Wednesday, May 30, 2007

FUNDRAISING UPDATE !

Couldn't help resist to post these 2 pics I took of Raeghan tonight ! She had me put her entire head of hair up in hair bands and then she posed for me ! I know parents think their children are beautiful ! But there are times, expecially recently with her being so sick that I look at my children and think they are so beautiful and thank the Lord over and over again for letting me be the lucky one to be their mother, whether they are bio or adopted. I am so blessed.
Here is the updates on all the fundraising:
Pampered Chef and Tastefully Simple, and Creative Memories, thanks to Cynthia doing this for me while we in the hospital. If you order from either I receive a % of the profits from now til end of June !
Ebay is done for now, when get time will add some more items. I learned alot about ebaying items, it is hard work and sometimes doesn't profit as well as you think it ought too. And it was so horrid it ended while we in the hospital and had no way of telling anyone, so hope I don't get too many bad comments from buyers. All items were mailed 5-29-07.
Magazine sales !!!!! Yah, thank the Lord ! Got a nice check from them today in the mail ! Want to thank all so much who bought or renewed their subscriptions and please ask everyone to keep looking, it is still going on and it helps BRING RACHAEL HOME !
Yardsale : scheduled for month of June ! Still collecting items from anyone locally here in Central Arkansas area.
Car wash : hoping to do one this month, got to call the place !
Popcorn fundraiser started today !!! Sales going good ! Doing this locally due to if I did it long distance, my profit would be eaten in shipping it to you ! But if anyone wanted to do it where they live for me, let me know ! Cynthia is in Washington and is doing one for me !
Paypal donations !!!! Was so excited to receive a total of $30 from people in direct donations ! Any little donation helps ! Thanks so much !
I spoke tonight with my good friend, Ohilda. Here blog is under my favorites, she is adopting little Anna Grace. She is so so darling ! She is waiting for her TA- hoping for tomorrow and she is my rock sometimes when I need someone to help me through the hard times of this adoption ! Again, I must remember to put all my trust and faith in the Lord, to continue doing as I am doing, working and fundraising all the time and he will provide ! HE ALWAYS PROVIDES !
Thanks for reading, Charlotte

Happy Gotcha Day to Daniel !

I wanted to shout out to Daniel and family:

HAPPY 1ST GOTCHA DAY ANNIVERSARY !!! ( 5-29-07 )

I was so very fortunate and so greatful to still be such good friends with Daniel's mom, Cynthia and his wonderful family !

We met last year in GZ, we both stayed at the Victory. We both had boys around the same age and we seemed to form our own little travel groups with several other families there adopting special needs children !

We spent many fun moments together in GZ !

Thanks for all your help with my blog and for helping me so much with my fundraising !!!!

Love you, Charlotte

Memorial Day pictures !

Happy Memorial Day to all !
The steps have always been the best place for posing. Raeghan loves to pose ! She is over her pneumonia, still coughs alot.

Riley's always got a smile for the camera !

Raeghan and Riley love to be cheesey !


They love to ham around !



We went to Aunt Trish's for a picnic. Raeghan sure does the love the brownies her big sister, Rebekka made !




Raeghan cuddling with Rebekka after a swim !





Cousins Lexi and Shelbie enjoying the pool with Raeghan !






Riley loves every opportunity he gets to spend with Uncle Jeff. Kind of a male bonding thing for them. I think Jeff enjoys it more ! Riley is wearing Jeff's hat and watch !







Riley at home exhausted ! Note again, the dog is never far from Riley !
PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP BRING RACHAEL HOME !
Charlotte








Saturday, May 26, 2007

Got Shades ?

Raeghan is feeling better ! She has been fever free since Wednesday ! She is still coughing some, taking her antibiotics still and is still recovering ! She went with Grandma to Wal-mart yesterday and they got new shades for the summer for herself and Riley ! Here she is modeling hers !
This is Riley ! What a ham ! He prefers to wear his upside down !

Raeghan sporting Riley's shades too !


Cousin Shelbie with friend Deborah and Big sister, Rebekka sporting their shades at the pool at Rebekka's bachelorette party put on by friends !



