stennison

Thanks Martha, I have not read that book but do have the one for adults. We went through a bible study with that book once. Dylan is really doing well. I do like the idea of the date. Our life just seems so busy now that school is back in. Gary being gone all week really makes it tough on me. Maybe one Saturday he and I can have a date. I know what he will want to do. Go to Toys R Us and out to dinner at Sho Gun ( Japaneese Food) They prepare the meal in front of you and do all sorts of tricks while they are preparing your meal. The last time we did this was right before school started but he took a friend so it was not one on one time. Thanks for the advice.

CONGRATULATIONS !!! God is so good.

Hey Lisa. I know exactly what you are going through I did the same thing. I felt such a strong commitment to Dylan and being everything he needed me to be. I can't tell you how many times my mom would say" what he really needs is a sibling." Oh goodness where do I start - First I would be lying if I said Dylan has not had some adjusting to do... At first it was a little strange trying to care for Brenli and still show Dylan the attention he needs. Sometimes he will tell me I'm not showing him the attention, but he loves his baby sister so much he really dosen't care. The age difference does help. Kayleigh may have a little harder time adjusting I don't know. Dylan was my LIFE before Brenli. I feel like he saved my life in so many ways. Before he came along we had been through two very difficult miscarriages and I had a tough time and when Dylan was born I felt like I had a new purpose and I was so happy again. We struggled with infertility for 10 long years. I wish we had not waited so long to adopt but we wouldn't have Dylan if we had adopted sooner. It is alot harder with two. We can't just jump up and run to Walmart or the movie store now we have to prepare for an outing. Prepare around feeding times or nap time. I am alot harder on Dylan now that Brenli is here and that does make me feel very bad. I seem to get on to him more. I know he is just trying to get my attention so he will do things he knows he shouldn't. The first 3 months were a BIG adjustment for both Dylan and me but the past month has gotten alot better. He is already carrying the Big Brother Role by aggervating her and teasing her. I have 2 sisters and two brothers and we are all very close. My youngest sister is 13 months younger than me and my older sister is 17 months older. Growing up that close was tough but I would not have it any other way now. We could not imagine holiday's without our BIG family. There are 8 grandchildren now and so many of my family members have said they can't wait for Christmas. I have a new nephew that was born 8-16. He is 6 weeks old and weighs 15 lbs. Brenli is 5 months old and weighs 14 lbs. They are 4 months apart so they will be big buddies. Anyway I am rambeling it is 11:15 pm and I have not had much sleep the past 3 nights Dylan has been sick. OH that's antoher thing when you have two and one of them is sick it make's it extra hard on you. My husband works in AR all week and is only home on the week ends so I have had no help. I really don't know what to say about your husband getting on board with adopting a second chlld. Gary & I had talked about it but never really said yes we had to have another baby. It just all fell into place. I actually tried to get pregnant 2 years ago and of course it did not work. I still think sometimes that it would me nice to get preg. I will soon be 38 so that is not likely to happen. I don't dwell on it anymore since we adopted Dylan but it would be ok if it happened. Now that I get to stay home I could see myself with one more.... My husband say's no that we are done and I am perfectly fine with that. Good luck. Just pray about it and God will lead you.

Congratulations !!!! Enjoy your boy's...

Oh Sabrina, I am sorry you were having a bad day. I believe I do know how you feel raising the boy's alone. Gary is gone from Monday am until Friday afternoon and sometimes Dylan pushes me to my wits end. There have been many times when I have called him and said you are going to have to come home I can't do this alone. Parenting is very hard. I don't think my husband has a clue what it takes to keep it all together and going from week to week. Have you thought about maybe some day meeting MR RIGHT??????? You may think I'm crazy for asking you that, but just because you adopted as a single mother dosen't mean you have to remain a single mother. I feel so bad about Camp Abrazo. My son enjoyed hanging out with your boy's so much he would be totaly crushed if yall did not come next year. I promise you next year I will be able to visit more with you. Brenli was only 2 months olds so I was kind of tied to her. Next year she will be running around and I will have a little more free time....I hope. Anyway keep your chin up and when your having a bad day email me because I'm probably in the middle of Dylan's home work or trying to get him to get a bath or something that is making me crazy.

Jeff & Amy, She is just precious. Congratulations!!

CONGRATULATIONS !!! Girls are so much fun. Enjoy every minute. May God continue to bless your family.

That was awesome Elizabeth....

Mike, Brenda, & Gabe, I am so happy for yall. Finally your dreams have come true and you have your baby girl and I know she was soooo worth the wait. Enjcy I know you will. I can't wait to hear all the deatails and see photo's!!

CONGRATULATIONS Enjoy your precious baby girl.. God Bless your family

Congratulations!!!!!!! This is great new's. Enjoy your new little boy....God Bless

That is awesome. We never know if tomorrow will come do we? So let's dance...

I was working in a dental office and we had just hired a new hygienist. We began to talk about her children and I told her we were thinking about adopting. Her sister in laws sister had just adopted from Abrazo and she said I think it was in less than 6 months. I made the call and the rest is history......

Congratulations I know you are thrilled . My son was born on my birthday, it is very special. Enjoy!!!

You are welcome Darrell. Little Jodie is just precious. She has the sweetest little face and lot's of dark hair. Her cry is so cute. I got to hold her today and now Brenli feels so big. I am looking forward to many more visits. Since Lanice and I will be full time mommy's we will be doing lot's of girl stuff. We are going to have so much fun with our girls. It was so nice to see the two of you so happy. Yall are going to be great parents. God Bless!!

