Blog Shower Update!

You guys are awesome!! We have put a nice dent in the needs for Morning Star Foundation's new home! Lynsay has updated the list, which is posted below. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for helping these little ones get comfortable in their new surroundings. It's not too late to participate if you would like. If you need information about how to donate, just scroll down to previous posts.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! for letting God work through you!!

Morning Star Foundation Needs List September 2009
We are renovating a 10 room house. All the furnishings for 3 bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen, bathroom and laundry are needed.

Items BOLD RED AND UNDERLINED we have received!!! THANK YOU!

Bedrooms-

• Cribs- 8 cribs needed. Working on getting a better price, will probably have them made. Worst case means purchasing from major store-$100 each. 6 gifted!!
• Bedding- Sheets, bumpers and blankets. $20 each crib
• Artwork for walls- $40 per room (3 bedrooms)
• Changing table- $20 x 4
• Dresser- $100 x 3
• Window Coverings- $60 x 3 bedrooms

Dining Room-

• Dining table and chairs- $100
• High chairs- 4 at $20 each
• Wall art- $25
• Window coverings- $25

Kitchen-

• Stovetop- $100
• Refrigerator- $375
• Misc. Kitchen supplies including Knives, 2 wok ($30,) utensils, plates and bowls.
• Sink- $125
• Sterilizer- $250

Playroom-

• Artwork- $50
• Window Coverings- $40
• Small indoor play toys- currently working on price, probably around $150
• TV- $150
• Bookshelf- $50

Isolation room/clinic-

• Locking cabinet- $125
• Window covering- $30

Storage room-

• Wire Shelving- $25 x 8
• Rubbermaid style boxes for storage- $5 x 20

Office-

• Desk- $50 x 2
• Laptop computer (for purposes of being able to take with us to avoid theft and so that we always
• Have info with us) ? Unknown cost. Around $800? Would like to purchase outside of china.
• Futon- $90
• Window coverings- $30

Dorm room-

• 4 beds- $100 each
• Nightstands- $15 x 4
• Lamps- $10 x 4
• Shoe rack- $10
• Bedding- $40 x 4
• Window Covering- $30

Laundry room-

• Sink- $50
• 
  
• Hot Water Washer- $350
• Clothes drying rack- $100
• Shelving- $75

Bathroom-

• Shelving with individual locked cubbies for ayi storage- $200
• 
  
• Towels and washrags- $50 for all

Yard-

• Sod- Unknown price
• Playground- also working on price

Day to day needs-

• Diapers- $28 for box of 170 (working on better pricing)
• Formula- $14 per can, need 2-3 cans a day with 12 kids
• Money for staff and baby food- Approx $10-15 a day (with new home staff)
• Medicines- Spend approx. $50 a month on local meds, donated meds always needed.
• Wipes- $2 per pack

Large Items-

• Air Conditioning units- 6 units, 4 small units, $350 each, 2 large units, $750 each
• Heating system- currently unknown, greater than $3000
• Yearly heat and electricity cost- estimate- $3500
• Safe- $400
• Time Stamp- $150

Oink, Oink

Yes, we have sw*ne flu. No big surprise there. Molly's best friend tested positive for it today and after hours and hours of trying to reach our pediatrician's office, I finally got through. They gave me the option of bringing the kids in for testing, but agreed that since the kids had already gotten the seasonal flu shot weeks ago, the only other possibility was H*N1. So by process of elimination, they have diagnosed them with it. They are not giving the kids in the area Tamiflu--there just isn't enough to go around.

However...I did talk to Kate and SaraGrace's cardiologist and he called in Tamiflu for both girls. He wants them to start taking it now, before they get symptoms. He is most concerned about Kate. He said that anyone with her heart condition would have a harder time weathering a flu virus. My concern with giving them the Tamiflu before they get symptoms is that they might not get it now, but will get it later when we take them to church or a restaurant and they end up getting exposed there. And of course, SaraGrace is at school, where it is already going around. Thankfully, the pharmacy was able to call around and get some Tamiflu but it won't be available until tomorrow.

The kids have to stay home for seven days. Wonder what they'll do all day once they start to feel better?! :) Poor Jordan is starting to feel lousy and Jake started running a low grade fever around lunch time. I honestly hope they all just get it quickly and put it behind us. It's worse when a virus hits us and drags on for weeks and weeks.

