The Darya Project

I am an advocate for Down syndrome.

I am an advocate for international adoption.

I am an advocate for international adoption of children with Down syndrome.

And so is Lydia.

Although Lydia is just 11 years old, it seems we have a lot in common. She has two siblings that have Down syndrome ... one biological and one adopted.

And she loves them with every ounce of her soul.

Seven days ago, Lydia spear headed The Darya Project.

Meet Darya ...


Darya is an orphan in Eastern Europe. She has Down syndrome and she is waiting for her forever family. Is she not the cutest little thing?!

The Darya Project is Lydia's mission to raise $20,000 by Thanksgiving to fund the adoption of Darya.

Lydia has fallen in love with little Darya's picture. She made a pact with her parents that if she could raise the money to fund Darya's adoption, then they would adopt her.

Isn't that amazing?

Now you might be wondering how in the world an 11 year old little girl is going to raise $20,000 by Thanksgiving. It sounds inconceivable, until she put it like this ...

If 200 people donated $100 each, she would meet her goal. Or even if 600 people donated $33 each, she would meet her goal. Even $5, $10 or $15 donations go so much further than you think!

When you consider all the people in this world ... and all the people that are reading these words ... is it really that inconceivable?

I don't think so ... and I'd love to see it happen.

So far, Lydia has raised $7,021 in seven short days. She has had a car wash, three bake sales and a Christmas picture day ... and she has more planned!

A local news crew is ready to interview Lydia on Thanksgiving day ... let's help this 11 year old little girl meet her goal so that we can hear her say ...

Darya is coming home!

PS ... please spread the word!

Click here to read more about Lydia and her family. Monetary donations can be made by clicking on the paypal icon in the upper right corner of their blog.

Supporting our troops ...

Last week, I posted a plea for your help in supporting our troops. The response that I got was overwhelming ... thank you so much to everyone that asked for the address and has sent food!

A couple days ago I sat Mason down and explained the war to him a little more. We looked at pictures online from Afghanistan and he had a lot of questions ... mostly, "Who is that?" and "What is he doing?"

We talked about soldiers and I also explained to him that many of the soldiers are mommies and daddies that have to leave their families to go fight in the war for our country. I wanted him to understand it on his level, hoping that he would realize that perhaps some of his friends have parents that are deployed.

We talked about the Thanksgiving drive and how we were going to send some fixins to the soldiers so that they could have a nice meal like us.

And off we went to the store ...





We ended up with an assortment of things ...



Mason wanted to draw a picture for the troops to include in the box ...



And then we packed it all up, ready to be shipped ...



The day after we took the box to the post office, Mason asked, "Mommy, when are the Indians going to send us food?"

Sounding confused, I said, "Do you mean the soldiers?"

"Oh yeah, the soldiers", Mason said.

Ha.

I'm not quite sure where he got Indians out of all of that ... or why he thought they would also be sending us food.

*smacks forehead*

I wonder how bad I confused him? It is hard to explain something like a war to a child!

Bringing me back ...

Today someone commented on an old post of mine, from our adoption blog. I went back and read the post, because I remember how much it made me laugh at the time ... and it still cracks me up just as much ...



I just had to tell you all about my crazy husband and our biographies that we each had to write. We were given instructions that each biography had to be 3-4 pages, along with a list of things to talk about. We had some friends over this past weekend, and I read them a few blurbs out of Kyle's biography. We had a good laugh, with tears flowing and all.

You see, Kyle apparently is the king of run-on sentences, or even sentences that just go in circles. Here is one example (see bolded sentence):

I don’t remember having any favorite subjects in school except for Physical Education, but I do know that I had a least favorite subject, which was Math. I never could wrap my mind around why anyone would want to try and figure out why you would want to figure the time it would take 3 different people going three different directions at different speeds what time they all would arrive at their destination point!!! I always had the philosophy that if people were going somewhere and made it there safely shouldn’t we be happy about that, and not worry so much about how fast they could get there?? Or how to make X and Y = Z. I would always rather try and figure out how I could make the baseball fly further or how Michael Jordan could seem like he was flying in the air and dunk a basketball, or average 30 points per game over the course of an entire season. What I didn’t realize until my first physics class is that the subject I disliked the most (math) had to do the most with the things I liked (sports).

Say what?! Dear Lord, he cracks me up!

