Connor update

 Most of you know Connor got sick in October and aside for being ok for about a week and a half has pretty much been sick and on antibotics since then.

October- ear infection

November -  cold, hospitalized for pnuemonia,  stomach virus, er trip due to high fever and non stop crying, verdict ear infection

December- Ear infection, cold

January- Ear infection, cold

We saw a ENT and have surgery  scheduled to have tubes put in his ears Feb 1. Connors ears are completely impacted with built up ear wax over the years. He had lots of fluid behind his ear drums and more than likely has always heard like he is underwater.

We saw a Pulmonologist ( lung doctor) in January. Connor has scarring in his right lung. He could have aspirated on food at some point in his life or it could have been from the pneumonia. This is something that will be watched and monitored as he grows.

Connors takes a steroid through his nebulizer  both morning and night. He also does breathing treatments as needed however when he has a cold he will do then every 4 hours.

Connor is also on antibiotics until surgery. The reason beings is his doctors do not expect his ear infection to clear up and to keep him healthy and comfortable its important he take the antibiotic until his surgery date.

Continue to pray that he could get well and remain well by feb 1. It is so crucial that he has the surgery!!

Thank you for your prayers, calls, text, and messages concerning my guy. We are so thankful for all the love and support he has,

The night my mothers instincts kicked in....

It was black friday and Connor had been sick with a cold a little over a week. He had been to the dr on tuesday, but he wasnt improving. He wouldnt eat or drink and for the most part laid around lifeless. His fever was spiking randomly, he had horrible diarrhea, and he was just pitiful. After his appt tuesday he was put on antibiotics and I convinced myself things would get better soon, I had no idea that they would get far worse and not better, On friday November 28, 2016 I was working as usual when I had a urge to text my mom ( who was babysitting Connor for me while I worked) and check on him. When she told me he was just laying around and pretty lifeless. I knew something was very wrong. I called the on call doctor ( they were closed due to the holiday).  She asked me when was the last time he peed and thats when it hit me like a ton of bricks. His diaper that morning although filled with diarrhea had no pee in it. I was told he needed to be took to the Emergency Room IMMEDIATELY!! I called my supervisor and left work within minutes. My mom was gonna meet me with Connor at the ER so I raced home to get his SS Card and birth certificate ( I was panicking not sure why i thought I needed his birth certificate.)  During all this I of course had called Jeremy. When I got home as I got everything I needed, I remember sitting on the couch and telling Jeremy I think they will send us to childrens and I think somethings very wrong.

 How could I have known?? What made me say enoughs enough and call the doctor?? 

I remember the moment they said we are gonna call childrens and see what they recommend, but our reccomendation is that he  be transferred there by ambulance. 

I didnt fall apart, I didnt even cry. because somehow I knew.  God had prepared me. Im certainly not saying I have it all together or that I know it all, but somehow on that day God filled me in on what was to come. 

I watch my baby being strapped to a gurney, I walked behind him being wheeled to the ambulance clutching tight to his fire truck feetie pjs. And I was broken inside and yet somehow I remained strong. Because Gods strength is perfect when our strength is gone. My Rock had made me a rock.  And although it was horrifying I will never forget the night my mothers instincts kicked in. 

So you may think I am overly paranoid now. And honestly I would have to agree with you. We went from a stuffy nose and cough to pneumonia within 3 days, I watched my sweet boy become so weak and it happened so quickly. So yes we go to the doctor alot and now have two specialist we will probably have to see throughout his life. But no matter how silly you may think im being I will trust my instincts and maybe their not always right but they were right before and Im thankful I listened, 

Everyday is not a good day, but there is something good in every day.

What it means to be your mother....

    Connor, one year ago you were discharged from the orphanage and  we officially began our life together as a family of three. This first year with you has truly flown by and I now know what parents mean when they say dont blink. You have taught me so much this past year and I am honored to be your mother!!


