, causing the aspiration of fluid or mucus that might bring death.

But this time the towel was only to conceal from the attending nurses that which my eyes alone had seen. With the touch of that pitiful little foot in my hand, a pang of sorrow for the baby’s future swept through me, and my decision was made.

I glanced at the clock. Three of the allotted seven or eight minutes had already gone. Every eye in the room was upon me and I could feel the tension in their eagerness to do instantly what I asked, totally unaware of what I was feeling. I hoped they could not possibly detect the tension of my own struggle at that moment.

These nurses had seen me deliver dozens of breech babies successfully—yes, and they had seen me fail, too. Now they were going to see me fail again. For the first time in my medical life I was deliberately discarding what I had been taught was right for something that I felt sure was better.

I slipped my hand beneath the towel to feel the pulsations of the baby’s cord, a certain index of its condition. Two to three minutes more would be enough. So that I might seem to be doing something, I drew the baby down a little lower to “split out” the arms, the usual next step, and as I did so the little pink foot on the good side bobbed out from its protecting towel and pressed firmly against my slowly moving hand, the hand into whose keeping the safety of the mother and the baby had been entrusted. There was a sudden convulsive movement of the baby’s body, an actual feeling of strength and life and vigor.

It was too much. I couldn’t do it. I delivered the baby with her pitiful little leg. I told the family the next day, and with a catch in my voice, I told the mother.

Every foreboding came true. The mother was in a hospital for months. I saw her once or twice and she looked like a wraith of her former self. I heard of them indirectly from time to time. They had been to Rochester, Minn. They had been to Chicago and to Boston. Finally I lost track of them altogether.

As the years went on, I blamed myself bitterly for not having had the strength to yield to my temptation.

Through the many years that I have been here, there has developed in our hospital a pretty custom of staging an elaborate Christmas party each year for the employees, the nurses and the doctors of the staff.

There is always a beautifully decorated tree on the stage of our little auditorium. The girls spend weeks in preparation. We have so many difficult things to do during the year, so much discipline and so many of the stern realities of life, that we have set aside this one day to touch upon the emotional and spiritual side. It is almost like going to an impressive church service, as each year we dedicate ourselves anew to the year ahead.

This past year the arrangement was somewhat changed. The tree, on one side of the stage, had been sprayed with silver paint and was hung with scores of gleaming silver and tinsel ornaments, without a trace of color anywhere and with no lights hung upon the tree itself. It shown but faintly in the dimly lighted auditorium.

Every doctor of the staff who could possibly be there was in his seat. The first rows were reserved for the nurses and in a moment the procession entered, each girl in uniform, each one crowned by her nurse’s cap, her badge of office. Around their shoulders were their blue Red Cross capes, one end tossed back to show the deep red lining.

We rose as one man to do them honor, and as the last one reached her seat and we settled in our places again, the organ began the opening notes of one of the oldest of our carols.

Slowly down the middle aisle, marching from the back of the auditorium, came 20 other girls singing softly, our own nurses, in full uniform, each holding high a lighted candle, while through the auditorium floated the familiar strains of “Silent Night.” We were on our feet again instantly. I could have killed anyone who spoke to me then, because I couldn’t have answered, and by the time they reached their seats I couldn’t see.

And then a great blue floodlight at the back was turned on very slowly, gradually covering the tree with increasing splendor: brighter and brighter, until every ornament was almost a flame. On the opposite side of the stage a curtain was slowly drawn, and we saw three lovely young musicians, all in shimmering white evening gowns. They played very softly in unison with the organ—a harp, a cello and a violin. I am quite sure I was not the only old sissy there whose eyes were filled with tears.

I have always liked the harp, and I love to watch the grace of a skillful player. I was especially fascinated by this young harpist. She played extraordinarily well, as if she loved it. Her slender fingers flickered across the strings, and as the nurses sang, her face, made beautiful by a mass of auburn hair, was upturned as if the world that moment were a wonderful and holy place.

I waited, when the short program was over, to congratulate the chief nurse on the unusual effects she had arranged. And as I sat alone, there came running down the aisle a woman whom I did not know. She came to me with arms outstretched.

“Oh, you saw her,” she cried. “You must have recognized your baby. That was my daughter who played the harp—and I saw you watching her. Don’t you remember the little girl who was born with only one good leg 17 years ago? We tried everything else first, but now she has a whole artificial leg on that side—but you would never know it, would you? She can walk, she can swim, and she can almost dance.