Here is another one (perhaps the best one yet):

I had and still do have many friends and friendships, but I now have a smaller number of “circle of close friends” that I can trust with anything including watching my children if needed and know that if I were stuck in the middle of a snow storm and my car died that if I called them they would be there in a minute no matter what time of night or day and not say “sorry I can't come get you I have to get up early tomorrow, or its too far away or call me if no one else can come get you”.

Breathe husband, breathe! Another ...

So, after the first semester I quit school and for the next year I worked odd and end jobs, in retail, landscaping, etc to see if I could figure out “what I wanted to be when I grow up”, as the placement tests that my high school guidance counselor gave me said I should be the President of the United States and I didn’t really know how or where to apply for that job.

Too funny. I love this man, but his writing skills leave a lot to be desired!

Snotty noses. Toys. And the potty.

I have given it several days, however the snot is overwhelming our house. The girls' noses are running like faucets ... no fever, just snot. I took them to the pediatrician this morning, since their schools seem to think they should not be in school, even with just a runny nose.

Umm ... I'm pretty sure it is going to be a long winter if a runny nose keeps kids from school.

Final diagnosis ... Nika - ear infection and sinus infection, Payton - a cold.

A cold? While that may very well be, I got a script for an antibiotic anyway. Payton's teeny tiny nasal passages make it hard for her to kick a cold like the average kid, thus eventually causing infection.

So antibiotics it is. Thank the Lord. Come to us clear noses ... come to us.

Please.

*************

While I was waiting for the girls' prescriptions to be filled at Target, we walked through the toy aisles to see what is out there this year. I'm so flustered at what to get the kids for Christmas.

Will there ever be a toy that they love so much that is doesn't end up separated into 14 different pieces and spread throughout all three levels of our house?

I know I'm getting Mason this and I really want to get the girls a doll house ... but which one? I like the wooden ones, but I'm not sure what to get. Something without tons of little pieces would be fantastic. Ha.

Mason has circled every toy in the Toys R Us book, that I can't even use it as a guide. Any suggestions? What are your kids getting for Christmas this year ... or what are they asking for? Help!

*************

Potty training Payton has been one really, long drawn out process. She has stayed dry in her pull up during the day for a really long time ... I just have been nervous to take the plunge.

I did it.

I have had her in undies all week, during the day. She has done great, with me pulling her to the bathroom to make sure she goes. We can't wait for the day that she tells us every time she has to go ... that day might not come soon.

So it is on us.

She has had less than one accident per day ... and the one accident was totally my fault. I knew she probably needed to go, but we got to dancing in the basement and well, you know what comes next.

The true test will be seeing how she does at school. They are now taking her twice during the time she is at school, and this has worked for her. I haven't sent her to school at all this week ... ya know, because of her runny nose. So we will see.

Fingers crossed!

Praying for Liz

You know how you go through life, living happily ... only to be blindsided by something that becomes your new normal? That is what happened to one of my best friends a few days ago.

Last Friday ... you know, Friday the 13th - blech ... my friend McKenna called me in tears. She explained to me that her 14 year old sister-in-law ... Liz ... had just been diagnosed with bone cancer.

We just cried together on the phone, thousands of miles apart from each other.

But Liz is strong. Liz is optimistic. Liz is a survivor.

Please join me in praying for Liz as her treatment plan is uncovered. I can't wait to sit back and watch her truly be a survivor.

If you wish to follows Liz's journey, click here.

This and That.

We are here, trying to stay healthy. We are not vaccinating for the flu this year, but we are feeling like pharmacists with all the vitamins floating around here. The swine flu has not struck us yet, just some runny noses and bronchitis for the momma.

I got nothing else clever to say about that.

Moving on. Ha.

************

With the holidays approaching, I have been focusing lately on perspective. We are so blessed in our lives, that I really just want to focus on others. I want my kids to know that there are people out there struggling. I want to reach out and help someone that needs it. I want to adopt a family for Christmas. I want to send food to the troops so that my kids truly understand what some families are going through right now.

I want, I want, I want. I want for others.

My heart is breaking for those around me who have health issues, lost jobs ... I just want to help. More on this to come.

************

Since taking up my itty bitty photography hobby, things have gotten busy.



Really busy.



It has sort of turned into a business ... a la Simple Charm Photography.



Which is really exciting for me!



Because I love photography.