Shelbie and friend, Heather sporting their green shades. Heather also happens to be Riley's " girlfriend" !
Please take time to check out the new fundraisers added to the left: Pampered Chef and Tastefully Simple !
Please HELP BRING RACHAEL HOME !!
Charlotte





Thursday, May 24, 2007

Pictures of Raeghan at Arkansas Children's Hospital !

Raeghan in the room, playing with all her balloons ready to go home ! Raeghan was admitted on May 15th, 2007 til May 23rd, 2007 at the Arkansas Children's Hospital on 4 Med under the wonderful care of Dr. Matt Jaeger, Dr. Yancy Craft and Dr. Lee. She was admitted with pneumonia, started on 2 different antibiotics, was placed on oxygen and pulseox monitoring the first night admitted and was found to have a pleural effusion ( fluid next to the chest wall ) the following am (5/16/07 ) where we had a chest tube placed by the radiologist and it drained for 5 days while having chest xrays daily and medicine flushed into the drainage to help thin the drainage. It was found to be step. pneumonia and one antibiotic was stopped. She continued to SLOWLY get better and was having 1-2 fevers a day still on the drugs. They called in the Infectious Disease MD's for all evaluation, and she was placed back on a second antibiotic. Thankfully only twice did she need a new IV, and the day after the 2nd once went back we went home on yet a different antibiotic. Went home 5-23-07 ! We can't thank the staff at ACH so much for everything. The nursing staff on 4 Med are the bomb ! We love you Lisa, Ashley, Julie, Carol, Jessica, Charity, Chris, Shelia, Linda, Brandi, Angie, David and anyone else we forgot ! All the radiology staff, and respiratory staff, the STAT team members and the housekeepers !!
Raeghan is free of all tubes and now smiling again ! Note the bandage on the left hand, that is only added by her to keep a bandaid from falling off !

Raeghan with her favorite nurse Lisa ! Sorry Lisa, told you I was going to add it to the blog, you are warned ! You made my stay so manageable and you held my hand so many times ! Love you always, will send you some pics of the girl !


Raeghan and Brandi, the PCT are turning on the pulseox machine together to a check on Raeghan's O2 levels.



Raeghan only let me the entire time take her temperature and blood pressure. As she got well, we had to take the tip off the thermometer and place it back in the machine and when doing her BP, she always gave me her "Best leg" and then had to take the cuff off everytime. You could see little Ms. Independent come back as she got well. What a blessing it was !




Raeghan showing off her wound site ! No more chest tube ! Yah !!





Raeghan in bed with all her new toys ! Thanks so much to all of you who called, visited, sent presents and delivered food ! Eating in the hospital can be expensive ! Even her classmates at daycare sent her a card and her teacher, Ms. Ashley came to see her !





Raeghan finally feeling better, had a teacher at ACH, Ms. Vicki come see her and they played with her favorite, Play Dough ! Note Raeghan's hair to the side sticking up, that is not a pony tail ! It really is her hair sticking up on it's own ! The entire back of her head was one big tangle ! She hadn't had a bath in 2 weeks, and had sweat and medicine in her hair ! She got to go no Wednesday to Ms. Vicki's classroom to play for a little too !







Raeghan with one of her favorite doctor's, Dr. Matt Jaeger. We found out yesterday too, that he is Catholic like us ! When Raeghan was so sick the first few days, we contacted our church and they got a local priest come and he gave her the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick !








Raeghan in the red wagon, you can see the chest drainage box in front of her, the fluid collects in the columns on the right, and drains to the left. Her total drainage was around 1500cc out. In the room, the box is hooked to suction, it bubbles all the time and slowly pulls the fluid in her chest into the box through a small drain in her called a Pig Tail ! On the weekend the radiologist, Dr. Moore who came to see us, recognized us from church, another Catholic and she was pregnant with her 2nd son !









This is the entire set up that she had attached to her ! Chest tube, oxygen, IV fluids and pulseox machine ! They said she needed to sit up more and get out of the room, so on this day she was kind of forced by me to go for a ride. She liked getting out of the room eventually. The tube hurt her often !










