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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

WHERE TO BEGIN...

Ok, so life has been CRAZY!!!! I'll have to back WAY up to get it all in...We started our adoption classes on January 5th and they're more like Foster classes because they're geared toward couples who are wanting to do Foster care...here in the state of Ohio you have to take 24 hours of classes to be a foster parent and then an extra 9 hours to be an adoptive parents...so on the 5th we had our first 6 hours and it went well. We were introduced to 10 other couples in our surrounding area all looking to adopt or foster...some are unable to have children of their own and others are able but aren't and some like us just want to adopt...without paying for the baby...no matter how you aquire the baby it's still a difficult road...the baby still isn't from your blood...so we took this road because with an agency people are struggling and fighting or competing for a baby...those babies will all find homes...but through Foster care, these babies may never have had a home...we didn't like the idea of International adoption because of all the travel and quite frankly why give a child from another country a home when there are SO many children here on our soil that need a home, a family and all the things that everyone wants for thier children (yes I do know how that sounds but I just can't help feeling this way). So back to the classes...they're interesting...they're good classes for everyone to take...not just people hoping to become Foster or Adoptive parents...they teach you the in's and out's of our system and I'm learning about the damage abuse can do...it turns out that neglect is worse than abuse...in most situations...becuase neglect is 24/7/365...and children truly can die from this...and we're learning how these kids feel when they're taken from their home...it was scary to feel even a fragment of that...it was panic attack scary! But I think one of the best things I'm getting out of this is the relationship with other couples who just want to start or complete or continue their families! They're all wonderful people with big hearts! So as of right now we're still looking to be adoption ready by the 1st of April...and to correct an earlier blog entry...I didn't buy my crib bedding set...my aunt had bought one to put in Casa Chic (CUTE store in Wapak, Ohio with all sorts of specialty items, including hand painted furniture) and when I saw it I knew it was perfect...perfect! So my cousin and I are going to pin stripe the walls to match the crib set. And my mom bought our first outfit for her...it's beautiful, it's a pink dress with a little pink sweater to go over it...I love it dearly! I guess this means we're on our way...I'm nervous and excited and still trying to remind myself that 30% of couples experience at least one failed adoption...please pray we aren't one of them!

In more happy news (made me cry), my twin four year old boys are now FIVE year old boys...when did my babies become big boys? Where was I and why didn't someone stop them? So what my cousin Rebecca and I have decided is that while women have anti-aging cream, we want anti-aging medication for our children...it doesn't feel five years ago that they were premies with all the premie problems. Ethan had a hard time holding his body temp and Lane was born with an odd shaped head which required a helmet to correct it...Thank you Amanda (sister in law) who suggested it! Ethan was deaf and Todd (hubby) was headed to Iraq...I can't imagine why my mom started smoking again and my dad had a heart attack...did I mention I was in Germany when I got pregnant and the boys came two weeks from being German American dual citizens! LOL! Fun times! Any way, back to the subject at hand! We had thier first birthday party with friends...we invited both preschool classes and an assortment of friends from church and a couple of cousins...we ended up with 6 adults and 20 kids 5 and under...it was so much fun! We only had it for an hour so that we didn't have them too long and the kids get bored...it wasn't quite enough time but it sure was fun! The boys ran and played and no one fought or got hurt...all was good thanks to a nicely finished basement!

And on to some not so good news...My dad has cancer ( I don't think I've blogged on here at all about this) in his colon, liver and lungs. Well on the 24th (boys b-day) he had a CT scan and yesterday they got the results back. It wasn't the remission we were hoping for...it's bad. They said it has doubled in size and is inoperable...he will start a more agressive chemo today and it'll make him sick but it may shrink the cancer, so we'll see where this puts us. Please pray for us...all of us but especially my dad, and my boys...they're so attached to my dad...we lived there off and on for the first 3 years of thier life and I've said from day one that if I ever lose Lane Michael it will be to my dad...and now I'm starting to say it about Ethan too...So please pray for us.

On another happy note...I payed of my van yesterday...I've only had it about 2 years and this is the first time in my adult life to have a vehicle payed off that wasn't a car made in 1979! It's very exciting for me! Todd can now have his 4-wheeler! Yippee! He's been waiting his whole life for this!

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