“But, best of all, through all those years when she couldn’t do those things, she learned to use her hands so wonderfully. She is going to be one of the world’s great harpists. She enters the university this year at 17. She is my whole life, and now she is so happy . . . and here she is!”

As we spoke, this sweet young girl had quietly approached us, her eyes glowing, and now she stood beside me.

“This is your first doctor, my dear—our doctor,” her mother said. Her voice trembled. I could see her literally swept back, as I was, through all the years of heartache to the day when I told her what she had to face. “He was the first one to tell me about you. He brought you to me.”

Impulsively I took the child in my arms. Across her warm young shoulder I saw the creeping clock of the delivery room 17 years before. I lived again those awful moments when her life was in my hand, when I had decided on deliberate infanticide.

I held her away from me and looked at her.

“You never will know, my dear,” I said, “you never will know, nor will anyone else in all the world, just what tonight has meant to me. Go back to your harp for a moment, please—and play ‘Silent Night’ for me alone. I have a load on my shoulders that no one has ever seen, a load that only you can take away.”

Her mother sat beside me and quietly took my hand as her daughter played. Perhaps she knew what was in my mind. And as the last strains of “Silent Night, Holy Night” faded again, I think I found the answer, and the comfort, I had waited for so long.


Comment from Dr. James Dobson

There is another profound lesson tucked within the story we have read. It focuses on God’s sovereign will, which is preeminent whether or not we understand or agree with it. Dr. Loomis almost overlooked that truth. He apparently concluded that Providence had made a disastrous mistake, tempting him to take matters in his own hands. But there was a purpose—a divine plan—unfolding in that delivery room that he failed to comprehend. We simply must not attempt to “play God” in matters of life and death, which are the exclusive prerogatives of the Creator. Our obligation is to trust Him even when the pieces don’t fit. There is an order, an intelligent design, to the universe even when everything seems to be swirling out of control.

BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN TO PLACE

HI FOLKS,

SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO IS LOOKING TO ADOPT, OR PERHAPS "STUCK" IN A PLACE WHERE THEIR ADOPTION WILL NOT HAPPEN FOR QUITE A WHILE. IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN CONSIDERING A WAITING CHILD, PLEASE HAVE THEM CONTACT US.

WE HAVE SOME BEAUTIFUL INFANTS AND CHILDREN READY FOR ADOPTIVE PLACEMENT. I CANNOT SHOW ON THE BLOG, BUT AM HAPPY TO TALK TO FOLKS THAT ARE SERIOUS ABOUT BEGINNING THE PROCESS, AND/OR HAVE ALREADY STARTED THE PROCESS.

THANKS FOR CARING!
CAROL

ANOTHER JUNK FOOD HAPPINESS!

MANIPULATION CAUGHT ON CAMERA~

JUNK FOOD HAPPINESS

I LOVE THE WICKED DELIGHT IN HER SMILE AND EYES!

FAVORITE QUOTE SO FAR IN FEBRUARY

WHILE BEING COAXED TO WALK AROUND THE HOUSE IN HER WALKER..

MISS Q ... "I WALK....FOR CHOCKLUT!"

INDEED, SHE KNOWS THE ART OF BRIBERY.

SISTERS

A Glimpse into the Older Kids Lives....

Saturday!!! Sleepin' in, pj's, a big pot of rice for lunch, housecleaning, girls with wild hair, getting ourselves together, our wonderful "Fellowship Bible Church Mosaic" family...(yes , we love Saturday night church), fast food after church, movies, messes. All part of this big, crazy family...and a weekend!

So many of you know our older kids, but have missed some of the joy and chaos of knowing our little ones.

Others of you are connected to us through our younger ones, and missed the blessings of knowing our older kids. Soo, I thought I would give a quick glimpse into each of them, so you can know all just a bit better...


Our Amy...whose middle name Rebecca, means "beloved", has always lived up to that! Genuine, with an engaging smile and gift of instant interaction with children, is now on a trip to Kenya, getting to practice those very gifts. She and Dad share a love of old books, and she and I share a love for antiques, and great romantic comedies. She is compassionate, adventuresome, and fun to be with. She graduated from Samford University in Birmingham and now lives there, serving with "Student Life", helping to create resources, and camping experiences for those that minister to youth and children. She has been an incredible example to our little girls.

