Children's Book Club

I've always had a huge love of reading and collecting books ~ my bookcases reflect that! So a few weeks back, I got an advertisement in the mail about joining a children's book club. Buy so many books for a penny, buy 3 more in 2 years....sure, I can do that. So I went through and bought the most expensive ones in the catalog (trying to get the most out of the deal). I just received the books the other day. Some are classics, some are ones that I've read with Gabriela, Isabela & Maya and others were just recommended. I also added 2 that my mom has given me over the years (one of her favorites is on top!) I can't wait to add more to the collection!

Finished product

Michael & I put the crib together on Saturday. We had a few "sna-fu's" but managed to put it together without too much trouble. Now, all we need to do is buy a new mattress and a "neutral" color sheet. The agency advised us to not decorate the room yet....which is fine since we don't know the gender of our children yet. Some people specify boy or girl and therefore decorate the room accordingly, but then when the caseworker comes for a homevisit and sees this, they usually won't consider the family for the other sex. So, we are leaving our's neutral until we know what we're getting (or if we'll even need a crib at all).

Next purchase: dresser.

A crib and a carseat.....

In preparation for our home visit, my sister Ashley has graciously allowed us to borrow one of her beautiful cribs as well as an extra car seat she had. We finally picked them up tonight.

It's rather strange to be prepared for something that you can't be prepared for. How do you prepare a child's room when you don't know the age or the gender of the child? There is a huge difference in preparing for a newborn, an infant, or a toddler. However, when the case worker comes out for our home study, they want to see that an effort has been made to prepare a child's room and that what you do have passes inspection. Ok....understood.

So, now we have a crib in pieces in the nursery.....I guess that means that we have to put it together now, right? Looks easy enough.....check back tomorrow to see if my blog post proves that the last statement was true :)

In preparing for all of this, I have wondered how I would explain the sudden appearance of children in our home and in our family to the 3 little ones in my life~ my nieces, Gabriela, Isabela & Maya. I have been so blessed to spend so much time with them over the past 3 - 5 years of their lives and they are a huge part of me. They understand that you carry a baby in your tummy and go to the hospital and have a baby and bring a baby home. They've seen that with the birth of my niece, Samantha. So, how do I explain to them that CC & Uncle are going to have 2 kids, but that CC isn't carrying a baby in her tummy, etc?

Well, tonight, I had such a conversation with Gabriela (age 5).
Gabriela: "CC, why do you need a crib?"
CC: "Well, Mommy's letting me use it at my house"
Gabriela: "For when kids come to visit? You know, CC, when I come over, I don't need to sleep in a crib. I can sleep in your bed with you."
CC: "yes, I know ~ this isn't for you. This is for a baby that CC & Uncle.............
Gabriela: (interupting me before I could finish my sentence) "CC! You're going to have a baby?! It's about time....we need another baby around here."
****of course, my heart sank for a moment, as I thought about the fact that I wouldn't be carrying these children in my belly or giving birth to them. She was so excited.****
CC: "Well, no, Gabriela, I don't have a baby in my tummy......"
****and before I knew it, Gabriela got distracted and the conversation ended.

To be honest, I was relieved. I just didn't really know what to say. I just figured that I would explain it to them, once Michael & I knew who are children were, their ages, names, etc., and maybe show them a picture or two. Maybe it will be easier then.

It's amazing what one little comment can do to shake you...just when you least expect it...even if it did come from the most precious 5 year old I know. As excited and hopeful that Michael & I are about adoption and creating our family the way God intended for us, it still hurts. And I don't think that will ever truly go away. However, while I haven't carried these children of ours in my belly, I have carried them in my heart. And for that, I am truly blessed.

1 of 3....

Our last class was taught by Dennis, our caseworker from the beginning. After the class, he let us know that he checked on the status of our case while we were watching one of our videos. He said that we are one of three families in the process of being assigned an adoption caseworker, who will also be performing our home study. It was a relief to know that we were at least "in line" to be assigned. It sure does feel like we got in the express lane at the grocery store with the person in front of us having 58 items to buy! (ever been there?!) Why is it that when you're in a rush, we always tend to have to slow down?

I think it's God's way of reminding us that He's in control and that His timing is best. So, while we are still waiting....it doesn't feel as though we're just left hanging.

We'll be sure to keep you posted on the latest, as soon as we know anything.

Last class...

Michael & I completed the final class required for our adoption - psychotropic drugs and medication administration. Unfortuately, 2/3 of the children in foster care are taking these very powerful drugs. For those of you who don't know, psychotropic drugs are any drugs capable of affecting the mind, emotions and behavior (for instance, antidepressants, anti-anxiety, tranquilizers,etc.) While I don't want to get into a debate into psychotropic drugs at this time, I do want to say this. I do believe that some people need to be on these types of medications but I don't believe that a pill can solve all of the emotional issues and problems foster children face while in the system. I do believe that 2/3 is way too high a count and something should be done about it. We did learn in the class that all of these drugs are approved by the FDA, but almost none of them are approved for the use in children.


After learning about all these drugs and all their side effects, we certainly hope and pray that our children will not be on these drugs. You might be thinking...well, that certainly won't happen since we're looking under the age of 3....but sadly enough, children that young are on these drugs too! How is it possible that a 2 year old can be on Lithium for Bi-polar disorder?! That just boggles my mind. I just don't see how that can be.


So, now when we pray for our children, we have more to pray about. Won't you pray with us, for our children and for all the other children in the system, waiting for their forever families.

Waiting....waiting....waiting.....

As you'll notice, I haven't posted any updates in about 3 weeks, because all Michael & I have been doing is waiting....waiting....and waiting some more. We did receive confirmation that all of our paperwork was received and accepted and that we had indeed completed all of the paperwork required (to this point, anyway). Our file has been transfered out of our caseworker's office and placed with someone else...who that is, we do not know. No one has provided us with that information. Therefore, it's a bit difficult to follow up with an anonymous person ~ and this is a great cause of our frustration.

I'm so frustrated, I don't even know what to write about today, but quite a few of you have asked for a status update so thought I should at least drop a few lines.

Michael & I are confident that God is in control and that His timing is perfect. It's just really hard being on the receiving end. We appreciate your prayers and will be sure to update you with any news as soon as we know something.