Sunday, March 6, 2011
8 Days!
Not that I'm counting. We are spending our days nesting, Getting ready for a baby and a long trip, And soaking in our kiddos, we are going to miss them like crazy. Alanna is getting some great older siblings, and man are they excited. I do however want to apologize ahead of time for the fact that her brothers immediately decided that "Alanna the Pirana" is soooo funny, and it rhymes and they say like hundred times a day. They are 7 and 10, so they will not forget, I'm sorry but it will probably stick.
Everything has come together. When we first decided to start this journey we doubted our ability to gather money, childcare, etc... Well, it has all come together! Our friends and family are awesome. Some of them may still feel apprehensive, and although that saddens me, I cannot wait to see them fall in love with our Alanna!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
In 12 days.....
We are leaving for you-know-where!! We are so excited. And running around like crazies trying to get everything ready! Whew lots to do. When you only have a month to prepare for the arrival of a baby!
Oh, and for you adoptive mommy's looking for timelines, We were submitted on Feb 17th and our SDA appt is March 17th. We will leave here on the 14th, so that we can be there by the 15th, in case of any delays in flights, better safe than sorry.
Oh, and for you adoptive mommy's looking for timelines, We were submitted on Feb 17th and our SDA appt is March 17th. We will leave here on the 14th, so that we can be there by the 15th, in case of any delays in flights, better safe than sorry.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Name
Oops, I realized I "released" the name on Facebook, but never came back and posted it here!
Our baby girl's name will be .............................
Our baby girl's name will be .............................
Alanna Nicole
Alanna is pronuonced Uh-Lah-Nuh
Friday, February 18, 2011
Ye of Little Faith
It has come to my attention that some people feel lead to judge us due to the fact that
1.we committed to another child so fast
2. that our new child has DS
Some of our family and friends seem to have no faith in me. Some of my family and friends act like they don't know. Like they don't know my heart, and that my family is of utmost importance.
So, although I don't feel like I need to explain, I will. Because I like our story and I think it's important.
How Did I First Become Interested In Learning about Down Syndrome?
Oh, well since you asked, let me tell you!! Over 2 years ago, I ran into this bloghttp://thebalsisfamily.blogspot.com/
This is my sweet cyber friend Bethany's blog. She had adopted from St. Petersburg Russia and at the time we were in process of adopting Anastasia, I was obsessed with reading blogs. When I clicked on her blog, I found more than just an adoption blog, I found a blog about a family who had a beautiful little girl who happened to have DS, and they went all the way to Russia and adopted another precious angel who also happened to have DS. They are 2 of the most precious children ever, ( as is her son also) This was new to me, I knew little about DS and little about DS adoption.
It was her blog, that lead me to Reeces Rainbow. So know not only was I following many Russian adoption blogs, but also adoption blogs about families adding children with DS, and for many of them they were adding more to their own biological. I saw what a blessing these children were.
I made more friends, friends like Leah, http://gardenofeagan.blogspot.com/
I followed her blog and she followed my adoption blog while we adopted Anastasia.
Then we brought Anastasia home, and I was very busy, happily so, training up our new child.
Then my husband Deployed
This was over a year ago. I spent many hours on Reeces Rainbow. Looking at children and reading adoption blogs. The majority of which were about childre with DS. I had talked to Gary about if he would ever consider adopting a child with DS, he said probably not. OK Every once in a while I would send him pictures of a little girl I thought was cute. Every one of those girls got a family. I might add we were not even thinking about adopting any time soon.
Then there was a little girl that went by the name "Dawn" well, a baby actually, with mild CP. Our Ella!
We were comfortable with CP. I continued to show hubby picture of Ella. I asked him again about DS, again he said no. But yet I looked at all the waiting children, over and over.
Then hubby came home, and shortly after they posted new pictures of Ella, she had just turned 2. We had baby fever, we were comfortable with CP, we kept looking at her picture and we committed to adopt her. Our hearts were in it, totally I don't want to lead anyone to believe otherwise.
Mother's Intuition
Mother's intuition is a gift from God, and I believe in it. The entire time we were committed to Ella, I felt guarded, very guarded. I did not buy anything. I did not get anything ready. I made sure to tell the kids over and over again that Ella could be adopted by someone else and that then we would have to adopt a different baby. We knew this could happen. But why did my heart focus on it? And why did Cooper's heart focus on it? My 6 year old brought up again and again, I hope nooone else adopts her, over time it lead to him saying he thought someone else would adopt her!!
God's Timing, it's not ours, and that is what makes it perfect!
