A Little Further Down the Road

July 9, 2017 homeschool, June 2017 Feature - Orthopedic, Laine, large families, Orthopedic, radial club hand 2 Comments

Hi there! I’m Laine and I’m a mama to ten blessings from China and four bio blessings! It’s been a really long time since I’ve written a post for NHBO. I am feeling quite rusty in my writing skills these days! (But ask me to fix a large meal or read to a bunch of …Read More

All About Love

February 13, 2013 attachment activities, Laine 0 Comments

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, so let’s talk about LOVE! One of my favorite subjects! Some say, “Actions speak louder than words.” In some cases, that may be true. But we must never underestimate the power of words. When we meet our adopted children for the first time, we always say I love you lots and …Read More

#1 Sign

January 15, 2013 Laine 4 Comments

Here is the Number One Sign that you need to re-clarify the similarities between adopted and birth children: When your 5 year old sits next to an adult visitor at church and promptly asks him, “Did you come from a belly?” Well, Kevin. As a matter of fact, we ALL came from bellies. Time to …Read More

Adopting Two with the Same Special Need

December 13, 2012 Laine, microtia, radial club hand 4 Comments

Our first four adopted children from China have all had completely different special needs: radial club hands, cl/cp, bi-lateral microtia, and CHD. Our 5th adoption was our 5 year old Keith, who has radial club hands like our 7 year old daughter from China. When we saw his picture and his hands, we were amazed …Read More

730 Days

August 13, 2012 heart defect, Laine 8 Comments

“Stick ’em up, heart cath…” Kevin joined our family in February 2010 with pulmonary hypertension, single ventricle, heterotaxy, VSD, and a few other heart anomalies. Before we brought Kevin home, we knew there was a possibility that he would not be a candidate for a heart repair surgery. Just a few weeks after arriving home, …Read More

The Bed

July 13, 2012 cl/cp, heart defect, Laine, radial club hand 3 Comments

I love my bed, don’t you love your bed? Think about it for a minute. When you’ve been out of town for awhile, don’t you just look forward to your OWN BED? There’s just nothing else like it. And oh, that first night back in your bed after you’ve been away on a trip? You …Read More

A Birthday Fully Enjoyed

June 13, 2012 cl/cp, heart defect, Laine, radial club hand 5 Comments

I remember 5 years ago on May 26th, 2007. I was at my niece’s graduation camping experience with my entire family. We were having the time of our lives. Biking, hiking, roasting marshmallows, swimming, talking, sharing…it was a wonderful day! Except for that deep void I felt in my heart. That sadness that made me …Read More

Oh Mother, You Are Beautiful!

May 13, 2012 Laine 1 Comments

It’s Mother’s Day. You’re a mom of one, two, three, seven, ten, fourteen? You’re beautiful, Mother! It’s Mother’s Day. You’re a mom to biological children, adopted children, step children, grandchildren? You’re beautiful, Mother! It’s Mother’s Day. You’re about to be a mom for the first time, second time, seventh time? You’re beautiful, Mother! It’s Mother’s …Read More

Good Things Come in Small Packages

April 13, 2012 hearing loss, Laine, Sensory System 3 Comments

It is a common expression, and it is completely appropriate for the subject of this post…but I must add a disclaimer. Good things come in really big packages too! 🙂 In this case, the small package is a $3,500.00 little black box about the size of my thumbnail. It attaches to a screw implanted in …Read More

sibling saga

March 13, 2012 adopting out of birth order, Laine 3 Comments

I am sure that many of you can relate to sibling sagas. I prefer the term saga than rivalry. But it’s basically the same thing: siblings who struggle to get along with each other (and that is putting it very mildly when you’re living it, let me tell ya)! When we brought home our Kevin …Read More

"Why is one nostril bigger than the other?"

