The Paper Chase

The paper-chase....yep, we are there again!  I wasn't sure I'd be doing this again, and especially not so soon, but we really feel as though this is right for our family!  Tim and I have been discussing if we wanted to adopt one more time.  Initially - just like each addition to the family - when the newest one comes home, we both say we are done.  This is it.  But, then... things settle down.  Before we adopted Sara, we said we would adopt two more.  Sara and then another.  Well, when we got Sara's referral, I freaked out.  I wondered if we could do it all.  It's kinda like when you get pregnant, and your life is all in order and you wonder - OH. MY. GOODNESS!!!  What have we just done.  Life will NEVER be the same again.  And certainly, it is not!  But, we've come to find that is good!  This time however, Tim and I both agree that this is our last one.  This was actually Tim's idea which was a bit of a surprise to me.  Once we started talking about it though, I was all on board!!!

I did some calling last week from work during lunch.  This is just about the same scenario that happened when I first decided to adopt Anna.  I was looking into agencies and countries and had my heart set on China.  At the time, I was single, so there were difficulties in finding an agency that didn't already have their singles quota filled for adoption from China.  As I was looking through the agencies on the internet, I was drawn to Faith International.  I called them.  They were able to send my dossier to China in the next calendar year - that would be perfect as it would take me about six months to get my dossier ready anyway.  So, I did it!  They were a GREAT agency to work with.

When we decided to adopt Sara, we were not able to use Faith.  We were happy with the agency that we worked with and of-course we love the little girl that God placed in our lives.  We did felt lead, at the time, to use this agency that we did for our adoption of Sara.  In fact, we lost quite a bit of money by going with them, because we had already signed with another agency.

So, now here we are again.  As I was looking for an agency, I started looking at Faith again.  I was intrigued by the new programs that they had, and something led me to click on India.  I'm not sure what it was, and in fact, I went back to the page twice, because when I went to click on it, something said "no, we don't qualify for that program".  But I was led to click on it anway.  As I read through it, my heart started fluttering.  I called the agency and was able to speak immediately to a wonderful man who quickly answered all of my questions.  Tim was dropping something by my office, so I talked about all of the details with him.  He had a couple of questions as well, so I called the gentleman back - and was able to talk to him immediately.  He answered those questions and sent me some information. 

WE ARE GOING WITH INDIA!!!!!  I can't believe it.  I was drawn to India when we were adopting Sara, but we did not qualify for the program.  I don't know if I didn't look hard enough, or what - I'm glad we went with Ethiopia and got our Sara - but I think this time, this is where God wants us to go!!!  We can have no more than three children in the home - AND, I discussed with them my eye condition, and they don't feel as though it will be a problem!  PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

The program is interesting.... it's different than any other program we have been involved with (China, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan and Ethiopia).  We will have our homestudy completed and begin working on our dossier.  After our homestudy is completed, and while we are working on our dossier, our homestudy will be sent to India and we will be matched with a child.  This usually takes about 3 months.  Then we will receive our referral.  If we accept the referral, the child will then be looked at internally in India to determine if there is anyone who will take the child in India (not likely).  They do this to ensure that the child is being removed from their birth country and culture as a last resort (understandable).  If no domestic family can be found, the referral is ours.  We complete our dossier and send it to India.  The hard part is that from the time we receive the referral, to the time we go get our child can be as long as 8 months - sometimes longer.  As this is a pilot program, no one can say for sure how long it will take.  Travel to India is required.  We will be in country for 10 days to two weeks.  Pretty much like we were with the China program.  We are thankful that this time, it will only be one trip, rather than two.

We are thinking about taking all of the kids with us this time, if it is financially possible.  We'll have to wait and see!  I am SO very excited about this process.  I'm going to cherish every minute of the paperwork, fingerprinting, reference letters, medical exams, waiting, waiting and waiting, because this will truly be our last adoption experience.  I think we've maxed out our family.

