Over the last week we have been in contact with our Case Worker who is the mediator between us and our BM. The case worker takes the BM to all of her doctors appointments and assists her with anything that she might need. We have confirmed our trip to meet our BM on January 11-12th. We will fly into Orlando, have dinner with the BM (birthmother), BF (birthfather) and the case worker. This dinner will allow us to get to know our BM and BF and for them to learn all about us. We are really looking forward to meeting them! Our case worker stated they are excited to meet us as well. Then, if all goes as planned we are to go with our BM to have a 3D ultrasound the next morning. This was a surprise to us! Our case worker mentioned it and said that our BM is okay with allowing us to go with her. So, hopefully if they are able to get this ultrasound scheduled while we are in town, we will find out the sex of the baby and see what he or she looks like! After the ultrasound we will have lunch together and then head back to Kansas City. It will be a packed two day trip but we are super excited for January to get here.
Only one more day before our Thanksgiving celebration! Glen is picking up my sister, nieces and David at the airport tomorrow afternoon. Then Glen's mom, sister, brother-in-law and nephew will get into town tomorrow night. We are expecting 18 family members at our house on Thanksgiving Day! We have so much to be thankful for and really owe it all to God. He has walked with us every step of the way and we thank Him for the path He has led us on.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Boy or Girl?
As I mentioned in my last post, we were hoping to find out the gender of the baby over the past few weeks. Well, we are still waiting to get the news! The birthmother went in for her ultrasound and the baby wouldn't cooperate for them to see if it is a boy or a girl. So, as we seem to be so good at waiting, we will wait some more!
We spoke with the attorney in Florida this past week. Everything is going smooth with the birthmother as planned. When she went in for her last check-up she was measuring 3 1/2 weeks bigger than the week she was in. Sounds to me like either a big baby or the baby might come sooner than planned. After discussing things with the attorney, Glen and I have decided we will meet the birthmother sometime in early January. We have been looking into flights to the Orlando area as the birthmother lives outside of Orlando. This meeting will take place with a representative from the attorney's office. Any time we meet with the BM or send her cards, etc. it will be mediated by an individual from the law office. This ensures everyone that everything is done legally. We are learning alot about laws these days!
Glen and I also spoke with a BM from our adoption agency this week. It is a service that our agency provides to prepare us for when we meet our BM. The BM we spoke with works for our agency and placed her child for adoption 19 years ago. She gave us great insight on what type of questions the BM might ask us and what questions are acceptable to ask her. She was very great to work with and told us to remember that this is just as emotional for us as it is for the BM.
I can't believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Glen & I are preparing to host it at our house again this year. This is Glen's favorite holiday and he can't wait for the day to be here. We plan to have about 20 family members over to share in this wonderful holiday. Glen's family will stay with us for a few days while they are in town and my sister and niece's will be staying with my mom. We are super excited to spend this time with our family.
We spoke with the attorney in Florida this past week. Everything is going smooth with the birthmother as planned. When she went in for her last check-up she was measuring 3 1/2 weeks bigger than the week she was in. Sounds to me like either a big baby or the baby might come sooner than planned. After discussing things with the attorney, Glen and I have decided we will meet the birthmother sometime in early January. We have been looking into flights to the Orlando area as the birthmother lives outside of Orlando. This meeting will take place with a representative from the attorney's office. Any time we meet with the BM or send her cards, etc. it will be mediated by an individual from the law office. This ensures everyone that everything is done legally. We are learning alot about laws these days!
Glen and I also spoke with a BM from our adoption agency this week. It is a service that our agency provides to prepare us for when we meet our BM. The BM we spoke with works for our agency and placed her child for adoption 19 years ago. She gave us great insight on what type of questions the BM might ask us and what questions are acceptable to ask her. She was very great to work with and told us to remember that this is just as emotional for us as it is for the BM.
I can't believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Glen & I are preparing to host it at our house again this year. This is Glen's favorite holiday and he can't wait for the day to be here. We plan to have about 20 family members over to share in this wonderful holiday. Glen's family will stay with us for a few days while they are in town and my sister and niece's will be staying with my mom. We are super excited to spend this time with our family.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
March 14, 2011
We have officially been matched with a birthmohter and her due date is March 14, 2011!!!!! Glen and I are both so excited and can't wait for the arrival of the baby. We were matched with a birthmother from Florida last Sunday, October
17th. We hope to find out the gender of the baby in the next week or two.
