Our baby girl is due in less than 5 weeks! I can't believe how quickly time is flying by. I had my first baby shower last weekend, which was awesome! Kind of surreal but tons of fun. You can't fault a party where you laugh so hard you cry. I've been busy washing baby clothes, and trying to get things organized. I still have a few more things to wash, but for the most part, what I have is washed and ready to wear! Can't wait to have her home!
We'll probably set up a hospital tour for sometime soon. Shantel has been through all of this before, but it's our first time. And with the added layer of the whole adoption stuff going on, it will be nice to talk with someone there to see how it usually works. I need to pack the diaper bag, but Brian needs to go buy a "Coming Home" outfit first. I can't wait to see what he picks out... my daddy picked out mine, so I thought it would be cute for him to do his daughters as well.
Worked on on the nursery some more. Got paint on the wall and my very talented friend Marit started helping me paint some added details to the room. I can't wait to see it all done and put together! It's gonna be adorable, and even cuter with our baby girl in the crib sleeping!
I just checked and our dresser is due to be delivered sometime between Oct. 21-26th. As soon as it's here, we can put it together, finalize where all the furniture will be in the room and get it all loaded up! I'll be able to breathe a sigh of relief when it's here and the room is finally done.
Well, that's it for now. I'll keep you posted when the room is completed! You'll get pics! Who knows, maybe baby will be here before the room is done... :)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
One Step Closer...
We had a great day today!!!
First, I got the bedding all set up with our crib! It makes the room feel more official, and I'm getting even more excited with each step we take to prepare. We still need to order dresser/changing table combo. I think we'll probabbly do that in the next couple of weeks.
So, about the good news... we went to a meeting today with our social worker, Shantel and her social worker. It was basically a "vision meeting" where we all just talked about how we are feeling, what our expectations are and if we had any questions or concerns we got them all out. That part was all super easy considering I pretty much talk with Shantel on a daily basis and we are totally on the same page with everything at this point. We also needed to get an update on the tribal stuff. That has been hanging over our heads since day one. Well, we got some answers today and it was GREAT NEWS!!! The enrollment lady through Shantel's tribe was able to confirm that she is 99.95% sure that the tribe will NOT intervene and that the adoption placement will solely be the responsibility of Shantel!!!!!! This is the best news, it means that the only way for the adoption to not work is if Shantel has a change of heart. It was such a HUGE weight lifted off our shoulders, and Shantel's too! Just good news all around.
So, from here we have another appointment set up to go over the birthplan and also the cooperative agreement. Once that is done, we just need that baby girl to get here.... eeekk!!! It's all going to happen so fast!
In the mean time, we are still deciding on a name. We'll be using Jordyn for a middle name (Shantel is calling the baby girl Jordyn right now), and once we meet her we think we'll know for sure what her first name will be. We also need to do some pain touch up in the room, order the dresser and get the rest of the room ready for the baby to come home.
My first baby-shower is on October 17th... my wonderful friends at work are putting one together for us. I'm so flipping excited!!! I have always loved baby showers, haven't missed a single one that I have been invited to and have thrown my fair share for my wonderful friends. I dreampt of the day that I would get to attend one of my own... that day is fast approaching.
When I have more news, I'll be sure to update!
First, I got the bedding all set up with our crib! It makes the room feel more official, and I'm getting even more excited with each step we take to prepare. We still need to order dresser/changing table combo. I think we'll probabbly do that in the next couple of weeks.
So, about the good news... we went to a meeting today with our social worker, Shantel and her social worker. It was basically a "vision meeting" where we all just talked about how we are feeling, what our expectations are and if we had any questions or concerns we got them all out. That part was all super easy considering I pretty much talk with Shantel on a daily basis and we are totally on the same page with everything at this point. We also needed to get an update on the tribal stuff. That has been hanging over our heads since day one. Well, we got some answers today and it was GREAT NEWS!!! The enrollment lady through Shantel's tribe was able to confirm that she is 99.95% sure that the tribe will NOT intervene and that the adoption placement will solely be the responsibility of Shantel!!!!!! This is the best news, it means that the only way for the adoption to not work is if Shantel has a change of heart. It was such a HUGE weight lifted off our shoulders, and Shantel's too! Just good news all around.
So, from here we have another appointment set up to go over the birthplan and also the cooperative agreement. Once that is done, we just need that baby girl to get here.... eeekk!!! It's all going to happen so fast!
In the mean time, we are still deciding on a name. We'll be using Jordyn for a middle name (Shantel is calling the baby girl Jordyn right now), and once we meet her we think we'll know for sure what her first name will be. We also need to do some pain touch up in the room, order the dresser and get the rest of the room ready for the baby to come home.
My first baby-shower is on October 17th... my wonderful friends at work are putting one together for us. I'm so flipping excited!!! I have always loved baby showers, haven't missed a single one that I have been invited to and have thrown my fair share for my wonderful friends. I dreampt of the day that I would get to attend one of my own... that day is fast approaching.
When I have more news, I'll be sure to update!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Getting ready for baby!
Well, we have the crib, I'm still on the lookout for a dresser/changing table, we need to decide on a bedding set and we've gotten lots of stuff already from friends and family for the new baby.
I have the bedding narrowed down to about 7 options at this point, once we pick on we can get it ordered and decide if we are going to paint the room or not. I'm thinking we probably will. I also have picked out the car seat/travel system that I like and am still on the fence about a pack-n-play of some sort. I think we'll probably want one for when we travel and for when she is more mobile and need to confine her... but it's not at the top of my list. Oh, and we were at the new Wal-Mart the other day and saw the best thing! Instead of a normal high-chair, we're going to go with something like this...
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fisher-Price-Space-Saver-High-Chair-and-Booster-My-Little-Eye-Collection/12960801
We don't have the largest kitchen so this will be perfect and a huge space saver for us.
Our garage sale went great! We had tons of help from friends and family again and I couldn't feel more blessed for all the support we have. We raised another $800!!! And just in time too... we have a lot of things to get to be ready for baby! I am going to try and add a count-down ticker to the side somewhere... if I can get it to work. It's hard to believe that in a little over two months we could be coming home from the hospital with a new bundle of joy!
For now, we are still waiting on the tribal things to get sorted out. My social worker keeps telling me it just takes time and there is no telling exactly when they will get the all clear. As soon as they do the next step is to set up a meeting with everyone and go over the cooperative agreement and also the birthplan for the big day. In the mean time, we have started getting to know Shantel more and more. We are so blessed to have someone in our lives that wants to share SO much of this journey with us. She actually came over with her boyfriend to help out with the garage sale set-up... how cool is that!!! And, Brian and I are having them over for dinner tomorrow night. We just really want to make sure that we are all on the same page, we want to get to know her better and most of all we want her to get to know us AND know in her heart that this is truly what she wants to do.
Keep those prayers coming... they are working so far and until we have that little girl home and in our arms we are still hoping and praying that this all comes together perfectly.
I have the bedding narrowed down to about 7 options at this point, once we pick on we can get it ordered and decide if we are going to paint the room or not. I'm thinking we probably will. I also have picked out the car seat/travel system that I like and am still on the fence about a pack-n-play of some sort. I think we'll probably want one for when we travel and for when she is more mobile and need to confine her... but it's not at the top of my list. Oh, and we were at the new Wal-Mart the other day and saw the best thing! Instead of a normal high-chair, we're going to go with something like this...
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fisher-Price-Space-Saver-High-Chair-and-Booster-My-Little-Eye-Collection/12960801
We don't have the largest kitchen so this will be perfect and a huge space saver for us.
Our garage sale went great! We had tons of help from friends and family again and I couldn't feel more blessed for all the support we have. We raised another $800!!! And just in time too... we have a lot of things to get to be ready for baby! I am going to try and add a count-down ticker to the side somewhere... if I can get it to work. It's hard to believe that in a little over two months we could be coming home from the hospital with a new bundle of joy!
