In a previous article, I discussed what a service animal is. The benefits are tremendous, however, a service animal is a highly trained entity and not a “pet” in the sense that we use the term. Therefore, it bears considering if a service animal is right for your family.

Does the child need a service animal? Many of the organizations listed in the previous article had guidelines for application. Though... more

If your child has certain medical conditions, you may consider getting a service animal. These highly trained animals are not “pets” in the sense that we normally use the term, though they do become part of the family and are very much loved!

Service animals are used in many ways by many individuals. We are probably most familiar with them in the role of “guide dog” for those with vision impairments. However, they can assist with mobility, such as pulling a wheelchair. Service dogs have also been trained to “sniff” lows in children with Type 1 diabetes, by detecting... more

Part 1

Our next set of questions will focus on the daily care of your child. Please bear in mind that these questions are written to encompass all age groups, and may not apply to your child.

Eating habits

• Large or small appetite?

• Likes or dislikes?

• Slow or fast eater?

• What are usual meal hours?

• Feeds self or needs help? Handles knife, fork and spoon well? Cup or glass?

• Are... more

As your child reaches puberty, your doctor (especially if your child is seeing an endocrinologist, gynecologist or has been on psychiatric medications for a long period of time), may wish to have blood tests done to show various hormone levels One of these, especially in girls, will be the prolactin levels Prolactin levels can be elevated in both males and females.. The two basic questions to be asked are “what is causing this?” and “what does an elevated prolactin level mean?”

Well, several things can cause prolactin levels to elevate. The most common is in... more

While half paying attention to television Friday night, I heard this unique adoption/reunion story and was intrigued by the details I did hear, so I got online to search for more. I must preface this story by saying it is one of those stories that is so rare and unique.

Brandy Hersh, now 27 and Heidi Wickware, now 25 met about five years ago and instantly felt a connection towards one another and became best friends. Brandy reminisces about how their friendship started:

"When we first met, it was an automatic connection. I had told her that we were -- that I thought of her as such a good friend, like a better friend than some of the friends that I'd had for years... more

Once you have been matched with a child, you will probably have a million questions and you will never be able to remember all of them.

Do not be afraid to ask questions. It is the only way you will gain knowledge about your child, and the knowledge you gain will help make your child’s transition easier. If you were moving to a country where you didn’t know anyone or anything and there were small things that were done such as having a pitcher of water next to your bed, or a nightlight in the hall to help you find your way, how would you feel? You can do... more

There are certain gene mutations that predispose a person to cancer. Through the miracle of modern medicine, genetic testing is available to identify gene mutations that may lead to cancer. A person armed with information about being predisposed to developing cancer can take preventative measures in some cases to prevent its development. If you have an adopted child without much medical history, then genetic testing may help answer some of your questions. For example, women with a harmful mutation in the BRCA1... more

God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able (I Corinthians 10:13; NASB).

In our household, we cover the gamut when it comes to special conditions. We have ADD, PTSD, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, anemia, spherocytosis, epilepsy…and those are just the ones I can whip up off the top of my head! In a previous post I’ve discussed the topic of parents with special needs. Today, I want to focus on siblings of children... more

We are going to the Milwaukee Admirals game on Sunday night. We were going to go on Friday night, but a wonderful March snow storm made the roads unsafe to travel.

Friday night’s game was for a wonderful cause. $2 of each ticket price was going to Adoption Resources of Wisconsin. I have worked with ARW for several years. They have referred families to me to help find services, hook them up with a support system, or even find respite care. This is an organization... more

I love Dallas. I spent over five years there when my husband and I first got married. I love to go back and visit, so this story coming out of Dallas makes me sick and sad for the city.

Two little boys were thrown off a bridge before their mother jumped off the bridge herself. That is just the beginning of the story, unfortunately.

These boys had been in and out of the foster care system and had been victims of abuse by various family members, not just by their mother. The abuse dates... more