  But what does it really mean to be your mother.

First off let me say its the greatest job I have ever had!!


But with it comes plenty of stress and worry.

IEP meetings, Dr appointments, specialist, Therapies, etc etc etc.

Then theres the hugs and kisses.

The sweet smiles  and giggles.

The good far outweighs the bad.

Its hard, sometimes I struggle and its ok to admit that.

However I wouldnt change a thing.

Sometimes the world thinks I have it all together and sometimes all they see is the struggles.

But what the world doesnt always see is the endless joy.

You have a joy like no other.

Even though somethings are harder for you, you never let it stop you.

You are inspirational.

Not only do you possess so much joy, but you are able to make others feel joy just by being there.

The world can learn alot from you. You have so much to offer this cruel world.

Being your mother means love, happiness, and yet its messy and tough.

It means expecting the unexpected and rolling with the punches.

Its mean sometimes we take the scenic route and thats ok.

It means milestones might take a little longer to hit, but oh the dance party we have when you hit them.

It means stares and questions and thats ok. Because we get to educate others. We get to show that Down Syndrome is not scary.

It mean we get to share our story which means we get to share Gods story too. Because without Him our story wouldnt have happened.

It means explaining that we dont always have all the answers, but we can trust God and step out in faith regardless.

It means educating others about adoption, and how its possible for a child to be just as much yours as if they were biologically.

It means showing that adoption is possible regardless of your bank account.

It means embracing the babbles, even though we pray for words.

It means  instead of me reading books to you, being hopeful that one day you'll read them to me.

It means having faith that one day together we can change the worlds mind about those with disabilities.

It means complicated, it means simple, it means tears, it means smiles, it means laughter, it means pain.

It means everything to me.

It means until there is no longer breath in my body I have the responsibility to love, protect, teach, and care for you. I dont take my job lightly and its not always easy.  But you are worth every second.

If I havent told you lately you are loved beyond belief, you are the reason I keep going each day, you are the reason I smile, the reason I feel proud, the reason life is fun, the reason I  get to see God on a daily basis, the reason I know He loves us so much, the reason I now know His plans are always for our good. The reason I believe all things really are possible with God. The reason my heart feels like its gonna overflow on a daily basis.

Thats what it mean to be your mother.

Happy Metcha day Connor!!!!

 One year ago we walked through those orphanage doors knowing you were on the other side. I could never explain what it was like to lay my eyes on you for the first time. To finally hold you in my arms.

                            

It was the best feeling to know that we would never be apart again.  You were more beautiful than we ever could have imagined and your pictures did you no justice. You were absolutely perfect in our eyes. We  were filled with such pride and although we thought we loved you before we realized that up until that moment we had never known a love so pure and unconditional. 

We are  so thankful that God allowed us to be a family.

 Happy Metcha day Connor!!! 

January 8, 2015

I still remember the day we left. I still remember how many emotions I felt. Excited, nervous,anxious, and about a million other emotions all at once.

January 8, 2015 We left to go meet and bring our son home. We left for Hong Kong. We left incomplete, and came back whole. We came back with a piece that for 21 months we worked hard for. The paperwork, the worry, the red tape, the stress. None of it mattered anymore because the moment we had dreamed about for so long would be coming true in a matter of days.

 We took one last picture of us before we met the love of our life. One last photo before we even knew what unconditional love for a child meant. Before everything about us changed. Oh yes we thought we loved him then, we thought we were parents then, but we were about to look into those dark eyes and realize we didnt know the half of it.

 We boarded the plane and had the longest flight ever! Three layovers and one flight was 16 hours on its own!!! But nothing could take away our excitement and joy.  We were going to meet and bring home our son. Something we had worked so hard for for 21 months and it was finally time.

We finally arrived and as we rode in the taxi to our hotel I snapped this photo. It was so overwhelming to know I was within minutes of my son. I was so overwhelmed by Gods goodness.

