2 more babes...

added to our advocacy blog and 2 babes who's forever families have found them...YAY GOD!!!!

Spread the news about these precious waiting treasures!

www.lovingthefatherless.blogspot.com

A plea for help!

Our very precious friends are adopting the sweetest little guy from a country I can't mention ;) This sweet family has had their share devastation, hope, & joy on this journey. When they committed to adopt sweet Zion, they also committed to adopting his baby brother. Tragically the baby died a few months ago...they have grieved their sweet baby and press on to get their other son, Zion, HOME.

Mama Kim just returned home from the un-named country and sweet Zion is VERY ill and needs to get home immediately. Would you please pray for protection over Zion, a speedy approval, the remaining urgent financial needs....See her email below:

Hi Friends,

We want to thank all of you who have encouraged us, supported us, and prayed for us with our current adoption of Zion from xxxx. I just returned last week from xxxx, and was able to meet Zion for the first time and spend three days with him. It was love at first site. This little boy is nothing short of amazing. He has such a sweet, sweet spirit, and a kind and tender heart. My friend Erin traveled with me, and she is in the process of adopting Zion’s sister Freedom and his brother Ezekiel. We had a great time with them, and it was soooo hard to leave!

When I was in xxxx, I had the feeling that something was not right with Zion’s health. He has come from a remote village that is extremely poor, and before he came to the orphanage 3 months ago, he didn’t have access to much food at all and his water supply was cloudy and dirty. He was taken in to the orphanage along with his brother and sister, and they have been able to eat much more regularly. His stomach is still very distended and hard, and he gets fatigued pretty easily. Also, his right leg and right arm are much longer than the left, and he walks with a painful limp. I couldn’t shake that there might be something going on with his health more than just malnutrition. I took some pictures of him without clothes, hoping to show them to the international adoption doctor here when I got home. On the plane ride home, we spent some time talking to a missionary doctor, who looked at Zion’s picture and felt that there was some sort of nuero-muscular disorder going on, and felt too that it was more than just malnutrition.

When I got home, I consulted with xxxx, a respected doctor in xxxx who deals with international adoption medical issues. He feels that Zion definitely has a condition called Hemihypertrophy, which is a condition where one side of the body grows at a much more rapid pace than the other side. He said that the problem that can occur with this condition, besides being uncomfortable to walk, etc. is that the internal organs on the right side of the body can grow at an unnatural rate, and become enlarged, and with this condition comes a higher risk for childhood cancer. Ideally, children with this condition should be screened for cancer every 3 months from the time they are infants until they are 7 years old. Zion is almost 6 years old, and obviously, has never been screened. In addition, his medical check up in xxxx noted that his spleen is enlarged and palpable, and this is of concern to the doctor here. xxxx is making an appeal to the US Visa office, to get Zion home immediately, in order to get the medical attention he needs.

Right now we are in the process of getting Zion an expedited passport, and making appeals to the Visa office to get him home on a medical visa. Time is of the essence, to get him the treatment he very much needs. In a normal scenario, the adoption would be completed sometime in April or May, but we are hoping to be able to get him home in March, due to his medical needs.

In order to bring him home, we need to raise an additional $3,000 by March. The needs are $404 for a visa, $300 for court decree in xxxx, $870 for the UCSIS process, and $1500 for travel to get him. We have been doing fundraisers like crazy, and doing everything we can to bring this little guy home. If you are interested in helping us reach our goal, please visit our website www.bridgetozion.com and you can donate via the chip in button on the site. If you are in need of a tax deduction, you can make out your check to Project Global Hope, and mail it to us at 15710 Streamview Court, Riverside, CA 92504 and we will forward your check to them. If you know anyone who might be interested in giving, please feel free to forward this email to them.

Please know that we covet your prayers, and are so thankful for your love and support!

Sincerely,

The Phillips Family

www.bridgetozion.com

More beautiful news!!

I'm in tears as I type this...we just got back from the urologist. Solomon's kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract are all in great condition and functioning beautifully....meaning when he's ready, he will be able to potty train just fine!! This is so unheard of with these sweet treasures...I still can't believe it. We will continue to watch his kidneys closely but all looks great!

Just so humbled that the Lord continues to bless and protect our family in ways I could never imagine.

Cincy week 2

We are beginning our second week in Cincinnati and all is going well. We have begin our round of urology testing and are anxious to hear test results later this week. We are still in awe of the news we received last week...it's truly only something our Lord could have done!!!

We have been blessed with some AMAZING visits with some incredible friends!!!
-Thursday we were blessed to visit with the precious family we met while in China...the one's that adopted two 3 year old boys at once...they also have another 3 yr. old son. So needless to say Solomon had a BLAST playing with his buddies and mama absolutely loved seeing Todd and Jane again!!!

-Friday through Sunday...this will have to be a post all by itself once I get home. I am still reeling with emotions. I was given one of the most beautiful gifts...I was united with my very best friend Lisa. We haven't seen each other in 19 years!!! Oh how I've missed her. More to come for sure!!!!

-Sunday afternoon...We had an awesome visit with Teddy's family. They are almost DTC. Teddy and Solomon were buddies in the orphanage!! What a precious, precious family...LOVE them to pieces!!!! We were also able to meet with another Jinjiang mama & daughter. Adelie has been home for 3 years. Her mama brought pictures of Adelie in the old orphanage and guess who I saw in the crib with Adelie??? DALTON!!!! Sweet beautiful little Dalton!!! That means that all the boys where crib and room mates with her...it was such a surreal feeling to see him running around with an orphanage buddy...sooo cool!!!

