In our family, we see the complete chlid. We see what they are like inside as well as outside, and we focus more on what they can do, not on what they CAN'T.
We started adopting children nobody else wanted ten years ago. We took in a little boy who had been abused by his former parents. The boy was malnourished and had obvious physical and emotional trauma. There was no tellng what could have happened had he remained with his parents, but CPS intervened in the nick of time and put Timmy+ in foster care.
That was where we came in. The foster home told us about Timmy and asked if we were interested. We said yes. Timmy came into our lives and we were smitten. It wasn't easy, but it was instant love.
Timmy flourished under our care and love. He grew into a sweet natured, giving child with a compassionate heart. We signed to adopt him. He became our son several months later. It was the happiest moment of our lives.
Timmy is now fifteen. He is a very busy young teenage boy, with sports, girls, fast cars, and church activities as his main interests. He is our pride and joy.
We have since added to the family. Besides Timmy, we have Gianna, Grace, Oskar, Corey, Tiara, and Vincent.
Gianna and Grace, who are twin sisters, are ten. Gianna is healthy; meanwhile, her twin, Grace, has Rhett syndrome. She is in a wheelchair and can no longer walk or talk. She requires a lot of care, but we are glad to do it.
They are from Haiti. We adopted them four years ago, when they were six. Both are sweet, loving children.
Oskar, four, came to us from Tennessee. He has autism and learning problems. He is nonverbal and is extremely introverted. He has to have a lot of therapy to help him cope with the world around him. It isn't easy, but we are willing to try to help him reach his fullest potential. Underneath the painful shyness is a beautiful red haired boy with huge, sky blue eyes and long lashes that people would die for. He could be a model.
Corey, eight, has Down syndrome and is mentally disabled, but like most people with DS, he is extremely loving, ready with hugs and kisses. He doesn't know a stranger: he is as outgoing as they come. He is from Washington State.
Tiara, six, comes to us from New Jersey. She was the product of a drug addicted mother and has learning disabilities from being born addicted to crack cocaine. She is smaller than average, looking more like three than six. She is our ebony ballet dancer. She loves to dance; she lives, breathes, and dreams dance. She wants to be a dancer when she grows up, which is no surprise. She has come a very long way in the four years we have had her in our lives.
Finally, there is Vincent, two. Big for his age, he is our resident holy terror. He makes Dennis the Menace look like an angel. Vincent had brain damage from being abused from a family member and has just took his first steps a few months ago. He is learning how to love and to be loved and accept love from others. He requires physical, emotional, and occupational therapies. It isn't easy having a loud, gregarious child like Vincent in our lives, but we are willing to try to help him in any way we can.
So that is our little family. Four boys and three girls ranging from fifteen down to two. Life is indeed a neverending adventure, but we wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. God has given us a heart for lost children, and we want to be able to make a difference in a hurting or deserving child's life. That is our mission in life.
Right now we have seven children. We would like to add more in the future. We don't know what the future will hold, but as long as there are children in need, we will be there to help as many as we possibly can!
I will write more later, but Gianna needs to be fed and Vincent and Oskar are pounding each other. Before there is any bloodshed between the boys, I'd best deal with it before someone gets hurt. Such is the life of a parent with children who have special needs ... sigh ....
~To be continued!~