************

So ... in hindsight ... clearly I need to focus a little more on myself. As I sat here typing up this blog post, I glanced at the clock and realized I was late picking Mason up from the bus stop.

*smacks forehead*

No worries, my neighbor and I have a pact to grab each other's kid when one of us isn't there. I have had to grab their kid once so far, so now the score is even. I promise to never make fun of them again. Ha.

So yeah, a little more focus on myself is coming. Oh, and maybe a little more Gingko Biloba.

Mom, can we wash your car?

A couple days ago, Mason and Payton were playing in the front yard. Nika had just woke up and had a massive blow out, so I was getting ready to run upstairs and give her a quick bath. I told Mason to stay in the front yard with Payton where I could see them and that I would be right back down.

Mason: Mom, can me and Chicky wash your car?

Me: No dude, it is too cold out to be washing the car. (It was like 60-70 degrees out. LOL)

So I ran upstairs to wash Nika ... and when I came back downstairs, I saw this ...

Seriously? In less than five minutes, they have got the entire car washing system out of the garage ...

... and Payton has her shirt, socks and shoes off. The only clothing she had on was soaked to the core, not to mention her little booty was practically hanging out ... hmm, I wonder how that happened!

Mason ... any idea? Ha.

Err wait, maybe she was the one responsible! She seemed to be the one in charge of the hose ...

That's right little lady, get back to work! Ha.

This little incident actually reminds me of when Mason tried to help me wash his coat. Ha.

Love my crazy kids!

Gotcha Day: One Year Ago Today

One year ago today, Kyle and I sat in a Russian courtroom pleading our case as to why we would make good parents to Addison, a Russian orphan with Down syndrome. Trying to make them understand why we would want a child with Down syndrome was another story.

In the end, I think they understood ... and I think ... I hope ... they were inspired. The judge granted our adoption ... effective immediately ... meaning the standard 10-day waiting period was waived and we were able to take Addison from the baby home immediately!

Excerpt from our adoption blog ... 11/12/08 ... Court Day ... Yesterday we got to meet Addison's favorite caregiver. She must have been on vacation when we were there for our first trip, because I don't remember her. She is so sweet and Addison clearly adores her. She was singing nursery rhymes to Addison and she was totally doing all the motions to them ... I loved it!

Today our translator told us that the caregiver asked our translator this morning when we would be coming to take Addison for good. She said she couldn't handle it and didn't want to be there. She said she has been crying for days and she just doesn't want to be there. That makes me so sad! I almost feel guilty for taking her. I can't imagine the pain this caregiver is experiencing ... to have raised Addison for the first two years of her life, and now she will be gone to another country. It makes me teary eyed just thinking about it. I told our translator I was sad that we wouldn't see the caregiver because I really wanted to take a picture of her and Addison. I also wanted to video tape her singing the nursery rhymes to Addison so that I can play them for her when we get home.

It turns out, however, that we are picking Addison up at a different time than we originally thought, so we may end up seeing the caregiver tomorrow after all.

And we did! She was there and I was so happy about that. I didn't want her to regret being able to say goodbye ... and I just wanted to hug her for loving Addison so much during her first two years of life.

Nika with her favorite caregiver during her going away party.

Excerpt from our adoption blog ... 11/13/08 ... Gotcha Day ... We got to the baby home and met the director for the first time. She was so sweet and we gave her a gift that we bought for her. She was very grateful that we are adopting Addison and she essentially meant that if it weren't for us, then she may not have ever been adopted. I got teary eyed and then we went to visit the social worker to give her a gift, and she told us the same thing as the director and I got teary eyed again. Then we went up to Addison's grouppa (aka: her "family unit"). There were four caregivers there and yes, her favorite caregiver was there. We gave each of the caregivers gifts that we bought for them and they thanked us. Our translator told us that we could get Addison dressed in the clothes that we brought for her, so we did. Good grief ... that really made her look like Payton! LOL.

There is another family that we know that is adopting a little boy from Addison's grouppa. We had court the same day and they also had their 10-day waiting period waived, as their little boy has a heart defect. They had left the room to change him and all a sudden he came flying through the door to show his friends his new digs ... a Nike warm-up suit. It was so cute! He was so proud and so happy ... it was so fun to watch his reaction, since he is old enough to know what it means to have new things (he is almost four years old). That alone almost made me cry. LOL.

