My Family Found Me

Medical report indicates that the birth mother is an alcoholic. While it does not state that the mother drank during pregnancy, prospective families should be prepared that Nahla may have FAS.

Nahla is physically healthy. She lived in a neglectful home for the first 4 years of her life, before being removed by social services and placed in foster care. She says individual words and some simple phrases. She has made progress in her development since being placed in foster care, but has had to work through behaviors and medical concerns as a result of the previous years of neglect. Progress is being observed in all aspects of her development.

Update Oct 2022:

Nahla’s behavior is characterized by impulsivity and curiosity. Her speech skills present with some deficits. She says the names and denominatives for people close to her – (grandma), (older sister), (uncle), etc. During interaction she uses mimics, gestures, points to what she wants and brings the foster parent to the respective object. She has started to express desires more often, ask questions or express an opinion with simple sentences or two or three words. She understands adults’ speech well and orientates in non-verbal means. She is gradually starting to adhere to personal boundaries and has started to be “shy” in unfamiliar places, as well as set boundaries in her communication with people outside her family circle. She enjoys riding a scooter and bicycle and playing with a ball and at the park. She is able to participate in some playing situations with the biological granddaughter of the foster family. The foster parents are helping her build her skills for independence, as well as self-service skills. The child is unable to eat independently or maintain personal hygiene habits, she is learning to tidy up her belongings and toys. She is able to announce her physiological needs.

ADOPTED!

Nathan walks, runs, hops on one foot, rides a 2 wheeled bike, and goes up/down stairs independently. His wrists and fingers have some flexion issues, which cause delays in fine motor tasks. He can use both his hands, but still requires some assistance with some fine motor tasks. He can feed himself with a fork and spoon. He can indicate when he needs to use the restroom and complete the task by himself. He sometimes needs assistance with his clothing once he’s done in the restroom, due to the flexion issues in his hands. He talks, answers questions and can recite songs and poems that he has memorized. He plays with toys appropriately. He has an active imagination, and plays easily with other children. Cognitively, he demonstrates age appropriate reasoning skills, inference skills and can use past experiences and information during conversations, play and other activities. He easily transitions between activities. He makes cause and effect connections. He currently lives in a foster home where he is being worked with on all aspects of his development. He has not ever attended any type of formal educational environment. His foster parents have taught him his letters and he is now working on mastering numbers. They are actively working with him to increase his general knowledge base.

Nathan is aware that he lives with a foster family and has expressed that he wants to be adopted.

ADOPTED!

Bailey is a beautiful little girl! She attends kindergarten. Bailey is potty trained and is beginning to learn other self care skills, but she relies heavily on her caretakers for her daily needs. Bailey also has a congenital heart defect, which was repaired in 2017.

The agency has a video available of Bailey! There is a $2,500 agency grant for Bailey’s adoption with a specific adoption agency.

Update from Oct. 2020: Our most recent updates on Magnolia have shown her making significant improvements! Magnolia has the sweetest smile and seems to always be in a happy and content mood. It’s been two years since we last met Magnolia and she is now able to feed herself snacks, put small objects into containers, identify pieces of clothing, match animal sounds to the correct animal, identify familiar adults in photos, and recognize a daily schedule. There is a bright and happy future for little Magnolia. She deserves to spend it with a caring and loving family. Photos and video are available from the agency.

Original post from 2018: Sweet, sweet little Magnolia! Her little smile was worth every bit of effort it took to coax it out of her. She was a little shy at first when the agency’s team met her, but warmed up with a little effort on our part. And her little face lights up when she sees someone she knows. Magnolia has cerebral palsy. She is 3 years old. She turns when her name is called. She cannot yet speak but obviously understands what is said to her. She can sit propped up if placed in a sitting position. She uses a wheelchair to get around. She goes to a special education preschool and loves toys with music. She enjoys playing peek-a-boo and obviously anticipates that you are going to uncover your face.

“Karen” is home!!

Kellan is a seriously adorable little boy, born in June of 2015 and diagnosed with congenital heart disease and down syndrome. He is monitored by a children’s hospital cardiologist and regularly takes his maintenance medications for his heart condition. Kellan loves to cuddle and though he doesn’t mind playing alone, he does have a special friend he likes to play with. He laughs when tickled and when being entertained. Kellan can grab toys, sit, and stand while pushing a walker. He sways his body when he hears music and will turn his head when his name is called. Kellan regularly smiles and loves to wave goodbye and blow kisses. He can babble two syllable words. Though you can’t see his pictures publicly, take our word for it- Kellan is one cute little boy! *

Photos and video are available for seriously interested families. Kellan is from a small Asian country. Per his country’s regulations, pictures and videos can only be shared with seriously interested families directly and are not allowed to be shared publicly. Kellan’s file is listed with multiple agencies with a sending program from this country and approval is dependent on the head of adoption in this particular country. There is a $2,500 agency grant for Kellan’s adoption with his current adoption agency.

Lisa is a happy and sociable little girl. She enjoys meeting new people and interacts with them appropriately. She responds to her name and verbalizes using sounds and syllables. She follows basic directions. Her motor skills are developing. Videos of Lisa show her playing with a ball and manipulating it appropriately. She currently moves around by crawling. She can take steps when holding 2 hands of an adult and can also move using a walker. She is receiving therapy to help develop her motor skills.

Photos and videos are available through the agency.

She stands upright in her crib and “walks” around it, and when she is among the other children, usually the staff put her in a walker. She has good support of her foot, she can be lead by both hands in bigger spaces. Alone takes a toy and manipulates with it. Likes teases and contact. She is fed by the adult, uses dippers. Does not talk syllables. Continues with prescribed daily kinesitheraphy. Suffered acute respiratory viral infection, applied antibiotic therapy, no complications

Update 2020:

Stella has lived in a large orphanage her entire life. She can stand while holding onto a fixed support and walk while holding the hands of an adult. She will hold toys, move them from hand to hand and knock them together. She will pick up toys that are near her in order to manipulate them. She enjoys musical toys. She seeks out other children and enjoys playing near them. She likes being cuddled by adults and laughs out loud when they play with her. She reacts when called by her name. She eats from a spoon and drinks from a cup with help. She’s in the process of being toilet trained.