For now, we are still waiting on the tribal things to get sorted out. My social worker keeps telling me it just takes time and there is no telling exactly when they will get the all clear. As soon as they do the next step is to set up a meeting with everyone and go over the cooperative agreement and also the birthplan for the big day. In the mean time, we have started getting to know Shantel more and more. We are so blessed to have someone in our lives that wants to share SO much of this journey with us. She actually came over with her boyfriend to help out with the garage sale set-up... how cool is that!!! And, Brian and I are having them over for dinner tomorrow night. We just really want to make sure that we are all on the same page, we want to get to know her better and most of all we want her to get to know us AND know in her heart that this is truly what she wants to do.
Keep those prayers coming... they are working so far and until we have that little girl home and in our arms we are still hoping and praying that this all comes together perfectly.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
A Match...
Well... it's happened. We have matched with a birthmom and things couldn't be better! The last two weeks have been a whirlwind!
We met through my co-worker, her name is Shantel and she is 7 months pregnant, due November 23rd... SOON! It's a girl and everything so far is going really great! Our first meeting, while incredibly nerve-wracking was also the most joyous part of this entire experience. There we were, sitting across the booth from a wonderful young woman that wanted to help make our dreams of being a mom and a dad come true. I could cry just thinking about it.
Shantel has since met with her own counselor at our agency a few times, and the paperwork part of this whole process has been set in motion. At this point we need to wait to hear back on a couple of things, but then we actually sit down and go over things officially.
As far as we are all concerned... this is official. She likes us, or at least it seems that way! And we are already loving her and the little baby girl in her tummy. It's hard not to though. We are excited and going to slowly get started on getting the future nursery set up... heck if this all happens we only have about 9 more weeks until we bring a baby home! EEeeek!
I was able to go to her last ultrasound appointment... there are few words to describe the emotions I felt that day. It was amazing, Simply amazing! I have a pic to share... so here you go!
I couldn't have asked for a better person to have brought into our lives. I feel blessed to know Shantel and am so thankful for the experiences she has shared with me so far. I hope to have more good news to share with you all soon. For now, we are focusing on our second garage sale... lots to do and no time to do it all! Hopefully it will be even half as successful as the last one. With a baby on the way... we are saving every penny we have.
Please keep us all in your prayers. Shantel, the miracle baby girl in her tummy and Brian and I are going to need them!
We met through my co-worker, her name is Shantel and she is 7 months pregnant, due November 23rd... SOON! It's a girl and everything so far is going really great! Our first meeting, while incredibly nerve-wracking was also the most joyous part of this entire experience. There we were, sitting across the booth from a wonderful young woman that wanted to help make our dreams of being a mom and a dad come true. I could cry just thinking about it.
Shantel has since met with her own counselor at our agency a few times, and the paperwork part of this whole process has been set in motion. At this point we need to wait to hear back on a couple of things, but then we actually sit down and go over things officially.
As far as we are all concerned... this is official. She likes us, or at least it seems that way! And we are already loving her and the little baby girl in her tummy. It's hard not to though. We are excited and going to slowly get started on getting the future nursery set up... heck if this all happens we only have about 9 more weeks until we bring a baby home! EEeeek!
I was able to go to her last ultrasound appointment... there are few words to describe the emotions I felt that day. It was amazing, Simply amazing! I have a pic to share... so here you go!
I couldn't have asked for a better person to have brought into our lives. I feel blessed to know Shantel and am so thankful for the experiences she has shared with me so far. I hope to have more good news to share with you all soon. For now, we are focusing on our second garage sale... lots to do and no time to do it all! Hopefully it will be even half as successful as the last one. With a baby on the way... we are saving every penny we have.
Please keep us all in your prayers. Shantel, the miracle baby girl in her tummy and Brian and I are going to need them!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Long time - no update....
Well, I think it's about time I update this blog. I had kind of put it on hold for a bit while we were talking with an expectant mom, I really wanted to update with wonderful news about a perfect match. But I'll get you caught up on where we are at for the moment.
We were contacted by a young mom-to-be at the end of July, almost a month ago actually. Her mom had gotten one of our adoption cards from a friend. So the great news so far, our adoption cards did work! So we have been talking to her on and off over the last month, we actually had a date picked out to meet up near her home town. Things didn't work out like we had hoped, but I completely understand her hesitation. She is going through something so much bigger than any person should have to deal with, especially at her young age. It breaks my heart that she is dealing with all this right now. She just asked for more time to think, understandably so. I know that no matter what she chooses to do, things are going to work out the way they are meant to. You can't force anything in life to work they way you want it to... it will just backfire on you in the end. I'm happy to take the back seat on this one and let the big guy up stairs do all the driving! HE knows the way through all this and I trust Him enough to let my faith lead the way.
So, I'll be sure to let you know if we hear anything more from her. As of right now, I got her in touch with one of the counselors through our agency. I really hope she is finding the guidance she needs to make the choice that is right for herself AND this precious little baby that will be here in 4 short months. I know for me, no matter what happens, I haven't stopped praying that things will work out for this young girl and her baby. She deserves to find peace in whatever decision she makes.
As for the rest of our adoption journey, we were invited to enter the Waiting Family Book... however we postponed. I know it might seem like a long shot to most of you. BUT, to enter the book would cost us $5,000. That's a lot of money and I feel like we haven't even gotten our cards out there yet. And if the cards worked from just our garage sale and handing them out to some family and friends, just think about how the cards might work if we got them out there to the right crowd. So for now, we are back at the end of the waiting list. We were 16th on the list when I moved us back there, so in theory we'll be getting a call/email about the book again in a couple of months. It just depends on how quickly there are placements from the book/outreach. In the mean time, we are working with a wonderful friend of ours to make our profile perfect. When we get the invite again, we'll see where we are at with things and make a decision at that time. I hate to put it off, but the idea of saving that chunk of money is very appealing. Just think about how many diapers and how much formula we could buy with $5,000!
So, we are placing an order for more adoption cards. We are going to be sending out a mailer with cards to pretty much ALL of our family and friends (if I don't have your address and you'd like to help us out by handing out a few of our cards, please email me your address!). Also, we are having a second garage sale on September 16-18th! It will be at our house this time around. And we are spreading the word for more sale items too! Clean out your closets!!!
I'm sure I'm forgetting some things. I'll be sure to keep this blog more up to date. But like I said, I was hoping to post about a wonderful match-meeting. I know someday soon, I will be able to do that. I am just trying to enjoy each step of this process and not stress or worry too much about anything. It's hard... the not knowing and the no control part of it all. It's teaching me a lot about myself but I know by the end of it... it will be worth it!
We were contacted by a young mom-to-be at the end of July, almost a month ago actually. Her mom had gotten one of our adoption cards from a friend. So the great news so far, our adoption cards did work! So we have been talking to her on and off over the last month, we actually had a date picked out to meet up near her home town. Things didn't work out like we had hoped, but I completely understand her hesitation. She is going through something so much bigger than any person should have to deal with, especially at her young age. It breaks my heart that she is dealing with all this right now. She just asked for more time to think, understandably so. I know that no matter what she chooses to do, things are going to work out the way they are meant to. You can't force anything in life to work they way you want it to... it will just backfire on you in the end. I'm happy to take the back seat on this one and let the big guy up stairs do all the driving! HE knows the way through all this and I trust Him enough to let my faith lead the way.
So, I'll be sure to let you know if we hear anything more from her. As of right now, I got her in touch with one of the counselors through our agency. I really hope she is finding the guidance she needs to make the choice that is right for herself AND this precious little baby that will be here in 4 short months. I know for me, no matter what happens, I haven't stopped praying that things will work out for this young girl and her baby. She deserves to find peace in whatever decision she makes.
As for the rest of our adoption journey, we were invited to enter the Waiting Family Book... however we postponed. I know it might seem like a long shot to most of you. BUT, to enter the book would cost us $5,000. That's a lot of money and I feel like we haven't even gotten our cards out there yet. And if the cards worked from just our garage sale and handing them out to some family and friends, just think about how the cards might work if we got them out there to the right crowd. So for now, we are back at the end of the waiting list. We were 16th on the list when I moved us back there, so in theory we'll be getting a call/email about the book again in a couple of months. It just depends on how quickly there are placements from the book/outreach. In the mean time, we are working with a wonderful friend of ours to make our profile perfect. When we get the invite again, we'll see where we are at with things and make a decision at that time. I hate to put it off, but the idea of saving that chunk of money is very appealing. Just think about how many diapers and how much formula we could buy with $5,000!
