We have two five year olds in our family. One from my womb, the other birthed in my heart.
The one weighs fifty pounds. His sister--only nineteen pounds.
That's a big difference in weight and size.
But we're rejoicing in our home! Hailee has gained three pounds in just one month. She may just catch up to her brother after all. The change in her is amazing. There are no words.
How blessed we are to have doubled the five year olds recently.
They could not be more precious. And we could not be more blessed to be entrusted with these whom the LORD has given us.
Just a few months apart, these two are so very opposite. The love between them warms my heart. The Father knew that this little girl needed this boy to be her brother--before the foundation of the world. He does ALL things well, our God.
"Would you like to have a flower, Hailee?"
They take my breath away. So different, so unique, so absolutely perfect in every way.
Each five year old fearfully and wonderfully made...JUST the way they are.
How exceedingly blessed I am to call these my children--the ones the Father destined to me mine. There is nothing sweeter in this life than being their mommy.
Counting my many blessings today.
The one weighs fifty pounds. His sister--only nineteen pounds.
That's a big difference in weight and size.
But we're rejoicing in our home! Hailee has gained three pounds in just one month. She may just catch up to her brother after all. The change in her is amazing. There are no words.
How blessed we are to have doubled the five year olds recently.
They could not be more precious. And we could not be more blessed to be entrusted with these whom the LORD has given us.
Just a few months apart, these two are so very opposite. The love between them warms my heart. The Father knew that this little girl needed this boy to be her brother--before the foundation of the world. He does ALL things well, our God.
"Would you like to have a flower, Hailee?"
They take my breath away. So different, so unique, so absolutely perfect in every way.
Each five year old fearfully and wonderfully made...JUST the way they are.
How exceedingly blessed I am to call these my children--the ones the Father destined to me mine. There is nothing sweeter in this life than being their mommy.
Counting my many blessings today.
66 sweet thoughts from friends:
Your five years old are precious! Hailee looks so adorable with her hair growing out some chub on her and with her handsome brother!
The difference I can see in her is amazing!!!! WOW, 3 pounds, that is great! I have goose bumps just thinking of how far she has already come just in what I am seeing on your blog. Has she graduated from the hat? They look so sweet together and I know they will have a special relationship.
OH MY STARS! I LOVE HER HAIR! So nice to see her and her brother out in nature! LOVIN ON EACH OTHER!
I adore this post Adeye! Many blessing your way!
Just beautiful! :)
Absolutely Adorable!
I have two 8 year olds ... one born from my tummy, one born from my heart. In some ways so very different, in some ways so very much the same. God gave me "twins" when I least expected it.
Praising Jesus for His BLESSINGS!!!
Laurel
Perfect! Just Perfect!
Love Him!!!!
Oh my gosh! What a beautiful post! Hailee looks INCREDIBLE! I noticed she is not wearing her hat anymore. Thanks for keeping us updated on her progress. A true miracle.
They are beautiful!! Hailee looks so amazing!! What a change from that little one in the orphanage!!
Absolutely beautiful...I cannot get over the change in Hailee every time you post new pictures! When you see her in the arms of her brother, you begin to wonder if her progress even has anything to do with food. I'm thinking not...she's thriving on being loved & cherished! :o)
What??!! Three pounds - that is incredible! She is already a different child. Thank you Jesus! These pictures are so cute - It is just heartwarming how sweet brother is with her. All of your babies are just adorable!!
So incredibly sweet! I have a feeling Miss Hailee will catch up quickly! Praise the Lord for 3 pounds in one month!!! Only God!!
And your manly five year old looks like he's got that modeling gene in him! Very photogenic!
Oh you made me cry just looking at these pictures of the two of them. I cannot get over how much this little has changed and without a head cover, yeah! She is literally transforming before your eyes, that must be so incredibly powerful to see in person. For us that aren't in your daily lives it is so incredibly to watch from afar.
Hey, let me know if you guys ever shoot down here to Colonial Williamsburg. I would love to meet you guys in person.
Teri
[email protected]
Amazing. Truly.
The love that you have shown your princess Hailee over the past several weeks is evident.
She IS transforming.
And what breaks my heart is that so many more are in DESPERATE need of love. children are DYING without it.
Keep on sharing my friend. Your pictures are changing hearts.
