Every so often I'll get a thought in my head that seems much more like something Jesus would do than me. I usually chalk that up to Him banging something over my head to get me to listen.
Since we learned of our little complications, I had an idea pop in my head that I thought was mine. So I talked to S. and then we never spoke of it since then. We wanted to focus on bringing Baby G. home.
But then something happened and that thought popped up again and is even louder and more intense. Now I'm beginning to feel that this isn't "my" idea anymore and that Jesus is asking me to do something for Him and a couple of His children.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
Please keep us in your prayers.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Breastfeeding an adopted newborn
Through so much research (I really should think about getting paid for all that I do! haha) I found out that women can actually generate breast milk and therefore breastfeed a child even if they did not birth one.
S. and I are actually really excited at the thought of being able to breastfeed our baby as it will create a great bonding experience for us. (Not to mention the great health benefits derived from breastfeeding.)
I plan on switching to an all-Japanese food diet once we get our call to travel and will be taking the natural herbs and supplements to try and generate breast milk. All I can do is hope that all goes well.
For those interested in reading more here are my wonderful resources:
Le Leche League International: Adoptive Breastfeeding
kellymom.com::Adoptive Breastfeeding
asklenore.com - breastfeeding & induced lactation
Aus. Breastfeeding Assoc.: Breastfeeding the adopted child
S. and I are actually really excited at the thought of being able to breastfeed our baby as it will create a great bonding experience for us. (Not to mention the great health benefits derived from breastfeeding.)
I plan on switching to an all-Japanese food diet once we get our call to travel and will be taking the natural herbs and supplements to try and generate breast milk. All I can do is hope that all goes well.
For those interested in reading more here are my wonderful resources:
Le Leche League International: Adoptive Breastfeeding
kellymom.com::Adoptive Breastfeeding
asklenore.com - breastfeeding & induced lactation
Aus. Breastfeeding Assoc.: Breastfeeding the adopted child
Friday, July 9, 2010
Circumcision rates & MGM Bill
A day or two ago, I was on a website that had a discussion about circumcision rates in the states. Some of the info was surprisingly good and then there's some really bad things.
http://mgmbill.org/statistics.htm
Michigan & Ohio are numero uno on this list as having the HIGHEST circumcision rates at 85%.
Nevada has the lowest - at 12%.
Additionally, this site also explains whether or not the state still allows medicaid to fund circumcisions.
Out of all of the "red states" (those with 76-100% circ rates) only ONE does not allow circumcisions to be funded by medicaid and that is Missouri.
And of all of the "green states" (those with a 0%-25% circ rate) ALL do not accept medicaid for circumcisions. California was the first to stop in 9/1/82.
What can we do to lower these numbers?
Read the MGM Bill http://mgmbill.org/usmgmbill.htm
And take action! http://mgmbill.org/takeaction.htm
http://mgmbill.org/statistics.htm
Michigan & Ohio are numero uno on this list as having the HIGHEST circumcision rates at 85%.
Nevada has the lowest - at 12%.
Additionally, this site also explains whether or not the state still allows medicaid to fund circumcisions.
Out of all of the "red states" (those with 76-100% circ rates) only ONE does not allow circumcisions to be funded by medicaid and that is Missouri.
And of all of the "green states" (those with a 0%-25% circ rate) ALL do not accept medicaid for circumcisions. California was the first to stop in 9/1/82.
What can we do to lower these numbers?
Read the MGM Bill http://mgmbill.org/usmgmbill.htm
And take action! http://mgmbill.org/takeaction.htm
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
We will call her Jackie
So S. and I did well on our yard sale yesterday (thank you, mom squared, for your donations as they helped!) and met a great and animated lady that made the morning so fun.
Her name is Jackie. She was so happy about us adopting, just bought as much as $9 could buy her. And through her shopping experience we got to know one another - she's a grandmother and just loves it. She also just lost about 150+ lbs and made me feel her hip bone! SHE HAS ONE! She was so proud of her accomplishment and so was I!
S. was put to job going through her massive coin purse to find the rest of her payment to us. It was hilarious. She even wanted to buy him at one point to do her windows!
As Jackie was leaving she yells out to us, "well I'm glad I could help! Be sure to name her Jackie for me." S. quips back, "we'll put it on the list and thank you!"
Thank you, Jackie, for bringing some light into our lives - even if it was for only a second.