So, we are placing an order for more adoption cards. We are going to be sending out a mailer with cards to pretty much ALL of our family and friends (if I don't have your address and you'd like to help us out by handing out a few of our cards, please email me your address!). Also, we are having a second garage sale on September 16-18th! It will be at our house this time around. And we are spreading the word for more sale items too! Clean out your closets!!!
I'm sure I'm forgetting some things. I'll be sure to keep this blog more up to date. But like I said, I was hoping to post about a wonderful match-meeting. I know someday soon, I will be able to do that. I am just trying to enjoy each step of this process and not stress or worry too much about anything. It's hard... the not knowing and the no control part of it all. It's teaching me a lot about myself but I know by the end of it... it will be worth it!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Getting there!
Our profile is in the process of being put together, thanks in HUGE part to my good friend JoAnn. She is using her digital scrap booking expertise to help us create a stand-out profile that will no doubt bring us that much closer to our match. I'm excited to see what she comes up with. I'll be sure to keep you all posted on how things turn out.
Brian and I have also discussed our second garage sale some more. We have decided to have this one at our house. While the offer still stands at a couple of our friends houses, I think overall it will be less stressful for me this time around. The date is still up in the air. We are leaning towards waiting until September. Our August is pretty busy and with working on the profile so much I just really don't think it's a good idea to put too much on our plate. In the mean time, we are still looking for items to add to our growing pile. We could really use some more kids stuff this time around, but really any and all donations will be greatly appreciated.
Also, I just want to remind everyone that while we are very excited about entering the book and increasing our chances that much more of find our match, we are still actively looking for our own match. You can all help by spreading the word and keeping us in your thoughts. We will be ordering more of our adoption cards soon, and if you are interested I can definitely get you some to have on hand.
Brian and I have also discussed our second garage sale some more. We have decided to have this one at our house. While the offer still stands at a couple of our friends houses, I think overall it will be less stressful for me this time around. The date is still up in the air. We are leaning towards waiting until September. Our August is pretty busy and with working on the profile so much I just really don't think it's a good idea to put too much on our plate. In the mean time, we are still looking for items to add to our growing pile. We could really use some more kids stuff this time around, but really any and all donations will be greatly appreciated.
Also, I just want to remind everyone that while we are very excited about entering the book and increasing our chances that much more of find our match, we are still actively looking for our own match. You can all help by spreading the word and keeping us in your thoughts. We will be ordering more of our adoption cards soon, and if you are interested I can definitely get you some to have on hand.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Waiting Family Book
Well, we're in!!! They contacted us a few days ago saying we have gone from 10th in line to 1st! They will need our profile no later than August 25th, if they receive it later than that we get bumped back to the end of the list. I'm a nervous wreck! We have lots to do yet to get it completed. How do you write about yourself in a way that conveys exactly who you are? So much so that they would choose US to parent their child? And all in six short pages?!?!
I'm going to put out one last plea for any pictures you might have of Brian and I or just one of us or us with your family or children. The more options I have the less stressed out I think I will be.
I just pray, however our profile turns out, that someone sees it and wants to meet us very soon. It's crazy to think that in a little over a month, our profile will be seen across the state by who knows how many people. One of them could be our future child's birthmother.
I'll post a copy of our final product here when we get it completed. I am hoping to get a facebook page up and running as well, we want to have another garage sale sometime in August AND I have another fundraiser I want to throw out there too. My life this summer is nothing short of crazy!
I'm going to put out one last plea for any pictures you might have of Brian and I or just one of us or us with your family or children. The more options I have the less stressed out I think I will be.
I just pray, however our profile turns out, that someone sees it and wants to meet us very soon. It's crazy to think that in a little over a month, our profile will be seen across the state by who knows how many people. One of them could be our future child's birthmother.
I'll post a copy of our final product here when we get it completed. I am hoping to get a facebook page up and running as well, we want to have another garage sale sometime in August AND I have another fundraiser I want to throw out there too. My life this summer is nothing short of crazy!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Another way I'm trying to keep track of our adoption efforts for everyone!!! Unfortunately I can't update the information with what has been donated so far... so it looks like we are starting from scratch. I'll still keep the on-going tally up top, but we'll be using this "Chip-in" widget in the future for people to donate for another fundraiser idea I have to get off the ground.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Garage Sale Update... FINALLY!
Well, it sure did take me long enough! My life feels like a whirl-wind. I finished up the garage sale, jumped right back into work, continued sorting out garage sale stuff, was pet-sitting for a friend, then had a volunteer commitment last weekend, and NOW.... I'm finally relaxing. Almost forced to actually. Apparently, at some point while working on the garage sale I re-injured my back. I have been seeing a chiropractor since last Friday and we are still trying to sort things out. I am very sore and after about 30 minutes of any kind of activity, it really starts flaring up.
Anyway, back to business! The garage sale went great! The week before was filled with errands, set up and pricing. Then Thursday morning rolled around (after two hours of sleep!) and we were open for business. We had a great big banner hanging up explaining what the sale was for, we handed out about 300 of our business cards to people, and sold lots of stuff/food too! All in all, people were very receptive to what we were there for. At the checkout we'd hand people our card with their change and explain more about what we were trying to do, and 9 times out a 10 the person would wish us luck or tell us an adoption story that they knew of. It was very cool to see people in our own community wanting to help out and wishing us the best on our journey.
What absolutely amazed me most were the little kids. We had some of the cutest neighborhood kids coming over and getting lunch and shopping our toys area. Each time they'd make a donation on top of what they paid for their new treasure. We even had a couple of young boys, probably around 10, that stopped by to shop the "free box" at the end of the driveway. They found some items and then both walked up to one of the donation jars we had out and shoved a couple of crumpled up ones in there and took one of our cards. Amazing!
I also can't say enough about the help we had. It was definitely a LONG few days and I couldn't have imagined doing it without the support of the family and friends that jumped right in. We had TONS of stuff... and TONS is not an exaggeration. We even had stuff still sitting inside not priced because there was no room to put it out. We eventually were able to price stuff throughout the day and get it out on the tables... but seriously, it was a LOT of stuff. By the time Saturday rolled around we started looking like what a "normal" garage sale would look like.
When it was all said in done, Saturday night we were able to sort through everything that was left, figure out what we wanted to hold onto for our next sale (yes we're doing it all again!), and brought a few truck loads of stuff to a local charity. We already have a small pile of things for the next sale started in our basement. So, if you didn't get a chance to go through your closets or attic, start sorting. I'm hoping that by the end of August, beginning of September we'll be able to do it all again and hopefully raise some more money and awareness to our mission.
Oh and I guess you'd like to know the money stuff too! Well it was a great turn out and when it was all done we had raised a little over $1,700!!!!! While it's a fraction of what we will need, it's definitely not bad for a week of work.
Other than garage sale stuff, there is not much else to report. We are working on trying to get a facebook page up and getting our profile ready for THE BOOK. We're still on the waiting list to get in it, but hope to get a call in the coming months. Better yet, we hope to get a call and a match long before we have to enter into the book!
Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. If you are interested, let me know and I'll get you some of our cards. We are very open to many different situations so please keep us in mind if you hear of anything. And of course, thank you all again for reading the blog, for supporting our efforts and for helping us get one step closer to parenthood!
Anyway, back to business! The garage sale went great! The week before was filled with errands, set up and pricing. Then Thursday morning rolled around (after two hours of sleep!) and we were open for business. We had a great big banner hanging up explaining what the sale was for, we handed out about 300 of our business cards to people, and sold lots of stuff/food too! All in all, people were very receptive to what we were there for. At the checkout we'd hand people our card with their change and explain more about what we were trying to do, and 9 times out a 10 the person would wish us luck or tell us an adoption story that they knew of. It was very cool to see people in our own community wanting to help out and wishing us the best on our journey.