Tyler was a little guy that loved to stay home and read books..over and over and over...but as he grew, we saw a young man that was intense and goal oriented. He took those gifts and they have carried him a long way. He graduated with honors from Vanderbilt, and ran SEC Cross Country for them all four years. He is passionate about helping disadvantaged people groups. His travels have taken him on a road trip to Alaska, a year living in China, learning Mandarin, crossing the Western China desert to the border of Afghanistan, and hiking about 2/3 of the Appalachian Trail by himself! He just completed his Master's degree in International Relations at the University of Melbourne and works in Australia now. Of course, we are hoping to entice him to come back to the good ole USA, 'cause he is the world's greatest "oldest brother"!


I used to whisper in Luke's ear to "always be generous with your love", and that is our Luke. Luke Loves Well. He gives the best hugs, and deeply cares about family and his many many friends. He has his degree from U of Alabama. Luke is talented, creative and eager to try new things. He has had many successes in New York City, as a young Theater Director...not an easy thing. We appreciate his desire to stay connected to extended family and each of his siblings...even if distance separates. He stretches us to "think outside the box" and we admire that. He is currently training for a marathon, "whew".

Jacob is a daily gift. He has overcome so many obstacles that some would consider disabilites. His connection with God is amazing, one the rest of us can only marvel at...sweet, so real, so expressed. Marvin and I often wonder, when we get to Heaven, how many of the passionate prayers that Jacob has offered made a huge difference to hundreds. If you have ever worshiped with Jacob or been a beneficiary of his prayers, you know exactly what I mean. He currently attends a non-traditional collegiate program and is loved by many.

More to come...and don't worry. We and each of the kids are far from perfect, whatever that is. We each can be self centered, goal centered instead of other centered, and each of us have our "idiosyncrasies" as my Dad used to say. But, we love each other in this big, busy, adventurous, diverse family!

Kylie's Competition Bar Routine

Beautiful Story by Another Mom

I was so moved by this beautiful posting on this mom's blog. I think you will be too.
http://enjoyingthesmallthings.blogspot.com/2010/01/nella-cordelia-birth-story.html

Waiting Children

Thank you for taking time to look at these beautiful children. Please feel free to invite others to review them.

We also just learned that the new "shared agency list" that we participate in will be released on Feb. 8th. If you are interested in learning more about this wonderful program, feel free to contact us.

Many of you have asked more about Quynh's story. A full account of her story can be found at http://www.caringbridge.org. Enter website name quynh .I would suggest that you scroll to the first journal entries and read from the first days forward.

I plan to post more photos and video today!

Blessings,
Carol

Synopsis of next three children

These profiles will be for the second group (3 children) that I posted. I will go from top picture to bottom.

6. Clever John was born on Sept 17, 2006. He has been diagnosed with postoperative recessive rachischisis. I am trying to get updates on the severity of his condition , but he looks to be doing great in his pictures. John may also have Hep B, we are going to have further testing done.
Here is one definition I found on...rachischisis - a not uncommon congenital defect in which a vertebra is malformed; unless several vertebrae are affected or there is myelomeningocele there are few symptoms

7.Charlie was born on August 11, 20006, with lower limb discrepency. We can see the "shoe lift" that has been made for him in some of his pictures. Here is the latest report I have on him from his caregivers. "Wei Congzhong entered the foster family on Apr.3 2007, he has been in it for over a year so far, during which under the careful care and rehabilitative training of foster parents, little Zhongzhong who has unequal length of both legs has become a healthy and energetic little boy who can run and walk."

8. Samuel is a super handsome little guy. This picture doesn't do him justice. He was born on Feb. 15, 2008 with congenital left cleft lip and palate degree 3. I am awaiting more information on him, but we do have more pictures. As you can see, at least his lip repair has been done, and perhaps his palate by now as well.

Thanks for looking at these beautiful children with us. I would encourage you to click on the love without boundaries link and watch their 10 minute video on adopting a "special needs" child. It is TERRIFIC!

Synopsis of first five children

Happy Humpday!

