From Kremenchuk to Kiev…to Austin!!!

Wednesday, February 29—Leap Day—, we eagerly packed our belongings and waited for our “mini-bus” (Ukrainian for mini-van, a rare vehicle in Ukraine) to pick  us up to take us to the boys’ orphanage so we could spring them out of that place and into forever freedom!

Matt’s shirt was very fitting for the day…James 1:27, LIVE IT!  (We purchased this shirt from my friend, Shelley, who sold these as a fundraiser for her most recent adoption.)

 

Our wonderful driver, Sasha, who has become a trusted friend to us while in Kremenchuk, came to the hotel to tell us goodbye.  He arranged for a friend of his to drive us to Kiev in his mini-bus (mini-van).

 

We climbed in the mini-bus, with plenty of space to spare, waiting to fill two more seats with our precious new sons.

 

We arrived at the orphanage around 2PMish and went straight to our boys’ groupa/room.  The caregivers had kept them up from nap time, with anticipation of our arrival.  The caregivers removed the orphanage clothing from our boys, and quickly dressed them in the clothing we brought for them.

 

With tears in their eyes, the caregivers hugged us and kissed us and thanked us for adopting Conner and Cooper.  We thanked them for loving our boys, and we left a new vacuum cleaner for the groupa/room, as their old one had broken.  This was the caregivers’ main request when we inquired about what we could do for them.  One of the caregivers bowed on her knees and kissed the ground when we left the vacuum cleaner.  The two caregivers are very kind.  They were so thankful they were able to tell Conner and Cooper goodbye, then they hugged us again and cried as we exited.  (Summer, if you’re reading this, they told us to tell you hello and to give Gavin their love!)

 

We went to the orphanage secretary to sign required final paperwork to take custody of the boys.  She asked us to email photos of the boys, and she also presented us with the boys’ baptismal certificates and small crosses they’d been given when they were baptized.  (We had no idea they’d been baptized here.)

 

We got the boys into the mini-bus and began the journey to Kiev.  They don’t use care seats here, but both boys traveled extremely well.  Neither one got car sick.  Yippee!

 

We drove through McDonald’s (for Matt and me because the boys can’t have new foods yet due to the deadly risk of re-feeding syndrome).  Matt and I were so hungry by this time.  One day we’ll be able to feed our boys anything and everything.  Hopefully soon!

 

Staring out the window at FREEDOM!!!

 

Conner only slept about 20 minutes total of the 4-hour trip, but he was a very content traveler.  He just sat in my lap or stretched out over me most of the ride.

 

Beautiful sunset, beautiful boy.

 

Cooper was all over the place!!!  Thank God for the iPad!!!!!  He watched movies 95% of the ride, which helped him with his spider monkey tendencies!!!  He’s like a bouncing ball…everywhere!!!

 

So precious.  Cooper loves his Daddy.

 

We were greeted by our friends in Kiev:  Tara and her baby E (her hubby was resting), who welcomed us (again) into their amazing apartment. Tara purchased food for the boys and had everything all organized for us.  Such an awesome provision from our Lord.

 

We used the double stroller to contain the boys, as their apartment isn’t quite baby-proof yet.  Cooper and Conner LOVED sitting in front of the TV, watching a channel called Baby TV. 

 

The boys had their first real baths (they only get wiped down at the orphanage).  Conner wasn’t quite sure of it, but Cooper LOVED it.  He splashed crazily and got all of us covered in water. 

 

Then, Matt noticed something brown floating in the water.

Oh, no!  Tell me it isn’t!  Conner, come with me, quickly!!!

 

Sometimes you just have to laugh.  Yep, it sure was…POOP!  From Cooper.  Over and over and over again.  Poop, more poop, and more poop.  My precious husband just asked us to take care of Conner so he could take care of the poop.  Over and over and over again.  He didn’t even allow me to switch jobs when I offered.  Gotta love that man!!!

 

So, we (Tara and I) laid Conner on the bed to lotion him up, only to discover this is what Conner looks like when lying down.   

