Happy 4th

HAPPY INDEPENDANCE DAY EVERYONE!! We have been doing great around here, busy but great. Here's what is going on in each of the babies lives.

Noah: He definately takes after his Mama in the talking department. He's a magpie these days! :) His new favorite movies are Andy Griffith (Above picture: He is Ernest T. Bass!) and The Wizard of Oz. I thought that one would scare him but he loves it.

Laurel: We continue various therapies 4 days a week. Her speech and language is progressing really well. We have a really rough week with not much speech and then it explodes the next week or two. One of her therapist hadn't seen her in 3 weeks and today was so surprised at how much more babble she was doing. Her babble has become more "conversational" even though you can't understand the words yet it is clear she gets conversation. Words come next! Also, she is showing great strides in comprehension and tone and intonation of her voice. Basically they are saying she really won't even sound very hearing impaired. She imitates any words and is adding more words daily. All I can say is Praise be to God!! UNC told us on Friday that right now she is NOT a candidate for Cochlear Implants because she is making too much progress with her hearing aids. Please pray with us that she'll keep this progress up.

Anyway, that's what's going on around here. Have a Happy 4th!

South Carolina & Pennsylvania

Here we are in SC with Grandat & Dusie & Uncle Ronnie

GETTYSBURG

A gun-courtesy of Nana..... ;)

Laurel is definately an animal lover

OK John, no complaining about doing hay.... look at these guys!

Lovin' Cherry Crest Farm

An Amish volleyball tournament

Waiting for Thomas

Yummy homeade root beer and jellies!

Amish Buggies

As you can see with the lack of updates, our family has been traveling a bit these last few weeks. We took a trip to SC to see Grandat and Dusie. We had a great time catching up although Laurel got pretty sick with Croup. Hopefully next trip she will be a little more agreeable.

This past weekend we went to PA with Nana & Poppy. Now Noah just LOVES Pennsylvania. And as you can see from the pictures you'll know why. We visited Gettysburg Battlefield, Hershey (Laurel was in heaven!!), Cherry Crest Farm (so much fun for 1 day!!) and Day out with Thomas the Train. I know I've left things out but there was so much to do. Noah was so excited to see Thomas he almost quit breathing! That boy and trains. Laurel was pretty much the same way when we visited the chocolate factory..... a girl after my own heart. I have so many more pictures but not nearly enough computer space for them right now but I'll post more later. Thanks to Nana & Poppy for many new memories made!!

Can you Help??

Sawyer (13xgt, Region 3)

Boy, Born June 2007

• We do not have any formal medical info about this boy, other than he has some mild craniofacial disorder. He has the wispiest blonde hair and beautiful eyes. Full medical info available upon dossier submission.
  2 trips
• • One parent for first trip, about one week
  • Both parents travel for 2nd trip, only 4 days
  • One parent stays behind for 1-3 weeks, depending on whether the 10 day wait is waived
  • No family size restrictions
  • No parental age restrictions
  • Total program and travel fees under $30k
  • Fee includes a $500 orphanage donation
  • Married couples and single mothers may apply

Anastasia (4)

Girl, Born June 25, 2009

Anastasia is a sweet girl who was born with arthrogryposis. We are waiting for her medical records, but she clearly has hydrocephaly as well. Hoping to find out if a shunt has been placed yet or not (this pic is from Oct 2009). Anastasia desperately needs a family.

More photos available

Time to show you a few more precious orphans who need a Mama and Daddy. I know these pictures may be shocking & even disturbing to some of you. I am one of those people who sometimes believes that if I don't see the tragedy or injustice that maybe it doesn't really happen. But that is not real life. That point of view isn't even Biblical. This verse has changed both my and Mike's life.... "Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act." Proverbs 24:12. Mike & I have had our eyes opened to the plight of orphans in the world. They are living, breathing children just like our own sweet Laurel and Noah who hurt everyday. We long to do more to help this cause and pray for the Lord to show us ways we can help or help others in the process. For now, I can shed a little light on these precious children who need homes and medical attention. Adoption is not an easy process. For some it comes naturally and others not so much. But, it is a Biblical principle. Once again, not everyone is in the position to adopt a child but everyone can do SOMETHING for them. Pray for them daily, support someone who is trying to adopt, anything but let's all do SOMETHING.

As for our little family, we had a wonderful weekend in S.C. with Mike's Dad (Grandat) and his new bride (Dusie). The babies were a bit under the weather (Laurel has Croup) but despite that we had a really fun pool party and loved seeing everyone again. Noah thinks S.C. is a great place to live. I'll have to agree but boy is it hot!! :) We hope to see Grandat and Dusie again soon. My Camera is acting ugly right now so I can't get pictures off of it but will hopefully remedy that soon.
Last night we took the kids to a Mudcats game. One of our dear Reeces Rainbow friends, Jenn, who is adopting Milana had a fundraiser there. Noah now has a love/hate relationship with Muddy the Mudcat. Pics to come soon.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER PRECIOUS GO TO WWW.REECESRAINBOW.ORG