What absolutely amazed me most were the little kids. We had some of the cutest neighborhood kids coming over and getting lunch and shopping our toys area. Each time they'd make a donation on top of what they paid for their new treasure. We even had a couple of young boys, probably around 10, that stopped by to shop the "free box" at the end of the driveway. They found some items and then both walked up to one of the donation jars we had out and shoved a couple of crumpled up ones in there and took one of our cards. Amazing!
I also can't say enough about the help we had. It was definitely a LONG few days and I couldn't have imagined doing it without the support of the family and friends that jumped right in. We had TONS of stuff... and TONS is not an exaggeration. We even had stuff still sitting inside not priced because there was no room to put it out. We eventually were able to price stuff throughout the day and get it out on the tables... but seriously, it was a LOT of stuff. By the time Saturday rolled around we started looking like what a "normal" garage sale would look like.
When it was all said in done, Saturday night we were able to sort through everything that was left, figure out what we wanted to hold onto for our next sale (yes we're doing it all again!), and brought a few truck loads of stuff to a local charity. We already have a small pile of things for the next sale started in our basement. So, if you didn't get a chance to go through your closets or attic, start sorting. I'm hoping that by the end of August, beginning of September we'll be able to do it all again and hopefully raise some more money and awareness to our mission.
Oh and I guess you'd like to know the money stuff too! Well it was a great turn out and when it was all done we had raised a little over $1,700!!!!! While it's a fraction of what we will need, it's definitely not bad for a week of work.
Other than garage sale stuff, there is not much else to report. We are working on trying to get a facebook page up and getting our profile ready for THE BOOK. We're still on the waiting list to get in it, but hope to get a call in the coming months. Better yet, we hope to get a call and a match long before we have to enter into the book!
Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. If you are interested, let me know and I'll get you some of our cards. We are very open to many different situations so please keep us in mind if you hear of anything. And of course, thank you all again for reading the blog, for supporting our efforts and for helping us get one step closer to parenthood!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Family and Food!
If you have known me for awhile, and live near by, then you have probably had some of my mom's chocolates that she makes every year around Christmas. And if you haven't had them... you are missing out!!!
Well, she decided that one way she could help raise some money was to sell her chocolates! She made a bunch up and was going to bring them down for our garage sale. Her co-workers caught wind of this and asked if she'd bring some into work for them to buy. She did... and the result was fabulous! She sold nearly all the chocolates and raised $275 towards our adoption fund!!!! And we have some left over to sell at the garage sale as well.
My dad, who still lives out in Maui, also wanted to help out. He has sent me a mini-Maui farmers market. We will have Maui Pineapples, papaya's, Maui onions and some Hawaiian Host chocolates to sell at the sale too! I've already gotten a couple of the pineapples sold and I think there will be a war over who gets the rest.
Also, my Aunt is visiting for the whole week and is helping out with the sale. I'm so thrilled to see her and hang out with her AND it's another helping hand to get things done for the big event this week. We did tons of running around today. We will start hauling stuff over the the sale location tomorrow and then Wednesday is set up and pricing... it's gonna be a long one!
Now all we need is good weather and lots of people... start praying people!
Well, she decided that one way she could help raise some money was to sell her chocolates! She made a bunch up and was going to bring them down for our garage sale. Her co-workers caught wind of this and asked if she'd bring some into work for them to buy. She did... and the result was fabulous! She sold nearly all the chocolates and raised $275 towards our adoption fund!!!! And we have some left over to sell at the garage sale as well.
My dad, who still lives out in Maui, also wanted to help out. He has sent me a mini-Maui farmers market. We will have Maui Pineapples, papaya's, Maui onions and some Hawaiian Host chocolates to sell at the sale too! I've already gotten a couple of the pineapples sold and I think there will be a war over who gets the rest.
Also, my Aunt is visiting for the whole week and is helping out with the sale. I'm so thrilled to see her and hang out with her AND it's another helping hand to get things done for the big event this week. We did tons of running around today. We will start hauling stuff over the the sale location tomorrow and then Wednesday is set up and pricing... it's gonna be a long one!
Now all we need is good weather and lots of people... start praying people!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Contact Information
We set up a couple of new ways for potential birth parents to contact us. We now have an adoption email address (KariBrianAdopt@gmail.com) and a Toll Free number (1-888-770-0083)! We also created our business cards to hand out at the garage sale, and also for our friends and family to have on hand. If you are interested in having a few cards, let me know... the more people handing them out or at least having them on hand in case you hear of a potential situation the better!
Garage sale stuff is coming along, as much as it can I suppose. I am feeling a little overwhelmed by it all. I just can't wait for two weeks from now.... maybe then I'll get some decent sleep! Oh well, good practice for when our baby comes home right!?!
Oh! And I haven't set up a ticker to keep track of the money we have raised so far but I should update you on the Creative Memories Fundraiser. Thank you again to all of you who ordered... you helped raise over $80 for our adoption fund!!! I'm continuallly amazed by the people around me that are so incredibly generous!
I can't say it enough, THANK YOU!
Garage sale stuff is coming along, as much as it can I suppose. I am feeling a little overwhelmed by it all. I just can't wait for two weeks from now.... maybe then I'll get some decent sleep! Oh well, good practice for when our baby comes home right!?!
Oh! And I haven't set up a ticker to keep track of the money we have raised so far but I should update you on the Creative Memories Fundraiser. Thank you again to all of you who ordered... you helped raise over $80 for our adoption fund!!! I'm continuallly amazed by the people around me that are so incredibly generous!
I can't say it enough, THANK YOU!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Not Much to Update
Seems it has been awhile since I have posted anything. But there really isn't much to update at this point. Brian and I are still working on gathering some pictures for our profile. If any of you have any of us together, or with a group of friends, that you can share, it would be greatly appreciated!
Our garage sale pile in the basement is getting HUGE! I can't believe the amount of stuff we have gotten, and it's not even all at our house yet! We have people hanging on to stuff until the sale as well, so the week before is going to be crazy. It's also the end of May so I will find our soon how much support we have gotten through my two great friends that raised funds through their home parties in our honor for the month of May. It's still amazing to me that any of this is happening. I have a very hard time just accepting the help and not feeling guilty or like I owe somebody something back. I'm slowly getting there, but it's very HARD for me to do.
We are on the waiting list for THE BOOK with our agency. We were the 10th couple on it, so they say it could still be a few months before we are asked to join the book. This is the book that every potential birth mom will look through to find the perfect family for her child. I really would love to avoid going in the book all together. It's one of the most expensive parts of this whole process, and if we could save the money for diapers... that would be ideal. However, I know that this journey is going to take whatever course it's suppose to, so if/when we get the call saying they are ready for our profile, then we will jump for joy at the chance to find our match that way.
I guess the last thing to update is that we are going to start working on the future nursery a bit. Nothing too major, but we just want to be more prepared for what might come. As of lately we had NOTHING for a baby... not a single thing. Just this weekend we were given a barely used infant car seat... so the process had begun. We are going to start keeping our eye out for deals on any furniture, maybe do some painting in there and start hunting for the bedding we want. I am torn about the whole process really. I don't want to have a room sitting there empty for too long, but I am such a planner that I hate to not be prepared as well. We could literally get a call tomorrow saying our baby is waiting for us at the hospital... if we were a little be ready I might have a melt down!
I guess I had more to say then I thought. Thanks for your continued support, thoughts and prayers. They mean the world to us! I'll be updating again soon to keep you posted on more fund raising efforts. We have at least one more idea up our sleeves, we just have to work out the kinks of it all. :)
Our garage sale pile in the basement is getting HUGE! I can't believe the amount of stuff we have gotten, and it's not even all at our house yet! We have people hanging on to stuff until the sale as well, so the week before is going to be crazy. It's also the end of May so I will find our soon how much support we have gotten through my two great friends that raised funds through their home parties in our honor for the month of May. It's still amazing to me that any of this is happening. I have a very hard time just accepting the help and not feeling guilty or like I owe somebody something back. I'm slowly getting there, but it's very HARD for me to do.