We arrived at our hotel exhausted. However it was so hard to sleep when it was day time at home.  We spent the next two days resting, and sightseeing before the big day.  

  Look for another post soon about the big meeting with our sweet Connor. 

Connor health update

  Hey guys just wanted to update you all on whats going on with Connor health wise.

He is doing AMAZING!!!

 He is playing and being wild 24/7! Of course he is still on a steroid so we are anxious to see how he does once it ends this weekend.  He is so so happy and to be honest he is acting happier and better than he has in months ( again could be partly the steroid.)

We are so thankful that Connor is doing so much better and are so ready to put these last few months behind us.

Connor will see a ENT specialist this coming week and a  pulmonary specialist ( lung specialist ) the following week. We are nervous and yet also anxious for answers. We will be scheduling a eye doctor appointment soon as Connors nystagmus has been acting up alot more lately. Which could be due to the breathing treatments. (He is doing breathing treatments every 4-6 hours and has a new medicine given as a breathing treatment morning and night that he will be on from now on. ) Nystagmus is where the eyes have uncontrolled movement. In Connors case they jerk back and forth horizontally. This normally last a few seconds, but its beginning to happen more and more often. Its not anything that seems to affect him in the slightest. He acts like nothing at all is happening. 

So that is where were at right now. We are soaking up these healthy happy moments since its been so long since we have had them. We are looking forward to celebrating our one year together this month and will be having a photo shoot this weekend so you can look forward to some new cute photos soon. 

We appreciate everyones text, phone calls, visits and most importantly prayers during Connors sickness. 

Connors says you can stop worrying about me,.

Overview of our families 2016

 Tonight 2016 ends and I am sad to see it go. What a BIG year for our family, with so many HUGE changes.

In January we traveled to Hong Kong and met our son. We brought him home and began our life as a family of three.

In February We had our first IEP Meeting and  began the process of getting Connor enrolled in PreK. Connor had several doctor appointments and his first echocardiogram ( at home.)

In March Connor had his first surgery. It was extremely difficult to leave my baby and watch the nurses carry him away. He did extremely well and its then we realized just what a tough cookie our little man is. Connor also started PreK and It was the first time I ever left him anywhere. It was a rough beginning but we adjusted and Connor quickly fell in love with school and his therapies began.

In April a even bigger adjustment came as Jeremy and I went back to work. This was very hard on Mama and Connor at first, but over time we finally got into our routine and its not the end of the world like we both thought it was in the beginning.

Then came May, June, and July. We spent time out in the sun and just enjoyed life  and continued to adjust as a new family.

In August We went to court and we adopted our sweet boy and He was declared Connor Thaddeus Malone!

In September we celebrated Connors fourth birthday ( his first birthday with us). We celebrated with a birthday party at Jumpin Shack with friends and family. Connor had a great time!

In October we enjoyed our first Halloween together. We loved getting to dress up as a family!

In November We celebrated our first Thanksgiving together. Even though Connor was sick we tried to make the best of it. However things got tough and extremely scary as we experienced Connors first ride in a ambulance and hospital stay. It was by far one of the scariest and hardest things I have ever done as I walked behind my baby strapped to a gurney and held on tight to his fire truck feetie pajamas.

In December Connor had another ER trip and more dr appointments then I can count. He just could not seem to stop getting ear infections. When He finally recovered from the ear infection, we werent out of the woods yet because Connor got a upper respiratory infection. In the mean time we celebrated our first Christmas together and had a wonderful time. Connor continues to feel cruddy, but we are hopeful the medicine will kick in soon and Connor will make a full recovery.

2016 was the best year of our lives by far!!!! We hopped on the parenthood train and held on tight, It wasnt perfect and it has been a bumpy ride, but we are so thankful that we get to experience the good and bad of parenthood. We love Connor so much and 2016 has been a incredible year for our family!!!

We cannot wait to see what 2017 holds for our family of three.