It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

I guess the real reason that my wife and I had children is the same reason that Napoleon had for invading Russia: It seemed like a good idea at the time. Bill Cosby

I have come to realise that I am trying to prove to one and all that there should be no doubt as to the fact that I can take on a huge challenge and remain certifiable crazy. I am not sure what it is in my personality that feels the need to prove that I am capable of doing something that seemed at one time to be impossible. I am sure you know where this is leading......I have added another 8 babies to Starfish and here I am to introduce them to you.

We got a really generous donation from a French charity in Shanghai, which allowed us to accept another 5 babies (which they have sponsored for a year). Then I got to pick another two babies to replace Lily and Jade and just for the heck of it another one. I did have five volunteers with me and they did get really excited and instead of five they chose eight, coupled with the orphanage workers were recommending babies which did not help either. Some of it had to do with the fact that we had a Canadian doctor and her family with us for more than a week and I thought she would be able to help. That she did and I am so grateful to her because it was like a crash course in pediatric medicine. Thank you so much Jennifer. The cleft home also has a Dutch volunteer who is a nurse, Elise and we recently added Lila, who bravely left her family in the US and is with us for two months.

I would be lying if I said that this was as easy as the first Starfish cleft babies. It has been a battle and to say my religion is wearing thin just about explains it. I think the fact the new additions have been so sick has really worn on me but I know from experience that after a few weeks everything settles down. I am seeing signs of it already. All I can think it that we will get through this and more children will have a chance to find a family so no matter what, it is worth it. We added two cleft palate babies and six heart babies. I am sure the Gao Xin Hospital across the road where we have the echos done to check the children's hearts will be happy to see us. Jennifer thinks that two of the children have serious heart conditions. We'll be seeing you soon Dr Li!!

The one thing I just loved is the fact that the orphanage took pictures for the finding ads before we even left the infant room. That means that the whole adoption process will move a lot faster. I feel so hopeful that the babies will have a greater chance to get adopted while they are young and we will be able to help a lot more children. We have 6 children who should have dossiers at the C2A2, another three need a medical to complete their dossiers, 13 have their finding ads placed right now and then the newly arrived babies should be starting soon. Hopefully this trend will continue!!!

So as I write, we have 36 children at Starfish. I am amazed at this number and I am so grateful for everyone who supports the babies and purpose of Starfish. There are some exciting things brewing, which makes me so hopeful for the future and for the fact that even more children will be helped.

Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916
Xian China

At Starfish, we have taken care of 75 children to date, arranged almost 50 surgeries and had a 20 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US (latest adoption to North Carolina), Netherlands, Norway and Spain. We currently have 36 babies under the age of 3 1/2 at two foster homes.
www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
chinese.starfishthrower@gmail.com