Introducing...Daisy!

A newborn baby girl moved into the cleft home today, her name is Daisy. She's just a few weeks old, and seems to have no problems adjusting to her new home!



Welcome, Daisy! We're so glad you're here!

Life Philosophies

According to our house manager, Zhang Ming, some of the babies have already developed particular "life philosophies".

For example, Nick's life philosophy is to cry. You remember the post a while back, showing mouth open so wide you could see his tonsils? Well, he still likes to cry...but we're happy to report that he seems to be settling down a little bit. He has replaced some of his screaming with babbling, and that's a welcome change. He's not smiling in these pictures, but at least he's not crying!


Nick

Jack's life philosophy is eating...and that's one about which we are very happy! As long as the nannies strictly adhere to his eating schedule (every two hours!) he's a happy camper...but if his bottle is late, he let's everyone know about it!


Jack...taking a rare break from eating!

Dawn's life philosophy is smiling! And boy, do we have the pictures to prove it!


Dimply Dawn

Regardless of what their philosophy is, we are so pleased that each of our children has the opportunity to be unique in his or her own way, and so grateful that our nannies take the time to get to know each of them. It's such a gift to share in the development of each of these babies, as they continue to establish who they are. And we can't wait to see who they will be in the years to come!

Jenna's new smile

I thought you'd like to see some pictures of Jenna a few weeks post-op. She looks much more comfortable, and happy, wouldn't you say?


Now that's a happy child!

My how they grow!

Kyle and Becca still reside at the cleft home while we search for some more foster families. While they were never tiny by any means, they still have grown so much! Both physically and developmentally.



Even though neither could support their head when they first arrived, they are now both standing (though Kyle's a bit wobbly), and Becca seems to be helping Simba (the house manager's son) with his homework already ready!



Thank you for your continued support, which enables us to provide these children the physical, medical, emotional, and developmental support and care they deserve.

More babies!

The doors are certainly revolving at the cleft home!
There are two new ones you haven't yet met, so I would like to introduce....


Leah


and Phillip!


(From left to right)
Becca...Jenna...Millie...Nick...
Kyle...Jack...and Dawn...all in the hands of our
wonderful nannies, and one visitor!

Showing some love

One of the greatest benefits our children in the cleft home receive is individual care and attention. We know that the best nutrition and medical care is important, but without love, these babies would still lack what they need in order to thrive. I love all of the pictures we receive from the home of nannies interacting with the babies, because the care and love they feel for these babies is so evident. And they always look so happy to be with the children--we really couldn't ask for better caregivers.

Priceless picutres of Kyle learning to recieve...and give...kisses

Wren moves to ACH for surgery!

I cannot believe that little Wren
now has some chipmunk cheeks!

Wren went to Anhui Children's Hospital this week for cleft surgery! Wren is the last of the "founding" babies (babies who were in the home when it opened in March) to receive surgery, and we are very excited for her. She was one of the youngest and smallest babies brought to the home in March. She steadily gained weight and is now ready for surgery. We look forward to seeing her new smile!

There she is, bright-eyed, and beautiful, ready for a grand adventure...


...or maybe a nap

Jenna returns home after surgery

Jenna came home from the hospital this week after receiving surgery to repair her cleft lip. We're happy to report that everything went very well, and she's now peacefully resting and recovering back at the cleft home.

"What's going on?"

Jenna resting back at the cleft home

We're very thankful to the wonderful surgeons at Anhui Children's Hospital who have so dutifully cared for each of our children, and thankful to our many sponsors who make the surgeries financially possible.

Our twigs are budding!

As a long-time subscriber to LWB publications and newsletters, I have read over and over again how lucky we are to have such wonderful caregivers, directors, teachers, and doctors in China for the children under our care. Now that I have spent so much time working with the cleft home, I can see just how true that really is. Our house manager, Zhang Ming, really is a gift--he is ready and willing to do anything our children need, and you can tell he really cares about the children in the process. I'm happy to report that I think he likes his job too! The weekly reports about the children often put things so eloquently, I'd like to just share an excerpt with you:

[The Chinese name of one of our little girls means flower] "So every time I see her, I feel that I am in a garden of early summer. Here we have fresh air, comfortable temperature. The little twigs are growing into branches, and are budding. They’re enjoying the nurturing of summer sun and rain. Dawn is just like a beautiful flower in this garden. She grows quietly. Only two months, we can see and feel her various emotions, happy, blue.."

Pretty beautiful (and happy!) flower, wouldn't you agree?

Many thanks for your support, which helps us help our "twigs" grow into

beautiful "budding branches"!

It's a girl!

We have a brand new resident at the cleft home!

Meet Millie, a baby girl born on June 20th, 2008. We are happy to report that she is quite comfortable in her new home. We know the nannies look forward to getting to know her in the months to come.

Eagle Scout Visits Home

Last week, an Eagle Scout named Alex visited the cleft home with his family, played with the babies, and brought many bottles and vitamins! Alex was on an adoption trip with his family to pick up his new brother. We are so glad he was able to visit the home and so thankful that he chose to partner with Love Without Boundaries!


Alex with his family and a few babies!

For his Eagle Scout project, Alex went door-to-door raising money to buy cleft bottles. He raised enough money to buy 17 cases of bottles, and brought five of these boxes to the cleft home!



Look at all those wonderful supplies! Five cases of bottles,
and 30 bottles of vitamins (Thanks to Tanner!)

Alex also brought over vitamins that were collected by another Eagle Scout, Tanner. He brought enough vitamins to last the cleft home for the entire year. We are very thankful for Tanner's hard work and generous donation, and know that these vitamins will be very important for our babies in the year to come


.

Alex smiles with satisfaction--as he should!
The babies (and LWB) say THANK YOU!