Another One Bites the Dust

Jordan is the latest to succumb to the dreaded plague. Molly is better, Chloe has had a rough day and Jillian seems to have gotten the mildest version in the family.

The doctor's office will not give us any Tamiflu until we are actually sick. Darn... So, I guess we will just wait to see if/when SaraGrace and Kate get it and take them to the doctor immediately. I just got back from the store, where I stocked up on several boxes of chewable T*lenol and Ib*profin, so that if I get sick, the kids will still have meds to take.

I have come to the conclusion that it's better to just get it over with. I would rather have it now than have it ruin Thanksgiving or Christmas.

What's Wrong with this picture?

Yep--it's SNOW. ugh. It's only the middle of October! It was pouring all day until about 4:00 when the temperature dropped below freezing and the snowflakes started falling. I must admit that it was beautiful, but snow.snow.go.away. It's only October.

Molly is feeling better, Chloe is worse (hit 104.6 when I accidentally let her Ibuprofin lapse) and now Jillian is running a fever. The second day seems to be the worst. Thank you for your prayers and the info some of you have sent on the flu. General consensus is that it is probably H1N* since that is the main type of flu going around right now. I have read that it's better to get it early in the season before it morphs into a stronger strain, so maybe this is God's way of protecting us from something worse. The sick girls are quarantined to their room and Jeff hooked up a TV in there for them. Molly is already getting restless and bored and cranky, so that is a good sign.

Not Good

Molly came home from school yesterday with a fever of 102, body aches, and a sore throat. Today she has been up to 103.5, coughing and too sick to do anything but lie around. Chloe was fine this morning, but this afternoon she got lethargic and when I took her temperature, it was 102.

They obviously have flu symptoms, as this is much more severe than a cold and came on very fast. It's too early for seasonal flu, but H1N* has just started hitting our area.

As soon as our doctor's office opens on Monday, I will be calling to see if I can get some Tam*flu for all of us--especially Kate and SaraGrace. I am trying not to get panicked, but obviously this is not good. Kate is more at risk than SaraGrace because Kate has compromised lung function as well as her heart condition. From what I have read, H1N* has been associated with a strain of viral pneumonia that penetrates deeply into the lungs.

We would so appreciate your prayers.

Proverbs 3:6

Why Bill and Lynsay have a soft spot in my heart

The blog shower is humming along. Thank you so much to all who have donated. If you haven't, and you're considering it, I want to share with you one of the many reasons this couple is so dear to my heart.

We met when we were adopting Jordan in 2006. I was working for Love Without Boundaries as a foster care coordinator, and I needed to pay a visit to 'my kids.' Bill and Lynsay were living there and Lynsay was the one who sent me information on the kids each month so that I could type up reports to sponsors. Shortly before we had come to China, one little baby was brought in that was in such bad shape, Lynsay became almost her full time nurse (in addition to the nannies assigned to the baby). The baby had suffered horrible neglect to the point that her bedsores were life threatening. I have photos--but they are too graphic to put on the blog. The sores on her head were so deep that one large area exposed her skull. She had sores on her back and under one arm as well. To further complicate things, she had a severe heart condition which caused her to be blue, and was suffering from third stage malnutrition. It wasn't long before she also had pneumonia. Lynsay did not think she would live due the bed sores alone--they were that bad. Lynsay devoted herself to this little one, spending sleepless nights and tending to her many special needs.

Intake Photo

From LWB archives...all bandaged and on the mend


I saw this precious baby when we visited as she had only been there about a month and was in the new LWB intensive care unit at Hope. If only I had known she would someday be my precious Kate, I would have lingered a bit longer that day. But God knew that I probably would have never been able to tear myself away from her--nor would I have been able to wait for over two more years to bring her home.

This is the photo I took of Kate that day.

Yes. It was our Kate. She would not be alive if not for the combined efforts of Lynsay, Hope staff, and LWB staff. She still bears the scars of those awful first days--with large bald spots on her head from the bedsores--but she also bears the LOVE that she was shown. She is a child full of joy and although we have laughed about her being a 'princess' we are so very thankful that she has had so much nurturing that she would EXPECT to be treated that way.

I know that many of you prayed so much for our little Kate when she had her surgery earlier this year. Please consider the other little 'Kate's' who are in Bill and Lynsay's care--now and in the future--and consider a donation to help them outfit the new baby home. Just go to their site and click on the donate button. If you prefer to send a check, you can mail it to:
The Cause
365 NE Greenwood Avenue Suite 1
Bend, Oregon 97701
USA
Designate in the memo section that it is for Morning Star Foundation.