 

Break my heart. This boy is TINY, just skin and bones. He desperately needs medical intervention and prayers. He refuses to eat/drink…not even water.  Nothing, no matter how delicious it is, absolutely nothing by mouth!  No bottle, cup, straw, spoon…nothing.  Conner doesn’t know how to chew, so everything has to be pureed, but even straight yogurt with no chunks makes him totally gag. He refuses to swallow, to the point of tears, along with gagging and tantruming.  (See more at the end of this post on this issue.)

 

Here’s a picture of Cooper’s club feet, which we’re really sad to see all of the bruises/scars on.  Looking forward to seeing God’s leading on having Cooper’s feet repaired in Texas.  Once they’re repaired, we have no doubt Cooper will be running all over the place!

 

The boys went to bed their first night out of the orphanage without a peep, and they both slept GREAT in their PeaPod tent beds (thanks to the 2 moms who gave us these…they’re AWESOME!). 

 

Matt and I stayed up late completing forms for the US Embassy interview.  Our awesome facilitator had everything printed out and organized for us, we just had to fill in all the answers/info.  There were at least 50 pieces of paper, probably more, because we’re adopting 2 boys, non-related.

 

The boys slept until 8AM Thursday, without waking in the night.  Hallelujah!  We’ve been amazed to see how well they’re transitioning into family life.  We got them dressed into real clothes immediately because the thought of letting them linger in pajamas made me nauseated, since that’s all they’ve ever known…never changing out of their pajamas, lying in a crib 24/7. 

 

Look how Cooper sits!!!  He also sleeps like this, only prone, with his feet pulled up beside his body.  Looks crazy painful to me, but it’s his favorite position!

 

Cooper allowed us to feed him breakfast (baby oatmeal with pureed banana), but Conner refused to eat or drink anything.  Matt headed off to the US Embassy for our first appointment/interview, so Nina (our facilitator) helped me take the boys to their required medical exam.  Both boys did great during their exams, and no problems/issues (such as TB) were found that would keep them from entering the US.  Praise God!

 

After the medical visit, we went back to Tara’s apartment and never left for the rest of the day/night because we spent the entire day and night trying to figure out how to best meet Conner’s needs.  With the concern that he could die from dehydration, but could also die from refeeding syndrome if we forced Pedialyte and/or other carbs/foods/sugars into his system, we had to figure out what the best approach to keeping him hydrated would be.

 

It’s a very scary balancing act on our part because of the huge risk he has for death due to refeeding syndrome. It’s very important that he not have any change in his diet, with extra precautions not to increase his caloric intake, carbohydrate/sugar intake, or nutrient intake. He cannot have IV fluids or a feeding tube (wouldn’t want to attempt getting that in Ukraine anyway) because the sudden change in electrolytes can cause death.

 

Refeeding syndrome is very serious, and even in hospital settings, if the staff don’t know what they’re doing, the patient can suddenly die due to heart failure (or a host of other things that come on suddenly, even in a hospital setting). It’s been really hard to get accurate information because so many people have been told different things and recommend different things.

 

Our excellent, not-your-average pediatrician (whom we adore and fully trust) did a lot of research and collaboration with a team at Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin (which would be our closest hospital) regarding Conner’s risk for refeeding syndrome.  (Actually both boys are at risk, but Conner is super high risk due to his heart condition and the fact that he’s about 7-10 pounds lighter than Cooper.)  We were told to not give Pedialyte or push foods if Conner doesn’t want to eat because that could kill him before we can get him home. It would be better for Conner not to eat if he doesn’t want to (as long as we can keep him hydrated with water) because if we change his diet, his caloric intake, his carb intake, sugar intake, nutrient intake, he could suddenly die, most likely of heart failure.

 

Conner already has a heart defect, so he’s at extra-high risk.  After many hours of prayer and research and collaboration with other moms who have been through this (particularly Katie’s mom, whose case is similar to Conner’s, though Conner isn’t as severe as Katie was), we’ve decided to stick with the advice of our pediatrician, which coincides with what Katie’s team of doctors recommended for her trip home. 

