[mrbeansmom]

I thought I would take a moment to add another adoption success story. I am new to this list for the most part, but I am far from new to adoption. We have 2 birth children, and 4 children who have been grafted in and have just recently re-opened our homestudy and are looking forward to adding to the family again.

Our four adopted children all have special needs. The older three (11, 9, and 7) all have autism. The 9 and 7 year olds also have moderate mental retardation, ADHD, mild CP and FAS. Our youngest (5) was severely premature (24 weeks) and she has come a looooong way! We were told that she had CP and would be bound to a wheelchair for life, but this little girl runs and jumps and walks just fine. She does have seizures, but they are controlled by medication, and she is delayed somewhat, but it always amazes me how very far this child has come in life.

Our 3 with autism are extremely challenging! Twelve years ago I'd have thought you were a fry short of a Happy Meal if you had told me I'd be where I am today with them. There was NO WAY I'd have even entertained the thought of one chjild with autism, let alone three. Once again, however, God's ways are not our ways though and He knew just what He was doing placing these three in our lives. Don't get me wrong. Life is far from a piece of cake, but I wouldn't change my life now for the life I had back then for anything. The journey has been so interesting and I have learned so very much about myself, what I can handle, and what I can't. I have learned how to ask for help when I need it and I have learned that I am stronger than I think.

My kids, each of them, birth and adopted, are such incredible miracles!! I can't begin to tell you how much they have blessed our lives. I can't wait to see who God has for us this time around.

Juliana

[louise]

how these children teach us and enrich our lives.