We are on the waiting list for THE BOOK with our agency. We were the 10th couple on it, so they say it could still be a few months before we are asked to join the book. This is the book that every potential birth mom will look through to find the perfect family for her child. I really would love to avoid going in the book all together. It's one of the most expensive parts of this whole process, and if we could save the money for diapers... that would be ideal. However, I know that this journey is going to take whatever course it's suppose to, so if/when we get the call saying they are ready for our profile, then we will jump for joy at the chance to find our match that way.
I guess the last thing to update is that we are going to start working on the future nursery a bit. Nothing too major, but we just want to be more prepared for what might come. As of lately we had NOTHING for a baby... not a single thing. Just this weekend we were given a barely used infant car seat... so the process had begun. We are going to start keeping our eye out for deals on any furniture, maybe do some painting in there and start hunting for the bedding we want. I am torn about the whole process really. I don't want to have a room sitting there empty for too long, but I am such a planner that I hate to not be prepared as well. We could literally get a call tomorrow saying our baby is waiting for us at the hospital... if we were a little be ready I might have a melt down!
I guess I had more to say then I thought. Thanks for your continued support, thoughts and prayers. They mean the world to us! I'll be updating again soon to keep you posted on more fund raising efforts. We have at least one more idea up our sleeves, we just have to work out the kinks of it all. :)
Friday, May 14, 2010
Approved!!!
We are home study approved!!!! We did it! I'm so excited and thrilled to know that at any moment, our phone could ring! While I feel a huge sense of relief that that part is over, there is still plenty that we need to work on.
We are still collecting things for the garage sale happening next month. I'm excited at the items people have donated... we are well on our way to having a huge sale with lots of different things to choose from. I need to nail down if we are going to BBQ and sell hot dogs and pop, or just pop, maybe some candy. We also need to get some fliers made up to start hanging up to advertise. I need to figure out how the heck we are going to hang up all the clothes (we need lots of hangers and something figure out to hang them on... ideas are welcome!).
We need to start working on our adoption profile. We are going to go on the waiting list to get into "The Book" of waiting families. In the mean time we have to design four pages of pictures and information that will capture the attention of our future birth parents.
Our social worker also talked to us about making up some business cards to hand out as needed. We need to set up a separate email address and phone number so that potential birth moms can contact us directly if they are thinking about setting up an adoption plan for their child.
We also have outreach training in July. This is a one day work-shop to help us brainstorm way so to find a match on our own, not through the book of waiting families. Basically a day on how to market ourselves and find our own match outside of the agency.
So yes, we are approved, but I feel like our work is just getting started! Brian and I are also just starting to talk about getting the room ready. We don't have a single thing and want to be prepared for the best case scenario... which is a match right away! I'll continue to keep you all posted!
We are still collecting things for the garage sale happening next month. I'm excited at the items people have donated... we are well on our way to having a huge sale with lots of different things to choose from. I need to nail down if we are going to BBQ and sell hot dogs and pop, or just pop, maybe some candy. We also need to get some fliers made up to start hanging up to advertise. I need to figure out how the heck we are going to hang up all the clothes (we need lots of hangers and something figure out to hang them on... ideas are welcome!).
We need to start working on our adoption profile. We are going to go on the waiting list to get into "The Book" of waiting families. In the mean time we have to design four pages of pictures and information that will capture the attention of our future birth parents.
Our social worker also talked to us about making up some business cards to hand out as needed. We need to set up a separate email address and phone number so that potential birth moms can contact us directly if they are thinking about setting up an adoption plan for their child.
We also have outreach training in July. This is a one day work-shop to help us brainstorm way so to find a match on our own, not through the book of waiting families. Basically a day on how to market ourselves and find our own match outside of the agency.
So yes, we are approved, but I feel like our work is just getting started! Brian and I are also just starting to talk about getting the room ready. We don't have a single thing and want to be prepared for the best case scenario... which is a match right away! I'll continue to keep you all posted!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Scrapbooking Fun!
Well, we had our first fundraiser for the Adoption Fund! It was so overwhelming to be surrounded by people who want this SO badly for us. No matter what amount of money is raised, I think it was a huge success! Final numbers won't be in until the end of the month because my friend, Marit, is still taking orders through the end of the month for us. I'm thinking I need to get a "ticker" made up to post on my blog that will show the amount of money that people have so generously donated to our cause.
I am truly struggling to find a way to thank everyone that has helped out so far. It's so hard for me to just accept the support for what it is and not feel like I "owe" people. I hope that it will get easier as time goes on.
Here's a picture from the wonderful night! I'm pretty sad though... Marit had to leave for a bit to pick up her girls and I really needed to get home because I had an early morning. So, this is ALMOST everyone that showed, minus Marit who organized the whole thing!
I am truly struggling to find a way to thank everyone that has helped out so far. It's so hard for me to just accept the support for what it is and not feel like I "owe" people. I hope that it will get easier as time goes on.
Here's a picture from the wonderful night! I'm pretty sad though... Marit had to leave for a bit to pick up her girls and I really needed to get home because I had an early morning. So, this is ALMOST everyone that showed, minus Marit who organized the whole thing!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
In just 9 more days...
We will be officially approved and waiting for our match.... I can't even describe how incredible that feels.
Our first meeting with our social worker went great today. We basically just sat around and talked for two ours about our lives and she answered a lot of questions we had. It was awesome. I feel so great about the path we are on and just can't wait for each step to be here.
At the end of it all, I tried to ask a question and it just didn't come out right. She knew exactly what I was getting at though. I wanted to know if she thought people would like us, if we would seemed appealing to a birth mom and how quickly she thought things would happen. She completely reassured me. Granted I know that we might still have a LONG road ahead of us, but I feel much better after her comments. She says we have a lot going for us (our ages, jobs, openness, etc.) and that if she had to guess our wait probably wouldn't be longer than a year, IF THAT! I'll update more after the next visit!
We have our first fundraiser tomorrow night - scrap booking! And then we are going to start focusing on our profile and getting the garage sale organized. Lots to do!
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers... they are working! I hope so badly that with the continued support from our friends and family that we will have a baby in our house by next summer :)
Our first meeting with our social worker went great today. We basically just sat around and talked for two ours about our lives and she answered a lot of questions we had. It was awesome. I feel so great about the path we are on and just can't wait for each step to be here.
At the end of it all, I tried to ask a question and it just didn't come out right. She knew exactly what I was getting at though. I wanted to know if she thought people would like us, if we would seemed appealing to a birth mom and how quickly she thought things would happen. She completely reassured me. Granted I know that we might still have a LONG road ahead of us, but I feel much better after her comments. She says we have a lot going for us (our ages, jobs, openness, etc.) and that if she had to guess our wait probably wouldn't be longer than a year, IF THAT! I'll update more after the next visit!
We have our first fundraiser tomorrow night - scrap booking! And then we are going to start focusing on our profile and getting the garage sale organized. Lots to do!
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers... they are working! I hope so badly that with the continued support from our friends and family that we will have a baby in our house by next summer :)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Dates!
We have some dates to share with you all!
Our friends have offered for us to have our garage sale at their house. Their neighborhood is much more established than our new one and they also have a nice neighborhood sale that we are going to join in on. So, that means our garage sale will be Thursday, June 17th and Friday, June 18th (with Saturday being a possibility). We don't have times set up quite yet, but I'll be sure to keep you all posted.
We have had a lot of response from people wanting to donate some things to the sale. We are so thrilled that so many people are able to help us out. So far we have a fair amount of clothing. If you have any other things to help us bring variety to our sale, we'd really appreciate it. Let us know if you have something large that will need to be hauled with a truck. We'll have to make arrangements with some family or friends to help us out with that.
AND.... we have our home study dates set!!!!!
May 5th and May 14th, the social worker will be coming to the house to interview us and check things out. I'm so excited!!!!! After the first meeting we will know for sure if a third is necessary, so keep your fingers crossed that we won't need to set up another date. If all goes well, and we are approved, then we will officially be WAITING FOR THE CALL in 24 days!!!!!!!!!!