 

We will offer Conner the same foods that he was fed at the orphanage, in the same quantity, by the same method, at the same times.  If he refuses food/liquids by mouth, we will force 3ml water via syringe into Conner, every hour.  (This is tricky because we have to physically restrain him, squeeze his cheeks, put the syringe of water as far back in his throat as we can get it, then blow in his face while squeezing his cheeks until he swallows it.)  Conner didn’t have any urine output for the day, until around 6PM when he finally had a big ole wet diaper, praise God! 

 

We booked our tickets to fly home Saturday, arriving into Austin at 9:15PM!!!!!!!!!!!!  HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We booked them with faith that the boys’ visas WILL be ready tomorrow (Friday) at 2PM.  Please keep all of us in your prayers, especially Conner.  We are praising our Abba Father for getting us this far, praising Him in the storm, praising Him in the rainbows, praising Him in all things, at all times.  Thank you, Father!

Prayer Needed

I haven't had time to update the blog, so I'm emailing this quick update from my phone. We made it to Kiev, passports were ready this morning (PRAISE HIM!!!), we had our first US Embassy appointment, completed the medical exams, and everything is on track for the boys visas to be ready for pick-up Friday afternoon so we can go home Saturday!!!!!

Conner (age 6 years 7 months) is in pretty sad shape (see photo). He is so tiny, skin and bones. He is refusing all food and liquids. He won't drink from a straw, cup, sippy, or bottle. We're using a syringe to force water down his throat. Please pray that he'll hang in there and we can get home Saturday to get him medical help. He's happy, just won't eat or drink. :-(

I'll give a more detailed update with more pics when I have a chance. Thanks for praying!

…In the Arms of an Angel…

Adopting Conner and seeing first-hand the condition he’s in (he’s so much tinier and more fragile than Cooper) has really opened our eyes to a new level.

 

You know that really sad SPCA pet advocacy commercial with the song “…in the arms of an angel…” playing in the background?   You know, the one that shows all those sad pet faces, many locked in cages?  The one that makes you want to stop everything, sell all your belongings, and donate your savings to save a pet today? 

 

Well, this is that post for orphans in a particular orphanage in Bulgaria.  I don’t have the sad song playing in the background, but you can just imagine it. 

 

The pictures tell the same story that those sad pet pictures tell in the SPCA commercial, only those sad pets are treated like royalty compared to these children.

 

I’m not exaggerating.  Look at the photos yourself.  I’ve seen this first-hand.  We’re springing a child from his orphanage today who is in the same shoes as many of the children in the photos below.

 

This is reality, folks, like it or not.

 

But today, you have a chance to do something!!!  Just like we want to respond with immediate help when we see that sad SPCA commercial, instead of changing the channel or flipping to the next blog, DO SOMETHING. 

 

Here’s your chance.  Please click HERE to see this post on the author’s blog.  My friend, Shelley, gave me permission to copy and paste her post here.  Shelley is the woman who helped us adopt Chrissie, so she holds a very dear place in  my heart.  Shelley is also an amazing orphan advocate and adoptive mom who has put together a way for you to make a difference today in the lives of these poor mistreated, neglected, abused children.

 

I pray you’ll read this post in its entirety and be moved to action today.  Let the Church arise!  We have the opportunity to donate and help place these children…in the arms of an angel!

 

Here’s Shelley’s post, copied and pasted with her permission:

 

Help provide medical care to orphans

At the age of 9 years and 7 months, Katie weighed 10.5 pounds.

When she was admitted to the hospital, testing found that she suffered from Severe protein-energy malnutrition with related severe anemia, severe osteoporosis, multiple spinal compression fractures; scurvy; atrophic skin.

What caused these condition?

For 9 years and 7 months, Katie had lived in an orphanage in Pleven, Bulgaria where she was systematically and purposefully starved to keep her small, weak and unable to do anything but lie in her own urine and feces. She was fed only liquid, a mixture that contained very little sustenance. The liquid was fed to her out of a glass beer bottle that had a huge nipple on top so that the liquid could be forcibly shoved down her throat.

