Our lives move so fast lately! Sweet Cates is doing wonderfully! She eats well and is sleeping enough to keep her mama from going crazy. We are madly in love with her and we thank God for her every single day. She has had some reflux problems, but with medicine we are doing so much better! It is hard to believe 8 weeks ago we met her. I go back to work Monday, but it looks like the perfect situation is going to work out for her being taken care of! Answered prayers.
As of yesterday, Tim and I have custody of Andrew! :) We go to work next Thursday to sign adoption papers that we have waited 18 months to sign. I feel like so many of our family and friends have gone down this long road with us. Ups and downs. And I hope each of them know our deep appreciation for their love, support, and prayers. We were truly heard by our creator. Please continue to keep my sweet boy in your prayers.
Tiffany is doing well and we are making college plans! Her grades are good, and she has been accepted everywhere she has applied! We are proud of the honest, hardworking person she is. Thankful God brought her to our lives!
Prayers for me as I leave my girl for the first time Monday.
Love.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
adoption.
I have thought a lot about adoption over the last year. I have read blogs of those adopting who I do not know at all, and felt connected to them. And you know out of every story I've read or heard.. adoption was never simple. It was never a flawless process without hiccups. In most of the adoption accounts I'm familiar with there were very hard times. Birth parents changing their decision to put their child up for adoption, judges who didn't understand a families desire to adopt a certain child, incomplete paperwork, and heavy hearts. But you know what I've never read about.. a family who gave up. A family who said helping this baby is too much work. I've read pleads for prayers, I've read of multiple trips overseas, I've read of friends and families pulling together to help see the adoption through. You see it is firmly my belief that people who feel adoption is what their family should do are not those who are faint of heart. They are stubborn. And persistent. And the ones I know have total faith that God will see them through to the very end. I am thankful for the inspiration these families have been to me. I am thankful for the homes they have created and the hearts they are touching. I am thankful for the adoptive parents I know personally and love... aunt tina and uncle stan.. anne marie and elisha.. and for those who I do not know.. but admire.. the black family and the pearces. And I am thankful that through adoption tim and I will be blessed with a son.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
blessed.
I didn't want to blog about court until everything was complete. The court part is over now, outside of the final declaration of adoption. It went well. Much better than I ever could have expected. One of my prayers was that it would not be overly emotional because my heart felt very sensitive. And it wasn't. It was very to the point. Now, I did still cry the entire time.. but mostly just because 15 months of love was laying out before me. It is our prayer that our adoption will be complete by january. I know the only thing that will change is an official piece of paper and my babys last name but it will be such a day of relief for me and for us. Your prayers have meant everything to us. Thank you seems too simple but that is what I am.. truly thankful.
It is also important to update you on our little girl :) On Halloween, we took our first grade to a farm on a field trip. It was so much fun! There were corn mazes and a hay mountain and so many other things! After our field trip Tim and I headed to my regular dr. appt. Our plan was to leave there and take our man trick or treating. I have had perfect blood pressure my whole pregnancy.. but this day it was up. I told them I was sure it was after having 60 6 yr olds at the farm all day! Regardless they sent us to the hospital where my blood work wasn't perfect so I was admitted. I was so sad we couldn't go trick or treating. Thankfully mama and daddy dressed up my little scarecrow and took him around! I spent two nights and on the third day they decided to induce me. They started about 3pm on Wednesday. tim and mama and daddy were with me and about ten o'clock mom and dad started to leave. We haf agreed they'd be back by 6am because nothing was expected to happen until lunchtime. As they were walking out my daddy said..he just didn't want to leave. So they didn't. We had a big labor spend the night party :) all night and morning the nurses told me how textbook we were doing.. her heart rate was perfect.. my blood pressure was perfect.. it was going well. Then that changed. Her heartrate was dropping with my contractions. My blood pressure was dropping too. The Dr came in and said we were leaving right then for a c section. There was no discussion or time to think.. so I cried. When we got to the operating room I was sick even on the operating table. They finally let tim come in and that really helped my feelings. Nothing really hurt and it wasn't long before I heard her crying. They showed her to us and took her to check on her. They told tim he could go with her but he didn't leave me until I told him I was okay. I will always remember that. He didn't leave me. I told him I was fine and he went and took lots of pictures. Then he brought her to me and then took her to show my parents and brother and grandparents and tiffany who were all there waiting :) on Cates first fay of life 20 people came to meet her. Before we left the hospital over 35 people had visited. We felt such love. Since we have been home people from church have come everyday and brought us food. She has already had over 15 home visitors! I want to blog and list each person soon as this blog also serves as a record of our life events. Tiffany loves holding her and Andrew wants to pat and kiss her all the time :) mama took off work all last week to take care of us.. and daddy has come to see her everyday of her life.