We are going to request (we think) a little girl.  We will request 18 - 30 months... the same age range we requested with Sara.  The only thing we want, is to keep this child younger than Sara.  They may end up in the same grade, but we want to maintain their birth order.  I think it will be great for Sara to have a sibling so close in age. 

Pray for us once again as we take the leap of faith to make this journey ONE. LAST. TIME!!! 

Can't wait to share with you along the way!

In Christ,
Charity

Holding on for the ride...

So, what have I been doing lately?  Holding on during the ride!  Life is a ride - and I think I'm finally enjoying it.  There have been a lot of ups and downs lately, but it's all part of the ride.

There is so much that I'm looking forward to... the kids are out of school in just three short days.  They finish up with 1/2 days and are done the middle of next week.  I'm looking forward to spending more time with my kids and with my family.  We have planned a vacation to the beach this summer.  I'm so looking forward to it.  I told Tim that work is going to have to live without us during this time.  I'm not even going to turn on the phone!  It probably won't even work where we are (hopefully :)!  It'll just be us and the kids, hanging out, relaxing and having a good time together as a family.  I can't wait!

I was worried that our little vacation was going to get ruined by my latest issue - I started up running about six weeks ago.  Two weeks into it, my left leg started hurting - and not just hurting, but REALLY hurting.  Tim took me to urgent care and they said give it two weeks, gave me an anti-inflammatory and sent me home.  Three weeks later, I was still hobbling around.  Finally went to an ortho. specialist, and had an MRI done.  Come to find out I have a fracture.  Ugghh.  I thought for sure he was going to cast it and I'd be sitting at the beach with a cast on my leg.  Fortunately for me though, I only have to be off of it, and be on crutches for four weeks.  I'll hopefully get off of the crutches right before we leave for our vacation.

The kiddos are doing wonderful!!!  All three of them!  Cameron and Anna both made the honor roll this year.  I'm so proud of both of them.  Cameron was inducted into the Jr. Beta Club which is based on academics as well as character.  I was one proud mom when he was inducted!  Sara is doing great.  She is enjoying day care and they are enjoying her.  Her vocabulary is really growing and I'm pleased with that.  She loves to point out what belongs to whom "THAT Mama's", "THAT Anna's".  It's so cute, but she says it over, and over, and over like a broken record :)  Wouldn't change it for the world!

Ms. Sara had her second birthday since I last wrote.  It was her first one home with us, so it was extra special!  She was excited to be the center of attention for a bit.  She is getting really close to her brother and sister and enjoys playing with them!  She and Anna do a lot together play-wise... Cameron, not so much, but for some reason, she is really drawn to Cameron.  She likes to be around him.  It's adorable.  And he is a really good big brother to her.  Both he and Anna are good siblings.

Speaking of siblings, now is as good a time as ever to break the news... Tim and I are going to embark on the adoption journey one more time!  We are in the process of contemplating countries, names, etc - but I think we are pretty certain that we are going to do this one. final. time.  It was actually Tim's idea this time, but he said that he was going to make me sign something saying this would be our last one.  We so enjoyed the experience with Sara and we're ready to do it again.  We have some time beforre we start again - I think we are going to start early fall, so I'm watching and investigating countries to see where we might fit in best.  I think this time we would ask for a girl again, but if our heart is in a country where we can not select gender, then we will go with either and be happy either way.... we have names picked out for both, so we are ok there :)

So, pretty exciting news on that front.  I have so many pictures to share... more pictures than I have time.  Pictures coming soon!

In Christ,
Charity

Searching for "Ollie"

My, it certainly has been some time since I've been able to get on here and blog.... I guess I have been spending more time managing our bigger family.  It's what's important to me right now.  But, today I'm home with Sara who is sick.  I was home with her yesterday as well, so I had some time to sit down and write.  She is sitting next to me right now, building with Legos and talking to them as she builds.  Sometimes I really wish I could understand all that she is saying to those legos!  She has some pretty animated conversations with them!

All of the kiddos are doing well.  We are looking forward to spending the Easter weekend together.  Cameron has been away on his 6th grade field trip and will be coming back home late tonight / early tomorrow morning.  They went to the Creation Museum in Kentucky.  I think they had a really good time. 