We found out in October that she was not clear for adoption, that was 4 months ago. Never when I mailed off paperwork, or reached a milestone, did I feel freely excited, I still just felt guarded. I wanted to adopt another child, I had strong feelings, that this was not our child, I shared with my husband and my best friend, over and over. I emailed RR to get information on several other children, I think all of them had DS. Hmmmm....
Hubby talked me into staying with Ella. I felt God telling me to listen to my husband and that although the road was not leading me where I thought I wanted, it was leading me and to stay on course. And still, I would read mostly the DS blogs, and still look at the waiting babies with DS. Learning more and more and falling more and more in love.
The morning they went to submit our paperwork for Ella, the day we found out that she was being adopted by a french couple. I was driving the kids to school, praying, talking to God, I was thinking gee I guess I was wrong, I guess she is our child. Then that afternoon I got the email, confirming that she was not. I spent the day laying in my bed, grieving.
After dinner we called the kids up onto our bed to share the news with them, my stomach was in knots, I did not want my children to be sad, I hate that. As my youngest, was crawling up to the bed, he said "I think I already know what you are going to say" I guess he's got a brother's intuition.
The next day I felt so lost, of course grief, but I did not feel mad. Strange right. We didn't know what we would do. Our paperwork would expire the next week. We either had to submit or redo most of our paperwork.
I did not feel lead toward any of the RR children. None of the ones we could consider anyways. Hubby still said no to DS, and we hadn't even put it on our homestudy. We strongly considered several other girls with a totally seperate special need.We actually told RR we wanted to committ to one of them. God shouted NO. Seriously you can think I'm strange, but I felt God shout at me, NO, that is not your child. We backed out the next day. That was Saturday. I had come to the conclusion that we must wait, I would redo our paperwork and we would just wait to see what we were supposed to do.
Sweet Dreams
Every night after we lost Ella I had some very realistic dreams, Dreams I was holding a baby, a baby with DS.
Sunday while getting ready for church I broke down crying. My husband demanded I tell him what was wrong, I didn't believe in trying to talk him into something. That man tells me no very seldom, and I try hard to respect him when he does. I just kept telling him it was nothing, Then he held me and said I had to tell him, please.
So I did, it all came pouring out. He said he did not realize how strongly I felt. And that he trusted me, and for me to educate him on DS, and he would surely consider. I didn't have to educate that man on anything. His heart opened right there, I could tell that he felt the same way I felt. That all of a sudden we knew what to do.
I had emailed early that morning to get more info on several children with DS, torturing myself I guess.
Later that day when I opened that email, that had more pictures, we both fell instantly in love with our child. All felt right, no apprehension, no guard.We waited till the next morning to committ, and I felt so excited!!
I know all that happened fast, I may have judged you had you done the same thing.
Noone lost
We are on cloud 9. Ella has a family, the family God chose for her. And we truely believe we are this little girl's family. We are so in love, so happy, so excited!! And above all so BLESSED.
Now, maybe if you're nice to me I'll tell you what we are going to name her!!
1.we committed to another child so fast
2. that our new child has DS
Some of our family and friends seem to have no faith in me. Some of my family and friends act like they don't know. Like they don't know my heart, and that my family is of utmost importance.
So, although I don't feel like I need to explain, I will. Because I like our story and I think it's important.
How Did I First Become Interested In Learning about Down Syndrome?
Oh, well since you asked, let me tell you!! Over 2 years ago, I ran into this bloghttp://thebalsisfamily.blogspot.com/
This is my sweet cyber friend Bethany's blog. She had adopted from St. Petersburg Russia and at the time we were in process of adopting Anastasia, I was obsessed with reading blogs. When I clicked on her blog, I found more than just an adoption blog, I found a blog about a family who had a beautiful little girl who happened to have DS, and they went all the way to Russia and adopted another precious angel who also happened to have DS. They are 2 of the most precious children ever, ( as is her son also) This was new to me, I knew little about DS and little about DS adoption.
It was her blog, that lead me to Reeces Rainbow. So know not only was I following many Russian adoption blogs, but also adoption blogs about families adding children with DS, and for many of them they were adding more to their own biological. I saw what a blessing these children were.
I made more friends, friends like Leah, http://gardenofeagan.blogspot.com/
I followed her blog and she followed my adoption blog while we adopted Anastasia.
Then we brought Anastasia home, and I was very busy, happily so, training up our new child.