Blessed.
It is also important to update you on our little girl :) On Halloween, we took our first grade to a farm on a field trip. It was so much fun! There were corn mazes and a hay mountain and so many other things! After our field trip Tim and I headed to my regular dr. appt. Our plan was to leave there and take our man trick or treating. I have had perfect blood pressure my whole pregnancy.. but this day it was up. I told them I was sure it was after having 60 6 yr olds at the farm all day! Regardless they sent us to the hospital where my blood work wasn't perfect so I was admitted. I was so sad we couldn't go trick or treating. Thankfully mama and daddy dressed up my little scarecrow and took him around! I spent two nights and on the third day they decided to induce me. They started about 3pm on Wednesday. tim and mama and daddy were with me and about ten o'clock mom and dad started to leave. We haf agreed they'd be back by 6am because nothing was expected to happen until lunchtime. As they were walking out my daddy said..he just didn't want to leave. So they didn't. We had a big labor spend the night party :) all night and morning the nurses told me how textbook we were doing.. her heart rate was perfect.. my blood pressure was perfect.. it was going well. Then that changed. Her heartrate was dropping with my contractions. My blood pressure was dropping too. The Dr came in and said we were leaving right then for a c section. There was no discussion or time to think.. so I cried. When we got to the operating room I was sick even on the operating table. They finally let tim come in and that really helped my feelings. Nothing really hurt and it wasn't long before I heard her crying. They showed her to us and took her to check on her. They told tim he could go with her but he didn't leave me until I told him I was okay. I will always remember that. He didn't leave me. I told him I was fine and he went and took lots of pictures. Then he brought her to me and then took her to show my parents and brother and grandparents and tiffany who were all there waiting :) on Cates first fay of life 20 people came to meet her. Before we left the hospital over 35 people had visited. We felt such love. Since we have been home people from church have come everyday and brought us food. She has already had over 15 home visitors! I want to blog and list each person soon as this blog also serves as a record of our life events. Tiffany loves holding her and Andrew wants to pat and kiss her all the time :) mama took off work all last week to take care of us.. and daddy has come to see her everyday of her life.
Blessed.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Pray.
I need you to stop, and pray for me. I am not asking in a shy way or an “if you have time way”. I am asking you to stop whatever craziness is going on at this moment, and pray for me. Being 34 weeks pregnant is such an emotional time anyway from what I understand, and on top of that my heart is so vulnerable as court for our sweet man approaches. I honestly sometimes catch myself finding it hard to breathe because I have let worry totally over take me. I know in my heart.. “Be anxious for nothing…” I know in my heart.. “all things work together for good..” For some reason I am not allowing all the promises God has made me and made my sweet boy give me the peace that I need. I am totally without any amount of control in this situation. I am totally at the mercy of those appointed to make decisions for my little guy. But most importantly, I am in the hands of a God that loves our boy even more than I do. And a God who wants what’s best for our boy even more than I am able to.
Pray for the people making decisions for my sweet little boy.
Pray for Tim and the rest of my family.
Pray for my sweet boy.
And please.. pray for me.
