Yesterday afternoon I headed back to my desk to find an email from our agency coordinator.
Our photo book is approved.
I was shocked as I just had a breakdown about it earlier in the morning. The stars are aligning - God is watching over us.
I ran in to S.'s office yelling and clapping letting him know we're approved. He smiles and says "hooray! BABY!" I head back to my desk to respond to the email (as there was a question in there), I hit send and lose my mind. I begin crying and crying and S. comes over and gives me the biggest hug I've ever received from him. He whispers how much he loves me and how he's so excited that we are literally one step closer to our family.
I tell him I cry tears of happiness, tears of release - the past (almost) 9 months of paperwork, appointments, meetings, and waiting has all come to a head.
We are now a waiting family - waiting to be told a mother has chosen S. and I to parent their baby, waiting to meet our baby, waiting to be a family of 3.
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Movie Review: Pregnant in America
I finally got "Pregnant in America" from Netflix. S. and I watched it Monday night and enjoyed it. It was a cute movie, made by a first time father to be who was outraged at the maternity system in America. It actually made S. feel better to know that he wasn't alone. ;)
One segment talked about how there is no oversight over the medical community with regards to what drugs can and can not be used for labor - specifically CYTOTEC. This one family interviewed has been petitioning the FDA for help in banning it's use in obstetric care, however their response was that they had no jurisdiction over that. Disgusting.
The rest of the movie, for me, was all info I'm very well aware of so it didn't have the punch power, but still had some great info nonetheless. And any one that rolls the great Ina May Gaskin, Mardsen Wagner, and some OBs pissed at the system into their film deserves an A+ in my book. ;)
One segment talked about how there is no oversight over the medical community with regards to what drugs can and can not be used for labor - specifically CYTOTEC. This one family interviewed has been petitioning the FDA for help in banning it's use in obstetric care, however their response was that they had no jurisdiction over that. Disgusting.
The rest of the movie, for me, was all info I'm very well aware of so it didn't have the punch power, but still had some great info nonetheless. And any one that rolls the great Ina May Gaskin, Mardsen Wagner, and some OBs pissed at the system into their film deserves an A+ in my book. ;)
Saturday, September 11, 2010
My personal spiritual journey
Some of you may notice I took down my research on Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
The reason being is that I have had some amazing quiet time with God - He's allowed me to yell at Him, scream about things I'm confused about, and cry on His word and has still been faithful and loving. In this time, while I am very interested in learning more about other religions, God is calling me to lay at His feet and listen to His words.
As always, God is good to His children and I wish I would have opened the Good Book sooner.
I have been writing down notes on my daily devotional and have decided to make Sundays my "weekly devotional day" where I'll write down my readings for the week and share my notes.
Thank you to those that have been prayer warriors for me. Trust me, they were received and appreciated.
I pray the spirit of the Lord is upon you and gives you peace. Much love.
The reason being is that I have had some amazing quiet time with God - He's allowed me to yell at Him, scream about things I'm confused about, and cry on His word and has still been faithful and loving. In this time, while I am very interested in learning more about other religions, God is calling me to lay at His feet and listen to His words.
As always, God is good to His children and I wish I would have opened the Good Book sooner.
I have been writing down notes on my daily devotional and have decided to make Sundays my "weekly devotional day" where I'll write down my readings for the week and share my notes.
Thank you to those that have been prayer warriors for me. Trust me, they were received and appreciated.
I pray the spirit of the Lord is upon you and gives you peace. Much love.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Acne be-gone!
About 3 years ago I got hit with adult acne. I thought I had missed the high school/teenaged acne bus and was home free. Ha! So I tried different creams, masks, cleansers and nothing worked. It felt like it was getting worse. I also started charting my cycles and noticed that when I got to my luteal phase I'd have even more acne.
So to a dermatologist I went. She ended up prescribing a low dose of antibiotics, a prescription-only cream, and then asked me to wash with La Roche Posay (2 different cleansers, one for night and one for morning). Just about $100 later, I noticed things were getting better.
Then we start trying for Baby G. Thankfully I had a follow up with my dermatologist as she yanks me off the pills and cream - not suitable for a growing baby in the womb. So within a month or two, the acne was back. Now I'm even more worried about getting pregnant because progesterone seems to have an ill-effect on my face and when pregnant your body surges with that hormone - oy vey!
Well, a year and a half passes and I'm at the end of my rope. I'm tired of masking the acne with layers of make-up; tired of not wanting to wash the make-up off my face as I'm too embarrassed even to let S. see my face; tired of walking around feeling so insecure with myself.
I finally decided to try the oil cleansing method. The oil cleansing method is easy - you take caster oil and sunflower oil, mix it together (proportions are in the link provided), rub it on your face, steam your face, and done! You only do this at night, no need to clean in the morning.