Slowly one day at a time she's eat a little, here she is with some sherbert. Amazing what you can do one handed, she even pulled the lid off by herself ! Note her tattoo on her arm, by the end of the stay she had one on her forehead, one on her arm, one on her leg. If you walked near her, she tattooeed you too ! Thanks Barb for tattoos !











This was the first time she sat up ! Sissy offered to do her makeup and she was excited !












Grandma was so happy to see her girl, here they are reading a book about pandas ! Grandma was so worried about her girl ! She visited us every day and called ! Riley got to visit every other day, and Rebekka came almost every day and stayed several nights. Shelbie, big cousin stayed one night too ! We had lots of people praying for Raeghan !













Finally a picture of me and Raeghan with her "Big Silly Green JellyBean " doing her breathing exercises ! This is to help her lungs to work better by blowing, it all also makes her cough, they want her to do this ! It is amazing how the staff here at ACH gets to the kid's levels !!!
Will never forget Dr. Jaeger squatting on the floor to peek around the corner of her bed to make her smile, or silly Dave the night nurse, wearing a pull up on his head !
I am glad to be home and so greatful Raeghan is recovery !
Please continue to pray for Raeghan and PLEASE HELP BRING RACHAEL HOME !
The LOI is sent for her, and we are eager to add the final peanut to the family !
God bless, Charlotte

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

WE ARE HOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is with much excitement to say : WE ARE HOME !!!!!

We saw the infection control MD's today again, no fever all day. Did have two yesterday but with the IV out there really was no reason to stay there, I can do meds for her all by mouth now !

It is so wonderful to be home, Riley and Raeghan hugged each other so much. Riley said, " Raeghan's awake ! " Yes, she is awake, still will be home at least til next week with me, mom and my niece. She is still week ! Before we went in she weighed 28 # and now is down to #25 ! She looks thin in the face.

She finally said she was ready to come home, all the time in the hospital she kept saying she wanted to stay because of the paw prints, they are on the floor in the rooms and in the hallways and she liked them ! I took a picture of one to show you !

Will tell the entire story over the next few days and add some pics of her as she was healing. She was a very, very, sick little girl and I was so worried. I thank the Lord, and the wonderful MD's and nurses of 4 Med. at Arkansas Children's Hospital for her recovery. Her chest xrays still look a little bad, but are getting better all the time, and in the words of Dr. Jaeger and Dr. Craft, " she is clinically improving ". This means she is looking and acting good !

Wait til you see what 8 days in the bed does to your hair !

Special thanks to Cynthia for updating my blog and keeping ya'll informed ! Good job my China traveling to be friend ! LOL

Charlotte

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Update on Rachael...

Can you hear the angels singing?

LOI (letter of intent) went to China today...which means...

6-8 weeks for PA (pre-approval).

Please pray that China grants PA and G*d provides the needed resources.


Please take a look at the fundraisers to the right. I'm still adding new ones.

Thanks to everyone who has kept us in your thoughts and prayers.

Update on Raeghan

Trumpets please...

Chest tube is out.
IV is out, doing oral antibiotics instead.
Pulse Ox is discontinued.

Fever this morning, that's why she's still in the hospital today and hoping to go home tomorrow.

Chest x-ray was done, everything looks good. No changes.

Charlotte will take over the blog again when she gets home...

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Cynthia once again

Talking to Charlotte now.

Raeghan has been fever free for 10 hours, she is now off oxygen, and eating a little more here and there.

She has also started an additional antibiotic to address the random fevers, and fluid draining from her lungs.

They anticipate Raeghan starting physical therapy tomorrow because she hasn't walked for 10 days. The doctors want her to sit up more so Charlotte took her for a wagon ride today.

Charlotte says she's starting to act more like her old self again.

Prayers still much appreciated!

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Cynthia Again

Now that I've posted what Charlotte asked me to. I'm going to make an appeal on her behalf myself. Charlotte I hope you don't get mad at me for this...

As an adoptive mom myself I know the work required to bring our children home. It can be a stressful process when things go smoothly. Dealing with the unexpected and frightening experience of your child's health crisis makes it even more so.