Love to you all.
Pray for the people making decisions for my sweet little boy.
Pray for Tim and the rest of my family.
Pray for my sweet boy.
And please.. pray for me.
Love to you all.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Bringing Out The Best..
I am not sure how many of you know that Tim is a football referee. Every Friday night I lose him to the guys on his crew and some high school team somewhere in southish Alabama. If you have never had a close relationship with a referee.. you probably don't quite understand how you look as a fan (not all of you, just to clarify). It has been my experience that most teams decide pretty early on in the game that the refs are out to get them. Maybe they think that it is a personal reason, something that the referees are holding against them from years prior, maybe the refs just plain dont like their school.. whatever it is.. the team you are rooting for is most likely, if not regularly, at least occasionally, viewed by you and your fellow fans as the victim.
When Tim first started refereeing it would hurt my feelings so when people would yell at him. They would criticize the decision that he made, or nag him about something they think he didnt see (and for the record, No, he is not blind. :) )
I would want to fuss back and tell them he was doing the best he could. I mean lets get real honest.. giving up your Friday night for pennies.. it isn't because you want to do a great injustice to a high school team.. its because you love the game.. and you want to be involved. With that said, I am sure he does miss an occasional call and he would probably even tell you in retrospect that he should have done some things differently.. but at the end of the day.. he is doing the very best he can.
I guess the humorous part to me is when referees make calls that benefit your team.. they are brilliant for that moment.. but in the blink of an eye.. when you are penalized.. it is back to.. "where in the world did they find these guys..".
On just Tims crew in past years I have seen the air let out of their tires, grown men follow them to their cars after games wanting to fight, I have seen police escorts for the referres, I have heard hurtful names called, and I guess I say all that to say.. I have seen how being a fan doesnt always bring out the best in people.
And now I will admit, myself included. Growing up in my daddy's house you pretty much had two options.. learn to love watching sports.. or spend alot of time extremely bored. So I learned to love. And Tim now is very thankful to my dad for this result. I have stood in front of the tv in my own home yelling. Yelling at the refs (or umpires), yelling at the coaches, and telling everyone in the room how things "should have been done". Being a fan doesnt always bring out the best in me.
We will add that to be list of things I am working on :)
When Tim first started refereeing it would hurt my feelings so when people would yell at him. They would criticize the decision that he made, or nag him about something they think he didnt see (and for the record, No, he is not blind. :) )
I would want to fuss back and tell them he was doing the best he could. I mean lets get real honest.. giving up your Friday night for pennies.. it isn't because you want to do a great injustice to a high school team.. its because you love the game.. and you want to be involved. With that said, I am sure he does miss an occasional call and he would probably even tell you in retrospect that he should have done some things differently.. but at the end of the day.. he is doing the very best he can.
I guess the humorous part to me is when referees make calls that benefit your team.. they are brilliant for that moment.. but in the blink of an eye.. when you are penalized.. it is back to.. "where in the world did they find these guys..".
On just Tims crew in past years I have seen the air let out of their tires, grown men follow them to their cars after games wanting to fight, I have seen police escorts for the referres, I have heard hurtful names called, and I guess I say all that to say.. I have seen how being a fan doesnt always bring out the best in people.
And now I will admit, myself included. Growing up in my daddy's house you pretty much had two options.. learn to love watching sports.. or spend alot of time extremely bored. So I learned to love. And Tim now is very thankful to my dad for this result. I have stood in front of the tv in my own home yelling. Yelling at the refs (or umpires), yelling at the coaches, and telling everyone in the room how things "should have been done". Being a fan doesnt always bring out the best in me.
We will add that to be list of things I am working on :)
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
A Village.
