Share the Love Giveaway

Share the Love Giveaway: Bring Poppy and Esther home!

A wonderful family is working hard to bring home their two daughters from China! They are having a couple of giveaways that have some pretty amazing prizes! Some which include a Ipad 2, Nikon D90, and more! So click right HERE to head over and see all the cool prizes they have.

Want a iPad2 or Other Great Prizes???

There are a few blogs out there where you could win a iPad2. Not only could you win but you would be helping the Davis family who are appealing the judge's ruling to the Supreme Court of Moscow to bring Kirill home. Or the Taylor family bringing Alexander home. Then there is little sweet Tasha/Ember for the Senti family. And lets not forget Brian for the Burger family!
There is one more! Vanya. A little boy with a dream. A dream of a family of his own.
You would be helping these families trying so hard to raise the money to bring their children home!
Please consider helping one or all of these sweet faces get home where they belong!

Help Bring Samantha Home

Fundraiser going on to help bring Samantha home!!!! Check it out here!!! I would wish you good luck but I want to win so good luck to me! LOL!!

Auction for Brian!

Brian is a little boy that is in the same orphanage as Dani, Josh and Artem were at. How CUTE is he????!!!!!! His family is having an auction with some really cool stuff to help bring him home. You should really go check it out and place a bid on one of the items. Just click on the name Brian to do a little shopping and help bring him home!!! As most of you know it is not a lot of fun trying to come up with the money to adopt but SO worth it. Please consider helping the Burger family with a donation.

Things........

The middle of February Ken and I had the chance to go to Chicago for a Project Hopeful conference. I wanted to go to educate myself on the adoption/raising of kids that are HIV+. Not only adopting kids with HIV but HIV in general. We had a free flight, free room and someone to watch the kids! It was really educational and we met A LOT of people and some new friends. Anyone remember this sweet face???

IRINA!!! The Allen family along with other RR families were there and it was so cool to meet them and their sweet, sweet kids! It's funny how you read about these families and then finally get to meet them, in person.
Kiel and Carolyn Twietmeyer along with their kids are wonderful advocates for these kids and I hope some day I could do as great of a job as they do!

It's funny how things happen around here. It all seems to hit at once. The last three weeks we have had the cold/flu going from one person to another. Everyone seemed to get through it fine except Denis. I had made a doctor appointment for him at 4:00 but at 1:00 I rushed him into the clinic. They then sent us straight to the emergency at Children's Hospital. They worked on him trying to get his oxegen up and testing him for what seemed like everything and got him on a IV. After 4 hours they tranfered him to the U of M. They thought it would be better since the U had all his records and more info on his heart. He spent 4 days in the ICU and 2 days in his own little isolation room. After all was said and done he was diagnosed with a viral infection. He is having all his dental work done in the next three weeks and then his heart surgery this summer, which is only a few months away. Ugh, I'm really nervous about it!! He has only gained 1 1/2 pounds since being home, a whole whopping 19lbs! And he will be 5 in 8 days. And yes, he eats like a little piggy so I don't get it?!?! They had a super hero day at the hospital one day and handed out costumes for all the kids and had games and contests. Here is a picture of our little super hero!!


He looks so big because the costume was WAY to big for him so Kaylee laid in right on top of him!! hehehe! Even when is so sick he's SOOOOOO CUTE! Love that boy!
He's feeling much better and back to his normal self.

The Friday we brought Denis home my dad called and said something was wrong with Jack (his dog). So I drove the 2 1/2 hours right away to go see what was happening with my boy Jack! We brought him into the emergency vet at 11 p.m. By 12:30 they diagnosed him with having diabetes and a urinary infection. After getting a dose of insulin and some antibiotics we were on our way. I just knew in my gut that something was wrong though. He slept by me that night like he always does when I'm at his house or he is at mine but by morning he was doing worse. I told my dad that I was bringing him back home with me to my vet. He loves, loves, loves the car and I'm glad I was able to give him his last long car ride with the windows down until Roc and I got to cold and had to put them up! We laid him in my room on a comfy dog bed where he passed within the hour. I loved that dog so much. He was such a good boy! What I wasn't expecting though is that my dad would take it so hard. I mean he was always the one there for me growing up when one of our animals went on to greener pastures. But Jack was my dads buddy, his pal. They went everywhere together! I think it was one of the hardest things I had to do was when I called my dad to tell him I couldn't fix Jack. Ugh, I'm bawling now just thinking about it all. Ken and Roc drove Jack back up to grandpas to bring him home. I did make sure he had a soft dog bed, bone, lawn mower wheel which he loved to chew on and my blanket that has been around the world with me! Ken and dad were none to happy with me because of the bigger frozen hole they had to did because of the big dog bed going with Jack, but oh well!! Love you Jack and I will NEVER EVER forget the joy you brought to me, grandpa and my kids!









Here is some other things going on around here.........

Joshy is having surgery this Thursday. He is having his tonsils out, tubes in his ears, a CT scan, a brain response test and all his dental work done, which is a TON! Poor guy, I'm sure he will not be a happy camper the next few days after.

Arti is doing great! In fact he is running around and around the table as I type this. The boy has energy!

