When we were going thru the adoption process it was tuff, there were times when I wanted to give up, times when I just wanted to hold Vahnya so much that my arms hurt for him. I would listen to this song by Chris Rice and cry and cry and cry and just let all my feelings out. This song meant so much to me. I haven't listened to it since we have been home until today and it is strange how a song that once brought so much emotion out of me now puts a huge smile on my face and makes me cry for other reasons happy reasons .
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his smile is JOY to my heart
3 years and 3 months old
3 years and 4 mo old
3 years 6 mo old
3 YEARS 9 MO OLD
4 years 3 months
Joshua (18), Vahnya (3),Jordan (10),Amanda (16),Amelia (5),Madison (14) Mike,Katrina,Makenzy(13)
Vahnya is a three year old boy who has Down Syndrome. No longer an orphan! We adopted him on March 1st 2011 he is home and loved by all.
so sweet
contact me
katrina9@clear.net
Followers
time in Russia
Vahnya Josiah when an Infant
Vahnya Josiah at 2 years old
Vahnya Josiah at 3 years old
Vahnya Josiah our 1st visit 11/15/10
his smile is JOY to my heart
Vahnya Josiah 2nd visit Feb 2011
3 years and 3 months old
Vahnya Josiah gotcha day! 3-21-11
3 years and 4 mo old
Vahnya Josiah HOME!
3 years 6 mo old
Vahnya Joaiah home 4 months
3 YEARS 9 MO OLD
4 years 3 months
4 years 3 months
Our Family.
Joshua (18), Vahnya (3),Jordan (10),Amanda (16),Amelia (5),Madison (14) Mike,Katrina,Makenzy(13)
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Our fundraising thermometer
Puzzle Pieces for Josiah
sand dollars
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iPod Touch Giveaway
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Blog Archive
time line
- found Reece's rainbow 2/24/10
- first saw Josiah's picture 2/25/10
- committed to Josiah 3/10/10
- home study visit 4/17/10
- home study complete. 6/8/10
- sent I-600A to USCIS 6/10/10
- got fingerprint apt from USCIS 6/23/10
- fingerprint apt for USCIS is 7/16/10
- got I-171H 8/4/10
- Application Dossier was submitted for MOE 8/23/10
- Court Dossier all done and sent to agency 8/25/10
- got our date for our 1st trip 10/26/10
- 1st visit with our boy 11/15/10
- flew home from 1st trip 11/20/10
- dossier was submitted to court 1/13/11
- got our court date 2/1/11
- Vahnya Josiah Nine is our son 3/1/11
My Blog List
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Merry Christmas 201510 years ago
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Quick Update...15 years ago
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A Home Decor Post?12 years ago
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The Girls Have Moved12 years ago
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Glass Stair Balustrade14 years ago
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New BLOG!14 years ago
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Jan 23, 201213 years ago
Josiah at 2 years and 4 months old
Background
Dear God, with only a word you spoke me into being, I know that you thought of me before I was even conceived in my mother’s womb. It is you who have given me life and breath. It is you who knew my purpose before I was ever a thought in any persons mind.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:13-16)
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:13-16)
Myths and Truths about Down syndrome
Myth: Down syndrome is a rare genetic disorder.
Truth: Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition. One in every 733 live births is a child with Down syndrome, representing approximately 5,000 births per year in the United States alone. Today, more than 400,000 people in the United States have Down syndrome.
Myth: People with Down syndrome have a short life span.
Truth: Life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent years, with the average life expectancy approaching that of peers without Down syndrome.
Myth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to older parents.
Truth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to women younger than 35 years old simply because younger women have more children. However, the incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother.
Myth: People with Down syndrome are severely “retarded.”
Truth: Most people with Down syndrome have IQs that fall in the mild to moderate range of intellectual disability (formerly known as “retardation”). Children with Down syndrome fully participate in public and private educational programs. Educators and researchers are still discovering the full educational potential of people with Down syndrome.
Myth: Most people with Down syndrome are institutionalized.