One of my facebook friends recently made their status about "the village". You know the theoretical village that helps us raise our children. They had a negative view of this "village" that we all referred to. And everyone is totally entitled to their own opinion.. thank goodness.. because if you know me you know I have mine! :)
It did make me think though. It made me think of my children's "village". And I cannot help but smile as I write this :) Our village is full of teachers and preachers and successful business employees. Our village is full of hard workers and overachievers and some of the most selfless people that exist in the world today. Our village is full of praying people, faithful, God fearing people. Our village has a strong history, and a bright future. We are made up of all ages and both genders. We are colorful and beautiful. And my children have been and will be so blessed by this "village" that we are apart of.
Since becoming a foster parent.. literally since the first hour of my first call almost 2.5 years ago.. I have totally understood the concept of "It takes a village to raise a child". We counted on others for baby beds, and toys, and really teaching us how to be parents. Our families are of course a major part of our village, but so is our church family. Bible school teachers, and song leaders, and sweet faces to look up to. All of my children who have been school age have had sweet teachers, and kind principals. Just a total positive experience. I am thankful that my children will not solely count on Tim and I to fulfill every role. I am thankful that we have such a strong "village" to make up for our lackings.
It did make me think though. It made me think of my children's "village". And I cannot help but smile as I write this :) Our village is full of teachers and preachers and successful business employees. Our village is full of hard workers and overachievers and some of the most selfless people that exist in the world today. Our village is full of praying people, faithful, God fearing people. Our village has a strong history, and a bright future. We are made up of all ages and both genders. We are colorful and beautiful. And my children have been and will be so blessed by this "village" that we are apart of.
Since becoming a foster parent.. literally since the first hour of my first call almost 2.5 years ago.. I have totally understood the concept of "It takes a village to raise a child". We counted on others for baby beds, and toys, and really teaching us how to be parents. Our families are of course a major part of our village, but so is our church family. Bible school teachers, and song leaders, and sweet faces to look up to. All of my children who have been school age have had sweet teachers, and kind principals. Just a total positive experience. I am thankful that my children will not solely count on Tim and I to fulfill every role. I am thankful that we have such a strong "village" to make up for our lackings.
They just show on up.. with that big ole heart.. :)
People keep telling me they are sorry my pregnancy is going how it is. How they hope now I can “enjoy” it. I want you to know that I have really deep down enjoyed it. I guess I should explain why people probably think I am miserable and counting the days until this ends.
Two Sundays ago I wasn’t feeling well. I stayed home from church Sunday night and about the time Tim left something felt very wrong. I tried to call him and dad but they were at church so I just waited. I hurt. Bad hurt. Unbearable. Make you sick to your stomach hurt. I cried. I was sick. It was terrible. When Tim finally came home I knew I needed to go to the ER.. but in case you weren’t aware.. when you go to the ER pregnant.. they are pretty much scared of you. And they don’t do a lot to help you. So I decided that I was going to tough it out through the night. I did not sleep. Tim did not sleep. The pain was unreal. We tried everything. Tylenol. Warm showers. Everything. Nothing made it stop. I called my DR at 8am and they told me they would get back to me “Sometime today”. Well, you know me. I headed on up there. Dad drove me. When I got to the DR they had not called me back. So I went in (after some insisting from dad). My DR was in surgery so they sent me to the OB Triage at the hospital.. kind of an ER just for pregnant ladies.. but the catch is you have to be sent there by your DR. I spent a whole day in there. At the end of the day they told me they were admitting me. After three days of people trying to figure out what to do with me. Three days of me crying in total fear for me and our little girl. I had surgery. The nurse told me it took about an hour and twenty minutes. Our girl was strong and her mama was at least now in the process of healing. I had to have a stent from my kidney on down.. the most painful thing ever. I got it out 7 days later. I was sore 1 more day.. but since I feel like a new person. For almost a week and a half though I was totally out of commission and totally dependent on EVERYONE.
