Thanks

This is a BIG Thanks to the staff at Maxwell AFB Ped's clinic for getting Gabriella a appointment with BPT South for her MRI. WE are now having it next Tuesday instead of the end of Nov at Children's. WE are very thankful they were able to do this!!! Now pray for her that we Get NOTHING but GOOD NEWS from the MRI!!!!

SPECIAL MOMS

SPECIAL MOMS

Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, He instructs his angels to make

notes in a giant ledger.
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child." The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel." "But has she patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she will handle it."
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make him live in her world and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?" God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word.' She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations."
"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see ... ignorance, cruelty, prejudice ... and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
~Author Unknown~

My dear friend Susan and her husband Mike

To all my friends and family. Here is an oil painting picture of little Kyan Michael Alltop. HE is the son of my best friend Susan and her husband Mike. He died of an unexplained death on Sunday April 1,2007. I asked many of you to pray for little Kyan and his parents. Please enjoy his precious face as we did. He was such a sweet little man and now Im sure makes the perfect little angel, Jesus's little helper in heaven.

Down Syndrome Creed

Down Syndrome Creed

My face may be different
But my feelings the same
I laugh and I cry
And I take pride in my gains
I was sent here among you
To teach you to love
As God in the heavens
Looks down from above
To Him I'm no different
His love knows no bounds
It's those here among you
In cities and towns
That judge me by standards
That man has imparted
But this family I've chosen
Will help me get started
For I'm one of the children
So special and few
That came here to learn
The same lessons as you
That love is acceptance
It must come from the heart
We all have the same purpose
Though not the same start
The Lord gave me life
To live and embrace
And I'll do it as you do
But at my own pace.

Just think about this when you see someone that may be different than your children, all kids want nothing more than to be loved and accepted. May you find PEACE today in all you do!!!

Zoo day

Oh boy, I ventured out and took all 4 of the girls to the zoo by myself today (well really yesterday on Thursday). We had a GREAT day! The only exception was it was the first time Gabby or Lily had ever seen animals like this. Giovanna and Bella enjoyed looking at the elephants, lions and even the monkeys.......Lily said her favorite animal was the giraffe. We were there from 9:30 until 1 and even had a picnic. I just couldnt get over how well they all did, with me by myself. The weather was fantastic nice and breazy and totally NOT hot. This cooling down weather is great, I hate the 100+ days. I will post some pictures when I bring the camera in, I am already loaded up for school day today.

Have a blessed day..........Praise report............

I think Lily has totally be transformed........she is a different kiddo..............for 4 days she has been perfect with NO MELTDOWNS!!!! so today after school we get to go to the dollar tree for one prize of her choice. Giovanna is working on potty training.....still long way to go but has done well so all of the girls get to pick one prize today at the store................ Way to go to all my Princesses.

baby picture of Lilyanna Hope Luisa Andrews

I just recieved this picture from a wonderful lady that works at the Los Pisingos orphanage in Colombia. This is our Lily when she was 4.5 mths old.....

and now look at her..........

We are proud to announce we will once again be the "PRINCESS TEAM" at our local Montgomery Area Buddy walk. Anyone intrested in making a tax free donation to a wonderful cause please let me know at rlba272@hotmail.com. We have a goal of 500 for each girl for a total of 1500.00.

much saddness to announce

It is much saddness that I share this with you. Rosita, the founder of Los Pisingos in Bogota, Colombia died on Thursday Sept 13th. She was such a sweet lady and loved the children deeply in her orphanage. Los Pisingos, is the orphanage where our two girls- Gabby and Lily were raised until our adoption of them in late May. We were presented the girls in Rosita's home on May 27, 2007. She was so excited that they finally had their forever family.

Please pray for the staff and children of Los Pisingos during this time.

Note: picture is a stock photo not one of our girls.

Well on Wednesday William and I loaded all 4 girls up and went to Birmingham to the eye Dr for Gabby and Lily. WE got great news for Lily...her eyes are great...no need for glasses at all and he will recheck them when she is around K or 1st grade. So that is great. She had just been given glasses in the orphanage in April so we can say "Bye Bye" to them. Gabby on the other hand......she has Nystagimus in her eyes. He said that the optical nerves in both eyes are swollen. He has scheduled a MRI to check it all out. We are praying it is NOT what he is thinking.....that would be she either has too much fluid on the brain (which would require a shunt) too much fluid on the spinal cord (not exactly sure how they would do that one) or a few other things he mentioned. Please stand with me in prayer and lift her up.....Idjust dont want anything to be wrong....BUT if that is what the Lord has, then We need guidance on how to handle it all and what to do...I know HE is in the MIRACLE business!!!!!! We are trying to get the MRI appointment now, they will have to totally put her to sleep as this will take alittle time to get all the pictures they need too.

William in at Ft Rucker on the firing range this weekend. He has to set up the range for the other soldiers and oversee it all....so he will be home on Sunday. I miss him dearly when he is gone.

