The little hairs on the back of your neck....

Do you ever get so moved by something that it raises the little hairs on the back of your neck?  This has happened to our family.  I recently began reading about and then actively researching the orphanage system in Eastern Europe.  There is a specific country that has a gut wrenching reality.  When orphans who have physical or mental disabilities turn 4 years old, the government starts the process to have them transferred out of the "baby homes".  They are moved to mental institutions right along with adults.  Many reports describe children isolated, left in beds with no stimulation, and even locked away.  I know things like this happened even in our country years ago, but I cry to think of it still happening anywhere in the world today.  Thank God in some places reform has happened, but to think of the places where it has not....

My Simon is 6, my Danielle is 8, they would have been in these mental institutions for 2 and 4 years by now if they were born in this particular country and orphaned....I can't imagine this for one moment....my heart is ripped into shreds thinking about it.

So, our plates are full, our lifes are crazy, our house is too small, our bank account is even smaller....but our hearts have been broken for the least of these.  Guess what friends?  One of these boys will be ours!!  The Kulp family will expand by one in about 7 months.  We are actively in the process of adopting Shea.  He is a four year old with good cognitive health, but he was born with Spina Bifida, so he has some physical challenges.

Simon and Danielle have another sibling to welcome to the tribe.  Our heads are spinning, but our hearts are full!  Dear Lord, bless our new child, protect him from transfers, and give our paperwork wings like eagles!

Saving Shea...

This isnt just any bracelet! This bracelet is fighting for a little boy named Shea. Shea is a little boy who is an orphan and because of his age and his diagnosis of Spina Bifida will be institutionalized very soon if a family doesn't adopt him. 5.00 of every bracelet purchased will go to helping save Shea. So this Christmas give a gift that truly makes a difference. Every "Saving Shea" bracelet will come with a small card explaining to the recipient where the money is going and the difference it is making.

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catch up!

Well this will just need to be a catch up of the last few weeks as I have neglected my new blogging hobby lately.  So much has happened since the last time I wrote....and by the way, it took simon all of 24 hours to figure out how to get those boots off of his feet....so much for my victory!
As most of you know our Danielle had a stay at Strong Hospital...you could never tell by looking at her now!  She needed to have appendicitis ruled out, and ended up with a nasty pneumonia, oxygen needed, high fever and all of that fun that comes with it.  She was a trooper though.  Daddy was out of town, and I am so thankful for all the help I got from people with juggling my crazy life:)

We've started our Christmas decorating, but no tree yet....I'm building up the courage.

Simon is healthy other than the ongoing journey of trying to keep his GI system in balance....I wish I had a magic window into his intestines.  His mood can be directly related to his "belly comfort" and it is such a fine line to keep him....shall we say "just right".  I hope someday we will master this skill for our guy.  He has a new fascinating hobby of balancing all of his toys on the corner of anything he can find....4 animals on the 4 corners of his bed, 4 cars on the 4 corners of the table etc etc....quite cute.  He has been showing us a bit of...hmmm shall we say "stong willedness" lately that we are trying to nip, but he still dishes out plenty of sweet and cute and lovable each day too.

I am happy to report that my cardiac symptoms have been much better since the week before thanksgiving...I'm feeling like a normal 33 year old woman again...almost.  I'm praying that it will continue to improve, or at least hold steady. 

I'm looking forward to Christmas time....Danielle's second with us now...last year was a bit overstimulating and difficult for her, so I am happy to think of how special this one should be for her.  I have also been plugged into the 9p- parents network and have learned a few new things about danielle's diagnosis....knowledge is power, and that makes my feel a little more in control of our zany life....but the Big Guy in the sky knows all so I'll just try to "take a chill pill" and not be so ocd about things....(or at least I'll try!)