When Katie’s mama arrived at the orphanage to adopt her, she was allowed to hold Katie and feed her. However, the reality for the TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY other children that live in this orphanage is that on a daily basis, they are all fed this liquid while lying flat on their backs in a crib. If they choke, the liquid runs down their mouths or into their lungs. They are not picked up and burped. They aren’t even sat up so that they can eat properly. The children are in such weak and poor conditions, that they don’t have the strength to sit up when they are choking.

 

As a result, children DIE because they drown in this liquid that is aspirated into their lungs or are suffocated by the vomit that refluxes back into their mouth that they are unable to clear from their throats themselves due to their weakened condition.

Just this week, while the steps were being taken for this blog post to be publicized, another child from the orphanage in Pleven died.

 

These are not assumptions on my part,
these are the cold hard FACTS of life in this orphanage
and they have been recently legally documented and reported to the Bulgarian government.

 

Katie is now home in the United States with her family and she’s receiving proper medical care.

However,

There are 240 other children in that orphanage that still need help. The Bulgarian government has been made aware of what is happening at this orphanage and an investigation has been launched. Official documents have been filed and action is being taken throughout different branches of the Bulgarian government as I write this.

While the government works on the legal side of holding those in charge responsible, something must be done to help the children.

Pro. Lilova, head of the pediatric team at Tokuda Hospital in Sofia, Bulgaria provided medical care for Katie, so that she could make it safely home to the US and to a hospital here. As a result of seeing Katie’s condition, Pro. Lilova has volunteered her services FREE OF CHARGE to provide medical care for the remaining children in Pleven, starting with the ones in the worst conditions.

 

Three children are currently in the hospital receiving treatment from Pro. Lilova. (the faces of all orphans have been blurred to protect their identity). Here is what the testing has revealed so far:

 

On January 12th, 11 year old “V” weighed 12 pounds and is 29 inches long

“P” is 15 and a half years old. She weighs 18 pounds and is 34 inches long

Both girls are suffering from a multitude of health problems as a result of the starvation and dehydration that they’ve experienced their entire lives, including evidence of multiple broken bones that were left untreated over the years. They are already suffering from osteoporosis as children due to nutritional deficits.

 

There are MANY more children that need medical intervention, like little “K”, who is turning 5 years old in April. He lives in a room ALL ALONE because he’s been in “isolation” for 2 years now because he got sick as a baby. Those toys you see in his crib are because this photo was taken by the family in process to adopt him on their first visit with him

and 5 year old “L”, who has a kidney condition that has been left untreated and her body is beginning to swell from the excess fluid build up. Her little feet are so tiny that 3-6 month baby shoes fall off of them

I can’t show you the appalling photos of the rashes and scars that these children have from lying in their urine and feces. Many of them have their entire backside and groin areas covered in rashes and peeling skin. One visitor to the orphanage said that the children often lay on mattresses without sheets. If there is a sheet, it’s wet with the child’s urine and the child is forced to just lay in it all day. None of the children had blankets in their beds.

 

Here is an observation from one mother who visited her child there earlier this month. Her daughter is 5 years old, fits into a size 1 diaper and the 6-9 month clothes that were taken for her to wear are too big:
”She cannot sit at all. She can barely hold up her head. She has NO MUSCLE tone AT all. She can not even get her knees under her to try and get to her hands and knees but instead her legs just lay out to the side. I did see her role over one time. She hates the food that is fed in the bottles with the big nipples. She would toss it and then it would be stuffed back in her mouth. This would repeat over and over. I tried to hold her to feed her and the staff made me lay her down flat on her back. The food is a horrid smelling milky substance with this cottage cheese like pieces that come out with the liquid. They do not hold any of the children and do not burp them at all. They pick the children up by the arm and then lay them down the same. One boy was choking on the bottle and finally the worker picked him up and got his mouth and throat cleared. I wonder what would have happened had I not been in the room?”

Make no mistake, the child described above is not in this condition because of some type of special need or medical condition that prevents her from doing anything. She’s in this condition due to NEGLECT and STARVATION. While the majority of the children in this orphanage have some degree of special needs, it is NOT their special needs that have put them in such dire condition.

HOW CAN YOU HELP THE CHILDREN?????

