Wednesday, January 25, 2012

If you are new

I have some new readers, so I would like to say welcome!  If you are new to our blog, please take a look around.  I have three children - one who is severly vision impaired and who is losing her vision.  We have a foundation that raises money for research for her eye disorder - the RDH12 Fund for Sight.  You can click on the link on the left to go and visit our site and learn more about Lebers Congenital Amaurosis.  Her name is Finley and she is 5 years old.  She is sweet, crazy, and what most of this blog is about.  We found out about her diagnosis when she was 3.

We have a little boy who we adopted when he was 14 months old from China.  He had cleft lip and palate and has had 9 surgeries since he came home from China.  He is a sweet, easy going boy, and we are so lucky to have him as part of our family.  His name is Cainan and he is only 33 days older than our youngest child, Finley.  Having virtual twins that we weren't expecting has made life interesting, but we wouldn't trade it for anything.

Our eldest, and the queen bee is Arlington.  She is about to turn 9 years old and is in 3rd grade.  I can honestly say I wouldn't know what I would do without such a wonderful first born.  She is sweet, outgoing, and loves with all of her heart.  She is an amazing kid.

Mat, my hubby is a geneticist with Pfizer.  He is the Director of Orphan Diseases there.  This works out great professionally, and personally because Lebers Congenital Amaurosis is classified as an "orphan disease".  He has met so many people through his contacts through work to get the word out about Lebers and Finley's particular type.  He is an amazing dad and husband, and we are a team. 

I am staying at home.  This is new for me this year.  I am a registered nurse, but this year afforded me to stay home and focus more on Finley's needs and get the kids settled in our new house, new state, and new schools.  I love being a nurse, but I am enjoying staying at home as well.  I am having a chance to volunteer in the kid's schools and classes which I have not been able to do before.  I am going to be subbing as a school nurse but other than that - I am taking care of the family.

So - that is us in a very small nutshell.  Feel free to say hello and come back!  I take a lot of pictures, and love sharing about our foundation, and Lebers so that more can be known about it.  And thanks for stopping by!

6 comments:

Becky said...

Thanks for stopping by my measly little blog. You family sounds so awesome! We wanted to try again for a boy, but our littlest one was the one that broke the camels back, I just couldn't do it again. She is such a wonderful handful; I know that I could not give her the attention that she needs with another baby. I LOVE that you have adopted, that has been a dream of mine for so long. Maybe I will get to be the grandma of one. Hope that you have a great day!

My Daily Jenn-ism said...

Thank you for visiting me & now I will be visiting with you :) Love your blog so far - many blessings for you all. Keep fighting & never ever give up - no such thing as I can't! :)

jschro said...

Thanks for checking out my blog! It has given me new blogs to look at, and yours is very interesting! Not having kids myself, parents and what they go through every day are pretty amazing to me. I'm just at the point where my friends are starting to have babies, so I'm learning from them what a joy (and a struggle!) having your own kids can be. Your family is beautiful! I'll be sure to check back often.

MoreThanMommy said...

Wow, you certainly have a lot on your plate, but you seem to handle it with a lot of grace. Impressive :) Thanks for stopping by...I'm still getting my blog feet...er hands I guess...under me!

Jen Giroux said...

Jennifer, thanks for going to my website and allowing me to join yours! You have a beautiful family and I am happy to meet another family who pushes through it all and sees the joy in life, despite its challenges. And I love the fact that you have a Willa Cather quote on your blog too!

Do you mind if I list your blog to my blogroll?

And how about that Jen? I love "Punch in the Throat": it gives me such a good laugh!

Jessica said...

Thanks for commenting on my blog. I love to hear from new readers! You have a beautiful family!!! Prayers for your youngest, she is adorable. I also loved that you adopted, we are considering doing the same :) I will be reading...