Hailee Salem...God is using YOU to change hearts! What a treasure you are!
It makes my heart so happy to see her with that barrette in her hair and no hat on. You can see from the photos how very much she has changed-amazing, MIRACULOUS!! And I love the sweet relationship between brother and sister! I love seeing that in my children too.
These photos are gorgeous and Hailee looks so cute with the pink clip in her hair. She also looks so much more relaxed...must be all the love she is getting :)
Rachel xx
Oh the difference in precious little Hailee. The scar on her forehead seems completely healed - does that mean she is no longer banging her head? Oh the difference love makes.
Your post really ministered to my heart today - while my mommy heart is grieving yesterday's confirmed diagnosis of a special need for the son of my heart, today, my hope is getting restored. Yes, he will have challenges, but with a lot of time spent on our knees, a lot of advocating and love, he can thrive and blossom.
Blessings.
I never would have guessed one could see such a difference in such a short amount of time. It truly is amazing and miraculous and such a "God-thing" to witness the changes in Hailee through your photos. I can only imagine all He is doing to work on hearts...hearts that are fearful of stepping forward to bring home children with sn's, hearts that are afraid they can't handle the sn's, hearts that ache to say "yes", but keep saying "no". It is so good for this reader's heart to be reminded once again that we make a difference every time we take up arms and battle the process to bring these children home. Each and every one is so worth it. Blessings, Jennifer
awwww that is so sweet!!! They look so cute together!
You know what? I am getting real tired of you making me cry! I love reading your blog. How it gives me joy amidst the breaking of my heart for what they went through and for those left behind. Every story blesses my heart EVERY time in one way or another. How I want to go forward to give a life and family to those little ones. Seeking Gods direction and provision!
Thank you as always...for sharing!
Blessings,
Malissa
she is looking so much better in such a short time! It is amazing!!!!
She is looking so much better. I noticed the absence of the hat - is she able to go without it now?
What a sweet brother she has!!
Michelle
Oh what a sweet post! Love it!
Adeye, I don't know how I have missed your sweet blog until recently but I am so blessed to have found it. It is a pure pleasure to watch your girls blossom like they are, especially Hailee. What a beautiful picture of the way we grow and blossom as children of our Heavenly Father!
I hope you will consider joining the Reece's Rainbow After the Rainbow group. We would love to have your voice and your experience adding to our group! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aftertherainbow/
Jill Spicer, RR's Post Adoption Care Coordinator
She looks amazing! I can see the LOVE coming off her. : ) Good Job Momma!
OH Adeye' What an absolutely wonderful post. Look at those 2. LOL!!
Hailee looks so incredibly AWESOME! It is so amazing what love and attention can do for a child. I knew she would do great after you got her home but she is really going at a fast rate here.
It is so precious to see that her big brother loves her so much and I have a feeling he will do anything to protect and help her throughout the rest of their lives. What a bond they already have and it will only grow from here.
You are one lucky Mommy!
Love,
Sheila
What a great post. Hailee looks wonderful. What a difference the month has made. You can see the 3 pounds on her little body. She looks wonderful!
She looks so cute with her hair getting long enough to put a clip in....I love it. She looks like she is doing wonderfully.
The pictures are precious!!
loves!!
Virtual twins are the best!!!
That is amazing the difference in the 2 but at the same time she has changed sooooo much and looks so much healthier.
Hailee is growing so wonderfully! I just love that she is starting to get a little chubby in the cheeks! Your children are so beautiful and you are so amazing! I love your posts :)
Adeye....I've noticed the last several posts on Hailee she's not wearing the cap to prevent her from scratching behind her ears. Can you update how she's doing in that area and her general adjustment? Things appear to be settling down, huh?! :-)
She really looks great! One of my favorites is the picture you posted of her awaiting the bite of chocolate cake a while back. Looks like she's been having plenty! Happy girl, she is, huh?
Oh sweet, sweet joy. I love seeing Hailee being loved on by her brother. Love it. Thank you always for sharing your pictures and thoughts. They have worked to help others in my life "get it", as we just started in this adoption journey.
Thank you,
Charrissa Browning
www.anextraleaf.blogspot.com
Oh, how these pics bless my heart today. I want you to know that your story has planted a seed in me. I am praying about adoption and would love to talk with you about it. Your family is truly blessed; thank you for sharing them with us!
