Finding out about Taiwan

This year after our time in China, a smaller Superkids team continued to Taiwan.  We visited our orphanage partners in Taiwan.  I love going there.  This is my second trip to Taiwan.  I went once before and now we hope to do a big trip there in the next year.  I wanted to share some observations.

Visiting the orphanages was an experience.  The orphanages are spotless and care is good.  There are an abundance of Social workers to hep these children.  There interest is so positive for the children. They try to address the issues of self esteem and  work hard with the children.  They were open to help placing their boys. Many of the children get PT, OT and developmental therapy.  Just to know they run all types of tests for ADHD and everything under the sun.  The files are current with a lot of info.    

Many of the children have less medical need.  This again is just my observation. The children are in care due to  neglect and may have complex social history.  These are mostly healthy boys.  I was happy to meet the two brothers on the Asia waiting child blog today.  I will post the link below.

Taiwan is an easier trip than China.  Quite a bit of English is spoken.  But Hotter than hot. Humid too! I could not live there because I would melt.  There is no need for VPN in Taiwan.  I love the food in China and Taiwan.  Taiwan has more seafood based cuisine.  I had wonderful pumpkin noodles and an amazing shrimp dish there. This all may not be the norm but it was what I
 observed on my trip.  The last time I went it was in November and it was still hot!!!

If you want to adopt a waiting child,  Taiwan is an option too.

So on to the brothers.   I loved these two so much I could have taken them home myself.  Cuter than cute.  Anyone who would consider adopting brothers should go over and read about them.  You would be in for a whole lot of Joy!!!!

http://asiawaitingchild.wordpress.com/2014/09/26/taiwan-brothers/ 

Sugar Sweet

These two beauties are sweeter than sugar.  The both have sweet smiles,  sweet laughs,  Sweet hugs and are just so much fun!  What else do they have in common?  An extra chromosome.  Both these beauties have Downs Syndrome.  That means they have either a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.  I don't know but suspect its the sweetness chromosome because these two have extra extra in this category.

There are other things associated with this extra chromosome like,  heart defects, hypotonia,    gastrointestinal and endocrine issues.  There are some others as well.  If you don't know anything about Down's syndrome,  learn a little about it.  There is a facebook advocacy group. here is one of many resources.  http://www.ndss.org/ >  If you learn more about Downs syndrome,  you might just see yourself parenting a child with Down's.  You could live a life filled with joy sweetness and fun as well.

Just a little about these two girls.  Charlotte goes to the village school with the kiddos from the SWI.  She is beautiful and loves a good game of balloon chase.  She loved the Ipad too. Hair bows are also one of her musts.  She is cuter than cute.  We loved Charlotte.  Last year even our bus driver was taken by this sweetie and played balloon chase for almost one hour.

Amelia is a sweetie but baby.  She is happy, cooperative and likes to toys.  She gets what you want her to do and cooperates. She likes the ball and can pull up.  She likes to scoot on her bottom to get around.  This leaves her hands free for toys.  She is such a sweetie.  We have seen her twice, so we have pics from when she was just about a year old.  Amelia was found just outside the gates to the SWI.  She was left in a good place to be found immediately.  So this girl is just waiting for someone to love her.

So if you haven't parented a child with Downs,  learn more about it.  These girls could bring so much joy to your family.  That is not to say its easy.  Parenting any child is a long difficult and exhausting. But its so so worth it.


If you would like more information about either of these two girls please contact,  Patriciamarcuspt@gmail.com

Advocacy is an Amazing Tool

We have been thinking a lot about Special needs and what needs families are open to.  In many respects special needs are what draw you to a child in the beginning.  Special need is what you can search for a child with.  That along with age and gender.  It continues to amaze us that being a boy is a special need.  In China adoption boys make up at least 75% of the shared list.

There has been much talk on advocacy groups about why this is. Do boys just wait longer?  Are they being abandoned more than girls?  Are girls picked first and boys wait and wait?  The reason we do not have the answers to these questions is there is not documentation of how many children are abandoned each year.  How many boys and how many girls, where, when and ages.  We just do not know.  All this is food for thought.  Lets make a concerted effort to advocate on behalf of these wonderful boys.  They could be your sons.  They can grow up to be amazing young men.

We love our boy as well as our girls!  Girls are cool, Boys rock!!!  Adoption is just an amazing way to add to a family!!!!  These are our beautiful boys,  Help outreach and advocate for them!!!

Adam

Aiden

Ace

Ashton

Scotty

Charlie

Andy

If you think one of these amazing boys could be your son, contact us at  patriciamarcuspt@gmail.com

A Superkids Event- Honoring Martha Osborne

We are having a wonderful event on Nov 7th 2014.  It will be our pleasure to honor our friend, colleague and the most important adoption advocate in the world,  Martha Osborne.  She changed the adoption world with her rainbow kids website.  We are celebrating National Adoption Month with this special event.  The register now link is in the upper right on this blog.  So join us we would love to see you there. 

Rules for an Adoption Trip

A very dear friend Ruthi who has adopted a Superkid was talking recently about the rules for an adoption trip.  She should know this is her family.  I always find her inspiring.  So I though with her permission I would share this with you.  Thank you Ruthi for being such and amazing Mom and wonderful person.

Rule number 1-  You get the child-  well that is the purpose.  Does it matter if the hotel is not perfect, the train is late, its hot?  No it does not because you still come home with your child.  You get where you should be at the appointed time and its all good because you get the child!!!!!!! Remember how lucky are you because you get the child.

Rule number 2- No one gets sick.  Yes this is important.  You are away from regular medical care and everything familiar.  Don't drink the water.  Don't brush your teeth with the water.  Don't eat things that you know may make you sick  Be vigilant about hand sanitizer and hand washing.  Pack travel medications with you and be sensible.  Bring vitamins and snack bars as well.

Rule number 3- Try to see something in China. Remember this is your child's culture.  See something to get a feel for the people.  At the same time this is not a sightseeing trip.  Have plenty of bonding time.

So what is a successful adoption trip?  GET THE CHILD!!!!  All else is negotiable but following rule two and three help.

SO what did we not say.......  don't try to teach you child a new skill while in China.  Work on having a great interaction and getting to know this special new human being who is your child. Hold their hand, let them get to know you.  Go slowly and build trust.  So for those of you who have upcoming travel think about these things.  I remember this when soon to travel parents ask me about the trip.  Its China,  Its different but in general guides and even just people are happy to help!!!  I have had my suitcases carried, strangers help me with directions and all sorts of issues from exchanging money to buying candy.  So think about how wonderful it will be to home with your child.  Just get through the trip.

Hope this is helpful!  Thanks again to Ruthi.  Adoptive parents rock!!!!

Adoption Rocks Part 2

Well here we are!  Part two of all the matches since our last trip.  We are so so happy for our sweeties.  They have Mom's and Dad's and families!!!!

Ding Ding Ding Ding!!!!!

We have found our families!!!

Adoption Rocks!!!

Ding Ding Ding Ding!!!!

We all have families!  At the end of Summer we are looking back on just the past few weeks.  We have even more matches to announce.  Look for part two on Labor day Monday But now rejoice with us for our special kiddos who now have Mom's Dad's and Families who love them and now wait for them.  Waiting children no more.  They are sons and daughters.

ADOPTION ROCKS!!!!!!!!