February 13, 2012 cl/cp, Laine 0 Comments

That was the question I got over the weekend from my 7 year old son, Quan. We adopted Quan from China in 2007. He had a cl/cp. Both were repaired upon arriving home, he was in speech therapy until 2010, and he has done AMAZING. I know not every experience with cl/cp is this simple. …Read More

and we love

May 13, 2011 Kristi, Laine 0 Comments

There is something unique about the international adoption community ~ specifically the SN group. It is not uncommon for us to sacrificially give to help raise the ransom for our children. We celebrate with one another during each step of the process and especially when our children come home. Yet with great joy comes deep …Read More

I Never Dreamed I Would Adopt Special Needs Children

February 14, 2011 Laine 0 Comments

I love to hear adoption testimonies! Everyone has a different story. Some say they ‘knew since they were little’ that they would adopt children. Some say it was never on their radar! Some say they began to talk about adoption after years of infertility. Some say it was something they discussed with their spouse from …Read More

Child Desired Form

December 14, 2010 Laine 0 Comments

The Child Desired Form. It is one of the few pieces of paper that has not been completed in our home study paperwork. It is a form that has an exhaustive list of medical special needs. We are supposed to “check” the special needs that we feel comfortable accepting. And I mean– there is every …Read More

Please Allow Faster Players to Play Through

November 14, 2010 Laine 0 Comments

Have you ever played miniature golf (we call it putt putt) and seen these signs? “Please Allow Faster Players to Play Through” There are those who are younger and take a few strokes more than others to get that little orange ball in the hole. Then there are those who might be older but still …Read More

Grasping Concepts

October 12, 2010 Laine 0 Comments

Adopting a hearing impaired child has brought so many new learning experiences into our family. Okay, when I read that, I want to yell, “THAT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!” Our world was ROCKED when we brought Candie home. In a good way. Hard, but GOOD way. More importantly, HER world was turned upside down. I like …Read More

Solidified

September 13, 2010 Laine 0 Comments

I know this is not rocket science, but this morning a thought crossed my mind about the way an adopted child becomes FAMILY. It seems like one day you wake up and realize how far your child has come. I realize how much more a part of the family he/she is than the day, week, …Read More

Dads and Adoption

August 13, 2010 Dads, Laine 0 Comments

I admit, it is very late, and I have been at a loss on what to write! So in scrolling through my pictures, I came to a very endearing shot of Kevin and his daddy. And it got me to thinkin’… I post my thoughts, my experiences, my feelings on everything from attachment in adoption …Read More

HOLD ON TIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

June 13, 2010 Laine 2 Comments

That is what I feel like I’ve been doing since my last post on NHBO….holding on TIGHT! In April, when it was time for me to post, we were in the hospital. In May, when it was time for me to post, we had just come home from the hospital the day before my scheduled …Read More

Good News Bad News

March 13, 2010 Laine 5 Comments

Disclaimer: After being home from China one week, my mushy jet lagged brain is having trouble coming up with something profound and beautiful. So it is what it is, folks! In special needs adoption, there is a lot of good news & bad news. (What am I saying? In LIFE there is a lot of …Read More

Our First Birthday Together!

January 14, 2010 BAHA, Education, hearing loss, homeschool, Laine, microtia, older child adoption, speech delay, speech therapy 4 Comments

Last year she celebrated with her beloved foster mama… but this year she celebrates with her forever mama and forever family! 😉 Thank you Jesus! We brought our 7 year old, Candie, home on Halloween of 2008. Her birthday is 8/23/00. Her special need is bi-lateral microtia/atresia. Candie is a happy little girl and for …Read More

The Big Build-Up

December 13, 2009 Laine 5 Comments

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what in the world I would post on this beautiful blog. Don’t yall LOVE this blog? It is a big ol’ blessing to so many…Kris, your post below stole my heart. Anyway, yesterday I attended a travel information meeting my agency hosted. It was for families who are …Read More

Perspective

October 27, 2009 Laine 10 Comments

As a mom to three special needs children from China (one CL/CP, one microtia/atresia, one radial club hands), I am learning to see things in a different light. With each adoption, I learn the art of looking at life through the eyes of a child more and more. As they are growing older and becoming …Read More

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