I wish I had taken before and after photos for your viewing pleasure, however the thought of having my acne-filled face on the internet forever makes me cringe. But take my word for it, I am SO SO SO happy with the results. S. even notices a HUGE difference. He's excited for me just because he knew how much it bothered me. He's even started cleansing his face with the mix and LOVES it. The cost is also amazing - $4 for sunflower oil and $6ish for caster oil and it LASTS! I love that it's all-natural, too.
So here I am, a week and change later, feeling like a new woman. I can go out of the house with just powder and blush and feel confident about my face.
So to a dermatologist I went. She ended up prescribing a low dose of antibiotics, a prescription-only cream, and then asked me to wash with La Roche Posay (2 different cleansers, one for night and one for morning). Just about $100 later, I noticed things were getting better.
Then we start trying for Baby G. Thankfully I had a follow up with my dermatologist as she yanks me off the pills and cream - not suitable for a growing baby in the womb. So within a month or two, the acne was back. Now I'm even more worried about getting pregnant because progesterone seems to have an ill-effect on my face and when pregnant your body surges with that hormone - oy vey!
Well, a year and a half passes and I'm at the end of my rope. I'm tired of masking the acne with layers of make-up; tired of not wanting to wash the make-up off my face as I'm too embarrassed even to let S. see my face; tired of walking around feeling so insecure with myself.
I finally decided to try the oil cleansing method. The oil cleansing method is easy - you take caster oil and sunflower oil, mix it together (proportions are in the link provided), rub it on your face, steam your face, and done! You only do this at night, no need to clean in the morning.
I wish I had taken before and after photos for your viewing pleasure, however the thought of having my acne-filled face on the internet forever makes me cringe. But take my word for it, I am SO SO SO happy with the results. S. even notices a HUGE difference. He's excited for me just because he knew how much it bothered me. He's even started cleansing his face with the mix and LOVES it. The cost is also amazing - $4 for sunflower oil and $6ish for caster oil and it LASTS! I love that it's all-natural, too.
So here I am, a week and change later, feeling like a new woman. I can go out of the house with just powder and blush and feel confident about my face.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Check Check One, One, Two
We are still here - breathing, working, thinking, sleeping. So bare with us as the reason for no recent posts is because:
* I have been researching Japan, as stated in many other posts, and wanted to put together a great post (or two) on my findings. So it's taking time stringing all my thoughts together. I never thought I'd actually want to write another research paper outside of college, but alas here I am doing just that.
* I am also going through an amazing spiritual journey that I definitely want to share. And just like my Japan post, it is taking time to put together.
Aside from that, all else is quiet on the Western Front. I have set up twitter and a facebook page (scroll down on the right hand side of the blog) to give quick, little updates so be sure to follow or like that!
Much love.
M. & S.
* I have been researching Japan, as stated in many other posts, and wanted to put together a great post (or two) on my findings. So it's taking time stringing all my thoughts together. I never thought I'd actually want to write another research paper outside of college, but alas here I am doing just that.
* I am also going through an amazing spiritual journey that I definitely want to share. And just like my Japan post, it is taking time to put together.
Aside from that, all else is quiet on the Western Front. I have set up twitter and a facebook page (scroll down on the right hand side of the blog) to give quick, little updates so be sure to follow or like that!
Much love.
M. & S.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Adoption Super Mega Update
Well S. and I are *this* much closer to our family and we couldn't be more excited, frustrated, anxious, happy, etc.
Last week we met with our agency and got a lot of questions answered and even got the whole run down of how things will go once we get "the call."
We submitted our letter to the birth mother and are waiting to get the finalized version back. We are also waiting for the photo book to come in so I can send it to the agency to get approval. So, no, we're not on the waiting list yet and as soon as we are, you will all know. I'm sure those of you in the same state as us will hear our shrieks of delight.
So here's some answers to the many, many questions we have been getting:
Can you chose gender?
No. And we like it this way. We're adding to our family, not buying a car with certain "packages".
How old will the child you're adopting be?
It depends, but anywhere from 5-10 weeks old.
When will you know you've been chosen?
Also a "depends" answer. Some bio mothers know in the beginning of their pregnancy they want to adopt, so we may know sooner. Others may be in denial and not even seek the adoption agency's help until after the baby is born.
Will you ever meet the bio mom?
We technically could, but generally the bio mom doesn't want to.
Why?
Well let's take a step back and look at the differences of American and Japanese cultures. Japan is a very honorable and respectable culture. Many, if not all, of the women who go to our agency in Japan are there because of a "dishonorable" act - infidelity, out of wedlock, young mother - and the whole pregnancy would harm their reputation and their family's reputation. By adopting out the baby, they are able to remove the child from their Koseki - family registry and not be shamed. So by meeting us or keeping in touch with us, they are admitting to this and it undoes everything they are working against. (I'll be writing more extensive posts on the Japanese culture and the differences between the US and Japan throughout our wait.)