Let's all pull together during this uenxpected crises to help bring Rachael home as quickly as possible.

Please check the fundraising links on the right side of the blog, as well as the direct donation option through paypal, as with any fundraising effort nothing is too small. Also, please check back as I'm in the process of helping Charlotte add new fundraising opportunities through Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, and Creative Memories.

As Charlotte would say: "PLEASE Help Bring Rachael HOME"

Update on Raeghan

This is Charlotte's friend Cynthia updating for her. Raeghan is still in the hospital with a chest tube. Charlotte has no online access to communicate.



Raeghan is on continuous oxygen, and IV fluids & antibiotics and has been diagnosed with Strep Pneumonia with pleural effusion (fluid on the lungs).



Raeghan is drinking minimally and barely eating. She has had the chest tube in since Wednesday and can not be removed until it stops draining. It has drained about 1300 cc's off Raeghans lungs.



They are hoping to go home the beginning of next week but are unsure because Raeghan has to be off all IV's and oxygen and the chest tube has to be pulled.



Charlotte asked me to post a notice to all Ebay winners from this past weeks ended auctions that as soon as she gets home she will process the items and get them in the mail.



The family asks that you continue to keep them in your prayers. Raeghan is more alert and the antibiotics are working. The chest x-rays show some improvement as does her mood.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Please pray for my Raeghan !

Raeghan has been sick for 6 days now with a Fever Virus ! Her fever is ranging from 99-105 these days. We have seen the MD twice now and are told there is nothing to do but to wait it out. Her intake is poor, she sleeps alot, she wakes up occassionally to say something, or drink a little. She has us all worried alot. I got them to check her blood work yesterday and she is ok, little dehydrated. All she wants is her mommy . My mother, Bekka and Dan have been wonderful in helping with Raeghan and Riley. Thank you ! Please pray for my spunky little Fire Truck singing girl !

St. Jude please bring my daughter, Raeghan to full recovery !

Charlotte

Monday, May 14, 2007

Gracie's Gotcha !

Friends, Patty and Tim have GRACIE !!!

Go to : http://www.babyjellybeans.com/web/do/site/home?ID=140178
and you can see little Gracie ! This is my good friend online's blog and she just emailed me they got her yesterday ! And she is a daddy's girl ! How cute ! Boy does China like Patty with her blonde hair ! They are in an area that isn't used to alot of American's !

Patty, she is yours forever and ever, girl !! Love and miss you !!

Charlotte

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Happy Mother's Day !

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's and grandmothers out there !

Please continue to pray for Raeghan, she is on day 4 of fevers, they are less today, but she still feels bad, is eating a little, sleeping alot !

Mommy is going to make it all better!

Please continue to pray for my daughter, Rachael in China away from me on Mother's Day ! It will be last one without her home !

Charlotte

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Rebekka picks flowers !

Rebekka,my oldest with fiancee, Dan are getting married August 4th,2007 in my back yard! Today we all went and picked out her flowers. Her bouquet is going to be cally lillies. Thankfully Dan's family is helping to pay for the flowers. Rebekka and Dan have been together almost 3 years ! Those of you who were in China with us 2 yrs. ago know what a melt down she had being away from Dan the Man !
Grandma "Joanie" is so excited her first granddaughter is getting married ! She's not so sure she wants Rebekka to move out of the house ! She is helping pay for the beautiful dress and accessories ! Thank you Mom !

Raeghan says " Let's Face it, I'm a Princess ! " Riley was there, but he was busy getting into trouble !
Charlotte


Friday, May 11, 2007

Sick kiddos !

Raeghan has been sick the last two days with her highest fever topping 105 today ! We went to the MD and she is doing better now ! This is Raeghan asleep at the computer as I was adding items to the ebay auction ! She didn't want to leave me !
Riley was sent home sick today too with diarrhea but hasn't had any since he came home. Wonder if he faked it to come home ? LOL
Good thing is we got to see Dr. Keathley and show her pictures of Rachael, she is excited for her newest patient to come home !