Lyndsey and Michael (my babies) are turning 18 on the 29th!!!!!!!!!! I cant believe it!!! I look at them and think wow....they are the age William and I were when we met and fell in love.....NO NOT my kiddos....... Yes we married at 19 yrs old and have been married forever it seems. I miss Michael as he is still working in Rose Mary BCH Fl. He is such a good young man, looking for a good young woman....LOL.....Lyndsey on the other hand could care less about guys and getting married...well I mean she likes to go out with them, but wants NOTHING to do with getting serious. She says she is going to be 40 before she marries and has children. LOL!I hope you all have a blessed day....

9-11

Let us not forget 9-11! Pray for the families that lost loved ones that day....pray for our soldiers that now are in Iraq fighting for our country and pray for the families left behind. I am the proud wife of a military man of 20 yrs. I pray each day he goes to work that he will return, I pray my children will always have their dad.....I pray I never loose the love of my life.

I know I am being stingy here, there are other woman out there whose husbands are overseas, and I do pray for you daily. I pray that your love of your life will return to you .......BUT mostly I pray that we are all used to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ and if that means we die for our country, then we know we have succeeded. May your day be filled with joy!

DR'S today

Can you say BRAVE?????????????

Today I had to take Lily and Giovanna to the Dr's..... and William could not get off work to run over to the base......so there I was with 4 little girls......2.5 yrs 4yrs and 2-5 yr olds.... I had Gabby and Bella in the double stroller and Lily and Giovanna walking. They all did so well!!! I think the Lord knew I couldnt handle a total melt down today. Well Lily has bronchitus (sp)......and on meds for 7 days. I pray she gets better soon!!! AND Giovanna has ANOTHER ear infection...had one 3 weeks ago and this one makes 5 so far this year. Yes she has had 2 sets of tubes put in her ears but the last set was 14 months ago so we are heading back to the specialist at UAB for ENT. She never complains but the junk keeps pouring out of her ears.....poor baby! I hope that both girls get well SOON!!!!

Gabby(5) weighs 30.8 pds, Lily(4) NOW 34 pds and Giovanna(5) 36.5 pds....Bella(2.5yrs) is 30pds!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO

LILY

Her birthday was Sunday Sept 9th. We had a busy day with church, then out to eat at the Mexican restaurant so they could sing Happy Birthday in spanish and then home to play and open some presents. She will be having a small party at school on Monday and then her party at home in a few weeks...daddy will be out of town this weekend so we have to put it off for a few weeks. She was so EXCITED to open presents JUST for her! This is the first year she has had someone celebrating her birth!!! She is finally with her Forever family!!! She gave William and I a hug and looked at us and said "Thank you Mommy and Daddy". too sweet! She continues to improve with her adapting but still is a struggle at times.

She hasnt been feeling well so after lunch on Sunday all she wanted to do was lay on my chest......what a bonding time for us....and WE NEEDED IT! She layed there for almost 2 hours just looking up at me. I pray her thoughts were all good....LOL! Today, Monday I had to take her to the Dr's and she has bronchitus (sp)......she is on meds for 7 days. I pray she gets better soon!!!

Happy Birthday to you , Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday to Lily ---Happy Birthday to you!!! I love you, Mommy!

Heart condition

I just wanted to post a picture of my princess Giovanna soon after we found her in Guatemala

She was so sickly and was so waiting for her FOREVER family to find her. She needed open heart surgery desperatly! She was 13 mo old and weighed just shy of 1o pds. She is now a bubbly 5 yr old and sassy as all get out! Here she is with her BIG sister Lyndsey a few weeks ago on the day we pulled her first 2 teeth. She is such a trooper.

We are so blessed to have Gabby and Isabella doing Excellant with their hearts and not needing surgery. For all of you out there that are on the roller coaster of special needs adoption and you are worried that your new little one will not achieve much because of their current condition,....Think again. We were so worried for Giovanna. But through many of months praying for her and visitng her she DID blossom into this beautiful princess! Keep the faith!!! Our God is in the miracle business.

Lily- my sweet flower

My Dear Sweet Lilyanna "Lily". She is truly a doll! I have prayed over her for many of months. She is the only "typical developing" child of all our 4 adopted ones. She totally understands what has happened.....meaning getting her new familia! I pray that she will come to love being a part of this family God has placed her in and that she becomes a woman of God.

Through many of crazy moments with her, yesterday was a GREAT day! I took her to Birmingham with me for Gabby's Dr appointment, we all had a good day. Please lift this child of God up today.

Many thanks..
Rita

Some of you have asked...

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007708250317

Here is our news paper article.

A special family: Millbrook couple opens home -- and hearts -- to 3 girls with Down syndrome

and here is the Tv spot light
http://youtube.com/watch?v=g1s8KnRHoig

Hope you all enjoy. We are trying our best to spread the word about DS adoptions.

If anyo of you out there are considering adoption, PLEASE pray about opening your heart, your home and your lives forever by adopting a child with a little something extra....Down Syndrome!