Cameron and Anna got their report cards a c0uple of weeks ago and both kids made the honor roll... I'm very proud of them.  I'm especially proud of Anna.  She had been struggling for awhile with her grades and she turned that around and made the honor roll!  I'm so thrilled for her.  She puts in a lot of work and finally got to see a positive result!  Cameron was inducted into the Jr. Beta Club a few weeks ago.  We were so very proud of him as well.  In order to be inducted, you had to have a score of 90 in all of your classes for the past two years and also be nominated by a teacher.  I was so pleased that Cameron was nominated.  I've got some smart little kids on my hands!

Sara celebrated her 2nd birthday last weekend.  I can't believe my baby girl is two.  I feel terrible that I'm not posting pictures from the party, but my disk with pictures on it is at work, and I'm writing this from home... I'll post pictures later.  Needless to say, she had a good time.  My mome and Denis came to celebrate with us, and so did Tim's dad.  Unfortunately Tim's mom couldn't come as she had some obligations at home, but it was great to see Tim's dad.  We understand other obligations that come with family, so we will head that way soon so she can see the kids again. 

So... I'm searching for Ollie!  If you are friends with me of FaceBook, you know who/what I'm looking for.  If not, you might think we're looking for our next child and we're naming him Ollie.  Well, that is not the case.  For some reason, I was thinking the other day about toys that I had as a child that I absolutely loved.  One that I had was this little yellow ride-on toy named Ollie.  Ollie looked like a yellow banana with big eyes, blue wheels and red yarn hair.  I LOVED Ollie.  Ollie went with us everywhere.  Ollie was the best thing ever... even after I braided his yarn hair and drew with red crayon on his body.  Sara loves ride on toys, so I thought I would go on line and see if I could find her an "Ollie".  Well, if you know anything at all about me, you will know that once I get something in my mind, I'm a bit "obsessed" with it.  I look and look and can't find Ollie.  Ollie was discontinued!!!  How could the greatest ride-on toy on earth be discontinued???  So, I wanted to see if I could get one on ebay.  Sure I could - I think ONE exists in the world and they are selling it for $199.00!!!  Sorry Sara, but Ollie is not worth that much (he is, but I'm not sure Tim would agree :)  I'm bummed about it.  Now I'll have to get her the bumble bee buggy - which I really don't want to get, because it won't measure up to Ollie.

Have you ever had something like that - a childhood toy that you would just LOVE to share with your children?  Maybe Sara wouldn't even like it, I don't know... I just want her to have it.  Ollie brought back so many memories.  I'm not even sure what got me thinking about it... for goodness sake it was almost 40 years ago (that is what Tim said when I was in shock that it was discontinued)!  No matter what got me thinking about it, something did.  I began to realize all of the memories that I had with Ollie.  I rode Ollie in the driveway of our very first house.  I have pictures from when I was small with me and Ollie.  My younger sister had Ollie passed down to her.  We fought over Ollie.  I don't think kids have that same feeling with toys anymore.  Now kids have all of these motorized toys and the newest thing that kids want changes weekly - and here I am 35 years later desperately wanting an Ollie for my child.

So, here is a plea to all of my bloggy friends... if you happen to see an Ollie somewhere - not the rocker Ollie, but the one with wheels, and you can get your hands on it, please let me know.  I so desperately want one.  I bet there are hundreds of them stashed away in basements somewhere with people thinking that no one would want them... well, this mamma does.  I won't pay a fortune for one, but I would pay a reasonable price to get one.  So many memories are held in that little toy!

So, what can I start looking for you, my bloggy friend?  What toy might I have stashed away that you might want for your child but can't find?  They don't make them like they used to, that is for sure.....

If you find an Ollie, please comment... I'd be forever grateful!!

In Christ,
Charity

Have you heard????

Yesterday I was sitting at the computer, catching up on some e-mails and I came across one from my agency.  It said that CHINA IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SINGLE WOMEN FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN!!!

