Bringing Precious Bao Gui Home......

As I walked up to a BBQ that my sister had invited me to this past Wed. night (thanks for the invite sis) I already knew that my child hood friend Lisa was going to be there- My sister had mentioned it as we had chatted on the phone about what side dishes we were going to be bringing (she was bringing cream cheese filled peppers and I was bringing cantelope and chips).  The great thing about child hood friends is that you can go with out talking  for years and years yet when you see each other you have an instant connection- 
I had followed Lisa on face book for the past several years and knew by both talking to her and by face book that she and her husband had added to their family of 4 (they have 2 biological children) 2 additional blessings- These blessings came by way of an International adoption from China.  We instantly started talking about their adoption story.........we then talked about Ellie's adoption story........As the conversation continued, I learned that Lisa and her husband Daniel felt a very strong calling to adopt one more precious blessing from China-  A little boy with significant medical needs named Bao Gui (pronounced Bow-Go).  As Lisa started describing the situation surrounding Bao Gui I felt a stirring very deep in my heart- As Lisa talked on, I knew that I was supposed to share her story with all of you.......my blog friends-


May God Bless and keep little Bao Gui as he awaits his placement with his Daniel and Lisa as his forever family.........And may God rise up people who feel led to donate to this amazing cause- Daniel and Lisa are $2,500 short of bringing Bao Gui home- If, after reading their story you would like to donate ANY amount ($10.00 is not to small)- feel free to contact Lisa directly or their adoption agency- I will put both contact information at the bottom of this blog post.
BELOW IS BAO GUI'S STORY AS TOLD BY LISA:

Bao Gui

I guess it’s really BaoGui’s story and it began long before our family knew of his need, before our hearts were touched by his sweet smile and before we knew we were called to bring him home. He was abandoned shortly after birth, most likely due to medical needs that his birth parents were unable to provide for. After being taken into the orphanage he was placed in a group foster home for children with severe medical needs. Under the care of Morning Star Foundation, BaoGui’s basic needs have been met; but his greatest need remains unmet. He needs a family, a family who will love him and advocate for him. A family that will love him just the way his body was created, but also fight to bring healing to his little body where possible. He is awaiting surgery to reverse the colostomy that he has had since infancy and is also most likely deaf, though we do not have any medical details pertaining to his failed hearing tests.  

Our love for the children of China has grown deeper and deeper as our family has grown. Having adopted two of our children from China (both through waiting children / special needs programs) we know the difference that a family can make in the life of a child who has only known uncertainty and loss. We want to make that difference in BaoGui’s life, but the financial obligations that come with an adoption have kept us from being able to move forward with the next step. We have been approved by China to adopt BaoGui, but we need to complete our dossier in order to apply for his visa and bring him home. Right now we need to raise $2,500 to complete our home study through Holt International. We are praying for families to come alongside ours to make this possible. Each adoption is a miracle and a tangible expression of love. More than mere words, it says, “You are loved. You are special. You are worth more than any earthly treasure.”

BaoGui’s name translates “Precious Treasure.”

Our family has been forever blessed by adoption; I pray that many more families would also be blessed as they join us and become a part of BaoGui’s story.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not

destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:20-21

You can contact Lisa directly at: dlronda@charter.net  

If you would like to make a donation by way of pay pal you can find her pay pal account by way of her e-mail.

If you would like to contact their adoption agency to make a, what I believe is tax deductible, donation you can call:  Holt International- 541-687-2200

Like I said- No donation is to small! Let's bring this little guy home......... Please feel free to pass this blog post on to anyone who you think may be interested.

Have a great weekend,

Steph

I Need Under Wire and Why Is Oklie Sitting Like That??

I came across this picture and busted up laughing- I think it was taken right after we moved to Hawaii (2009)-
The title of this blog say's it all!!
Hope Every One's Wed. is going great.......

Also wanted to give you a head's up that I am hoping to feature a family (Daniel, Lisa, and their 4 children) on one of my blog posts that has been placed with a little boy who has special need's in China- This family has adopted 2 children before from China and feel's a strong calling to adopt this little guy with special needs- I have known this particular family  for years and actually went to both junior high and high school with Lisa......I had the privilege of doing Lisa's hair at her wedding many years ago :)  Both she and her husband have a HUGE heart for children who other's may find 'overwhelming' due to their medical conditions and a HUGE heart to see through this adoption that they have started in China- I am excited at the possibility of sharing their story...........

Eli's Driving, Becca's Claire Hagen was born, Eli and Ellie

Last week Eli became an official driver- He turned 15 last month and was able to get his permit this month (so maybe it took him a time or two to pass his permit test..........LOL kid- you beat me and passed before your third fail)-

This week began with my cousin's Luke and Becca welcoming baby Claire Hagen into their family.......

Beautiful Claire Hagen
Born 7/10/11
7 lbs. 12 oz.

Becca and Claire

At least once everyday My boys ask to hold Ellie- I snapped these pictures a couple days ago as Eli was holding her- I can't believe how fast she is growing up

Wyatt's 6 and Ellie Weighs 6 lbs 1 oz!!!!