Oh, they are so very beautiful. I am amazed and overwhelmed at what God has done with Hailee. And look at Cade! He has the sweetest expression in EVERY photo. How blessed you are with you beautiful family.
I could eat them both with a spoon they are so delicious!!!
Lisa
WOW! Hailee is growing & changing right before our eyes. That was a beautiful blog today, made me cry and then have chills to think about how they were already to be even before the foundation of the world. Our God is indeed an AWESOME GOD!
To see Hailee blossom in pictures is breathtaking. Cade is just super sweet as always. You are blessed!
Shauna
What awesome pictures and what precious 5 year olds the Lord has give to you! I love the little glimpse into the love they share. Hailee looks beautiful, she has changed so much, what an awesome God we serve!
Blessings,
gayly
she looks fantastic! So different than before. And are you sure that little boy is 50 lbs?! Hes so tall and thin. My 9yr old weighs 50lbs lol. I am glad Hailee is gaining weight. Noah is not. They told us that babies with chromosome problems dont gain or chart like other children. How is Harper? How old is she again? You have such beautiful children Adeye!!!
Be blessed!!
Beautiful.
Some of my favorite post adoption pics EVER! I dont' know what it is, but I just smiled with each one! You go sweet Hailee! You have quite a good big brother, or twin brother :) there! :)
The transformation is nothing short of amazing and so much fun to watch. At the same time, realizing there is much more going on behind the photos. You have invested so much here in both your treasures and I know it has not been easy like photos may portray.
Love that she is able to not have the hat on all the time...Love that her hair is growing..Love that her body is gaining weight...love that she is enjoying her brother loving on her and he is enjoying it too.....progress, progress!!!
How much more aware and happy this 5 year old looks and her "twin" looks pretty happy with his sister. She has changed so much in such a short time. She was a sleepy baby when you first met her with sores on her head and face and look at her now. God indeed, has worked a miracle. Thank you for sharing her with us.
I truly have never met anyone like you or your family before. God is using you in wonderful ways.
What absolutely adorable pictures. You´r children are so cute! And Cade seems to have taken to his sister. I bet he´s a wonderful brother to her ;) And Hailee looks so much more healthy and chubby now.
The photos brought tears to my eyes... They are absolutely gorgeous! Such beauty and innocence and protectiveness and strength shown in both children. Beautiful!
Liz
Oh Adeye!! The difference in Hailee is just breath taking! Sweet child! Seeing what a family and love can do for these kids makes it even harder to think about those who will never get the chance to blossom. Tonight, however, I am rejoicing for sweet Hailee and her beautiful family!
Adeye, I am just amazed at how much she has changed, she looks amazing! I bet she will catch up to her brother in no time. What a little sweetie!
I have never commented before, but I have been reading your blog since you were in Russia to adopt your angels. I am a single adoptive parent of two girls from China. I also work with babies and toddlers with Down Syndrome which is what drew me to your blog. I just want to tell you how wonderful it is what you have done for Hailee and Harper. Seeing them grow and flourish is so amazing! I can't wait for your updates about them and check your blog daily. It bring tears to my eyes everytime I think about how much happier they are now. God bless you and your family!
Adeye,
I am relatively new to the RR group, so I have only just heard your adoption story. I first saw the video then started reading your blog. EVERY time I read it, I cry! I cry with joy that Hailee has had such a remarkable and miraculous transformation. I can SEE the joy forming in her little eyes. How awesome and humbling to be able to have physical proof of God's hand! How blessed you are that you have such beautiful children. How blessed those children are to have you and your husband!
Your family is an inspiration. When I see the pictures and read your stories, I feel God pounding on my heart to go rescue another of His precious little ones, and to teach them the same JOY Hailee now has.
WOW!!! What a change!!! Amazing what 3 little pounds will do. The little barrette is sooo cute and she looks sooo girly. This is totally amazing and a great testimony to what god can do. Thank you for sharing.
They are SO precious together! He is so tender with her. It is awesome to hear that Hailee is improving so quickly.