So both of our families joined the caregivers in another room and they were already crying. I lost it, Kyle lost it, our translator lost it ... we all just cried. How could you stand there and watch this and not lose it? Seriously. I know they are so happy that these kids now have families, but their hearts are also aching. I promised them that we would send lots of pictures so that they can rest assured that Addison is doing great and that she is in a great place. I know the "not knowing what happens" is the hardest part for them. It would be for me too.

Before we left, we let Addison's favorite caregiver have her time with her ... she was so sweet. She has given her entire soul to our child and I just hugged her and we cried. What a special lady.

It was time to say goodbye and all the caregivers were there. The one in red that is holding Addison is her favorite caregiver and the one to the left in green in the physical therapist that had told us she was giving Addison lots of massages ...

It has been a whirlwind of a year. Nika has adjusted beautifully to our family and everyone adores her. Mason just said to me the other day, "Mommy, I love Nika. She has such a cute little face."

The changes that Nika has made over the past year are amazing ... physically, developmentally, emotionally. She is doing awesome and we are working with her to move her past any little quirks that she has (i.e. regressing into herself and refusing to participate in one on one therapy). She has definitely come out of her shell and she wastes no time telling us "No!" right along with her siblings. Ha. Sassy little thing.

A request from Afghanistan ...

My friend, Michelle, made me aware of a need in Afghanistan for our troops. Her husband, Joe, is currently deployed and he is working hard with a group of guys to make Thanksgiving dinner happen for approximately 200 troops in his area. DynCorp has committed to getting the turkeys for them, however they need some fixings.

So I am wondering if you can help?

Hopefully by having everyone spread the word, they will get enough canned goods to feed everyone. And if they get extra, they will save it for Christmas dinner.

The items they are looking for are: sweet corn, green beans, peas, cranberry sauce and stuffing mix.

If people want to send 1 can, 4 cans, 10 cans or however many ... it will all add up and every little bit will help. If anyone deserves to have their turkey dinner right now, it is our troops.

I plan to involve my kids in this ... what a great learning and giving experience for them.

So what do you say?

Please email me if you would like to help and I will give you the address in which to send the items.

National Adoption Awareness Month

Prior to adopting Nika, I always had a place in my heart for adoption. Being someone who suffered years of infertility, I used to search photo listings of children available for adoption ... thinking that might someday be our reality.

In the end, we were able to successfully have our beautiful biological children via IVF (in vetro fertilization). After our second child was diagnosed with Down syndrome, we weren't sure which direction to proceed in adding to our family.

IVF is expensive. Adoption is expensive. We figured that either way, we had to pay for our next child. So why not adopt a child who needs a family?

It sounded like the perfect solution to us!

So we did. And our adoption has been one of the most amazing experiences of our lives.

When speaking of adoption, I am sometimes conflicted. Many times people don't see the challenges that can come with adoption ... whether it be attachment difficulties, behavioral problems, whatever. Fortunately, we have been very lucky to not have hardly any issues with Nika ... so our story sort of looks like a fairytale story. But it doesn't always happen that way and I just want people to be prepared for that when they decide to adopt a child.

That said, I am here to advocate for all the orphans out there that need a family! Because the benefits always outweigh any challenges that may arise. I am asking you to look deep inside yourself and see what you have to offer an orphan.

These families are already on their way ... how much can we support them?

The Garcia Family ... adopting Kellsey from Eastern Europe ---> They are in country now!

The Stumbo Family ... adopting Nina from Eastern Europe ---> They have their travel date!

The Westbrook Family ... adopting Ruslana from Eastern Europe ---> They are waiting for their travel date!

The Beasley Family ... adopting Elisa, Vanessa and Arthur from Eastern Europe ---> They are waiting for their travel date!

The Nemes Family ... adopting Ana from Eastern Europe ---> They are waiting for their travel date!

The Mayden Family ... adopting Yana and Tavi from Bulgaria ---> They are working on their dossier!

The Rieben Family ... adopting three older children from Bulgaria ---> They are working on their dossier!

The Davis Family ... adopting Sergey from Russia ---> They are working on their dossier!

The Lorenz Family ... adopting Liza from Eastern Europe ---> They are working on their homestudy.

The McDonald Family ... adopting Misha from Eastern Europe ---> They are working on their homestudy!

The Velander Family ... adopting Lera from Russia ---> They are working on their homestudy!

The Zoromski Family ... adopting Lily from Eastern Europe ---> They are working on their homestudy!