Her name is Jackie. She was so happy about us adopting, just bought as much as $9 could buy her. And through her shopping experience we got to know one another - she's a grandmother and just loves it. She also just lost about 150+ lbs and made me feel her hip bone! SHE HAS ONE! She was so proud of her accomplishment and so was I!
S. was put to job going through her massive coin purse to find the rest of her payment to us. It was hilarious. She even wanted to buy him at one point to do her windows!
As Jackie was leaving she yells out to us, "well I'm glad I could help! Be sure to name her Jackie for me." S. quips back, "we'll put it on the list and thank you!"
Thank you, Jackie, for bringing some light into our lives - even if it was for only a second.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Fundraising for Baby G!
S. and I are now in fund-raising mode to help with Baby G's arrival!
Aside from the yard sale to be hosted this weekend and our copious amounts of recyclables to be returned for cash, I reached out to 2 people (one being my sister from another set of parents) to help raise some funds through their direct-sales businesses.
These online shows will go from July 1st to July 22nd so you have plenty of time to shop, shop, shop. And PLEASE pass this post on to your friends (barring they aren't mutual friends of ours as there are still a lot of people who do not know about our awesome plans!).
AVON:
Simply visit http://mary-bethlawson.avonrepresentative.com/ to get your Avon shopping on.
Mary Beth will be donating 100% of the proceeds to help with the adoption. Simply use the code BabyG at checkout and viola!
If you have any questions, you can contact me at thrivingforbaby[at]gmail.com or Mary Beth directly at amazingavon[at]cox.net.
COOKIE LEE:
My old 'boss', Bonnie, (as I used to be a rep) is amazing and is donating all of her profits to our cause (and I couldn't be more humbled by her gracious heart).
Check out the catalog at her website: www.cookielee.biz/bonnieorona
Simply place your order with me by emailing thrivingforbaby[at]gmail.com by July 22nd and everything will be shipped to you.
PAYPAL
Quite honestly, this means so much more to us than an item from a registry. And we thank you from the bottom of our humbled and loving hearts.
Thank you,
Mr. & Mrs. G.
P.S. - If you're in our area and have junk that you need to get rid of and would like to donate it to our yard sale, we'd be totally honored to take it in by Friday. :D
Aside from the yard sale to be hosted this weekend and our copious amounts of recyclables to be returned for cash, I reached out to 2 people (one being my sister from another set of parents) to help raise some funds through their direct-sales businesses.
These online shows will go from July 1st to July 22nd so you have plenty of time to shop, shop, shop. And PLEASE pass this post on to your friends (barring they aren't mutual friends of ours as there are still a lot of people who do not know about our awesome plans!).
AVON:
Simply visit http://mary-bethlawson.avonrepresentative.com/ to get your Avon shopping on.
Mary Beth will be donating 100% of the proceeds to help with the adoption. Simply use the code BabyG at checkout and viola!
If you have any questions, you can contact me at thrivingforbaby[at]gmail.com or Mary Beth directly at amazingavon[at]cox.net.
COOKIE LEE:
My old 'boss', Bonnie, (as I used to be a rep) is amazing and is donating all of her profits to our cause (and I couldn't be more humbled by her gracious heart).
Check out the catalog at her website: www.cookielee.biz/bonnieorona
Simply place your order with me by emailing thrivingforbaby[at]gmail.com by July 22nd and everything will be shipped to you.
PAYPAL
Quite honestly, this means so much more to us than an item from a registry. And we thank you from the bottom of our humbled and loving hearts.
Thank you,
Mr. & Mrs. G.
P.S. - If you're in our area and have junk that you need to get rid of and would like to donate it to our yard sale, we'd be totally honored to take it in by Friday. :D
Sunday, June 27, 2010
And we're there!
Yesterday S. and I came home from a conference to find an awesome packet from the US Customs and Immigration services that held an I-171H - our Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition! haha
We filed this on 4/22 and it completed 6/16.
S. and I are also going to attempt to finish our photo album and our letter to the birth mother tonight so we can send out our packet by the end of this week.
We got a preliminary email from our agency saying that they will be booking meetings with the Japan coordinator at the end of August so we are more than excited for this. Once this is all done, we are then placed on the waiting list for our Japanese adoption.
Here's to August!
We filed this on 4/22 and it completed 6/16.
S. and I are also going to attempt to finish our photo album and our letter to the birth mother tonight so we can send out our packet by the end of this week.
We got a preliminary email from our agency saying that they will be booking meetings with the Japan coordinator at the end of August so we are more than excited for this. Once this is all done, we are then placed on the waiting list for our Japanese adoption.
Here's to August!
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