I'll let you know how things go, I'm not too worried about the house, more so if they will like us or not. But I'm a worry-wort... it's what I do best :)
Our friends have offered for us to have our garage sale at their house. Their neighborhood is much more established than our new one and they also have a nice neighborhood sale that we are going to join in on. So, that means our garage sale will be Thursday, June 17th and Friday, June 18th (with Saturday being a possibility). We don't have times set up quite yet, but I'll be sure to keep you all posted.
We have had a lot of response from people wanting to donate some things to the sale. We are so thrilled that so many people are able to help us out. So far we have a fair amount of clothing. If you have any other things to help us bring variety to our sale, we'd really appreciate it. Let us know if you have something large that will need to be hauled with a truck. We'll have to make arrangements with some family or friends to help us out with that.
AND.... we have our home study dates set!!!!!
May 5th and May 14th, the social worker will be coming to the house to interview us and check things out. I'm so excited!!!!! After the first meeting we will know for sure if a third is necessary, so keep your fingers crossed that we won't need to set up another date. If all goes well, and we are approved, then we will officially be WAITING FOR THE CALL in 24 days!!!!!!!!!!
I'll let you know how things go, I'm not too worried about the house, more so if they will like us or not. But I'm a worry-wort... it's what I do best :)
Friday, April 16, 2010
Lots to think about...
Yesterday and today we spent 16 hours completely immersed in adoption. It was so great, but somewhat overwhelming. Thursday we learned about the entire IOA (Infant Open Adoption) process, about dealing with grief and loss (our own and our child's), moving on from infertility, and met with a panel of families that have been through adoption before. It was wonderful just sitting in a room full of people that could relate to pretty much everything that came out of your mouth. We just understood, no questions asked.
Today we had a speaker come in and talk to us about making our profile. It was quite interesting and so much fun to think about what ours will look like when we are done with it. We talked a lot about outreach and trying to find our birth mother on our own. This is an area that I am always thinking about. I would be thrilled if we were able to find a match through someone that we know. I hope that everyone reading this blog knows that YOU can be an advocate for us. YOU can help us spread the word about our adoption plans, the more people that know, the faster this could all come together!
The second half of the day was spent on inter-racial adoption. We talked about the differences between race, culture and ethnicity. How our child will be able to find cultural identity in our family and in our community. It really gave us a TON to think about. Brian and I talked non-stop about this topic all the way home. It really struck a cord with us!
The key points that I took away from these classes were that 1) WE are the gift for the child, the child is not a gift for us, 2) the birth mother (or parents) have the same exact fears as we do, and 3) that no matter what we choose to do, adoption is going to enrich our lives in ways we didn't even know it was possible.
We are going to be in contact with our social worker this next week to set up our meetings (2-3 of them) for our home study. Once that is done, she makes a recommendation about us and if we are approved... then we are officially ready to accept a match!!!
Today we had a speaker come in and talk to us about making our profile. It was quite interesting and so much fun to think about what ours will look like when we are done with it. We talked a lot about outreach and trying to find our birth mother on our own. This is an area that I am always thinking about. I would be thrilled if we were able to find a match through someone that we know. I hope that everyone reading this blog knows that YOU can be an advocate for us. YOU can help us spread the word about our adoption plans, the more people that know, the faster this could all come together!
The second half of the day was spent on inter-racial adoption. We talked about the differences between race, culture and ethnicity. How our child will be able to find cultural identity in our family and in our community. It really gave us a TON to think about. Brian and I talked non-stop about this topic all the way home. It really struck a cord with us!
The key points that I took away from these classes were that 1) WE are the gift for the child, the child is not a gift for us, 2) the birth mother (or parents) have the same exact fears as we do, and 3) that no matter what we choose to do, adoption is going to enrich our lives in ways we didn't even know it was possible.
We are going to be in contact with our social worker this next week to set up our meetings (2-3 of them) for our home study. Once that is done, she makes a recommendation about us and if we are approved... then we are officially ready to accept a match!!!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Doubly Blessed
I don't even have words to describe how grateful I am. After reading my last post, another good friend of mine offered to do something very similar through her candle business. I was floored and am still pretty shell shocked with the amount of support we are getting. Here is what she had to say:
"Hey Kari! I just saw your blog about your friend who sells Creative Memories doing a fund-raiser for you this month, and I would LOVE to do the same thing for you with my Gold Canyon business!!! I will donate the same percentage from all my sales (Internet AND parties) through the end of May. That way if someone wants to support you, but doesn't scrapbook, they'd have another option. I just want to help you out any way I can!!
I know that what goes around comes around, and you so deserve this baby!"
So here is a link to the website where you can place orders online:
www.mygc.com/mandyrtaylor
All I can say is THANK YOU SO MUCH MANDY!
I can honestly say that I have some of the greatest friends around...I am forever thankful to have you all in my life!
"Hey Kari! I just saw your blog about your friend who sells Creative Memories doing a fund-raiser for you this month, and I would LOVE to do the same thing for you with my Gold Canyon business!!! I will donate the same percentage from all my sales (Internet AND parties) through the end of May. That way if someone wants to support you, but doesn't scrapbook, they'd have another option. I just want to help you out any way I can!!
I know that what goes around comes around, and you so deserve this baby!"So here is a link to the website where you can place orders online:
www.mygc.com/mandyrtaylor
All I can say is THANK YOU SO MUCH MANDY!
I can honestly say that I have some of the greatest friends around...I am forever thankful to have you all in my life!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Our First Fundraiser!
We are so blessed! There are so many people in our corner and I don't think you all realize just how much it truly means to both of us. Most of the time I can hardly believe how many people out there want this for us, just as badly as we do ourselves. So, first of all, THANK YOU!!!
So, here is the great news! A very good friend of mine just started selling Creative Memories stuff, and has offered to have a party in our honor! We will be having an actual party on May 6th at a friends house where people can bring there stuff and work on projects, shop the catalog, hang out and have fun... you should definitely let me know if you want to come to that! It's going to be a TON of fun!
But, if you are unable to come to the party and still want to buy some stuff, or know someone else that would want to buy some stuff, you can use the information below to order online! Brian and I will be getting 20% of what she would typically be taking home... that will add up fast and will be SOOOOOO much help to us and our mounting bills for the adoption process.Any orders place now through the month of May will be applied to this fundraiser.
It is very easy to order things online following these few steps:
Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!
So, here is the great news! A very good friend of mine just started selling Creative Memories stuff, and has offered to have a party in our honor! We will be having an actual party on May 6th at a friends house where people can bring there stuff and work on projects, shop the catalog, hang out and have fun... you should definitely let me know if you want to come to that! It's going to be a TON of fun!
But, if you are unable to come to the party and still want to buy some stuff, or know someone else that would want to buy some stuff, you can use the information below to order online! Brian and I will be getting 20% of what she would typically be taking home... that will add up fast and will be SOOOOOO much help to us and our mounting bills for the adoption process.Any orders place now through the month of May will be applied to this fundraiser.
It is very easy to order things online following these few steps:
- Go to: www.creativememories.com
- Click on "Shop Products" to find items.
- When you are done shopping, click on "Shopping Bag" on the top right corner of the web page to checkout.
- Click "Continue to Checkout"
- Type "Marit Ortega, MN" in the consultant search.
- When my name and information pops up, click "Checkout" to complete your order.
- Fill in required info and submit!
Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Waiting for the call...
Well, the agency contacted us and they officially have ALL of the documents they need to open our case :) YAY!!!
We are going to send in our check for the home study this week so that we can get paired with our case worker and get this show on the road. I'm so excited, thrilled, nervous, scared, and excited all over again! They say all the time that the home study is not a white glove test.... but I just feel like the house has GOT to be perfect if they are going to approve us. We are going to be working our butts off these next couple of weeks to get everything just right. Touching up paint, hanging up photos, deep cleaning EVERYTHING!
We also have our Pre-Adoption Education Classes on the 15th-16th of this month. that's less than 10 days away!
I just can't help be feel like there *COULD* be someone out there pregnant with OUR child.... it just gives me chills!
