Tuesday, July 1, 2008

July 1 - my last post

I just want to thank everyone so very very much for all of their kindness and support during the past year while we've paper chased, traveled to Russia, submitted our papers and waited endlessly for our child/children. Today is the day that we come to the end of our journey. We're actually suspending it, but who knows what the future will bring - both for us and with international adoption.

We do have a very good, and exciting reason to be postponing our adoption. As of today, I am nearly 19 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby girl. I never expected to be THAT statistic. We are thrilled beyond belief, but we are also now trying to readjust the mental image of what our family will look like.

I know that one day we will absolutely pursue adoption. We have always felt called to do so, and our fertility struggles made us all the more determined to expand our family through the miracle of adoption. Still... I'm not sure when or in what manner. So, with that, I will be closing the blog, because it is an adoption blog, not a pregnancy after infertility blog. I wish each and every one of you a short, safe, and fast journey to your children. Thank you so much for everything. If you're ever interested in finding me, you can come join the board where I post - mommy-zone.com. You'll know who I am by my screen name ;)
Much love,
melissa

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

April 2

Wow, has it really been a month since my last post? Guess what - NO NEWS!!!!! Nothing. Guess that's why I haven't been rushing to get on here. It's boring writing about nothing. Then again, I guess it worked for Jerry Seinfeld for nine seasons. Anyway, same old same old. Hoping to hear soon, referrals are coming slowly, blah blah, have you heard this all before? Sorry for the cynicism, but that's pretty much life during the waiting phase.

We do have other craziness going on in our family right now, but that will just have to wait for another day.
:)

Sunday, March 2, 2008

March 2

Another year another birthday...

I am determined that this year will be better. Last year, my birthday capped the worst year I've ever imagined. Two days before my birthday last year, I found out that my second twin had passed away (after losing the first one three weeks prior). The day before my birthday last year, I had a D&E because I couldn't stand another day of living with what was left of my pregnancy. Last year on my birthday, I spent the day on the couch recovering.

This year, I'm thinking of it as a new beginning. I'm really hopeful that our adoption will happen this year and I'm hopeful that our lives will no longer be on hold and that we can decide to really live again.

This year my birthday was actually okay. I taught this morning and then I came home and got a FABULOUS present from Dh and DS (a new lens for my camera!) and then we went out to eat with some friends. Then, we came home, had some wine and watched a cheesy movie. It was low key, but what else are birthdays like after the age of 30. Still, it felt more like a beginning. I feel that this year will be better and I feel like I have some hope for the coming year.

So that's that. My year didn't begin Jan 1. It began today. Happy New Year!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

February 10

So, I had one of those moments today. One of those moments when you realize that you really are walking the path you're meant to travel.

Recently, I've started getting pretty down about our adoption. I was one of those naive PAPs (prospective adoptive parents) who truly believed we'd have that lightening fast adoption. After we declined our first referral in December, I assumed the next one happen quickly. Now, we're going on two months past original referral and we've already been told it will not happen this month. We're hoping that perhaps March or April, but we honestly have no idea, and that's a scary place to be. I'm a type A personality and I like to be in control, no I NEED to be in control. So, to have so much out of my control is KILLING me. I know that we truly haven't been waiting long, but I just honestly didn't believe we'd even get this far (I know, silly, optimistic me.) Anyway, I've started feeling like "what if this never happens". In the next breath, I'm berating myself for being such a drama queen. It's just frustrating.

Anyway, on to my moment...

Three years ago, I taught a group of preschoolers. I'm a religious school teacher, and it was our first year with this age group. There was one little girl whom I just adored. When I found out that she was adopted from Ukraine, I told her mother how much DH and I wished to adopt from EE one day. I was pregnant with DS at the time, but told her that it was something we were thinking about for the future. At the end of the year, this little girl was accepted into a fantastic religious private school, so she was no longer continuing in our program. I was thrilled for her, but bummed, because she was just such a sweetheart.

Today, I was at work and I ran into her mother. She told me that this little girl was upstairs and asked if I'd like to come say hello. I told her I would LOVE to come say hello, and I told her about our adoption situation. When I got upstairs, I looked at this little girl, who had now become a little lady and seeing her and how well adjusted and sweet and kind she is was all I needed to remind me of why we're doing this. When her mom told her that we were going to be bringing home a little girl from Russia, and I saw the understanding and the smile on her face, it just made my heart soar. I think it was exactly what I needed today. She was the exact person I needed to encounter to help me get through February. She helped give me hope that maybe March will be our month, and if it's not then maybe April. Whenever it is, I have to keep remembering that it's a when and not an if.