I am going to give a brief synopsis of each child that I have shown a picture of beginning with the first post and going from top to bottom pictures of the children..ie, child at top of page is number one, under him is number two etc. I have complete files and many more pictures of each of these children, so if you or someone you know is interested in one of them, I am happy to share the files. I am also getting current updates as many files are older and we need updates on these lovely kids!

1. Henry a handsome, athletic little boy, was born June 14, 2008. I have some better pictures of him with a little hair:) He was born with congenital right cleft lip and palate Degree 3. His lip repair was done successfully on Nov. 28th, 2008 and it is likely that his palate has also been repaired. We should have updates and new pictures soon.

2.Ellie is a beautiful little gal, born on Feb. 1, 2009. Ellie was born with congenital atresia of colon, had “colectomy + ileostomy” in No.1 People’s Hospital of Shunde District on Feb.5 2009 and anastomosis of ileum and rectum after ileostomy in the same hospital on June 11 2009. The operations were successful and she recovered well after operation; On Aug.20 2009 she was sent to receive physical exam related to foreign adoption in People’s Hospital of Foshan City, and received an excellent report.

3. Lewis was born on March 7, 2004, with inversion deformity of both lower limbs, left deflection deformity of left palm bone, as described by the Chinese physician.

This boy has touched everyone's heart that has seen him. The following was written by his caregivers...
He has strong character, loves singing, watching cartoon program, and likes to be praised and encouraged. He is kind, can share his food with other children. He wants a family and healthy body. He is afraid of being called the disabled boy. If someone says he has no leg, no mother, he would be angry, and not play with him/her.
Liming is clever and lovely. It is his great luck to be adopted by a loving foreign family and take therapy for his limbs. We hope he could have a happy family, recover soon, get good education, and grow up healthily. That is the hope of all of our staff.

4. Cute Mark was born on May 15, 07. As you can see, he was born with bilateral cleft lip and palate. I speculate that his at least his lip closure has been done, but updates and new pictures will tell us. I have more pictures available of him and his great hair!

5. Matt is full of personality. He was born on June 4, 2006 with clubbed feet. Here is what his caregivers said of him when he was 18 months old.

He has equinovarus, but he is strong at gross motor. At the age of 6 months, he had a plaster cast to correct his varus. At the very beginning, he would cry for not adapting, but several days later, he could roll over with the plaster cast. He had the plaster cast for half a year. Now, he is being correct with crutch. He is very strong. Though he feels uncomfortable, he still is cooperative to take treatment. He can stand with the support of a crutch, can crawl about, roll over and play happily by himself.

He is not very articulate, but he is outgoing. Everyday wake up in the morning, he would greet the caretakers, and burble ceaselessly. He can call mother and aunt, and imitate pronouncing. He is good at imitating, and likes to sing a song with the caretakers. He can gurgle happily. When the caretaker calls him name, he would look around, and responds sometime with the sound of “ah”, and would crawl to the caretaker happily.

He likes to play hide-and-seek with the caretakers. He is fond of being held and playing games with him. He can clap his hands at singing and make the sound of “ah, ah”. He likes to clap the caretaker and make some action to pleas her. He can imitate other kids throwing the toy you give him. He is pleased at it.

The adaptability: he can drink milk with a glass, feed himself with cracker, and have a meal with a spoon under the direction. He likes to be praised and is cooperative at putting on clothes. Sometimes he can take off the socks. Cognitive ability: he is clever and can imitate pointing out the facial features following the caretaker. He likes to play hide-and-seek with the caretakers, covering his faces and the uncovered. He can point out the ear and mouth. He can put the toys into the box under the direction of the caretaker. He can ferrule and turn a book page under the direction of the caretaker.
He is cute and handsome. We hope he would receive the warmth of a home.

We are trying to get updates on him now including developmental updates.

Three More Beautiful Children

Dateline Program

Thank you to so many who shared our joy in watching Quynh's few moments on Dateline. She continues to blossom, and we are so thrilled to see her progress. You can see her taking her first steps with her new customized boot and walker on an earlier entry on this blog. We give God all the glory for His sweet daughter!

The Dateline program is now available to view on line. Below is the link to the portion of the program that highlights Quynh. All of the program can be viewed in short consecutive segments on line...it was a great program...worth taking the time to see! (though I wish they had also highlighted the nurses. therapists, and support staff...each "heros" to families of children in the hospital or with chronic problems)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/35148683#35148683

Thanks for caring!
Marvin and Carol