I was so thrilled!  Obviously, I'm not a single woman anymore, but when I adopted Anna, I was.  China had a very limited number of adoptions that they would allow to be processed for single parents.  Somehow, by the pure work of God, I managed to be one of them!  It was not too long after I got home that the doors closed to single parent adoptions in China.  God got me in and got me out.  God led me to the right agency - because had my wait been much longer, Anna would not have come home to me.  God was just written all over that adoption. 

Having somewhat of a disability myself, I am not in a position to adopt a special needs child.  We struggle sometimes right now with all of the running around we have to do with regard to Dr.'s appts for three kids, school activities, sick days... things like that.  Since I am not able to drive, all that is left in Tim's hands.  It becomes difficult.  I don't feel that Tim and I would be able to knowingly commit to the requirements of a special needs child - but we do know full well that at any point in time, something could happen to any one of our children, and we would have to be there to take care of them.  Not an issue - not even a question.  We just couldn't make that choice to do it.  Not with my situation.

That being said, I have always had a heart for special needs children.  Having a sister who has special needs probably placed that in my heart.  My mom said that I was very aware of it since the time I was small.  I would defend my sister and not allow people to "stare" at her, or make her feel "different".  To me, she was not different, she was my sister. 

I strongly feel as though I was led to write about this today... that it would stir something in someone's heart.  I can't adopt a special needs child, but I can advocate for their care!  There are children in all countries, not just China, that are dying to be welcomed into a family.  They are the "less desirable" because of their special needs, but they are the greatest in need of our love and the love of a family.  I don't know much about a lot of the special needs, but I know families who have managed cleft lip / palate, albanism, club hand/foot, burns, deaf, blind even medical status such as HIV positive... it can all be managed.  And there is a CHILD behind that special need.  Some people look at the special need and forget the child... for each SPECIAL NEEDS child, there is a special needs CHILD!!!

If you have ever had the desire to adopt a special needs child.. if you ever had that tugging at your heart but just tucked the idea away.. maybe now is the time to pray and ask God to lead you in HIS direction.  Maybe now is your time, and maybe now YOUR child is waiting!  Maybe your child is in CHINA!

If you want a recommendation for a great agency, give me a shout and I'll give you a name!

In Christ,
Charity

"Fingerprints" and "Footprints"

Before I write about my "fingerprints and footprints", I want to say thank you to Michelle.  I don't know Michelle and I have no way of getting in contact with her, other than this blog.  Michelle visited my blog and left me a comment the other day.  Michelle - your comment really touched me.  You are the reason I want to write.  You are the reason I want to share about ADHD.  Young ladies like you who have overcome!  Young children who are struggling to overcome.  Young ladies who are destined to success due to their sheer determination.  I will continue to write for people like you.  I'd also love to hear more about your story.  We can be an encouragement to one another, and others can learn the truth of ADHD.

Now, onto my fingerprints and footprints...the other day I went up into Cameron's room.  Ugghh, it was a mess.  Clothes all over the floor.  Bed not made.  Footprint. 

I went to Anna's room.  Much the same.  Her bed was made, but her room was a mess.  Footprint.  I walk past the office, and it's a mess with Anna's clutter.  Footprint. 

In the den there are little pieces of junk (leggos, stylus from the DS, minature DS games) inbetween the cushions of the couch.  Fingerprints. 

And Sara, she is not immune because she is so small.  Oh no!  I walk into the bedroom, barefooted of course, and step on one of her small legos!  Fingerprint. 

I clean the kitchen from breakfast, only to walk in there and find "stuff" - glasses out on the counter, wrappers from something on the butcher block...fingerprints.  Laundry - just when I think I'm done, Cameron tells me he didn't empty his PE bag so I need to wash his PE clothes.  Or, better yet, since he changed at school and threw his clothes in the car and didn't bring them into the house when we got home, I need to get those out and wash those too... footprints. 

There is a wasp in the hallway that was killed with a book and then just left (under the book)...fingerprints.

