Animal Crackers for Two

Here's Poppy. ❤ Our family adopted Penelope February 2015 from a little city called Kharkiv.   She's our little princess and chatter box.  Penelope was given the nickname Poppy after a flower I loved as a child.  Growing up in England the Poppy filled the fields and hills. A field of beauty... And this beauty reminds me of the soul of my precious child.

Easter Day was beautiful and the children had a wonderful time hunting and decorating eggs. With my dad in the hospital we have been running back and forward up into the late night and wee mornings.  This week as Gary went to carry Poppy to bed he tripped and lost balance.  He tried to move Poppy forward to keep from dropping her.  Unfortunately her left leg moved behind Gary's back.  Gary's shoulder and arm hitting the ground.  Poppy not once cried as she hit her leg on the floor.  Gary's arm and shoulder swollen and bruised.  We checked Poppy out, no bruises, bleeding, nothing.  The following day her leg puffed up.  A quick trip to her Dr then to the ER to xray her leg and pelvis.  Her leg snapped into.  We spent the weekend in the hospital.  Had her leg set and finally home.    This pass weekend we had planned to fundraise locally the funds we needed to travel on.  Gary's shoulder-rotar cup shattered and arm badly bruised.

Tomorrow it has been 6 years since my daughter Gennie's passing.   My heart dreads this day. A day I wish I could erase.  I hate cystic fibrosis.  A disease which I knew little about besides meds, therapy and medical appointments.  Quickly I found out this disease can take a child from giggles to her grave. My baby girl was only 3 years old  Just a baby waiting to grow.  She held her first tomato just the day before.  That week before hunted Easter eggs and her basket still full of candy. Her bunny laid still on her bed. As if the wind wisp her out of arms like a balloon drifting to heaven.  Helpless us how I felt as I handed her to paramedics.  Watching helplessly.  I ask god many nights clear the moments of this day. Six years later I still hear her giggles and her bunny now sits on a shelf. I've been ask why I allowed myself to love a child that was dying.  Never once did I actually think she would die and c.f. was this evil of an disease.   I've been questioned st

With court completed and days of waiting are over we raised enough funds to purchase our tickets to travel. Daily packing our luggage a little at a time. This trip will be roughly 2 to 3 weeks.   With both children born in different areas if the country means extra travel involved and extra funds needed. One great thing us the weather is warmer so no heavy coats to worry with or winter clothing. Excited knowing we will see our children again.  And this trip they will be traveling home.  Their rooms are being finished up.  New bedding, pillows and painting the walls prior to leaving. The pass couple of months we have been working on making one of bathrooms handicap abscessable.  This will make it easier for Sophia to shower. Greysin loves legos so trying find him a few sets to start up with.  Sophia loves baby dolls and girly things.  Sophia is going love havin sisters to play with.  Greyson will have plenty of nephews his age to built things with. Trying to pack light, whi

Five days left and our children are able to come home.  Just wished we were there to check them out.  So we wait and raise the funds we need to pay our airline tickets. Without new updated passports we cam not travel.  So  still waiting on Passports.  It looks like May now till we travel so trying get some of everyone's medical appointments done.  Once they arrive we can book our tickets. Wished we had some updated photos to share with everyone.  But right now trying to finish the school year befote traveling Overly thankful for everyone who has helped us and that is helping us.  Many people I am especially grateful for their help.  Please remember every dollar donate you can receive a deduction on this year's taxes.  So if you need and  extra tax credit think of us. You can also donate your Delta ir United air miles to our air travel account. 

Rough day here.   My grand daughter Mileena in the Philippines had to have a blood transfusion.  I wished I could have been there and be there to take turns caring for her in the hospital.  Children get sick easily and even the best of parents can not prevent an illness like this. Today Jake hasn't felt to well.  Scares me... What would I do without my son?  He wakes me with his smiles daily.  Even after throwing up during the night he smiles.  Nightly on my knees I pray for my children. Losing a child is difficult.  OurbGennie Jake's younger sister died from Cystic Fibrosis.  One day she was full of giggles the next day she collapsed in my arms. While visiting Barbara-new name Sophia we met our newest son.   On RR they called him Sage and his new name he chose was Damien.  We added Greyson for a middle name and he will go by Greyson.   Greyson was in one of her classes.  He was in the back of a room away from other children.  Due to him getting sick easily he stayed his

Down to just days to purchase our airline tickets.  Our thirty days are up on April 16th. This means children are ready to leave and us to be there. Currently I am trying hold iff on surgery fir myself till children are home.  Cancer was not in our plans nor anyone person.  I cried when I watch my first husband slowly die of Cancer.  My plans are to beat it so I can raise our children. I am just very thankful it was not my child or a friend's child.  I've been ill before but not like this.  Makes a person open their eyes even wider about how easily we tend to place our own needs last.  As parents we stop for our children needs and most times it takes an illness to make one stop.  Seldom do I get ill.  I am a giver, protector and the person that is always there for others.  Seldom I ask for help or need it.  Both Gary and I are harder workers and stretch ourselves.  Many days and nights we sail by one another in shifts with our children.  Parenting a child with special nee

Since returning from Trip one I haven't felt do well.  Luggage still packed and grant applications sat close by to be filled out.  Much of our funds used to update documents and travel.  Saving some of our remaining funds for travel for Trip 2. Luckily we found reasonable airline tickets.  And we flew close to the city which saved us several hours if travel time.  It cost us a tad bit more on travel costs.  Not feeling well and to be able to visit the children earlier we chose to fly to the nearest airport.  We found out before departing luggage costs weren't included in airline tickets.  Another 40 Euro for each  2 bags (80)  about 100 plus US dollars.   And then prior to returning we left donations so it put us back to only paying for one bag another 40 Euros.  150 or so we did not plan in our budget.  We ate breakfast at hotel, no costs.  Skipped lunch or ate a small snack of fruit from Breakfast.  Then dinner we purchased a few things from store to eat.  So about 2 dollars