Truth: Today people with Down syndrome live at home with their families and are active participants in the educational, vocational, social, and recreational activities of the community. They are integrated into the regular education system and take part in sports, camping, music, art programs and all the other activities of their communities. People with Down syndrome are valued members of their families and their communities, contributing to society in a variety of ways.
Myth: Parents will not find community support in bringing up their child with Down syndrome.
Truth: In almost every community of the United States there are parent support groups and other community organizations directly involved in providing services to families of individuals with Down syndrome.
Myth: Children with Down syndrome must be placed in segregated special education programs.
Truth: Children with Down syndrome have been included in regular academic classrooms in schools across the country. In some instances they are integrated into specific courses, while in other situations students are fully included in the regular classroom for all subjects. The current trend in education is for full inclusion in the social and educational life of the community. Increasingly, individuals with Down syndrome graduate from high school with regular diplomas, participate in post-secondary academic and college experiences and, in some cases, receive college degrees.
Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unemployable.
Truth: Businesses are seeking young adults with Down syndrome for a variety of positions. They are being employed in small- and medium-sized offices: by banks, corporations, nursing homes, hotels and restaurants. They work in the music and entertainment industry, in clerical positions, childcare, the sports field and in the computer industry. People with Down syndrome bring to their jobs enthusiasm, reliability and dedication.
Myth: People with Down syndrome are always happy.
Truth: People with Down syndrome have feelings just like everyone else in the population. They experience the full range of emotions. They respond to positive expressions of friendship and they are hurt and upset by inconsiderate behavior.
Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unable to form close interpersonal relationships leading to marriage.
Truth: People with Down syndrome date, socialize, form ongoing relationships and marry.
Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.
Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.
Truth: Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition. One in every 733 live births is a child with Down syndrome, representing approximately 5,000 births per year in the United States alone. Today, more than 400,000 people in the United States have Down syndrome.
Myth: People with Down syndrome have a short life span.
Truth: Life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent years, with the average life expectancy approaching that of peers without Down syndrome.
Myth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to older parents.
Truth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to women younger than 35 years old simply because younger women have more children. However, the incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother.
Myth: People with Down syndrome are severely “retarded.”
Truth: Most people with Down syndrome have IQs that fall in the mild to moderate range of intellectual disability (formerly known as “retardation”). Children with Down syndrome fully participate in public and private educational programs. Educators and researchers are still discovering the full educational potential of people with Down syndrome.
Myth: Most people with Down syndrome are institutionalized.
Truth: Today people with Down syndrome live at home with their families and are active participants in the educational, vocational, social, and recreational activities of the community. They are integrated into the regular education system and take part in sports, camping, music, art programs and all the other activities of their communities. People with Down syndrome are valued members of their families and their communities, contributing to society in a variety of ways.
Myth: Parents will not find community support in bringing up their child with Down syndrome.
Truth: In almost every community of the United States there are parent support groups and other community organizations directly involved in providing services to families of individuals with Down syndrome.
Myth: Children with Down syndrome must be placed in segregated special education programs.
Truth: Children with Down syndrome have been included in regular academic classrooms in schools across the country. In some instances they are integrated into specific courses, while in other situations students are fully included in the regular classroom for all subjects. The current trend in education is for full inclusion in the social and educational life of the community. Increasingly, individuals with Down syndrome graduate from high school with regular diplomas, participate in post-secondary academic and college experiences and, in some cases, receive college degrees.
Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unemployable.
Truth: Businesses are seeking young adults with Down syndrome for a variety of positions. They are being employed in small- and medium-sized offices: by banks, corporations, nursing homes, hotels and restaurants. They work in the music and entertainment industry, in clerical positions, childcare, the sports field and in the computer industry. People with Down syndrome bring to their jobs enthusiasm, reliability and dedication.
Myth: People with Down syndrome are always happy.
Truth: People with Down syndrome have feelings just like everyone else in the population. They experience the full range of emotions. They respond to positive expressions of friendship and they are hurt and upset by inconsiderate behavior.
Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unable to form close interpersonal relationships leading to marriage.
Truth: People with Down syndrome date, socialize, form ongoing relationships and marry.
Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.
Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.
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