Jump to content

keepingfaith4us

Members
  • Posts

    912
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    34

Everything posted by keepingfaith4us

  1. I love, love, love the family placement picture of Amelia. Each of Amelia's moms with their arms wrapped around her is adorable!
  2. Congratulations to all that love baby Amelia!
  3. Babies are the best reason to celebrate! Congratulations to all her parents and family!
  4. Mari, Lauranda is such a beautiful girl and apparently always has been, what a cutie!!!!! I had an older sister cheerleader also, sooooo fun! I always looked up to them and just loved it when they have me attention!
  5. Steven and Becky, we are so excited for you all!!! Congratulations'
  6. FYI, it did arrive eventually. At right around the 4-month mark. Aside from that, I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed that they have a hard time not projecting the downfalls of other past, failed matches on their current match? I have a hard time not looking at things as me being 110% sure a placement will not happen, vs. even 50/50 sure that it might. I find myself trying to shoo myself out of a level of paranoia I felt with the 3-month match we had pre-Oliver. I honestly have to admit that I'm not really a person I like very much during the PIW phase in general. It tends to bring out the very worst in me and while I want to savor each day (especially these precious days we have as a family of 3, before things change), I am not really the best company for myself or others! Melissa, I appreciate your vulnerability and humility in this post. Specifically, I appreciate your honesty in expressing how you feel about yourself at times during the PIW phase. All I have to say is......iiiiicccckkkk, the PIW emotions, yuck!!! It's hard to explain, because it is an honor and an exciting time being a hopeful mommy in waiting, but I too found that I was a very challenging person to be around and didn't like myself very much during different phases of the wait. I'll put myself out there and elaborate, my mind was consumed with being a mommy and reviewing every baby product imaginable, was consumed with pity for myself over not having any control over anything and relying on faith and prayers only. That last one is hard to actually admit, because I am a woman of faith, but it's true that when I was challenged with relying on my faith, I fought it! Then there were the all thoughts and fears of all the unknowns that came up while you are emotionally preparing for the journey, it's hard not to think about it when your heart yearns for a (another) child. I remember though not always feeling that way about myself during the wait. There were times during the wait, I liked myself much better. Grant yourself some grace and just keep moving forward. Being a PIW is stressful. It's a wonderul place to be, but it is stressful (imo). Maybe it would help to mentally do a check every now and then...I do this all the time and it helps me to evaluate myself and look inward. "Check yourself before you wreck yourself." Thanks again for sharing. Merae
  7. This quote speaks to me today too, Mari. I was just thinking yesterday about how much I have grown in life since we've been entrusted with Jordan. It's amazing how much she has taught me.....and she just started talking! It's an amazing honor and I am so glad she and her first family found their way to us!
  8. May this boy always know how loved he is by his family, congratulations to all who love him!
  9. Welcome baby Grant, and congratulations to Jen, Haukur and Drake on the sweet new addition to your family!
  10. Charlotte you are one blessed little girl to have four doting parents who adore you! Welcome to the world little one!
  11. Congratulations Teri and Stephen! Praying for you all tonight and in these tender coming days.
  12. Congratulations to all on the birth of this baby boy and prayers for all as new transitions are made.
  13. Just wanted to chime in that my employer does not offer a paid maternity leave for mothers (adoptive or biological) either. Any maternity leave is taken with vacation time, and FMLA does not apply in my case like Abrazo's because of less than 50 employees. They did however, want me to spend as much time as I could afford and allowed me to go in the negative, which I was very grateful for. We were very impressed with Scott's employers benefit, to say the least. We did not learn about it until after Abrazo urged us to double check with our employers for benefits at orientation. They exceeded our expectations and were very generous with a 4 week paid paternity leave!!!!!!!! Can you believe that?!?!?!? We are very thankful for his employer, they are fantastic. In regards to financing an adoption, I admit, I was tempted. Adoption costs were not easy for us to save for, but a priority. I (Scott most definitely not) was tempted to take a personal loan and even take parents up on offers to help out, but after deliberation and hearing Scott's point of view, it wasn't for us. We wanted and needed to do it ourselves. I'm glad we waited. In the moment, was I happy about it.....absolutely not! I personally do not think that how another family chooses to expand their family is any of my concern, financially or any other aspect. It's not my place to form an "is that right" or "is that wrong" opinion, it's their family and I am not walking in their shoes. Merae