Then my husband Deployed
This was over a year ago. I spent many hours on Reeces Rainbow. Looking at children and reading adoption blogs. The majority of which were about childre with DS. I had talked to Gary about if he would ever consider adopting a child with DS, he said probably not. OK Every once in a while I would send him pictures of a little girl I thought was cute. Every one of those girls got a family. I might add we were not even thinking about adopting any time soon.
Then there was a little girl that went by the name "Dawn" well, a baby actually, with mild CP. Our Ella!
We were comfortable with CP. I continued to show hubby picture of Ella. I asked him again about DS, again he said no. But yet I looked at all the waiting children, over and over.
Then hubby came home, and shortly after they posted new pictures of Ella, she had just turned 2. We had baby fever, we were comfortable with CP, we kept looking at her picture and we committed to adopt her. Our hearts were in it, totally I don't want to lead anyone to believe otherwise.
Mother's Intuition
Mother's intuition is a gift from God, and I believe in it. The entire time we were committed to Ella, I felt guarded, very guarded. I did not buy anything. I did not get anything ready. I made sure to tell the kids over and over again that Ella could be adopted by someone else and that then we would have to adopt a different baby. We knew this could happen. But why did my heart focus on it? And why did Cooper's heart focus on it? My 6 year old brought up again and again, I hope nooone else adopts her, over time it lead to him saying he thought someone else would adopt her!!
God's Timing, it's not ours, and that is what makes it perfect!
We found out in October that she was not clear for adoption, that was 4 months ago. Never when I mailed off paperwork, or reached a milestone, did I feel freely excited, I still just felt guarded. I wanted to adopt another child, I had strong feelings, that this was not our child, I shared with my husband and my best friend, over and over. I emailed RR to get information on several other children, I think all of them had DS. Hmmmm....
Hubby talked me into staying with Ella. I felt God telling me to listen to my husband and that although the road was not leading me where I thought I wanted, it was leading me and to stay on course. And still, I would read mostly the DS blogs, and still look at the waiting babies with DS. Learning more and more and falling more and more in love.
The morning they went to submit our paperwork for Ella, the day we found out that she was being adopted by a french couple. I was driving the kids to school, praying, talking to God, I was thinking gee I guess I was wrong, I guess she is our child. Then that afternoon I got the email, confirming that she was not. I spent the day laying in my bed, grieving.
After dinner we called the kids up onto our bed to share the news with them, my stomach was in knots, I did not want my children to be sad, I hate that. As my youngest, was crawling up to the bed, he said "I think I already know what you are going to say" I guess he's got a brother's intuition.
The next day I felt so lost, of course grief, but I did not feel mad. Strange right. We didn't know what we would do. Our paperwork would expire the next week. We either had to submit or redo most of our paperwork.
I did not feel lead toward any of the RR children. None of the ones we could consider anyways. Hubby still said no to DS, and we hadn't even put it on our homestudy. We strongly considered several other girls with a totally seperate special need.We actually told RR we wanted to committ to one of them. God shouted NO. Seriously you can think I'm strange, but I felt God shout at me, NO, that is not your child. We backed out the next day. That was Saturday. I had come to the conclusion that we must wait, I would redo our paperwork and we would just wait to see what we were supposed to do.
Sweet Dreams
Every night after we lost Ella I had some very realistic dreams, Dreams I was holding a baby, a baby with DS.
Sunday while getting ready for church I broke down crying. My husband demanded I tell him what was wrong, I didn't believe in trying to talk him into something. That man tells me no very seldom, and I try hard to respect him when he does. I just kept telling him it was nothing, Then he held me and said I had to tell him, please.
So I did, it all came pouring out. He said he did not realize how strongly I felt. And that he trusted me, and for me to educate him on DS, and he would surely consider. I didn't have to educate that man on anything. His heart opened right there, I could tell that he felt the same way I felt. That all of a sudden we knew what to do.
I had emailed early that morning to get more info on several children with DS, torturing myself I guess.
Later that day when I opened that email, that had more pictures, we both fell instantly in love with our child. All felt right, no apprehension, no guard.We waited till the next morning to committ, and I felt so excited!!
I know all that happened fast, I may have judged you had you done the same thing.
Noone lost
We are on cloud 9. Ella has a family, the family God chose for her. And we truely believe we are this little girl's family. We are so in love, so happy, so excited!! And above all so BLESSED.
Now, maybe if you're nice to me I'll tell you what we are going to name her!!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
I didn't really want to come here.