Pro. Lilova has volunteered to travel from Sofia to Pleven to visit the children in the orphanage and to attempt to come up with some plan to provide the medical care that all of the children living there are in need of. While she can volunteer her services as a doctor, there are other expenses that are incurred in order for these children to receive medical care:
1.) Transportation costs to get the children from Pleven to the hospital in Sofia for medical testing and treatment
2.) Expenses to pay for an orphanage staff member to stay in Sofia while the children are hospitalized (this is required under Bulgarian law if the orphanage insists on sending someone and this orphanage has insisted that a staff member be present)
3.) Special formula and other nutritional feeding supplements so that the children can begin to be fed properly without the risk of re-feeding syndrome.

 

An account has been established in Bulgaria to hold donations specifically for the medical care for the children of Pleven. All expenses will be properly documented and all medical testing, findings, and treatment will be made a part of the child’s permanent medical file, should the child be adopted. There are currently at least 17 children from this orphanage that have families in various stages of the process to adopt them.

A fund has been established through Eli Project so that tax deductible donations can be made to the Pleven medical fund. ALL money donated will be sent directly to the account that is established in Bulgaria and the funds will be used for the transportation and medical expenses related to the care of the children.

If you’d like to donate toward the medical care of the children, you may do so from a direct bank draft or credit card via Paypal by using the chip in below. All donations are tax deductible in the US.

*None of the photos from this post may be copied or otherwise removed/used in any way without the expressed written consent of the blog owner. All the faces of children who are still legal orphans and residing in this orphanage have been blurred to protect their identity. The Ministry of Justice and the State Agency for Child Protection in Bulgaria are in the process of investigating what is happening to these children, now that they've been made aware. Legal channels have been followed to report the neglect and this fund is strictly to provide the much needed medical care that the children need NOW. The Bulgarian government is aware that medical care is being provided and all the medical reports will be available to them during the course of their investigation. All medical care provided with the use of these funds will be provided under the supervision of Prof. Lilova.*

Katie, who was mentioned in this blog, is now home and thriving with her family.

You can follow her journey on her mom’s blog, found here.

He Does All Things Well

 

We received word today that both boys’ passports will be ready Thursday!!!!  Praise Him; He does all things well!!!  Our awesome facilitator has come up with a fabulous plan that will get us back to Texas Saturday!!!

 

 

Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will spring the boys from their orphanage forever!!!  Yes, February 29, Leap Day, will be our official “Gotcha Day”!   That seems very fitting for this adoption, since there have been so many unusual twists and turns, it seems very appropriate that Leap Day would be our Gotcha Day!!!  This has definitely been a leap of faith!

 

 

We have our adoption interview with the US Embassy in Kiev (for the boys to receive visas to come to the US) Thursday at 10AM; however, the passports won’t be ready for pick-up until Thursday morning in Kremenchuk and Poltava.  So, our facilitator (did I mention how awesome she is?) arranged with the US Embassy for us to have our interview anyway, and our facilitator’s husband will pick up the passports in Kremenchuk and Poltava for us!  He will fax a copy of the passports to our facilitator so we can at least have that.

 

 

The boys will have their medical exam (required by the US) Thursday at Noon.  We’ll use the faxed passport copies for that, as well, and then pick up the infamous sealed packet (internationally adopted kiddos must enter the US with a sealed packet from the medical examiner…the packet must not be tampered with in any way, not even peeked at by the adoptive parents!) once we have the real passports in hand.

 

If Cooper had it his way,  he’d have his face about 3-5” from the iPad at all times.  Yes, we plan to have his vision checked.

 

We’ll go back to the US Embassy Friday afternoon at 2PM for the final interview/approval, where we’ll obtain the boys’ visas, and then we’ll be cleared to head to TEXAS!!!!!!!

 

We’ll take the first flight out, which will be Saturday morning, and that will put us in Texas Saturday night!!!  It’s about 30 hours of travel, but with the 8 hour time loss going into Texas, we’ll still arrive in the same day that we leave Kiev!

 

So, we ask for your prayers to continue.  Pray us HOME!!!  To God be all the glory, for He does all things well.