Dani is scheduled to have her first surgery before she starts school in the fall. They are not sure yet if she can see out of the eye where the hemoglobin was pushing on her eye. It has left the skin just hanging unable for her to open it very wide. She is one loud girly!!! In fact out of all the kids, she is defintely the LOUDEST!!! But she is also very, very polite. She says thank you to everything. If you wash her hands, she says thank you. If you buy groceries, she says thank you. If you pick up something off the floor, she says thank you. It is so funny and cute.

Charley will be having another surgery this month too on his ears. He has holes in his ear drums. He always seems to have infections which is causing hearing loss. After the surgery he will have a pick line for us to give him his antibiotics through. He had this after his surgery a few years ago and he did really well with it. Hoping the same is true this time around.

The other kids are doing well and are looking forward to their new siblings! Hopefully by June everyone will be home for good........unless I beg Ken to go back for more! LOL!!!

Jonah

There is a little boy that we met at the orphanage and his name is Jonah. A blogging friend who has such a way with words, is advocating for him. Julia knows first hand the outcome that awaits this little boy if his family does not go get him! Jonah is a quiet little boy. He does what he is told without hesitation....well, unless Roc is in the room. Roc went up to Jonah's room one day while she was exploring the orphanage. Jonah and another little boy were making their beds. Roc saw them and decided that what fun is making a bed when I can chase them!! So she started chasing them around the room. Jonah was laughing and having so much fun! The caretaker was telling him to keep making his bed but of course he was having way to much fun with Roc and chose getting yelled at instead! (mean Roc getting the little kids in trouble!!!) When Roc had to leave she walked out the door and Jonah ran after her. He stopped at the door to look for her but then got yelled at once again by the caretaker. We did notice that since he was more "capable" of doing chores he was expected and did more of them while the other kids were fooling around. We never saw him outside the whole time we were there! Not sure why?!
His spirit is slipping away from the years of not having the luxury of being the little boy he was meant to be!
He is very tiny, smart and a loving little boy and if someone does not chose him for their son, I'm going back for him!!! I love this little boy and he has SO much potential!!! Please search your hearts and see if Jonah is part of your family! If he is not, please donate to help his family go get him!

Who's Idea Was This Anyway???

When we adopted from 2 different regions in Eastern Europe last summer, folks told us it would be hard. But there was no way I could let Denis be transferred. This was they boy that I first was drawn to when finding RR. Who would have thought after seeing his face over 1 year prior he would be home, with us, his family?? Looking back at it though, it all seemed rather easy compared to what craziness we are going through now adopting from two countries!! Its not all the paperwork (done) or running (done), its the wondering how in the world (no pun intended) we will be at 2 places, 2 continents, at once. I'm praying it will all work itself out and we will do one right after the other.
Someone from Ingrid's (our girl in Colombia) orphanage is here in Minnesota and we are meeting up with her on Sunday! I guess her daughter lives here in the Twin Cities and she came up to spend some time with her and her new grandson! Small world! She has a letter and photos for us from Ingrid! Ingrid turned 16 last week but our paperwork was far enough along to stop the clock for her! Thank you God!!!
She just has to wait a little longer before she can come home. We have to go bring our little one home from Eastern Europe first!!!
I'm a little nervous as to what I will see when returning to EE. Our girl was transferred out of the baby house a few months ago. She thought she was going home with us last summer and was SO upset when we left. Who could blame her!?!? Will I ever be able to make it up to her? Oh how I hope so! I can not wait to grab her and hug her and kiss her sweet face!
All the kids are doing well and driving mom crazy.....just like they are supposed to! But how come its mostly mom they drive crazy and not so much tata(dad)???????

Found Searching on The Net

A 3rd Grade Boy's Take On God
This was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista , CA . He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to 'explain God.' I wonder if any of us could have done as well?


EXPLANATION OF GOD:
'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'


'God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'


'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'


'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista ... At least there aren't any who come to our church.'

'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God.. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.'


'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore.. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.'


'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.'

'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!


Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach.. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'


'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.'


'But....you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.


And...that's why I believe in God..'

One At A Time!

One BUSY Month

Christmas has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love to decorate the house, bake lots of yummy deserts, make up gift bags for the nursing home where my grandma lives and watch the Christmas specials on TV with the kids.
I knew this year would be a little different. We were not sure if we would get a "date" to travel from Colombia so not much at all in the decorating department. Did not want to leave all the packing up and putting away to someone else if we were gone nor did I want to have to do it once we return with new siblings!! We knew gift giving would be VERY small since we are saving every little bit for the adoptions. We also did not get a chance to watch ANY specials together as a family because either some of the kids were out caroling with the church or practicing their Christmas programs at church and school or out shoveling in the neighborhood for extra money to come with us (Roc) on one of our journeys. So needless to say, a VERY BUSY month.