This is like "Ella's place" Her picture is everywhere. I didn't really want to come here. But I want to explain what happened. First of all I felt guarded all throughout this process, not about the process but about Ella. Not putting up her bed, not posting on here to often, I had a certain gut feeling. But I knew God was leading us for a reason, so I followed. So, Ella was not meant to be ours. When I opened the email, I did not feel surprised at all, not sure why.
The email basically said that when they went to submit our paperwork this past Thursday (yep I didn't even post about that) that they had were told that a french couple had viewed her file, met her, and were moving forward with her adoption. ????????????
Well, see, most of the time when someone adopts from these EE countries, the traditional way to do it is to submit for a "blind referal" meaning your the one who is blind. You list the ages, special needs, gender, etc.. that you are wanting to adopt. The give you adate to come to the country and they show you a file.
Her file was supposed to be set aside for us when she cleared for adoption last month. Some law changed.
She was not our child, we are not angry. It can't be a mistake, God does not give people children by mistake.
We are sad and grieving the loss of the idea that she was our child.
What is next?
We are praying about that. We think we will move forward with for a different waiting child. You see our paperwork expires in a week and a half, so next week is the last week it can be submitted without me redoing a lot of paperwork. Not that I'm not willing.
So, we've got a couple ideas, but we won't be revealing them right now.
We are doing good, the kids are doing good. They don't want to give up and neither do we.
The email basically said that when they went to submit our paperwork this past Thursday (yep I didn't even post about that) that they had were told that a french couple had viewed her file, met her, and were moving forward with her adoption. ????????????
Well, see, most of the time when someone adopts from these EE countries, the traditional way to do it is to submit for a "blind referal" meaning your the one who is blind. You list the ages, special needs, gender, etc.. that you are wanting to adopt. The give you adate to come to the country and they show you a file.
Her file was supposed to be set aside for us when she cleared for adoption last month. Some law changed.
She was not our child, we are not angry. It can't be a mistake, God does not give people children by mistake.
We are sad and grieving the loss of the idea that she was our child.
What is next?
We are praying about that. We think we will move forward with for a different waiting child. You see our paperwork expires in a week and a half, so next week is the last week it can be submitted without me redoing a lot of paperwork. Not that I'm not willing.
So, we've got a couple ideas, but we won't be revealing them right now.
We are doing good, the kids are doing good. They don't want to give up and neither do we.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Do Something Specific-Caution Truth Ahead
I am calling my friends and family to do something, it doesn't have to be big, The great thing about doing something small is that when enough people do it, it ends up being BIG!!
The truth is most people don't want to know the truth. There are children dying. There is noone to take care of them, their countries are poor, we are rich, You may not think you are rich, trust me, if you are reading this you are rich. And if you're like me and most Americans you are spoiled. Children are helpless. When they are put into a crib for so long that their body is bent and stiffened, they are helpless. When they are put into a mental institution at the age of 4, they are helpless. When there is not enough food, they are helpless. When there is noone to change them out of their own excriment, they are helpless. And you can help, don't tell me that you can't.
To tell you the truth I'm feeling a little angry. First off Gary and I never set out to save a children, we don't feel like we have saved Anastasia, and we don't feel like we are saving Ella. However, the fact is if Anastasia was still where she came from, she would be in an institution. With no hope. I think maybe when I say institution you are picturing something a little different than what the reality is.Maybe you are picturing a playground, I mean, it might be an institution, but they are children right? My children like playgrounds.
I'm not being dramatic. This is an actual playground, at an institution, where a dear fellow adoptive parent rescued her 6 year old son. You would not believe what this family went through to bring their child home, it is not normal practice to adopt from the institutions. Normally that means the end of hope for finding a family. Can you imagine the end of hope looking like this?
No? This is a beautiful child of God. And if you want to read how God softened hearts and moved mountains to get him here, go read here http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html
His mother now has a passion like noone else for the lost boys. She has seen what you and I cannot imagine. What we think just does not exist, it couldn't, right?
So, what am asking of you in specific? Help save a Lost Boy. Actually my prayer is that his Mommy and Daddy can get to him before he is sent to the institution. He has turned 5, they are traditionally sent at 4. Some of the baby homes will hold on to them as long as they can, can you blame them? They are helpless.
This is Brian, Oh bestill my heart, he is precious. My heart wrenches at the thought of him in that institution. And that is where he will be if his parents don't get there quickly. Why is it Brian that pulls on my heart to badly? Because he is in the same baby home with our Ella. They may play together. They may eat together. When we were chosen for Ella, my heart cried for Brian, I wondered "why were we not chosen for him" He is so close to becoming lost.