We can't explain the emotions that we have gone through in the last week. God is shining down on us and we are so thankful for His love. From the start of this journey, we have followed where He has lead us and we are so grateful to be where we are today.
We ask that our friends & family pray for the birthmother: that she delivers a healthy baby and prayers for her to be at peace with her decision in her adoption plan.
Thank you all for your support and prayers on this journey we have begun!
17th. We hope to find out the gender of the baby in the next week or two.
We can't explain the emotions that we have gone through in the last week. God is shining down on us and we are so thankful for His love. From the start of this journey, we have followed where He has lead us and we are so grateful to be where we are today.
We ask that our friends & family pray for the birthmother: that she delivers a healthy baby and prayers for her to be at peace with her decision in her adoption plan.
Thank you all for your support and prayers on this journey we have begun!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Positive Adoption Language
As you have probably figured out by now, neither of the 2 BM's that we submitted our profile book to worked out. One of the BM's chose another family within our same referral service but located in South Carolina. The other BM has not made an adoption plan as of now. When we heard the news that we were not chosen it was very upsetting. Glen said it perfect, it felt like seeing a negative on a pregnancy test. Even though there are so many possibilities out there, just sending the book to a BM is emotional. Thinking that this could be the one. I hope to not get tied up and emotional about each situation but in reality, it is difficult not too. So, hopefully this week will bring more BM's and more possibilities for us.
Glen and I attended an educational workshop provided by our agency that performed our homestudy. We learned a lot of information and wanted to share some of it with you. One of the more interesting things we would like to share is the positive adoption language. The following positive adoption language is used instead of the negative language that helps perpetuate the myth that adoption is second best. By using positive adoption language, we educate others about adoption.
Positive Language:
Placed baby for adoption
Made an adoption plan
Chose adoption
Parenting/deciding to parent
Birth parent
Could not conceive
Negative Language:
Gave up a baby
Gave away a baby
Put up for adoption
Keeping the baby
"Real" parent
Couldn't have their "own" child
I know I have used the negative language in the past. Now that I am educating myself on the subject of adoption I cringe thinking about who I may have offended. The BM's love their children enough to give them life. That is the greatest gift of all and I respect the BM's who chose life over the alternative.
Glen and I attended an educational workshop provided by our agency that performed our homestudy. We learned a lot of information and wanted to share some of it with you. One of the more interesting things we would like to share is the positive adoption language. The following positive adoption language is used instead of the negative language that helps perpetuate the myth that adoption is second best. By using positive adoption language, we educate others about adoption.
Positive Language:
Placed baby for adoption
Made an adoption plan
Chose adoption
Parenting/deciding to parent
Birth parent
Could not conceive
Negative Language:
Gave up a baby
Gave away a baby
Put up for adoption
Keeping the baby
"Real" parent
Couldn't have their "own" child
I know I have used the negative language in the past. Now that I am educating myself on the subject of adoption I cringe thinking about who I may have offended. The BM's love their children enough to give them life. That is the greatest gift of all and I respect the BM's who chose life over the alternative.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Two Years Ago
I can't believe it has been 2 years since we said goodbye to our sweet angel, Annabelle. It seems like it was just yesterday but at the same time, looking back over the two years it seems like it has been an eternity. Today started off with a call from my mom wishing me a good day and prayers to be strong throughout the day. All in all, I actually had a good day. Tiffany and Rylee visited and brought a beautiful flower arrangement for my office. I also received an email from a prospect customer that I have been calling on for more than 6 years that finally told me I got their business! A Step Ahead Adoption Service called to give us a new potential birthmom update too! Then I left work and headed to the cemetery to spend some time in prayer. It felt great to be there and feel the sense of peace that I get when I am there. It is such a beautiful cemetery and in the next month the changing trees will make it even more breath taking. I arrived home to a pink balloon and bow on our tree that I bought Glen for Father's Day last year. Even better, I walked in to two cases of wine that my stepdad had brought back from St.Louis and a dozen pink roses my mom had placed on our kitchen table! I am so grateful for my family and friends that have supported us through this journey we have been on. I can't imagine getting through the bad days without someone there to lean on for support.