In this whole ordeal my little guy was running about 103 temperature. Mama and Daddy took care of him at night, and Aunt Tina and her family during the day. Grandmamaand Granddaddy took care of Tiffany. Mama came to the hospital after work, and daddy came each chance he got. Tim spent every night. The day of surgery gmom and gdad, Aunt Marinda and Uncle Rick, Mama and Daddy, Tim, and Mr. Ronnie all came to the hospital. It meant so much. When I got home Ms. Mary David, Lauren, Ms. Sharon, Ms. Cindy, Ms. Loretta, Ms. Jewel, and Ms. Julie from church all cooked for me. It was kind of a throw back to that song.. “You find out who your friends are…” I know I am blessed with many more “friends” than just these. But these meant so much to me at such a hard time. I know with our sweet girls delivery less than 10 weeks away we will again be overwhelmed by love and support by the people closest to us. God has blessed us. Blessed us with amazing people to love, and be loved by. I am thankful every single day.
My sweet man continues to be one of my greatest joys. He totally has my heart. Please pray harder now than ever. I will keep you posted but October is the BIG month. So pray, pray, pray. And let me thank you in advance. I know God hears all of us. And I have confidence in our future as a family.
I know this blog was a little boring! I just needed to type it all out for myself. Have a record that I survived it :)
Love to each of you my sweet friends :)
Two Sundays ago I wasn’t feeling well. I stayed home from church Sunday night and about the time Tim left something felt very wrong. I tried to call him and dad but they were at church so I just waited. I hurt. Bad hurt. Unbearable. Make you sick to your stomach hurt. I cried. I was sick. It was terrible. When Tim finally came home I knew I needed to go to the ER.. but in case you weren’t aware.. when you go to the ER pregnant.. they are pretty much scared of you. And they don’t do a lot to help you. So I decided that I was going to tough it out through the night. I did not sleep. Tim did not sleep. The pain was unreal. We tried everything. Tylenol. Warm showers. Everything. Nothing made it stop. I called my DR at 8am and they told me they would get back to me “Sometime today”. Well, you know me. I headed on up there. Dad drove me. When I got to the DR they had not called me back. So I went in (after some insisting from dad). My DR was in surgery so they sent me to the OB Triage at the hospital.. kind of an ER just for pregnant ladies.. but the catch is you have to be sent there by your DR. I spent a whole day in there. At the end of the day they told me they were admitting me. After three days of people trying to figure out what to do with me. Three days of me crying in total fear for me and our little girl. I had surgery. The nurse told me it took about an hour and twenty minutes. Our girl was strong and her mama was at least now in the process of healing. I had to have a stent from my kidney on down.. the most painful thing ever. I got it out 7 days later. I was sore 1 more day.. but since I feel like a new person. For almost a week and a half though I was totally out of commission and totally dependent on EVERYONE.
In this whole ordeal my little guy was running about 103 temperature. Mama and Daddy took care of him at night, and Aunt Tina and her family during the day. Grandmamaand Granddaddy took care of Tiffany. Mama came to the hospital after work, and daddy came each chance he got. Tim spent every night. The day of surgery gmom and gdad, Aunt Marinda and Uncle Rick, Mama and Daddy, Tim, and Mr. Ronnie all came to the hospital. It meant so much. When I got home Ms. Mary David, Lauren, Ms. Sharon, Ms. Cindy, Ms. Loretta, Ms. Jewel, and Ms. Julie from church all cooked for me. It was kind of a throw back to that song.. “You find out who your friends are…” I know I am blessed with many more “friends” than just these. But these meant so much to me at such a hard time. I know with our sweet girls delivery less than 10 weeks away we will again be overwhelmed by love and support by the people closest to us. God has blessed us. Blessed us with amazing people to love, and be loved by. I am thankful every single day.
My sweet man continues to be one of my greatest joys. He totally has my heart. Please pray harder now than ever. I will keep you posted but October is the BIG month. So pray, pray, pray. And let me thank you in advance. I know God hears all of us. And I have confidence in our future as a family.
I know this blog was a little boring! I just needed to type it all out for myself. Have a record that I survived it :)
Love to each of you my sweet friends :)