No amount is too small! Even $5 helps. Your help could turn a little's one's fate from certain death, to this:

Random pictures from the Lake

These pictures were taken Monday and Wed. On Monday it was warmer, so we were able to enjoy a longer visit. Today we noticed that a lot of the leaves had fallen from the trees (sob) so our days at the lake are coming to a close. I guess we can come and see ice and snow later this year, but uh...not sure I will want to.

Every day, if it is sunny out, the little kids will start clamoring to go to the Lake (it's only about 8 min. away). Today Jake said, "Mom, can we go to da dake? Iths sunny outdide!" No one has told him that he seriously overuses the letter 'd.'






"Mischief" is my middle name.

There are SO many acorns everywhere. They fall out of the trees constantly and have hit us in the head, and hit our car when driving. They covered the trail, and many of them were under leaves. It was like trying to walk on marbles in some places. Most of us had at least one wipe out (me included) which was quite comical. I mean, really, how do you explain a rear end that is dotted with bruises that resemble polka-dots?





"They don't call me Spitfire for nothing!"


The weather was in the 50's but the kids insisted they were 'boiling,' and really needed to stick their feet in the water.



Big sisters are the best~

More of God's beauty. Our Creator has given us so much to enjoy.

Rain, rain go away

It's raining today--one of those steady rains that you know will last all day. The kids had vacation days yesterday and today, but are back to school tomorrow. So...no fun trip to northern Mass. to see the leaves. Rats. Somehow I just don't think the kids would enjoy riding for a few hours on the highway, see trails but not be able to get out of the van...more riding...and more riding...then riding home. Um...yeah...I don't think so.

Instead...I wanted to post the list of things that Bill and Lynsay at Morning Star Foundation will need to get their foster home up and running. No gift is too small. Truly. If we all sent $10, it would go a long way. They are giving up a comfy life in the U.S. to be able to help these fragile children and this is our chance to show them that we support what they are doing...that we have not forgotten them. All of the babies who live there have special needs. It's so easy to go to their website and click on their "Donate" button. It will take you less than five minutes. You will be making an eternal difference.

I asked Lynsay for a list of items they need so that we could have an idea of what it will cost. They currently have five babies--but hope to take in twelve.

Needs List from Lynsay: September 2009

We are renovating a 10 room house. All the furnishings for 3 bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen, bathroom and laundry are needed.

• Bedrooms-
• Cribs- 10 cribs needed. Working on getting a better price, will probably have them made. Worst case means purchasing from major store-$100 each.
• Bedding- Sheets, bumpers and blankets. $20 each crib
• Artwork for walls- $40 per room (3 bedrooms)
• Changing table- $20 x 4
• Dresser- $100 x 3
• Window Coverings- $60 x 3 bedrooms
• Dining Room-
• Dining table and chairs- $100
• High chairs- 4 at $20 each
• Wall art- $25
• Window coverings- $25
• Kitchen-
• Stovetop- $100
• Refrigerator- $375
• Misc. Kitchen supplies including Knives, 2 wok ($30,) utensils, plates and bowls.
• Sink- $125
• Sterilizer- $250
• Playroom-
• Artwork- $50
• Window Coverings- $40
• Small indoor play toys- currently working on price, probably around $150
• TV- $150
• Bookshelf- $50
• Isolation room/clinic-
• Locking cabinet- $125
• Window covering- $30
• Storage room-
• Wire Shelving- $25 x 8
• Rubbermaid style boxes for storage- $5 x 20
• Office-
• Desk- $50 x 2
• Laptop computer (for purposes of being able to take with us to avoid theft and so that we always have info with us) ? Unknown cost. Around $800? Would like to purchase outside of ch*na.
• Futon- $90
• Window coverings- $30
• Dorm room for nannies-
• 4 beds- $100 each
• Nightstands- $15 x 4
• Lamps- $10 x 4
• Shoe rack- $10
• Bedding- $40 x 4
• Window Covering- $30
• Laundry room-
• Sink- $50
• Hot Water Washer- $350
• Clothes drying rack- $100
• Shelving- $75
• Bathroom-
• Shelving with individual locked cubbies for nanny storage- $200
• Towels and washrags- $50 for all
• Yard-
• Sod- Unknown price
• Playground- also working on price
• Day to day needs-
• Diapers- $28 for box of 170 (working on better pricing)
• Formula- $14 per can, need 2-3 cans a day with 12 kids
• Money for staff and baby food- Approx $10-15 a day (with new home staff)
• Medicines- Spend approx. $50 a month on local meds, donated meds always needed.
• Wipes- $2 per pack
• Large Items-
• Air Conditioning units- 6 units, 4 small units, $350 each, 2 large units, $750 each
• Heating system- currently unknown, greater than $3000
• Yearly heat and electricity cost- estimate- $3500
• Safe- $400
  
• Time Stamp- $150

Sneak peek...

