Whatever Wednesday

Each Wednesday we post links from the previous week that touch on special needs adoption. Our hope is that these small snapshots provide you with a glimpse of life after adopting through China's waiting child program... both the long-term blessings and the challenges that come with parenting a child with special needs. We also hope to raise awareness about a variety of special needs.


How a kid with special needs affects your marriage: extreme honesty -- momma to a child with cerebral palsy Ellen at To The Max... looking at the special marital challenges that come with parenting a child who has special needs

Some answers..., second open-heart surgery and pictures! -- adoptive momma (China) Melinda at And Mia Makes 6... detailing the complications that arose after her daughter's recent heart surgery

Pain and He will never Leave you or Forsake you -- Mike, who is currently on an adoption trip (Uganda), at Joining the Journey... finding out, just days after holding her in their arms, that their new daughter Josie is HIV+

24 pounds; 33 1/5 inches -- adoptive momma (China) Annie at Cornbread and Chopsticks... she finally made it onto the Southern Chinese Girls growth chart!!!!

never forsaken! -- adoptive momma (China) Adeye at No Greater Joy Mom... after adopting her eight-year-old daughter who had ALREADY previously experienced one disruption and an autism diagnosis in China, a mom looks back on their first year together as a family

Food Issues and Ah Ha -- adoptive momma (China) Wuxi Mommy at Our Wuxi Girl... food issues, six months after coming home, cause a mom to ask for helpful ideas (be sure to read the comments on this one)

thump... thump... thump... thump -- adoptive momma (China) Ohilda at A Bouquet of Blessings... contemplating their attachment journey so far, a little over two years after arriving home

Tell Her This -- new adoptive momma Kris, in China now adopting a daughter with the special need spina bifida, has written so many thoughtful posts during her trip, I'm just sending y'all directly there: surf around, you won't be sorry

I Am Human -- adoptive momma (Russia, Siberia and Ukraine) Christine at Smiles & Trials... the day to day reality of spina bifida, after one month home

special needs: mind your business -- adoptive momma (China) Stefanie at Ni Hao Y'all... a powerful post ALL should read about deciding between the NSN and SN programs

What I didn't know -- adoptive momma (Russia) Ingrid at the group adoption blog Grown In My Heart... what she didn't know about surgeries before adopting a child with special needs

An Amazing Girl! -- adoptive momma (China) Lori at Joy Unspeakable... during their first few days together as a family (older child adoption), Lori talks about names and the honeymoon period

3 AM -- adoptive momma (China) Shirlee McCoy at And Then There Were Seven... middle-of-the-night thoughts about her daughter's upcoming eye surgery and their transition just after an older child adoption

What is Visual Processing Disorder? -- adoptive momma (Russia and Guatemala) Marcie at the group adoption blog Grown In My Heart... children diagnosed with SPD, autism or ADHD may all "see things differently" because of visual processing disorder