My Girls....

I wanted to share a little about my girls....I usually give little snippets, but not the whole story when it comes to my kids. I thought I'd share a little more here since I have been asked quite a few times lately and receiving more emails with questions about them. I'll start with our oldest daughter....

Marissa Anne

She is in her early 2o's (and funny about her age) living on her own. She is a paramedic and a student. She is contemplating going to Fire Fighting school, but is currently on a volunteer department, where she started when she was just 17! She is also the first female to serve on their board!!! Go Rissa!!! She lives about 5 hours away, but I still go and see her about 1 time a month!! I think she is just GOREGOUS!!

Emilea Victoria

She is finishing up her sophomore year in high school. She just got her drivers license a couple of weeks ago and has been running errands daily!! She is in the school band, on the Honor Roll and a Latin student! She really enjoys Latin, so we are taking a trip together next March to Italy & Greece!! Emilea traveled with me to China in 2007 to bring Rubea home. She is such a blessing to us and her siblings. We think she is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Kaylea Lynn

Kaylea is our Thai Princess and came to us in 2006 at the age of 5.5 years. We knew when we accpeted her referral that she had Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita(AMC), Scoliosis and bilateral club foot (partially repaired). The AMC and scoliosis have caused her to need many surgeries and procedures in the past 4 years. Since coming home she has been diagnosed with RAD, attachment issues, failure to thrive, eating disorder, feeding disorder, asthma, celiac disease, hiatal hernia, tetherd cord, reflux and malnurishment. Since coming home she has required a g-tube to help her gain weight as well as a trach placed for easier intubation for surgeries. She is by far our most medically needy child and even receives nursing services 12 hours a day. Kaylea weighed 24 lbs when we adopted her 4 years ago and was 36 inches tall. She FINALLY weighs 37 lbs and is 44.25 inches tall!!! We are thrilled that she is finally growing and thriving and her labs no longer show that she is malnourished!!! We are so thankful that our prayers are being answered and she is finally HEALTHY!!!!! Isn't she ADORABLE???

Rylea Joy

Rylea has been home the shortest amount of time, about 1.5 years, but make no mistake, she is definitely in charge around here!! Or, so she thinks!! She is our only child from Vietnam. Rylea is 5 years old now and EXACTLY (to the day) 10 months older than Rubea. She has Cerebral Palsy, more specifically Schizencephaly, that affects all 4 limbs. She also has issues with vision & speech, bilateral club foot (repaired) and has pituitary issues as well. She is unable to walk at this time, but we are not giving up on her. She does get around the house by crawling, scooting, rolling and demanding to be carried! She is definitely opinionated and LOVES attending school. She has had no attachment issues since being with us. She is so much like Ethan it is amazing! She went from her crib to her daddy and never looked back! She is certainly the *Joy* in our lives!!! We think she is just the CUTEST!!!!!

Rubea Grace

Rubea was the youngest child that we have adopted. She was just a few days shy of being 22 months when Emilea and I took her from that dark & crowded waiting room in China, October 2007. I cried the minute I saw her....thankfully my new best friend, Shelly, was there to tell me *it will be ok*. Rubea may have been 22 months old according to her birth certificate, but she was no where near that age physically, socially, emotionally or psychologically. I knew the second I spotted her in the arms of her orphanage director. She was being held like a new born baby and her cry was just as weak. Thankfully today she is a very strong, healthy, smart 4 year old!! She has Spina Bifida and will likely never walk. She also has scoliosis (and got her titanium ribs 1.5 years ago), tethered cord (repaired), club feet (repaired) and Holoprosencephaly. She has an AWESOME power wheelchair that she loves and handles beautifully. She attends school, that she also loves, and is in class with Rylea. She is now talking in sentences (they were unsure if she would ever talk), naming her ABC's and numbers, colors, shapes, animals, body parts, etc. She is very near being on target for a child who is 4. Her weaknesses for the most part are due to her physical difficulties!! We know she will face some challenges as she ages due to SB, but we are certain she will handle them all with *Grace*. She is very PRECIOUS to us!!!!!

Those are my girls!! Thanks everyone for asking about them!!