I was very frustrated recently with all these little "fingerprints and footprints" around the house.  I wanted to walk into a room and have it be clean.  I wanted to clean something and have it remain clean for more than 5 minutes.  What would that be like?  I cleaned up the "fingerprints and footprints", knowing that they would be back. 

Then I remembered the days before kids.  I remembered what that would be like.  Before the days of fingerprints and footprints.  I remember the days when I would get dressed for work and wouldn't end up with spit up on my shoulder or jelly fingerprints at about knee level on my pants.  I remember having time to get myself ready for work, have a leasurely breakfast and get only myself out the door.  I remember sitting at the dinner table and not having sticky spots on the table or crumbs all over the floor from messy little ones.  I remember being able to eat a meal and not have mine get cold because I'm busy feeding a little one, or getting a drink for someone, or reminding someone that they need to eat their veggies.  Days of not assisting with 6th grade homework or projects.  Days of not having to help with money addition and coin recognition.  Days of not having to try to teach a little one the difference between her elbow and her eye.  I remember not having to bathe anyone but myself....

It sounds like I had it made when I didn't have little ones... but I didn't! 

The days of me caring about sticky fingerprints at knee level are over.  When I'm at work and I notice the little bit of food on my shoulder because Sara wiped her face on my shoulder on the way into the bathroom to wash her face, I smile.  It reminds me of the blessing I have in that little girl.

When I walk into the kitchen and find milk left out on the counter for hours and it's starting to stink - I sigh smile happy that I have the wonderful children that I do... and at least they are drinking milk!

I've learned that the fingerprints and footprints of life do not matter.  A spotless house is not the be all and end all.  So what if I have a little bit of something on my clothes?  What matters are the fingerprints and footprints that my kids are leaving on my heart.  The crud in my hair because little hands hugged me while they still had peanut butter on their hands... sure, it's a hassle, but those little hugs are fingerprints on my heart.. things that I will remember forever.  When my kids are sick.. sure it's a hassle and I get sick of wiping snotty noses and forcing medicine down throats - but the joy that comes in snuggling up with a sick child to make them feel better... they are the footprints on my soul. 

I don't know what you get to take with you when you leave this earth.  I know it is not physical things, I know it is not money or status... but somehow, I hope I take the fingerprints and footprints that have been left on my soul by my precious family with me. 

I need to remember that the next time I step on a lego!!!

In Christ,
Charity

Oh what a month it has been....

I have a hard time believing that the last time I wrote was nearly a month ago.  It has been quite the month!  It's been a month full of sickness.

After Christmas, my sister became very ill.  My sister lives in Connecticut.  My mom and Denis ended up going up there and staying for two weeks while my sister was in the hospital.  She had a VERY bad case of pneumonia and ended up on a ventilator and everything.  It was pretty scary there for awhile.  She is slowly but surely getting better.  She is back home now, and having rehabilitation services at her home.  I'm so very thankful that she is doing better and is back home.

Then illness struck our house and it hasn't quite left yet.  I was sick two weeks ago with the flu.  It has been going around work, and somehow, I managed to get it.  I had type A and was miserable for about a week and 1/2 with it.  I had not yet even started feeling better, when last weekend Sara and Anna both woke up with fevers.  Of course it was a Saturday, so we took them both to the walk in urgent care.... I had been there earlier in the week.  The same nurse that helped me was helping my girls.  She said...didn't I already see you this week.  Yep - sure did.  Now I was there for my two little ones.  She swabbed them for the flu and when she came back she said "You are not going to believe this... one has A and the other has B".  Sara had A, which I'm assuming she got from me.  Anna had B, which I'm guessing she got from school.  So with A and B both running around our house, I could get sick again with B, Anna could give B to Sara and Sara could give A to Anna!  I figure we will be sick for about the next six weeks!  Fortunately Tim and Cameron have managed to not get sick thus far!

So, I'm home with the kiddos today.  Tim and I are taking alternate days staying home with them, and today is my day.  He was home with them yesterday.  It has been kind of stressful trying to meet the responsibilities of both  home and work, but we are managing.  We somehow always find a way to make it work!  I'm just hoping the kids will be better soon.  Anna seems to be recovering quicker.  Sara spiked a fever again yesterday, so something is still brewing in her.  Hopefully they will be able to take the next few days and recover and be back to school and childcare on Monday.