Glen and I were talking last night about what we have been through the past two years. We don't go a day without thinking about Annabelle and wishing that she was here with us. We see many two year olds and wonder what Annabelle would be like at two. Along with the loss of our daughter, we have struggled with infertility since then. We never would have imagined we would be where we are right now. God has a funny way of showing you that He is in charge and has other plans for us. We may not know why things happen but I am sure in the future we will look back on this time and see why God has chosen this path for us. We have definitely let go and let God.
Update on the adoption front: we sent our profile book off to two birthmothers this week! One BM is in Kansas and due January 25th with a baby boy, and the other BM is due late October in Oklahoma with a baby boy as well! We welcome all prayers that one of them might choose us.
Glen's mom is coming in town this weekend to visit. We plan to spend time with family, take her to our neighborhood block party and do a lot of good eating!
Glen and I were talking last night about what we have been through the past two years. We don't go a day without thinking about Annabelle and wishing that she was here with us. We see many two year olds and wonder what Annabelle would be like at two. Along with the loss of our daughter, we have struggled with infertility since then. We never would have imagined we would be where we are right now. God has a funny way of showing you that He is in charge and has other plans for us. We may not know why things happen but I am sure in the future we will look back on this time and see why God has chosen this path for us. We have definitely let go and let God.
Update on the adoption front: we sent our profile book off to two birthmothers this week! One BM is in Kansas and due January 25th with a baby boy, and the other BM is due late October in Oklahoma with a baby boy as well! We welcome all prayers that one of them might choose us.
Glen's mom is coming in town this weekend to visit. We plan to spend time with family, take her to our neighborhood block party and do a lot of good eating!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Officially Official
We are officially official as of September 9, 2010! Our homestudy is finalized, our profile book is finished and now we begin the journey. It feels so great to have everything complete. It has been a fun and exciting process but we are glad we are one step closer. From here, we just wait. Our consultant, Shannon, will start sending profiles of birthmothers to us to view. If we are interested in any, we let her know and then send them our profile book. From there, the birthmother views many profiles and decides what family best fits what she is looking for in a family to raise her child. So, as they say, it could be 2 weeks or a year before we bring our baby home.
Mom & I are heading to Babies R Us today to pick out some essentials that we don't already have. The big items we need are a car seat/stroller combo, diapers, a diaper bag and a few more clothes. It is going to be so weird heading back into BRU as the past few times I have had to go in there for friends baby showers have really been tough. I had a breakdown at one visit and had to leave before I could even purchase my items. So, I am really looking forward to being able to shop, not have anxiety about being in there and pick out things for us!!!
On another note, today is a such a tough day for so many Americans throughout our country. Sept. 11 has so many different meanings to everyone. I pray for peace for all those families that lost a loved one 9 years ago. For me, today marks the day that we lost my dad 5 years ago. I can't believe it has been 5 years since he has been gone. I can still hear his voice as if it was just yesterday. I miss him terribly and think about him all of the time. I know he is probably hanging out with Annabelle and having a good time so I do have peace.
Mom & I are heading to Babies R Us today to pick out some essentials that we don't already have. The big items we need are a car seat/stroller combo, diapers, a diaper bag and a few more clothes. It is going to be so weird heading back into BRU as the past few times I have had to go in there for friends baby showers have really been tough. I had a breakdown at one visit and had to leave before I could even purchase my items. So, I am really looking forward to being able to shop, not have anxiety about being in there and pick out things for us!!!
On another note, today is a such a tough day for so many Americans throughout our country. Sept. 11 has so many different meanings to everyone. I pray for peace for all those families that lost a loved one 9 years ago. For me, today marks the day that we lost my dad 5 years ago. I can't believe it has been 5 years since he has been gone. I can still hear his voice as if it was just yesterday. I miss him terribly and think about him all of the time. I know he is probably hanging out with Annabelle and having a good time so I do have peace.
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