May you all find your moments to help you through this heart wrenching process.
:)

Thursday, January 31, 2008

January 31

Happy birthday, sweet baby boy!
I can't believe my little man is three today. It sort of breaks my heart. Never in a million years did I think I would have a three year old only child. I'm so ready to give him siblings, it actually physically pains me. I'm so amazed at the independent, sweet, smart little boy my baby has become. When did he grow up? He's the most wonderful little boy I could ever ask for. I'm so proud of you, my little guy!

Monday, January 28, 2008

January 28

I was tagged by Jenn

I'm not sure if I linked back correctly, this is my first time trying. Thanks so much for the tag, and thanks for still reading while my updates have been infrequent and boring. :)

The rules are:
1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag at least three other people at the end of your post and link to their blogs.
5. Let each person know they been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the fun begin

Okay, so here are my six things!

1. I positively love zombie movies. I also love vampires, but prefer vampire books, because the movies are usually cheesy. Zombies, though, the movies are perfect cheese. They know it, so they don't take themselves too seriously. The best, of course, is Shaun of the Dead, but I love all of them!

2. I can juggle, and used to actually be pretty good (could pass to other people, etc). I had a friend in HS who wanted to be a circus performer and she taught me. People are always surprised when they see me do it for some reason.

3. I own so many pairs of shoes, my DH has tried to create a "one in one out" rule, but I keep managing to find exceptions to the rule. The strange part is, I hate purses. Shoes and purses seem to go together, but not for me! I can't seem to explain to DH why there is a need for black open toe flats, black open toe heels, black closed toe flats, black closed toe heels, and maybe a few other black shoes for good measure. Repeat entire process in brown and he just doesn't understand!

4. I have pretty close to a photographic memory. When I was in school, I just read and re-read my notes and my book and when it was time for an exam, I pretty much just pictured where on the page the answer was. This skill is a big part of the reason I graduated college with a 3.98! It's difficult, though, because I remember things about people and then I feel uncomfortable mentioning them years later, because I don't want them to think I'm weird or creepy. I'm honestly not, I just have a frighteningly good memory.

5. I used to be the pickiest eater on the planet and now I love most things. I don't eat much beef, because it doesn't settle well with me (and I'm a total freak and I worry about Mad Cow), but I love pretty much any ethnic food. The funny thing is, I have no idea where I came from. None of my parents/step parents are very adventurous. I also eat so differently from my parents, it's almost comical.

6. I can't wait to bring home siblings for DS, because I'm a really crappy playmate! I'm great with puzzles, blocks, games, etc, but with the creative play - I'm awful! DS will hand me a dump truck and I just have no idea what to do with it. I think it's because I was an only child until Jr. High. I feel bad for him, but I just dont' know how to play. My husband thinks that is so strange!

Well, that's it, I think! It was surprisingly difficult to come up with this list!!!

Okay, here are the three people I'm linking:

Becki - because she's a good friend and she needs lots of positive thoughts right now!

Debbie - because she is always so supportive and fantastic about posting on here, and I appreciate her comments so much!

Heidi - because I enjoy reading her blog, and it's been too long without an update!
:)

Monday, January 21, 2008

January 21

Well, I'm starting to get sort of down about all of this. I know we haven't been waiting long, but it looks like we may be in for the long haul. We've only been waiting since October, and we had a declined referral in December, but they told us MAYBE March or April, that's no guarantee. It could really be a while. I know in the grand scheme of things, that still not long, but it's still just longer than I had anticipated and it's going to be at the very outside edge (or beyond) where they told us when we started. I'm just bummed. I know that all of these things are leading us to the children we're meant to have, but I so wanted to be one of those "in and out" families. Not gonna happen. So, now I need some things to keep myself busy, and sane. Any thoughts?

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

January 15

Wow, haven't updated in ages...

I just haven't had much to say. We've been crazy busy and no news from Russia yet. We did go to the PBR (for the redneck impaired, that's the Professional Bull Riding tour) AND my stepmother won us backstage passes! There I was in my major poser cowboy (girl?) hat and my kid has his awesome blinking cowboy boots on and we all got to go backstage. I'll post pics soon (have to get themoff of my camera stil), but I felt like SUCH a poser! Still, it was a blast! Oh, and my kid had the COOLEST boots around. People were LITERALLY stopping him in the street to tell him how cool they were. (mental note to post a pic of them also)...

Anyway, have had too many apple martinis, so had best go. Oh, yeah, apple martinis and the movie SuperBad is really a gerat way to spend the night!
later taters!