We are going to send in our check for the home study this week so that we can get paired with our case worker and get this show on the road. I'm so excited, thrilled, nervous, scared, and excited all over again! They say all the time that the home study is not a white glove test.... but I just feel like the house has GOT to be perfect if they are going to approve us. We are going to be working our butts off these next couple of weeks to get everything just right. Touching up paint, hanging up photos, deep cleaning EVERYTHING!
We also have our Pre-Adoption Education Classes on the 15th-16th of this month. that's less than 10 days away!
I just can't help be feel like there *COULD* be someone out there pregnant with OUR child.... it just gives me chills!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Physically Done
So I had my physical on Wednesday, which means we have every part of our initial application in and are now waiting for our social worker to contact us to start the interviewing process. I'm anxious for them to call, I want this process to keep moving along. I hate waiting!
Unfortunately, I am having a bad reaction to the tetanus vaccination I got during my physical. Basically I'm dealing with flu like symptoms, without the actual flu. I was puking and had a fever on Friday, today I don't think I have a fever but I have a really horrible headache and feel pretty tired and achy all over. I hope this resolves soon so I can enjoy the gorgeous weather and my days off.
That's all for now, I'll post more when we hear from the adoption agency!
Unfortunately, I am having a bad reaction to the tetanus vaccination I got during my physical. Basically I'm dealing with flu like symptoms, without the actual flu. I was puking and had a fever on Friday, today I don't think I have a fever but I have a really horrible headache and feel pretty tired and achy all over. I hope this resolves soon so I can enjoy the gorgeous weather and my days off.
That's all for now, I'll post more when we hear from the adoption agency!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Pending Approval
We got it done! Actually, I'm a bit behind on updating. I got all my questions answers a little over a week ago, and Brian had been working on his over last weekend. We both got them done and we were able to mail out our entire application on Tuesday! Minus my physical, which isn't scheduled until the end of this month. Funny that I have been to see a DR at least twice a month for the last 2 1/2 years and yet they still need to see me for an actual physical.
So now we wait. I still have this sinking feeling that something will come up and we won't get approved. I know it's probably silly. What more could they be looking for in adoptive parents, but still, the fear won't leave me. I keep praying that our paperwork gets processed quickly, our back ground checks go through without a hitch and we get matched with our social worker before we know it. But nothing in the category of "starting my family" has ever gone off without a hitch, so why would this?
We are scheduled for our adoption classes on April 15-16th, so that's the next step at this point.
I am still planning on having a garage sale and really appreciate everyone that has already volunteered some items for our sale. I haven't nailed down a date yet, I'm hoping to do that in the next week or two so I can recruit some help for pricing things, and help the weekend of. I really can't thank everyone enough for your support. It means the world to us!
We are always looking for new and fun ways to try and scrape together the money that we'll need to bring our baby home. So, if you have any other fund raising type ideas, please feel free to share them with us!
So now we wait. I still have this sinking feeling that something will come up and we won't get approved. I know it's probably silly. What more could they be looking for in adoptive parents, but still, the fear won't leave me. I keep praying that our paperwork gets processed quickly, our back ground checks go through without a hitch and we get matched with our social worker before we know it. But nothing in the category of "starting my family" has ever gone off without a hitch, so why would this?
We are scheduled for our adoption classes on April 15-16th, so that's the next step at this point.
I am still planning on having a garage sale and really appreciate everyone that has already volunteered some items for our sale. I haven't nailed down a date yet, I'm hoping to do that in the next week or two so I can recruit some help for pricing things, and help the weekend of. I really can't thank everyone enough for your support. It means the world to us!
We are always looking for new and fun ways to try and scrape together the money that we'll need to bring our baby home. So, if you have any other fund raising type ideas, please feel free to share them with us!
Friday, February 26, 2010
The easy part is done...
So we got our application and I am super pumped to just get it done and send it back. We went in and got finger printed on Tuesday... hopefully there isn't something in my past that I have blocked out ;) We have signed a TON of authorization forms and filled in basic information on the both of us. The hard part is looming. We have a Adoption Study Questionnaire that needs to be filled out with 47 questions on it, and not with one word answers.
Here's a sampling of the things we need to answer before we can be considered for adoption:
1. Describe the family in which you were raised, including parents, siblings, and extended family: Do you think I can say they are all crazy but I love them?
2. Describe the arrangements in your Will or plans for your children should something happen to you: Did you all figure out arrangements in your will before you thought about having a child... I doubt it. But if you did... good for you, your approved!
3. How would you advocate for your child in the school system?: Really, I never once thought about this... did our parents really ADVOCATE for us???
4. How does your family and support network feel about your adoption plan?: I don't know, ask them. Am I suppose to come right out and ask people, or just answer how I THINK they feel. What if they are supportive to my face and not really supportive in the end?
5. Discuss how you will make a child part of your family: Seriously... did you and your hubby sit down when you were pregnant and ask yourselves this question???
6. Describe your plans to assist your child to understand and value his/her racial and cultural background: Yep, my parents never did this....
7.How do you plan to raise your child (religious affiliation), and how do you plan to resolve any conflicts if you child has different religious beliefs?: Again, did you all think about this stuff, or is it just me??
While I do often as the question WHY... I totally get the process. I understand WHY we have to answer these kinds of questions and what they are trying to get at.
Anyway, next time you think you want to have a kid, sit down and ask yourself these 7 questions, and then let me know when you are done... there are 40 more! When you done with those questions, I'll review them and tell you if you are approved. :)
Wish us luck!
Here's a sampling of the things we need to answer before we can be considered for adoption:
1. Describe the family in which you were raised, including parents, siblings, and extended family: Do you think I can say they are all crazy but I love them?
2. Describe the arrangements in your Will or plans for your children should something happen to you: Did you all figure out arrangements in your will before you thought about having a child... I doubt it. But if you did... good for you, your approved!
3. How would you advocate for your child in the school system?: Really, I never once thought about this... did our parents really ADVOCATE for us???
4. How does your family and support network feel about your adoption plan?: I don't know, ask them. Am I suppose to come right out and ask people, or just answer how I THINK they feel. What if they are supportive to my face and not really supportive in the end?
5. Discuss how you will make a child part of your family: Seriously... did you and your hubby sit down when you were pregnant and ask yourselves this question???
6. Describe your plans to assist your child to understand and value his/her racial and cultural background: Yep, my parents never did this....
7.How do you plan to raise your child (religious affiliation), and how do you plan to resolve any conflicts if you child has different religious beliefs?: Again, did you all think about this stuff, or is it just me??
While I do often as the question WHY... I totally get the process. I understand WHY we have to answer these kinds of questions and what they are trying to get at.
Anyway, next time you think you want to have a kid, sit down and ask yourself these 7 questions, and then let me know when you are done... there are 40 more! When you done with those questions, I'll review them and tell you if you are approved. :)
Wish us luck!
Friday, February 19, 2010
It's here!
Finally!!!!
Got the information on Wednesday... sorry it took me so long to update. It's been a LONG week for me. I started looking through everything, and there is a LOT of stuff we need to fill out. People joke all the time at the shelter I work at that adopting an animal is worse than adopting a child (in the paperwork aspect)... they have no idea what they are talking about.
If all goes as planned we'll have our application done and in the mail in about a month. Then we'll attend the training days on April 15-16th. After completing that we'll be paired with our social worker and start the home study and interviewing process. That takes a couple of months depending on scheduling. SOOOO.... that means if all goes as planned that we could be approved and waiting to be matched by the end of June!
Someone could literally be pregnant with our child RIGHT NOW! I get goose bumps every time I think about it!
Off to start reading over my pile of paperwork!
Got the information on Wednesday... sorry it took me so long to update. It's been a LONG week for me. I started looking through everything, and there is a LOT of stuff we need to fill out. People joke all the time at the shelter I work at that adopting an animal is worse than adopting a child (in the paperwork aspect)... they have no idea what they are talking about.
If all goes as planned we'll have our application done and in the mail in about a month. Then we'll attend the training days on April 15-16th. After completing that we'll be paired with our social worker and start the home study and interviewing process. That takes a couple of months depending on scheduling. SOOOO.... that means if all goes as planned that we could be approved and waiting to be matched by the end of June!
