Fascinating!

 

I find the human brain fascinating. We do what we have to in order to take care of ourselves and protect ourselves. 

Since Stas has gotten home we have been enthralled by some different things that he does. What you see above is one of them. When something makes noise he has to "check it out." This is what it entails. First if he hears noise he goes running to it.  If it is something within reach like the vaccuum, washer, dryer or the hairdryer or this nebulizer, he puts his chin on it, followed by his ear, then his teeth, top and bottom separately. It I have the blender going, or something else out of reach he will do the same thing to the cabinet or floor, wherever he can get the vibration. 

Fascinating!

What do I think this is from?

One of two things....maybe both things.

When he came to us on his third birthday from a Ukrainian orphanage, his ears were so filled with fluid, and likely for a very long time it appeared. Perhaps he couldn't hear well and he did this to help "hear." Or, I think because he lived in a crib much of his life and was deprived of proper stimulation, he is trying to create as much "feedback" as he can from his world around him. (You would THINK that 9 other  people in the house MIGHT be enough feedback at this point, huh :-) I was told that the chin and teeth are bony structures so they conduct vibration well and quickly.

Anyone else have a child that does that? I would like to hear from you.

And then there is this:

I'm open to suggestions here. I'm told he never learned to constructively play with things. Hmmmm. How do I teach him to constructively play with a piece of furniture.....or that furniture belongs upright. My father-in-law suggested putting all of the furniture upside down at the start of the day and maybe by the end it will actually all be in place. Worth a try!

Not sure how to discipline this at this age.

Feedback welcome!!!!!

PS:  This is a very sweet little boy who I absolutely LOVE!!!!!!!!!!! He is just a tad bit destructive in all of his cuteness.

PPS: While I took the time to post this......this is what happened...

Getting the word out where we can

The Reece's Rainbow gang

 When you have a passion for something, you want to get the word out however you can. Today we were blessed to go to the high school that my older two children attend---Totino-Grace High School--- to do just that.

Toma and his dad, Rich (aka "Richy" to me :-)  and big brother Shane (Isn't he handsome ...and very nice, too.) I think any kid that treats their younger siblings so sweetly is extra cute!! Toma and Stas were in the same orphanage :(

Leah and her Axel, who is such a doll! I could take him home in a heartbeat. Axel was born in Serbia and has been with his family now for only 2 MONTHS....I can't believe it. He has learned so much in such a short period of time.

Becky and Alina. What a beautiful girl and beautiful family. Alina spent her first years in another orphanage in Ukraine.

Each year the Respect Life group sponsors a Games 4 Life day where they raise awareness and some funds for an organization. This year is was RR.

While the 16 teams of 4  were settling in for lunch,  I couldn't help but play this video....they loved it. This boy rapping with no front teeth about his little sis with DS....I mean really....too much.

It is difficult to sum up what RR is, what it does, what it means to be an orphan in Eastern Europe, etc.... It is hard to do it justice. Hopefully looking at each of these 4 children whose lives are forever changed is enough to do something within them. Each family spoke a little bit about their experience of adopting. Wish their was more time.

It looks like so far they raised a total of $300 towards the adoption of a child from the RR site. I don't know who they will choose yet. They will decide. The moderator of the group said it is so difficult to go on that site and choose one child, so they will have to try something creative I guess.

If you haven't been to Reece's Rainbow, please click HERE  and go check it out. Follow families' journeys to their child. Let your heart be moved and support a child. I know one person right now who is having a "give-a-way" (Living in the Light) with some awesome items and another who is begging for money in a more unique way (Chasing Moonlight)...she is the witty one!

Thanks Rich, Shane, Toma, Becky, Alina, Alina's two brothers, Leah, Axel and all of the TG staff and students that made this happen.

My Valentines!

 

They look a little bit like mug shots. This was what they did at Occupational Therapy for their mother for Valentines. Ricky is giving his cheesy smile, Stas is just wondering why he is doing what he is doing.

I love my Valentines. I asked St. Valentine, many times amidst my crazy, hectic day, to teach me how to love better. I ask God for that all the time. I thought I would ask this friend of God for some extra prayers....every little bit helps in the LOVE department.

Sorry I have been such a lousy blog poster. My sister and I are working on yet another component to our program--PUREly YOU. That means more time at the computer....but not blogging...rather Powerpointing and Keynoting. Hopefully, in the end, we are able to reach everyone's needs in getting the courage and know-how of talking to their kids about growing up...with the perspective of how it all fits into God's plan for our lives. That is the goal of the program. Check it out if you have nothing better to do.....www.PurelyYou.org

I forgot to post the good news...Alexander has a family!!!

I posted on FB but forgot to do it here! My heart felt so darn good when I heard that news. I can't wait to meet his family via blog or facebook world. I will definitely be following that adoption as it unfolds! Please pray for them and hopefully they will have a lot of support fundraising to get him home quickly and out of that institution! Yuck! I hate thinking about that place. (sigh)

Happy Birthday! (A post from my friend Catherine today.....)

Happy Birthday! (A post from my friend Catherine today.....)

Birthdays are usually such an exciting time. Little Catherine will be four in 6 months! To me, four kind of marks the end of toddler-hood. There's so much to celebrate, how much you love them, how much they've grown and learned. Lots of cake with gooey icing and presents.


Four years old means a totally different thing in orphanages. When you turn four in an orphanage in Eastern Europe, you have a very different kind of day. You get visited by a doctor who prepares your paperwork so you can be transferred to an adult mental institution. You get to take your first car ride and your last car ride as they drive you to the institution. You are forced to leave everything that is familiar to you, everyone you know.

This is Masha. Masha is four, but she is the size of a 12-month-old baby - so tiny!!! Her sweet little eyes are crossed and her hair is shaved. She takes a lousy picture.
She is a week away from being transferred. Here is her information from Reecesrainbow.org

Girl, Born January 10, 2007

Photo dated Feb 2010. This beautiful muffin…..Masha struggles with many symptoms of FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome).
From her medical records: Diagnosis: mother was an alcohol addict. This little one has so much potential.
Her strabismus (crossed eyes)have gotten worse, and at 3 she is still not walking. Masha needs a family to help her be all she can be!

Masha is not only what you see in her description, which sounds scary.
There is a family at her orphanage right now and this is what they said about Masha:


"Oh Masha is so, so precious and smart and friendly!! She is happy and curious and just a delight!!She kept playing peek a boo with us and waving and talking to us in her language but never the less she was talking. The speech therapist came in to work with the kids and soon it was Masha's turn. But here is where it gets very sad....the doctors were there to do medicals for the children being transferred to the adult mental institute sometime in the next week and Masha is one of them. Please someone come forward right now and be her family."

Regrettably, this orphanage is one of the poorer ones, with very little outside aid and very little hope. All of the children are tiny and undernourished. These children are immediately transferred at 4, and have little chance of survival where they are sent.

Might you be someone to help this little love? She is truly gorgeous. You can see by her face that their is so much potential....as another person said....just a rose ready to blossom.