How long of a notice do you have before you travel?
We have about 2-3 weeks, generally, from the time we "get the call" to the time we need to be in Japan.
How long will you be in Japan for?
About 2 weeks, but we're thinking about staying an extra week just to account for jetlag and sightseeing.
How long after you arrive will you get your baby?
1-2 days (or it really depends on when we arrive. If we decide to come in earlier to get used to the time difference, it may be longer.
Here's some misc. questions we've been asked and the answers to go with:
How much is this costing you?
This is a personal question, thank you for playing.
Why did you decide to adopt?
S. and I want nothing more than to have a family - him, me, and little feet running around our house. When one door was closed, another was opened and God showed us the path He wanted us to take. :D
*****
I'll now open up the floor to answer any additional questions you may have of the process/adoption/etc.
We are so excited and can not wait for the totally awesome updates like 'we're on the list' or 'we got the call!'.
Much love!
Last week we met with our agency and got a lot of questions answered and even got the whole run down of how things will go once we get "the call."
We submitted our letter to the birth mother and are waiting to get the finalized version back. We are also waiting for the photo book to come in so I can send it to the agency to get approval. So, no, we're not on the waiting list yet and as soon as we are, you will all know. I'm sure those of you in the same state as us will hear our shrieks of delight.
So here's some answers to the many, many questions we have been getting:
Can you chose gender?
No. And we like it this way. We're adding to our family, not buying a car with certain "packages".
How old will the child you're adopting be?
It depends, but anywhere from 5-10 weeks old.
When will you know you've been chosen?
Also a "depends" answer. Some bio mothers know in the beginning of their pregnancy they want to adopt, so we may know sooner. Others may be in denial and not even seek the adoption agency's help until after the baby is born.
Will you ever meet the bio mom?
We technically could, but generally the bio mom doesn't want to.
Why?
Well let's take a step back and look at the differences of American and Japanese cultures. Japan is a very honorable and respectable culture. Many, if not all, of the women who go to our agency in Japan are there because of a "dishonorable" act - infidelity, out of wedlock, young mother - and the whole pregnancy would harm their reputation and their family's reputation. By adopting out the baby, they are able to remove the child from their Koseki - family registry and not be shamed. So by meeting us or keeping in touch with us, they are admitting to this and it undoes everything they are working against. (I'll be writing more extensive posts on the Japanese culture and the differences between the US and Japan throughout our wait.)
How long of a notice do you have before you travel?
We have about 2-3 weeks, generally, from the time we "get the call" to the time we need to be in Japan.
How long will you be in Japan for?
About 2 weeks, but we're thinking about staying an extra week just to account for jetlag and sightseeing.
How long after you arrive will you get your baby?
1-2 days (or it really depends on when we arrive. If we decide to come in earlier to get used to the time difference, it may be longer.
Here's some misc. questions we've been asked and the answers to go with:
How much is this costing you?
This is a personal question, thank you for playing.
Why did you decide to adopt?
S. and I want nothing more than to have a family - him, me, and little feet running around our house. When one door was closed, another was opened and God showed us the path He wanted us to take. :D
*****
I'll now open up the floor to answer any additional questions you may have of the process/adoption/etc.
We are so excited and can not wait for the totally awesome updates like 'we're on the list' or 'we got the call!'.
Much love!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Searching for something deeper
I struggled for a long time to write about this because I was worried it would be upsetting to some, that I'd get the never-ending advice and comments and just not something I wanted to deal with. But I decided that talking about this is more important than me worrying about what others will think.
I was born a non-denominational Christian. We were raised to believe that God created the earth, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins, that He rose on the 3rd day, and will return again to bring us home. My God is an awesome God, He loves His children and we are taught to live as Jesus lived.
The past couple of years my heart has been telling me to live differently. Homosexuality is a sin in God's eyes, however many Christians have taken it upon themselves to be the judge and the jury and have treated them badly and not lovingly. I find it is not MY place to judge, just to love. God reserves that right.
Because of this, and many other minor differences, I've started wondering about what I truly believe and where I really belong. I have started looking outside of the known branches of Christianity to find people who love and cherish my God as much as I do and love everything and everyone He has created.
I was born a non-denominational Christian. We were raised to believe that God created the earth, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins, that He rose on the 3rd day, and will return again to bring us home. My God is an awesome God, He loves His children and we are taught to live as Jesus lived.
The past couple of years my heart has been telling me to live differently. Homosexuality is a sin in God's eyes, however many Christians have taken it upon themselves to be the judge and the jury and have treated them badly and not lovingly. I find it is not MY place to judge, just to love. God reserves that right.
Because of this, and many other minor differences, I've started wondering about what I truly believe and where I really belong. I have started looking outside of the known branches of Christianity to find people who love and cherish my God as much as I do and love everything and everyone He has created.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)