...at our fun day at a lake that we recently found. Tomorrow we are hoping to go 'leaf peeping' in northern Mass., so more pictures will hopefully be coming later in the week.

Just had to post this of some geese who were at the lake when we arrived. So fun to see more of God's creation! Could they be any more perfect?



My cute little companions


Despite the fact that it was 53 degrees, my kids' feet were soon in the water


The camera doesn't do justice to this beautiful tree. It was actually even more gorgeous in person.

Blog Baby Shower!

You're Invited!

I'd like to reintroduce you to a few new friends
my friend, Lori, met in Ch*na. I met Bill and Lynsay in 2006 when we adopted Jordan. Earlier this year, (January 2009), we spent the day with them in Beijing and were privileged to meet the first baby they had taken in...sweet Corrie. Just a few weeks ago, Lori had the opportunity to meet four of the five babies in the care of Morning Star Foundation.

In fact,
Lori and I are so crazy about these
little darlings that we are
officially having a baby shower for them! Lori has issued the following invitation...

A BLOG Baby Shower!
Yep,
you are cordially invited...

And you don't even have to leave your
sweet home.
Just sit back, look at these gorgeous little
faces....read about what's going on
at the Morning Star Family Home and jump
on board to send them a "shower" gift!


Here, my friends, is Corrie.
She came to Bill and Lynsay a very, very sick baby girl.
Seriously sick and frail.
She's packed on the pounds and has improved
enormously since then after much love and care!
And yes, Corrie and I are at Starbucks
in this picture.
Where else do two girlfriends meet for a visit?
Here are Bill & Lynsay's darling daughters doting over Corrie.
They adore her!
Next, you must meet Faith. Oh my heart.
This little girly is such a happy little peanut!
She giggled the entire time we were there.

And this chunk-0f-sweetness, is Faith's friend, Abby.
Don't you just want to gobble her up?

Here is sweet baby Luke.
The day after this picture he was admitted into the hospital
and has been there since (several weeks).
Please continue to pray for healing. He is the sweetest little guy!

**We weren't able to meet Baby Matthew because he
was with his foster family.

Now that you've met the babies,
let's take a quick look at their new home in the making!


Bill is showing Kelly the blueprint
for their new facility.
And here are B & L in the courtyard of the
new home. It's going to be so great!!

If you've been following Lynsay's blog,
you know that the whole insulation-in-the-ceiling
issue has been a bit controversial.
I'm thinkin' I agree with B & L that they NEED
insulation, don't ya think?!


And there you have it...
a very brief run-down of what this sweet family is up to.


Now, here's what's next.
As with any baby shower you attend... you need to get a gift!


Well,
since the babies are half-way around the world,
the best way to do that is to donate
through Paypal. They almost instantly receive
your generous donation, allowing Lynsay to go load up
on MUCH needed supplies for these sweet cherubs!

Click HERE....scroll down a bit, and on the left
is a DONATE button.
That's where it all happens, friends!

Will you please send your shower gift today?

The Cycle Continues

This morning I read a story in my Bible that reminded me that history continually repeats itself.

The story was in 1 Samuel 8 when the children of Israel decided they no longer wanted God to be their King, and wanted an earthly king instead. They said they wanted to be like all the other nations around them.

God told Samuel to go ahead and give them what they wanted, saying, "...it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their King." 1 Sam. 8:7 Think about that for a moment..the pain behind those words. God had lovingly brought them out of the slavery of a king in Egypt, had cared for them carefully for years, and now that they were comfortable, they rejected His leadership.

Samuel warned them, saying that the new king would tax them into oblivion..that he would take the best of everything they had...and that he would make them his slaves.

"But they refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations." (1 Sam. 8:19, 20)

The commentary in my Bible says, "The people clamored for a king, thinking that a new system of government would bring about a change in the nation. But because their basic problem was disobedience to God, their other problems would only continue under the new administration. What they needed was a unified faith, not a uniform rule.