Your post brought tears to my eyes! Your son looks so incredibly sweet and loving with his sister and Hailee looks gorgeous and so incredibly healthy. I have 2 five year olds as well. One boy sleeping upstairs, and one girl waiting for us in China.
they're sweet photos of Cade with Hailee :) I'm glad to see her wearing a pink clip in her hair, can't wait to see her with long hair, like her sisters! :)
May Hailee grow in relating with her brothers and sisters and enjoy their company, and may Yahweh bless your children with wisdom on sensing her needs and responding with ways that will help her to develop in the areas that she missed when she was at the orphanage. May YHWH restore her to her full with your family and may your family be blessed as you all see her being restored every and each single day. :)
Your two five year olds are so precious! Just can't get over the change in sweet Hailee.Her hair is growing so fast and yes its easy to see she has gained weight too.
You have the sweetest children.
God is good. What a sweet post. Blessings to all.
So many feelings stirred by this post.....
Joy to see such a radical improvement with Hailee -
Joy to see the love between a brother and his sister -
Wonder at how much good a little love can do for a child -
Outrage that any child could be soo poorly treated as to be so radically different than her same age brother -
Happiness to see a family know the Wisdom of the Father -
Thanks for sharing this with us - ya'll are cool - just so you know!
hugs - aus and co.
What precious photos, they warm my heart, what a great brother!
Hailee looks like she's thriving and so happy.
What a huge difference. It is amazing to see how malnutrition (and lack of love) effects orphans. I know she will be growing now that she is with your family.
Great pictures!
Are you sure this is the same girl as a month ago?
This is amazing...
Charlotte
Precious, precious pictures of big brothers tender care. What a blessing they both are.
Hailee looks so different already..the change is amazing!! GOD is soooo good!!!
Due to the "New Kids" in the family, we read a lot about them, but I have to tell you that your Cade is absolutely one of the most Beautiful children I've ever seen!! I carry him in my heart and find myself saying Prayers for him so often. I don't know why, I just know that HE has placed your little five year old son into my life in a special way. When a person looks at those photos of he and Hailee, it can be easy to forget that he IS just five years old! Really, still a baby himself.
Oh, the pink hair clip...the dirty little feet...the visual evidence of good nutrition and LOTS of love...the Healing Touch of our Lord Jesus...I bet the orphanage workers would just fall over to see that little girl now!! : )
So MUCH Beauty and Life in this post! Please, kiss those two five year olds for me...And, Thank You, for letting us all know how God is working in our sweet family!
Lots of Love to All of You Salems! Jo
The change in Hailee is just so remarkable. It is so obvious how quickly she is blossoming! Absolutely amazing my sweet friend. And look at your big boy! He has a special place in my heart. I often pray for him - he has such a tender, beautiful heart. Lots of love to all of you today. Jan
How wonderful to see "big" brother so clearly loving his sister, being so tender with her - and seeing sweet Hailee so comfortable and relaxed! What a treasure they are. And, as always, such adorable photos! Your photos truly tell everything that words never can, and I'm as always deeply touched.
Is it only me - or may Hailee get another colour of her hair once she gains weight and takes advantage of some decent nutrition? I have never before seen such dark eyes together with platinum hair! She is adorable though so it would be too sweet if she kept those colours!
Wow, what a difference... Praise God!!! Such precious photos. I just love this :-) Love Janelle
It was fun to have found your blog today! We are also doubling in 5 year olds in our house! I have a five year old son, and we are adopting a 5 year old daughter, Tatiana, through Reece's Rainbow. You're a great writer and I can see that you are inspiring many people with your blog. Best wishes!
Heather
fillmoresjourneytoanna.blogspot.com
Adeye,
I don't even know if you will see this comment because this post is super-old, but I want you to know how much I LOVE it! Like totally can't take my eyes off of these kids. I don't know if you ever watch Grey's Anatomy...I used to watch this show when I was in pharmacy school...but there is a part where the doctors go to the nursery whenever they are having a bad day or a hard case and just look at those sweet babies. I am now a pharmacist and sometimes work super long days and see really sad patients in the hospital...and your kids are my nursery. Something about those innocent faces and Cade...oh...a 5 year old who has an ability to love beyond his years...I just want to eat them up! How I long for my new baby girl to learn to love like that. You are such an inspiration and your story has definately taken care of more than 'just one' orphan. My daughter is 10 weeks old, but we are saving and planning for the next (adopted) one because of beautiful families like yours.
Have a great day!
Emily O.
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