I have some new pictures to share, just no time to upload them right now... maybe this weekend.

Next time, there will be much less time between posts!

In Christ,
Charity

I am my daughter's "celebrity"

Here I go.... be prepared, because this one will be long.  It has been brewing in me for a long time.  Truthfully, at times, I have found myself afraid to share what I have to say.  I am afraid no more.  I will stand for what I believe in and I will stand for what is true.  I will stand for my daughter and I will stand for my family.  I will stand for children - brilliant children who need a chance.  I will stand for parents who should not be ashamed.  I will stand straight in church, not wondering what others think, becuase I will know I have done right by my daughter and by God.  I will stand. 

I've hesitated writing this also because I have found myself angry at times.  It's never good to write when you are angry.  So, I decided to wait until my thoughts were gathered in a clear fashion and my anger had somewhat subsided.  And it has... so now I write.

If you are a reader of my blog, you know that my daughter Anna was diagnosed with ADHD last year.  It was a very difficult time for our family and we struggled to even consider the possibility of my perfect little girl having something wrong with her.  We worked for three long years prior to her diagnosis though, with the symptoms of the condition we were trying to ignore.  We could ignore it no more.  It was doing a diservice to my daughter.  Her diagnosis was swift.  She is classic ADHD - no question.  Tears filled my eyes when the doctor told us that... for two reasons actually.  Some tears were tears of relief, because we had an answer.  Some tears were tears of fear for the judgement that was to come to Tim and I, and to Anna.

Anna is a great kid.  She will give you the coat off of her back in freezing cold weather, because she is kind.  When most kids want to keep the last piece of candy for themselves, just ask her and she will give you hers.  And if you don't have a piece of candy - you don't even have to ask... she'll give you hers.  Yesterday Tim and Anna took a ride to the bank.  They were having some celebration there and they had snacks to give away.  Anna came home with hers unopened and she brought home one for Cameron as well.  She didn't have to do that.  Many kids would not.  Anna did.  (She did say that Cameron and Sara would have to share - but at least she thought of them).  She is pretty much a joyful kid too... always a smile on her face... not many complaints.  Along with that though, came Anna's struggles.  Behavior issues, problems paying attention in class, being somewhat impulsive, being generally "distracted".  She is a very smart child, but her grades were not reflecting that. 

When we took Anna to the doctor, it was clear to him that she had ADHD.  We started her on medication and things got better nearly instantly.  I found myself hiding this fact from most people though, and I asked myself why.  Why would I hide this???? So many people could learn from it.  I'm not a doctor, but I could share MY experience, which could help someone find the courage to go to a doctor and see if this was the answer for their child who was struggling.  But I hid it.  I hid it because there is SO much attached to ADHD.  In the Christian community, many people do not believe that ADHD is a medical issue.  ADHD is a "heart issue".  I disagree.  If I am wrong, I will stand before God, when it is my turn, and tell Him that I truly felt this was the right thing for me to do.  I truly felt that I had exhausted ALL other options with my little girl.  I truly felt as though this was what I needed to do to parent her appropriately.  If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.  But God will know my heart and the measures we took to make sure that this was not a heart, but truly a medical issue.  And to the Christian community who would discourage people from seeing this resolution, I would caution them.  Until you have lived with a child with ADHD, you can not fully understand the consequences and harm you are doing to a child with ADHD if you let them go untreated. 