My nephew Wyatt- who is my little brother (my brother from another mother..hee!) Levi's middle son turned 6- Levi and Liz (Wyatt's mom and one of the neatest ladies I personally know) had several of his friends and family over today to celebrate-
AND............
Ellie was weighed for her 3 week check up- At her 1 week check up she weighed 4 lbs. 15 oz- today she weighed 6 lbs. 1 oz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH HAPPY DAY FOR THIS PROUD MAMA!!! All those late night feedings are paying off............doing the hallelujah dance :)

Wyatt's Birthday Party

Wyatt holding up his 6 fingers to show how old he turned

Wyatt's little brother Ben (Boo Bear)

Becca's Dawson

Wyatt's oldest brother Eli

Sienna and Cole (my sis's children)

Cole with his eyes shut

Michelle

My bro Levi

Sis in law Liz and her cousin Tricia

Lookie who Becca still has in that small prego belly of her's!!

Sis in Law Erika and David

Becca's oldest Grace Anne

Ali who is due with Caleb John in Dec.

Liz, Becca, and I

My sis Jodi with her youngest Caleb

Happy Birthday Wyatt- Auntie Loves you

My niece Sienna (Jodi's daughter)

RANDOM PICS:

Ryan and Ellie........awww!!!

Night Life!! Whoo Hoo!!

I've got myself quite the night life- It's been 12 years since I have had any sort of activity at night- since the late afternoon of June 5, 1999 (My Ryan was born)- For the past 12 years when it get's dark and close to 10 p.m. my eyelids shut and stay that way until 6 a.m................not any more........no ma'am........uh uh.....no way-
The below pictures will describe my nights- exhaustion is over riding vanity at this point, otherwise I would have made my bed better, shut the dish washer, etc... before taking the pictures.

Here's what my night life looks like...........Let the Party Begin :)

At 10:00 p.m. when I would normally go to bed- My little Ellie opens her eyes.....she does this kind of rooting/squeek sound and makes it known that SHE IS HUNGRY-
I have not gone to bed by this point so I grab a bottle filled with 60cc's of formula and feed her
She is done eating, burped, being changed, and back in bed by 10:40- I head to bed

12:00 a.m.- The rooting and sqeeking start up again- she is sleeping in her bassinet by my bed-  I get up, walk down my hall, grab a bottle off of the counter in the kitchen and fill it with formula- walk back down the hall- sit on my bed and feed Ellie.........after feeding, I change, burp, and put her back into bed.......it's 12:40 a.m.

2:00 a.m.- Like clock work I hear Ellie start sqeeking again......I repeat the above and get back into bed about 2:40 a.m.

4:00 a.m.- Repeat the above- only this time Ellie does not go back to sleep right away- she fuss's when I put her back in her bassinet- I grab her and lay her on my chest and talk to her.........it's 5:00 a.m. when she finally fall's back asleep.

6:00 a.m. Repeat the above

8:00 a.m. I get up for the day and Ellie sleeps the day away...........waking every 2 hours to eat......or sometimes she will wake up for about an hour and watch the world around her.

As crazy as this sounds- even through all the exhaustion...........I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF GETTING UP WITH ELLIE............ I LOVE YOU ELLIE :)

There my little Ellie sleeps

The hall way I go down several times a night to get
to the kitchen

making the corner from the living room to the kitchen

Back down the hall way.........

60 cc's equals 2 oz. And More 'First' Pictures

As I am typing this blog post out, I have Ellie laying on my chest- sprawled out like she own's the place :)  She is wearing a little onesie (she wears preemie still) with pink, purple, and turquoise stripes with her pink pacifier hanging half in and half out of her little mouth- I gave her a bath tonight and her head is in smelling range of my nose- She smells like Aveno Baby Wash (which I absolutely LOVE the smell of)- We are in between her 10 pm and 12 am feeding- depending on the night I will just stay up and try to do my devotions (just started Beth Moore's David), blog, or clean house..........tonight is one of those nights-
I am so proud to announce that Ellie has gone from drinking 25 cc's (a little under an ounce) to drinking 60 cc's (2 ounces) every 2 hours- If you have ever had a small or preemie baby you know the victory you feel each time they increase their eating amounts- She will go to the doctor on Fri. and I am hoping to report that she is weighing at least 5 pounds- I was going to take her to get weighed yesterday but several things came up and I was unable to.................I am going to guess that she will weigh in at 5 lbs. 4 oz. so about an ounce over her original birth weight!
I hope you all are having a great week and please enjoy more pictures of the first time my friends and family saw our Ellie Marie-

My mom

My step dad Phil

My friend Kristi

My sis Jodi (I love you sis)

The tears on my sis in law Liz's face say so much- Thank you precious Liz-a-beth
for being on this journey- I love you

My good friend Deb was the Respiratory Therapist on the day Ellie Was born-
She was able to be in the delivery room for Ellie's birth :)
Deb- God knew how much I needed you at the Hospital that day and the day's following- I love you
lots and feel so blessed to have as wonderful a friend as you!
 

Deb

My sis in law Judie

Bro in law Mark