Tonight Raeghan is singing a new song : " Raeghan feels better, Raeghan feels better ! "

Please continue to check out the ebay items for sale and the magazine sales ! Any bit of help is so appreciated, it will help to BRING RACHAEL HOME !

Charlotte

Thursday, May 10, 2007

EBAY FUNDRAISER UP AND GOING !

EBAY FUNDRAISER UP AND GOING !
CLICK ON THE LINK TO THE RIGHT UNDER FUNDRAISERS, THEN WHEN IT OPENS CLICK ON THE WORDS TO THE RIGHT : SEE SELLER'S OTHER ITEMS TO SEE ALL THE ITEMS !

Still need to post about 30 more items, so keep checking !

If you live near me and want to buy a new crib let me know !

Charlotte

CHECK OUT MY EBAY ADDITIONS !

Hey ya'll,

Riley had his final post placement visit with the social worker yesterday ! Yah !

And the social worker gave me the Addendum approving me to adopt Rachael !

Iv'e add several items to the ebay auction ! Please click on the ebay add to the right, and then click to the right to see sellers other items for sale !

Got several adoption books, kids books, etc. Will be adding numerous items, alot of clothing all NEW for 12- 18 months over the next few days !
Took about 40 pics of items the other day !

PLEASE HELP BRING RACHAEL HOME !

Also still doing the magazine fundraiser, the Adoptive Families Magazine is awesome !

Charlotte

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Introducing Rachael Jane YuZhu !

Introducing Rachael Jane YuZhu !

Born December 29th, 2004 in DianJiang SWI in Chongqing, China



I faxed the application to my agency today and she is mine ! They are writing the LOI- letter on intent, then I have to wait for the PA- pre-approval to come to adopt her . Even though I am single my agency has checked with Beijing and I was logged in and fall under the old rules.

Charlotte, excited mom to Rebekka, Raeghan, Riley and soon Rachael !

Monday, May 7, 2007

We need your help !

They say it takes a village..........

Asking for everyone's help with any items for a yard sale or to sell on ebay !

Also my good friend, Patty is going to have a bake sale for us in her state ! So I am asking is there anyone else who might want to have a bake sale somewhere in honor of us ?

I am also open to any babysitting any night for any of the children that live in Central Arkansas, of course, R and R will be coming with me too !

Charlotte

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Ebay Fundraiser !

I am going to start fundraising and selling items on ebay for the adoption ! Check out what there is so far. Click the ebay link to the right !
Don't forget to VIEW seller's other items !

Charlotte

Come Home Baby Rachael !

Raeghan says " Come home Baby Rachael ! "
Note in most pictures of Riley his faithful dog is never too far away !

MAGAZINE FUNDRAISER !

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO VISIT THIS FUNDRAISER OF MINE !

I WAS EXCITED TO SEE AN ADOPTION MAGAZINE under the families section !

AND 40% OF SALES GOES TO MY ADOPTION TO BRING MY ANGEL HOME !

Charlotte

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Phrases and verses .............

1 Samuel 1:27 "For this child I have prayed and God has granted me what I asked of Him."

~ found this on a friend's website and love it !

Charlotte

Welcome to the blog !

Hi ya'll,
With much gratitude to my friend, Monica for helping me learn how to blog ! Thanks !

This is my first attempt at blogging and I am very rusty.

My name is Charlotte and I am the mother to three wonderful children.

Rebekka is 19 and she is getting married this summer and graduating beauty college!

Raeghan and Riley are 3 and 3.5, both adopted from China in 2005 and 2006, Riley was special needs : cleft lip and palate.

Currently I am reviewing the file of an angel from China ! She is 2, and she has strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes, her special need is : Albinism. I am praying that the Lord lets her join our family and helps us to fund a way to adopt her !

I trust in God and in the power of St. Jude.

I have added some blogs of some friends to the right, and some pics of the kids, add most importantly the Fundraising Section:

Currently I am collecting ink cartridges and asking for donations at Kingdom Kids, all the money donated will go toward adopting my next daughter, Rachael Jane whether she is this little angel or not, Rachael Jane is in China waiting to come home !

As Raeghan puts it : "My baby Rachael ! "

Charlotte

Check out my Slide Show!