ADHD brings a feeling of shame and guilt to the parents.  There is so much attached to the diagnosis.  There are people looking at you thinking you are lazy and just want to medicate your child instead of raising them or disciplining them.  Trust me when I say, I'm not that parent.  After three years of trying (I think that would tell you that I'm not a lazy parent), seeking medical help was our last resort.  Also, just becuase you have a diagnosis, it doesn't make it any easier.  The medication doesn't alway work right away.  You have to find the right one by trial and error. And then when you find that PERFECT one, it may only be perfect for awhile.  It was perfect for Anna for eight months... we are now in the process of finding a new perfect.  If it's lazy to commit to picking up a prescription from the doctor every single month, then we are lazy (you can only get a one month prescription - not more).  If committing to going to the doctor at least every six months for a re-check is lazy, then we are lazy.  If going to the doctor three times in the last six weeks is lazy, then we are lazy.  If remembering every morning to give Anna her medication is lazy, then I'm lazy.  If being in constant contact with her teachers is lazy, then I'm lazy.  Trust me, a medical diagnosis of ADHD didn't mean I didn't have to work with her less.  I have to work with her MORE!!!!  I still have to discipline.  I still have to correct!!  I still have to teach!!!  I have to find new ways to do it that work for her.  And on top of that, I have to deal with all of the medical side of it.  And here's the thing - I wouldn't change it for the world!!!

I have asked myself why God gave this to Anna and why it is in our life.  I truly believe it is for a reason.  I dive into things when they happen in my life.  I can tell you more about RP (my eye condition) than most medical doctors.  (not the specialists for sure, but the general doctors - yeah, I probably know more).  I have learned so much about ADHD it isn't even funny.  Also, I began to wonder something - with how prevalent ADHD is... how come it is not talked about more?  And I mean in a positive way... not in a "bashing the parents, child or medication way"?

Why is there no celebrity endorser for some ADHD medication or for the condition?  Think about it:

Parkinson's Disease has Michael J. Fox
MS has Ozzy Osbourne (not the best example, but people know him)
Breast Cancer has Christina Applegate
Osteoporosis has Sally Field
Digestive Health - Jamie Lee Curtis  (seriously, isn't ADHD more important than being regular???)

I did some reasearch and found that there are several celebrities WITH ADD / ADHD.  I was pleased to find them.  You may find that strange, but they are successful, and I live for examples of people being successful with a condition such as my daughter's.  Did you know that Ty Pennington of Extreme Makeover Home Edition struggled with ADHD from the time he was a child?  Howe Mandel - ADHD.  Michael Phelps - ADHD.  When talking to Anna's doctor, I asked what this would mean for Anna's future.  Do you know what he told me?

He told me that patients with ADHD are typically high achievers.  They are some of the brightest children in the class.  They will never be accountants.  Anna will never be allowed to be an astronaut - fine with me, I don't want to send my kid to space anyway... it's too far away!  But did you also know that a very high percentage of Doctors and Lawyers are ADHD?  I'm good with Anna being a doctor or a lawyer.  Architects have a high percentage of ADHD.  This doesn't mean that Anna will be any one of these things... but it means that she CAN BE.

So, since no one has stepped up to the plate and said that they will be the "celebrity" for ADHD, I'd like to introduce myself to the world.  My name is Charity Roach.  I'm Anna's mom.  That makes me a celebrity to her.  I am a mother.  I am a wife.  I'm a working mom with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry.  I am a QA/Validation manager for a large pharmaceutical company.  I am legally blind.  I love to grow unique flowers.  I love my family.  I'm the new face of ADHD.  You won't see me on television, you won't hear me on the radio, I haven't written any books - but maybe I will someday.  But what I am is an advocate for parents and children with ADHD.  I'm the one who is going to ask you not to just write them off as "bad kids who can't learn".  They are smart kids who want to learn but have something that is stopping them!

I'm going to start sharing more about our trials and triumphs with Anna and ADHD - because in order to ask others to not be ashamed... I need to show that I am not ashamed.  If you don't believe in ADHD you might want to stop reading my blog.  If you think God doesn't want my daughter on medication, then you should surely stop reading my blog.  Because I am going to share it all.  Not because I want to share such a personal part of my daughter's life, but because maybe someone will see their child in my struggles and will know they are not alone.

In Christ,
Charity

PS - the pictures are from the recent snow storm in SC that gave me three extra days home with my children, the kids not wanting to get out of bed on their snow day and poor Sara - feeling sick from her immunizations.