Uh...does this sound vaguely familiar?

Last night I watched an interview between Michael Moore and Shawn Hannity. As you may know, Michael Moore has a new movie coming out about the evils of capitalism. Many times during the interview, M. Moore asked loaded questions like, "Don't you CARE that people are hurting? Doesn't it bother you that xxx number of people have no health care? How do you sleep at night? We are the ONLY democracy that does not have health care for all it's citizens (ie: we want to be like all the countries around us)."

S. Hannity responded that he gives a large portion of his income to charity and that he does not believe that capitalism is the enemy--but rather the way of freedom from the bondage of poverty. (I insert here that it is IMPOSSIBLE for everyone to be the same.) It's actually true that the lower the taxes on 'the rich' the stronger the economy, and a much greater amount of money is brought into the US Treasury. Economics 101.

M.Moore made his case sound sooo noble...so kind...that he truly cared for the downtrodden. He even brought Christianity into it--saying that we, as Christians, needed to care for the poor. (I agree--we should--but not by having the government, a proven, lavish squanderer of money) take it from us by force.

But the truth finally sat on the table between them in one final, defining question..."Michael, you have several mansions and are a multi-millionaire. Isn't it true that you are benefiting from the very system you are trashing? (ie: capitalism) Would you be willing to give 95% of our income to help the poor?"

M.Moore looked uncomfortable and deftly changed the subject.

And there you have it. The truth. It's a lot easier to talk about helping the poor...even make lavish movies about helping them, but hmmmm....not so easy to sell all that you have to help them. M. Moore is getting rich off the very thing he claims to despise and he has no intention of giving up all that money to help the people he claims to care so much about.

And so history continually repeats itself as people prefer to reject the only One who truly loves them with unselfish, unconditional love and flock to those who like to make high-sounding, noble speeches. We follow them because we can feel good that way, without actually having to change our ways.

"But Grandfather, aren't we supposed to do good?"

Grandfather looked away thoughtfully and then said, "There are the normal obligations of human kindness...that we all owe. But there is a kind of vanity in thinking you can nurse the world. There is a kind of vanity in goodness."

--Madeline L'Engle, from the book, " Ring of Endless Light"

I just can't resist...

...more foliage shots. I'm sorry...I can't help it. I am surrounded by beauty and I just keep taking pictures of it. A light rain was falling today, so no blue sky, but the pond around the corner was still gorgeous.









You'll thank me for not taking a photo of Zoey after she sneezed in the car and there was a river of snot running into her mouth and down her chin--while I fished around in the glove box for a napkin and tried to get it to her in the back of the van...while simultaneously pulling up to the window at McDonalds. Gross!!!

For Real ?

I heard that Pres. Ob*ma won the Nobel Peace Prize today. For real? Seriously? Wondering what the criteria is 'cause...you know...I'm thinking we all have a shot at winning.

Thankful Thursday

I know...I'm posting this late, but I didn't have time yesterday.

• I'm thankful for a car to drive to the gazillion places I had to go today.
• I'm thankful that I wasn't sick, since I had so many things to do.
• I'm trying to be thankful in the midst of my kids being sick--AGAIN.
• I'm very, very thankful that we were able to spend an hour 'at da wake, frowing sthones.' (translation: at the lake, throwing stones)
• I'm thankful that I have a camera and can record the precious moments of my kids' lives, and the beauty that God has set me in the middle of

I'm thankful for sweet toddlers that like to be buddies


I'm thankful for how breathtakingly BLUE the water was yesterday at the lake




I'm thankful for little boys and that this one didn't have to potty in the woods this time


I'm thankful that even though Jordan turned his head right as I snapped this, I was still able to get some beautiful leaves in the background


I'm thankful that these little guys cracked me up as they tried to bring up 'treasure' from the lake bed (ie: pieces of paper that hung from their sticks)


I'm thankful for daughters...even ones that say, 'Aw, Mom, I don't want to wear a coat...!"


I'm thankful that this little one's heart is beating strong, thanks to a brilliant, kind surgeon who did her surgery free of charge


I'm thankful that this little one's heart is beating well enough to keep her active


I'm thankful for the way that Kate's arm so often finds its way around the back or leg of her parents and siblings


I'm trying not to be totally grossed out and un-thankful for the fact that Jake just came and sneezed all over my computer and my hands just now. EEwwwww....