Someone could literally be pregnant with our child RIGHT NOW! I get goose bumps every time I think about it!
Off to start reading over my pile of paperwork!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Power of Positive Thinking...
So every time I post saying that I'm getting anxious and impatient for something to happen, something happens! So I thought that I would post how badly I really want our adoption paperwork to arrive so I can really get started on this entire process.....
SO I HOPE THIS WORKS!
Once we get the paperwork, I'll be working like a mad-women to get everything in order so we can hopefully be approved by early spring and have our home study done by early summer. My mind has been spinning trying to come up with creative ways to raise some funds for our first big investment in the process (the home study). I'll keep you all posted if I come up with something. For right now, I'm still trying to focus on our BIG garage sale this summer.... man I hope we sell lots of CRAP!
SO I HOPE THIS WORKS!
Once we get the paperwork, I'll be working like a mad-women to get everything in order so we can hopefully be approved by early spring and have our home study done by early summer. My mind has been spinning trying to come up with creative ways to raise some funds for our first big investment in the process (the home study). I'll keep you all posted if I come up with something. For right now, I'm still trying to focus on our BIG garage sale this summer.... man I hope we sell lots of CRAP!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
We found them!
Brian and I just got home from our orientation with another adoption agency, and we loved them! This is it.... we have started the process. We will send in our pre-registration form tomorrow and await our LARGE packet of application materials. I'm so beyond excited! I feel like I'm doing something now... and more importantly I feel like we are doing the RIGHT thing. Tonight just felt right. Everything about it fit us. Something clicked and I just knew... these are the people who are going to help us find our future child.
So, as far as a time line goes, they say that it can take up to a month to get your application complete. It all depends on you and how fast you gather all your information. There will be TONS to do... but I can't wait! I can't wait to feel like I'm working towards something, towards something so big and wonderful I can't even describe it.
I'm just happy.
So, as far as a time line goes, they say that it can take up to a month to get your application complete. It all depends on you and how fast you gather all your information. There will be TONS to do... but I can't wait! I can't wait to feel like I'm working towards something, towards something so big and wonderful I can't even describe it.
I'm just happy.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Is it time to start yet???
I feel like we have been in the same spot for so long already. With MA I always felt like I was doing something, usually physically to my body and then waiting for a "quick" result in a couple of weeks. This seems to be going much slower. I know that once we finally choose an agency, that we'll get busy with the application process and everything that follows. I just want to that stuff to start now!
We have one more orientation on Thursday and then we'll be able to decide what we are doing. After that, it's the anticipation of being accepted into an agency. It's hard for me not to think about the what if's... what if they don't accept us, what if we really can't start our adoption process now because of certain rules, what if a birth mom doesn't pick us.... WHAT IF.
I'll keep you all posted, but for now there isn't much to tell. It's just me waiting, very impatiently for this process to really get started.
We have one more orientation on Thursday and then we'll be able to decide what we are doing. After that, it's the anticipation of being accepted into an agency. It's hard for me not to think about the what if's... what if they don't accept us, what if we really can't start our adoption process now because of certain rules, what if a birth mom doesn't pick us.... WHAT IF.
I'll keep you all posted, but for now there isn't much to tell. It's just me waiting, very impatiently for this process to really get started.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Finding Myself Again
It's amazing how much of myself I have lost of the last two plus years. I feel like I was giving so much of my body, mind and spirit to TTC that now that I'm not in it anymore, I don't even know who I am. Who am I if I'm not trying everything I possibly can to get pregnant? I feel like I wasn't as good of a friend or wife or daughter or employee all because of infertility. How can one tiny part of who you are take over so quickly?
Slowly over the last few weeks I have realized how much of myself I had lost and it has been fun getting back to "normal" again. I feel clearer, lighter, more at ease than I have in such a long time. I feel like I can be the wife I know that I once was and should be. I feel like I can be the friend that I know I haven't been for awhile. I feel like I will be more focused in all aspects of my life. I feel good.
And beyond being a better person in my relationships with others, the relationship I have with myself is much better. It's hard when you are the "infertile one" not to feel like you are broken and useless. I'm still infertile, but because I'm not throwing myself into MA every second of everyday, it's easy for me to just feel like myself again. It didn't matter what I did to my mind or body while we were doing infertility treatments, as long as it got us one step closer to me being pregnant. Along that road, it took it's toll. But now, I am happy to say that I'm taking strides to help find the old me again. I'm making decisions that will help in every aspect of my life - mind, body and soul. I'll probably always be infertile - but it will never again take a hold of me like it once did. I feel like the next time I am faced with MA, I'll have the upper hand. Until then, I know that our baby is out there waiting for us. I just keep praying.
Slowly over the last few weeks I have realized how much of myself I had lost and it has been fun getting back to "normal" again. I feel clearer, lighter, more at ease than I have in such a long time. I feel like I can be the wife I know that I once was and should be. I feel like I can be the friend that I know I haven't been for awhile. I feel like I will be more focused in all aspects of my life. I feel good.
And beyond being a better person in my relationships with others, the relationship I have with myself is much better. It's hard when you are the "infertile one" not to feel like you are broken and useless. I'm still infertile, but because I'm not throwing myself into MA every second of everyday, it's easy for me to just feel like myself again. It didn't matter what I did to my mind or body while we were doing infertility treatments, as long as it got us one step closer to me being pregnant. Along that road, it took it's toll. But now, I am happy to say that I'm taking strides to help find the old me again. I'm making decisions that will help in every aspect of my life - mind, body and soul. I'll probably always be infertile - but it will never again take a hold of me like it once did. I feel like the next time I am faced with MA, I'll have the upper hand. Until then, I know that our baby is out there waiting for us. I just keep praying.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Planning Ahead
Brian and I spent pretty much the whole day cleaning in our basement and spare room. It really needed a sprucing up. In the process I decided on our first big "fundraiser". We have a whole corner dedicated to our June project... a HUGE garage sale! I'm pretty excited about for a lot of reasons. 1)We get to get rid of a bunch of stuff... I love doing that!, 2) It has proven to be a great source of income for other couples wanting to raise money for their adoption, and 3) I can get my friends and family involved in our venture. So I'm going to put it out there now... if you have items, big or small, and would like to donate them to our garage sale we would GREATLY appreciate it. I will be doing some heavy advertising in the papers to try to drum up business. With each item I add to our sale pile I feel like it's one step closer to realizing our dreams of becoming a parents!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
My first post...
I never thought I would become a blogger. I actually still don't know why people would have any interest in what I have to say. But, in light of some new events taking place in our life, I thought that it might be a good idea to keep people up to date on what is going on as we enter the next stage of our life.
As many of you already know, we have been desperately trying to start a family over the last two-ish years. The last 15 months have been filled with endless appointments, procedures, pills, needles, medications, mood swings (Just ask Brian), and disappointments. If you have never struggled with infertility, it can be a hard thing for anyone to understand or even know what to say to someone going through something so foreign. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband that has been there for me every step of the way. We also have a large network of friends and family that have been a huge support system for us. After struggling for some time, we came to a conclusion about a month ago that December would be our last cycle of fertility treatments. We are by no means abandoning the idea of having biological children one day. We just realized that we don't have to have a biological child to make our dreams of starting our family and becoming parents come true.
The relief that comes with this kind of decision is indescribable. A huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel like I can breathe again. The entire process of TTC was slowly draining me of any hope that I once had at becoming a mother. And now, even though we have a long road ahead of us, I know that it will end in the two of us holding our precious child in our arms. The idea of it literally brings tears to my eyes.
I started off by buy a book, "Idiots guide to Adoption". No joke, it was and still is a TON of help for me. I had always wanted to adopt someday, but hadn't the slightest idea where to even start. Since then, we have made several decisions. We are going to pursue a domestic infant open adoption. We have narrowed our agency search down to two or three that we will be meeting with in the next couple of weeks. My goal is that by the end of the month we will have finally settled on an agency and will have submitted our application.
What I have learned about adoption is that nothing about this process is going to be easy. It costs a
I guess that's it for now, I'm sure there will be plenty more to come. Thanks for reading!
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