But something very special happened to the Fritz farm over the last 4 weeks. Something that brings tears to my eyes then and now when I look back at it all! How do we thank friends, coworker and from people we just met for the first time? How does one put into words the impact these people have had on our family, just a normal family? I'm not sure. But this post will be part of it. It will be long. It will be from the heart. It will be a small way for us to thank ALL of you that helped make this a special Christmas and a VERY special memory. A story to tell our soon to be new Fritz's of how all of you helped them to come home.The first week in December our friends Kit and Ken asked us to come over for a little Christmas get together. Just the 4 adults, no kids! Ken had made tons of horsdoeuvres and had spent time making it look wonderful!!! I was hoping my Ken took notes, but I don't think so :( LOL! We talked about their Thanksgiving and how they had 20 some people over. How some of their guests started talking about seeing Lica and our story on TV. Well one of their guest said that they wanted to do something for us so she told Kit to buy a HUGE tub of dishwasher detergent which Kit presented to me?! Okay...... That was nice, I thought. I wish I could use it, but as Kit knew already, my dishwasher was kind of on its last legs and we have been doing dishes by hand. I mean she was close to 15 years old, which is great for a dishwasher but none the less, not doing the job any longer. So as the four of us were joking about if we could use the detergent as regular dish soap, Kit and Ken handed us a folder full of papers. They said that they were giving us our Christmas present early. You guessed it, a new dishwasher!!!! It was going to be delivered in 5 days and they were going to take our old one when they brought the new one. I say that because Ken and I are ones that do all that sort of thing ourselves. I mean who wants to pay to have someone deliver and take our old things? I must say though, It was WONDERFUL to have that extra service. I really kind of liked it!!! The kids were beyond ecstatic, it meant no more washing by hand! I told them that when I was a kid my sister and I had to wash dishes by hand. Kaylee, without missing a beat, reminded me that we didn't have 10 kids in my family!!! hahahaha!!! True, very true!

Next, we received a call from our agency telling us that their was a family wanting to help another family with their adoption and if they could recommend one. They recommended us! Our agency told this family about us and then gave them the link to watch Lica and our family that was shown on the news a few weeks earlier. The family watched it and then wanted to know if they could meet us. Of course they could meet us and the kids! I LOVE it when folks want to meet my kids! We got in contact with this family and they were wondering if they could bring their three kids and also their best friends who are in the process of their first adoption from the Philippines along with their 13 year old. Sure, bring them with too!!! Then their best friends brought a friend and we had around 10 guests, now friends, enjoying each others company! They loved on our kids, talked about adoption, orphans, school, jobs, animals and just a a great time. They brought us a HUGE gift basket full of crackers, cheese, olives and of course, what the kids spotted right away, COOKIES! Then before they left they asked if they could pray, pray for our family. I can honestly say that in my life time I have never had someone ask to pray for my family specifically! It felt so good!!! A kitchen full of people praying for us, for our adoption, health and wisdom. Never will I forget it or the peace and happiness it brought to me! That night alone would have been enough! But there was more. Ken told me once they left that he had talked with Mr. Jacobsen, Peter, about how they wanted to help pay our debt off that we owed to our agency!!! And that is just what they did! $7,000.00 to pay our agency leaving a $0.00 balance!!!!! Our agency is now paid in FULL!!!!! Things like this just do not happen to us! I read about it on other blogs but they just do not happen to us. I guess they do now!!! How blessed are we to have this happen!!

Oh, it does not stop here. One late afternoon there was a knock on our door with a young lady. She started talking with Roc but Roc soon was yelling for me to get down there. It was someone living in Cottage Grove with the organization "Moms Club". They donate every year to places and were looking for a family this year. Rebecca saw Licas story on WCCO TV and knew she had found her/their family to help this year. With all that was going on in the past view days my emotions were a little raw and all I could do once she told me was to grab her and hug her. I don't think I let go of this poor women for a while! I just kept saying thank you, thank you with tears in my eyes. She asked us to make up a list of things the kids would like as well as mom and tata. And mom and tata REALLY wanted diapers, wipes and kids body wash!!!! A few weeks later Rebecca, Milissa and Michelle, all from the "Moms Club", dropped off presents for our family along with a huge box of oranges and apples and bags of candy for each kiddo! The kids had a blast! After pictures were taken the kids made a human chain to pass the gifts up to our tiny little Christmas tree this year!

We had a few days to enjoy the gifts under our tree before we moved them all a block away to Kit and Kens house where we celebrated Christmas with them and their two kids on the 23rd. It was also Charley's birthday so we had to have birthday cake first!

We had one more stop to make. Grandpas house. 2 1/2 hours away! So on the 24th after the Christmas programs, we loaded TWO cars up with gifts from my coworkers, kids and 3 dogs, we don't all fit in one, and headed over the river and through the woods, literally!!!! Grandpa, my dad, built his home himself and its not very big! It is only a two bedroom home. So we had 3 adults, 10 kids, four dogs and a partridge in a pear tree all inside! We all had so much fun though. We go up north to dads every holiday. Then when we get home we appreciate our 5 bedroom soooooo much more!!!!!

Between my coworkers picking my family for the "armfull of love" campaign and "the moms club" choosing us for their family, Ken and I could take all the money we would have spent on Christmas for all 10 kids and put it towards the adoption of our three newest Fritz's!!!!! And that is just what we did.

Thank you all so much for everything!