The picture above is where he will go. To join that group of lost boys. One so small that the caregiver has to hold his hand so he doesn't wander away to explore. And some to big, they look like grown men, well they are.
Do you see that tiny boy holding the woman's hand in the back of the line? That was Brian's buddy, he was lost, sent to the insitution. He was lifted up in prayer, by people who would not forget, and people gave, because they could feel and know the realness of this. That is Brady, and his Momma has found him, he will not be lost anymore. I don't want Brian to take his place, I don't want him ever to be lost.
Still does not seem real to you? Do you know me personally? Do you Anastasia? She would have been lost. Did she not deserve better, would she not have been worth it?
So very specifically I ask you to go here http://missyb-itsawonderfullife.blogspot.com/2010/11/this-is-our-little-brian-please-pray.html to Brian's Momma's blog.
Go to the chip on the right that says "For Paperwork" pray about what you can give, and do it.
Brian's family needs the money to get a very important piece of paperwork taken care of, the process is halted until they can mail that in. Minutes are hours, and days are years for Brian.
**Please when making donations make sure to go to the one that says "paperwork" the other chip in is for money that can only be used when they travel to get their boy**
The truth is most people don't want to know the truth. There are children dying. There is noone to take care of them, their countries are poor, we are rich, You may not think you are rich, trust me, if you are reading this you are rich. And if you're like me and most Americans you are spoiled. Children are helpless. When they are put into a crib for so long that their body is bent and stiffened, they are helpless. When they are put into a mental institution at the age of 4, they are helpless. When there is not enough food, they are helpless. When there is noone to change them out of their own excriment, they are helpless. And you can help, don't tell me that you can't.
To tell you the truth I'm feeling a little angry. First off Gary and I never set out to save a children, we don't feel like we have saved Anastasia, and we don't feel like we are saving Ella. However, the fact is if Anastasia was still where she came from, she would be in an institution. With no hope. I think maybe when I say institution you are picturing something a little different than what the reality is.Maybe you are picturing a playground, I mean, it might be an institution, but they are children right? My children like playgrounds.
His mother now has a passion like noone else for the lost boys. She has seen what you and I cannot imagine. What we think just does not exist, it couldn't, right?
So, what am asking of you in specific? Help save a Lost Boy. Actually my prayer is that his Mommy and Daddy can get to him before he is sent to the institution. He has turned 5, they are traditionally sent at 4. Some of the baby homes will hold on to them as long as they can, can you blame them? They are helpless.
Do you see that tiny boy holding the woman's hand in the back of the line? That was Brian's buddy, he was lost, sent to the insitution. He was lifted up in prayer, by people who would not forget, and people gave, because they could feel and know the realness of this. That is Brady, and his Momma has found him, he will not be lost anymore. I don't want Brian to take his place, I don't want him ever to be lost.
Still does not seem real to you? Do you know me personally? Do you Anastasia? She would have been lost. Did she not deserve better, would she not have been worth it?
So very specifically I ask you to go here http://missyb-itsawonderfullife.blogspot.com/2010/11/this-is-our-little-brian-please-pray.html to Brian's Momma's blog.
Go to the chip on the right that says "For Paperwork" pray about what you can give, and do it.
Brian's family needs the money to get a very important piece of paperwork taken care of, the process is halted until they can mail that in. Minutes are hours, and days are years for Brian.
**Please when making donations make sure to go to the one that says "paperwork" the other chip in is for money that can only be used when they travel to get their boy**
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Yea!!!
We got word several days ago, on my husband's birthday, that our Ella is clear for international adoption!!!
And (country) is reopening for submissions the second week in Feb!! Of course that is pending all the crazy votes that are happening. But I have a good feeling, We are slotted to submit our paperwork Feb 10th, yippee!!
So, of course everyone's next question is when do you get her?
1. We submit our paperwork, God willing, Feb 10th
2. Wait for a travel date, it is usual to receive your travel date 2-3 weeks after you submit
3. The travel date is usually 2-3 later
So, best case scenario we would travel in March, have her home in April
To say we are excited is an understatement!
And (country) is reopening for submissions the second week in Feb!! Of course that is pending all the crazy votes that are happening. But I have a good feeling, We are slotted to submit our paperwork Feb 10th, yippee!!
So, of course everyone's next question is when do you get her?
1. We submit our paperwork, God willing, Feb 10th
2. Wait for a travel date, it is usual to receive your travel date 2-3 weeks after you submit
3. The travel date is usually 2-3 later
So, best case scenario we would travel in March, have her home in April
To say we are excited is an understatement!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)