YEA!!!!! We are so happy for yall. I can't wait to see your new baby girl...God is so good :)Our precious babies will grow up together. I knew it would happen for yall. I am so glad yall chose Abrazo.....

Majory, YES it is amazing that people are already asking you if you will adopt again, we are being asked the same thing. Of course I say NO, we only want 2 children. Besides ours are 7.5 years apart and I am 37 and Gary is 40. Our birthparents have ask me also, they think we should adopt 1 more. Our reply to everyone is that we are not planning to adopt, but if God see's it best that we have another then so be it. We are not planning on contacting the agency to adopt another baby. We have been so amazingly blessed with 2 beautiful children and we are completely content with them. It is funny I never wanted to adopt right after Dylan was born because I was so completely eat up with him I couldn't even think of sharing my love or myself with another child. People asked us all the time when we were going to adopt again. Then last August is when everything got started when Christian was placed in our home for 10 day's by a private arrangement and then his BP decided that was not really what she wanted. It was strange because Abrazo called us about 2 little girls just days after he came to live with us. After he went back to his mother we called Abrazo back and the little girls had already been placed. So here we are almost a year later and couldn't be happier. God will work out all the details in his time, he is always right on time and he never fails us. We just have to be patient and that is the tough part....I have to get to bed we are leaving for SA tomorrow to go to Sea World and then off to the reunion...I can't wait to meet everyone and to see those we have already met.

Elizabeth, Thanks to you and your staff our dreams have come true once again. Yes at the time we were devestated and couldn't believe someone could do something like that to us. We were just not prepared for it. I have to admit I wanted to be in control of the situation. In fact I had everything all planned out. We were having the birthmom induced so we could be there for the birth and I had already cleared my work schedule and all was in place. I THOUGHT !! God knew way better than I did which baby was to be ours and I would not change a thing. It was ALL worth it. We have a beautiful baby and a wonderful birth family. Brenli's birthmom and grandmother came to visit on Saturday and it was so comfortable. In fact I trust them so much that I went to the store and left Dylan and Brenli with them..... Our visit was great and we are looking forward to many more. This time there were no tears shed just los't of smiles and a family very happy to have each other. Yes GOD is so GOOD.........I can't wait to see everyone at the reunion.....

CONGRATULATIONS Girl's are so much fun.......Enjoy. Having two children is a big change......But it's great!!

Beth that is a precious photo of your boys....

OH I am in tears I am so happy for yall. I have been checking the forum all day just waiting for this post. Girls are so much fun. It will take you twice as long to get anywhere because everywhere you go people will be stopping you to look at your precious baby girl. Gary said we are going to have to name Brenli "Precious" because that's what everyone calls her. Oh I am just so happy for you. First time motherhood is incredible and second time is a true blessing from our wonderful Lord. Take care and call or email me as soon as you can. Love ya lots :rolleyes:Post a photo of your cotton princess soon.....

Marcelo & Claudia, I am so happy for yall. I can't wait to hear all the details. Yall have been in my daily prayers I am so glad everything worked out. God does have an amazing plan for all of us dosen't he? May God bless you and your new little tiger. Post as soon as you can...

Yes Andrea, the Bahama's will have to wait........

We have our precious baby girl home!!! WOW just 30 hrs ago we got the call we've been waiting for and spoke to our darling birthmom and now we are a family of four. We are just elated and still feel's like it's all a dream. Brenli Kate Macie Tennison(Macie is the name her birhtparents gave her) was born on 4-25 weighing in at 4 lb 13 oz. She was 4 weeks early and was in NICU for 2 weeks. Lauren her birthmom is such a sweet, precious young lady. She has spoke of an adoption plan since the day the baby was born. We all fell in love with each other. We also had the plesure of meeting her birthdad. It was a wonderful,emotional day. We got to know Lauren's mom and we dearly love her too. God is so good. Our baby girl is a little doll. She now wieghs 6 lb 2 oz. She has blue eyes like her big brother Dylan and light brown hair. She is perfect. We are so thankful for all the girls at Abrazo. Thanks for putting up with me. Pamela and Renea you helped make this day perfect in every way. Our birth parents are planning to come vist next wk end and we couldn't be happier. Dylan is so excited and will hardly let me hold or feed her. He has the hang of the Big Brother roll already. I will post more later right now I have a baby girl to get to. I will post photos later too. Thank you all for your prayers. Lot's of Love, Gary, Sherrie, Dylan & Brenli

Elaine, I totally agree with Claudia..... When my husband and I began our adoption process almost eight years ago my inlaws were not so supportive either. They would say things like how do you know what color he will be or are you sure the birthmother is telling you the truth about the birthdad and just many hurtful comments like that. When it came right down to it they were very excited just igornant to adoption. My son is their favorite grand child and has been since they laid eyes on him. Even now that they are a little more educated they still say stupid stuff. It all goes back to being afraid of what you don't know. I remember my mother in law honestly saying she did not know if she could love an adopted grandchild because she had never had one. If they are excited and accepting of Makayla let them be. You can always give them a hard time about not wanting her. Believe me they are dealing with their comments. God has been so good to you don't let them take the joy from you. Hang in there and ask God to guide you...he will