  14. What a beautiful start to Joshua's life! Congratulations Chris, Judy and Mikayla! I'm very glad to hear the hospital social worker knew of Abrazo and let Joshua's mom know her options for her boy. Welcome to the world little Joshua!
  15. This is a sad story of an innocent child suffering too much! His story is heartbreaking and his attitude towards his health was so very mature for his age. His parents saw his dream of helping other children suffering through and they do gain my respect for that. But honestly, really? If they had a way to contact the furst parents snd did not, how did they ever put their head on their pillows at night with knowing they hadn't shared the news with his first parents? If they are an Abrazo client, then they committed to open adoption. Shame on them for giving open adoption a bad rap. I'm so sorry for the father that learned as he did and I'm also sorry for the Chicks that had to take that call. That's a very sad thing for a father to learn and to learn it like that is just plain disrespectful and cold.
  16. Gutwrenching and horribly sad. Rest peacefully, Maksim, may you be with your loving heavenly father.
  17. Our faith and relationship with God was increased dramatically through our adoption journey and especially since we met M and Jordan was placed in our lives. He has shown me what a wonderful gift it is to parent and I am honored that he uses my relationship with my daughter to grow my faith and teach me about what is important to Him. Just yesterday, I was having a hard day and hadn't had spent much time with Him. After Jordan and I had gone through our nightly routine and I snuggled her in the chair with me for storytime, we started with bible story book. I found as I was reading to her (something we read all the time and in a childrens book nonetheless, about Noah and his faith, the flood and His promises) that He got my attention and used that time to speak to me about my day and my worries. We do go to church regularly and love our church family. It is important for us to have Jordan go to church with us and see Him through us. We pray for her to have a thriving relationship with her heavenly Father and accept Him as her God one day when she is ready. As her parents, we want to have her in an environment that we trust she can learn about Him, and the bible and question anything and everything and have fun and create friends while doing so. He has used our story, our journey, to grow me as a person and in my faith. I have always had a tender spot for children, but now, something is growing inside of me that is more. I'm not sure what it looks like yet or what exactly the avenue is but I will keep you posted. I am open and want to be used by Him to care for the children that we both love so much! Another thing I want to add is that I always feel "safe" and comfortable talking about my faith here on the forum in this community. Just, another reason I am very thankful for this forum and the Abrazo community.
  18. Rasmussen family, Congratulation' s on the welcoming of baby Madelyn to your family! I'm so glad Jessica was able to find you to parent this sweet girl at just the right time! She is beautiful and your placement photo is wonderful! Congrats!
  19. Such a beautiful birth announcement. Jayden and Gavin are blessed with 4 wonderful parents! The placement picture is beautiful! Congratulations Andrew and Sara.
  20. Welcome baby boy Micah! Thinking of you while you are gaining strength and growing in your NICU bed. Take care little guy and eat all of that loving up, I know you are getting lots from all those that love you!
  21. I just wanted to share and encourage anyone that might be looking into Abrazo for an agency and might have fears about not getting approved because you are a cancer survivor. When your heart wants very badly to parent a child, yet you don't know if that will ever happen and live in a state of hope, sometimes fear can "ooooch" in and try to get the best of you. Please take peace in the fact that you are a survivor and that Abrazo will absolutely not hold that against you. In fact, we shared with Abrazo that my husband is a cancer survivor and not only did they accept us, but they helped create our family!
  22. Congratulations on the birth of this loved baby girl. Prayers said for you and for her courageous mom whom placed her in your hands.
×
×
  • Create New...