Alert the troops!

Apparently I'm the only one strong enough to keep news of our adoption from the world (that's actually supposed to be funny as I'm the blogger who has been doing nothing but 'alerting the world'). After a conversation with my mother and S. - I was made to feel like I'm making this bigger than it is and there's no reason to hold back from the world.

What were my reservations? Well after numerous adoption groups and blogs, it seems many adoptive parents got insanely overwhelmed because all their friends and families would constantly ask for updates. They would also get the occasional rude comment. Those were things I didn't feel ready for and felt content with keeping our little journey a secret to the immediate friends and family.

But, alas, my husband is getting anxious to spread the word and I know my mother is right behind him. We're 7 months into our journey and after August - it's anybody's guess as to when we'll be picked to adopt Baby G. from Japan.

So, dear trusted blog readers, friends, and family who have followed this journey with us - it is time to let the whole world know that we will be proud parents of a lovely child (or two! - God willing) from Japan.

I was pregnant?!?

Yeah, my thoughts exactly! I woke up this morning with a vivid dream fresh in my mind and that was that I was pregnant and had an unassisted birth. Was that what I had planned? Actually, no.

The dream starts with me bending over in a little pain, much like an irritating PMS cramp, and then I get this urge to push. Viola! A baby. No warning, no actual labor. It was awesome and crazy. I immediately grab my little girl and assist her with nursing.

Then the dreams takes a wacky turn because I had been talking to S. about how I felt no cramps or contractions to get out the placenta. I then realize I need him to take me to the hospital where they give me pit to get that placenta out.

My dreams ends with me nursing my beautiful little girl...

Baby Dream

Last night/this morning I had my first adoption-related dream and I didn't want it to end. I fell in love with this little one so hard, I thought my heart would burst. It was a boy and he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. He had thick, black hair and soft Japanese features. I had wondered if he was hapa, like his daddy. I, unfortunately, woke up and immediately turned over to see if S. was awake so I could share this with him...but he wasn't.

I'm glad I had this dream because a fear that started creeping into my recent thoughts has been "will I truly be able to love this baby as my own?" I'm sure this is something every adoptive parent has cross their mind at least once, (just like a pregnancy - we have so much fear and anxiety to deal with) but I didn't want to feel that.

I can not wait to meet our baby. I love you already.

Continuing our quest for Baby G.

Baby G. is already proving to be incredibly stubborn and the little monster hasn't even been conceived yet (or that we know of).

S. and I got off of birth control (well ok, so it was just me, but I digress) in April/May of 2008. We weren't looking to get pregnant then, but between gnarly side effects that I was experiencing and the fact that we knew it would be soon and we wanted to get the drugs out of my system I had to stop taking them.

Thing is we didn't use any protection during this time and I really followed my charting calendar that based my "expected date of ovulation" on my cycle length rather than the big 3: temp, cervical mucus, and cervical position. This being said, we should have gotten pregnant in those 7-9 months we "weren't" trying.

But we didn't and so began our quest for baby.

Here it is something like 9, 11, 13 (I don't know really) cycles later and still no baby.

We're getting antsy and I'm fighting something fierce with Jesus. After a few conversations, we decided the next step for us is testing.

In the meantime, we keep on keepin' on.

We are so ready for you, Baby G.

Dear little baby G:

We aren't technically your mommy and daddy yet as you haven't been conceived, but I wanted to let you know that we are more than ready for you to be here with us.

Every month that passes that you haven't started your life growing inside me leaves us that much more empty and restless inside.

We try harder and harder to make sure we're doing everything right - to give you the best possible place to live for 9 months (and beyond) - and I really hope you decide to finally join us.

Your daddy and I were in San Francisco visiting your Auntie J. and got to hold a baby. He was so sweet and adorable. When your daddy held him, the little baby fell asleep in his arms. It was then that we both realized that you are the only thing we want in life.

We love you so much and can't wait for you to be in my belly growing into our baby.

Love,

Mom & Dad

Thumbs up from Doc!

I prepare for everything. Probably a little more than normal. But anyway, a few weeks ago was my yearly trip to the lady doctor. S. and I decided it would be best to do the "baby talk" (no, not goo goo and gah gah) but the talk that includes, "what are my next steps", "what should we start doing/not doing", "etc." Most everything we discussed I had already knew about from my overachieving preparedness. So she sent me to a blood lab to get my blood drawn to test for:

1. Liver
2. Diabetes
3. Rubella Vaccine
4. Thyroid
5. Blood pressure

Oh, and I'm blanking, but they also want to know your blood type as there is a condition in which the mom's body will attack the baby - yay wiki for helping me out (3rd paragraph down): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type.

But I got the call Friday afternoon from the doc and I passed with flying colors! YAY!!!

S. and I are excited and are thinking about starting our little family, or at least trying for it, around June or July of this year. So please keep us in your prayers that this is what God wants for us.

Thrive

We have finally decided to make a difference. Our first start was to realize that we are doing more than just losing weight. We are growing, learning, transforming habits, and thriving. We are planning for children this year and want to lay the groundwork now for a bright and successful future for them, physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

S. and I look forward to bringing you on this journey with us, and hopefully can gain some extra encouragement along the way.