We are missing our family very much and can't wait to be home..daddy is doing an amazing job!!!

Only our Divine Healer!!!

Solomon, big brother, & I have been in Cincinnati since Tuesday. We hit the floor running early Wed. morning for testing...in fact the entire trip will contain LOTS of testing and bowel management week. For those of you new to my blog here is where we first shared about Solomon's medical needs. Many have asked why Cincinnati and all I can say is that they are the ONLY Pediatric Colorectal team in the world. They are the absolute BEST and have by far the most experience and knowledge in this field. We wanted to give Solomon the best care and best chance at successful bowel management as possible. The Lord clearly paved the way for this trip and we are excited to be here.

The purpose of this trip was to get a clear understanding of what was done in China surgically and what the prognosis was for the future. There are many complications that can come with a child born with imperforate anus including a tethered spinal cord, kidney issues, incontinence, etc.

Today we received the most amazing, MIRACULOUS news...news that left the dr. and staff in shock and pure happiness. You see...our precious boy is only the FOURTH child in ALL of the children they've seen adopted from China that does NOT need a corrective redo surgery!!! A precious little boy that has been held in the palm of the Lord's hand from the very beginning...a little miracle that WILL be able to obtain continence...a little boy that from a medical perspective was not going to be able to have normal functioning bowels...TODAY we have been told otherwise.

What a journey this has been...absolutely in continual awe of all that the Lord continues to do for our little man!!!! We will be continuing with more testing next week with the urology team and we are hopeful for more good news! Thank you so much for covering our family in prayer!!!,

My best friends

The blessing of my precious sisters and amazing mama is something that is hard to put into words.  They are a gift that is unbelievably priceless.  I love you girls so much & can't imagine my life without you.

Happy Birthday Rene! I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us this year! LOVE YOU!! 

Chinese New Year pics

My babes...Happy Chinese New Year!!!



Waiting Treasures and our NEW advocacy blog...

You all know my heart for the orphan and my passion for advocating...well...all these beautiful babes below are waiting for their forever families....could it be you...could you be who they are dreaming of???

Click on the pictures and you'll be directed to our NEW advocacy blog :) www.lovingthefatherless.blogspot.com

The time has come...

The time has come for all of my bloggy friends that were praying for precious Dalton to swing by their blog...give them some bloggy lovin', and check out their puzzle fundraiser!! You don't want to miss being a part of this.

So many of you became very attached to this sweet one...so many of you invested hours of prayer and advocacy for him...NOW you can FOREVER be a part of his journey home by purchasing a puzzle piece or 2 :) Just think...once Dalton is home, he will look at the puzzle...he will see the beautiful pictures on the front but then mama & baba will turn it over and he will see name after name on the back...he will ask his mama, "who's names are those?" And mama will be able to tell him about every single person who prayed for him...who advocated for him....who LOVED HIM long before he ever came home!!

Sweet, beautiful Dalton...you are LOVED by many!!! You have touched sooo many lives! Did you know that because of you, other children from your orphanage now have forever families coming to get them too!! All because of those names on the back of your puzzles, you were prayed for and will be loved forever. We love you sweet one and can't wait to see you in your family's arms!!!

Okay guys...I better stop now or I won't be able to see my screen through my tears...this boy has my heart! Hop on over...we are talking only $5 a piece to forever change sweet Dalton's life...And I'm talking changing it on soooo many different levels...please help this baby boy home!!

(Dalton & Solomon)

Beautiful brotherhood...a brotherhood perfectly created by our Lord!

Beautiful Meadow...

UPDATE: WE HAVE A COMMITTED FAMILY!!!! To God be all the glory!!! Please pray for this precious family...pray that all the details are worked out quickly as they begin the paperchase to this beautiful treasure!!

I just have to share with you one of the most beautiful little girls waiting in China. She is 1 and desperately needs her family. Sweet Meadow is being cared for by an amazing foster family...a family that I have been blessed to chat with several times via email. They are american & are caring for 2 sweet treasures.

Here is what they have shared with me:
DOB: Nov. 26 2009
Meadow has had no serious illness'. She has no heart conditions or thyroid issues. She is a very happy, healthy, well-adjusted child. She has been fostered by an American family since shortly after her birth (so only spoken to in English). She cannot sit up or crawl yet. She can hold her own bottle, hold herself up in a 'push up' position, do an 'army crawl', roll around, and LOVES to babble. She plays well independently and also enjoys being with others. She is entranced with lights and loves to rock, sway and bounce to music. She has such a sweet and joyful spirit. She's a good eater. She has no teeth and is eating pureed food. Lots of fruits and vegetables, chicken, beef, eggs, pasta, etc. She drinks soy formula. She's had trouble with frequent spit up, but I found that the soy formula has helped, as well as making her food/drink thicker with rice cereal. We love this little girl, and it's our hearts desire to see her placed in a Godly, loving family. She will be a blessing to anyone who brings her into their home. She has greatly enriched our lives!

Meadow has Downs Syndrome. She is not on the shared list, yet. From the foster family: The orphanage gave us permission to advocate for her (as well as the other Downs kids at the orphanage). She will be put on the adoption list with a committed adoptive family.

The orphanage staff loves this little girl very much and desperately wants her to have a forever family.

WILL YOU PLEASE HELP ME SPREAD THE WORD about Meadow? For anyone wanting more information, please have them email me at wearechinabound@gmail.com