March 25-31st is World Wide FertilityCare Week. In order to help raise awareness for the amazing gift of FertlityCare, I am sponsoring a Blog Hop. I would love to hear how FertilityCare (Creighton Model or NaPro Technology) has impacted your life.
Instructions:
1. Compose a blog on your site about:
a. how FertilityCare (Creighton Model or NaPro Technology) has impacted your life
b. how the use of the FertilityCare System helps you to find the Perfect Balance in the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Communicative and Emotional aspects of who you are (or in your marriage)
c. or anything related to share the word!
2. Copy the link to that blog post and come back here to fill out the linky form
3. Go Back to your blog and add the code to the bottom (you must be in Edit HTML) with the statement
"This is a Blog Hop! To share how Fertility Care has impacted your life or marriage, go to Blessed and Broken and add your story to the Hop."
This Blog Hop will open March 1st and close March 31st. I look forward to reading your blogs!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
27 hours...
Thankfully I have been busy. So busy, in fact that the last two weeks have flown by. Now, suddenly I am about 27 hours away from end end of the FWW (four week wait). Pretty soon we can file petitions to adopt! I am so thankful we have had a much swifter process with Catie. All the adoption drama with her case happened right up front (check out the archives for May-Aug 2011).
We are looking at an April or May adoption. Her baptism date is scheduled and a park pavilion is booked for the par-tay.
I don't have to look back too far to remember when parenthood seemed impossible. I have learned so much in the last few years. Literally, every tear led us to this place of readiness to be "showered in babies." I am in awe of God and blessed to see His plan for our family being revealed.
Last night I hosted "Living Out Lent" at our parish. We had 22 tables and about 160 women. It was beautiful. As this is my third time as host and emcee of this event, I figured it was time I introduce myself properly to these women. I put up a picture of my kids. I explained that someone had stopped me and stated they did not know I was pregnant when I hosted the first event. I laughed. To an outsider, I am a woman who keeps having babies....but never seems to be pregnant. Well...once (thanks be to God). So I explained that my kiddos are coming to me by way of foster care adoptions. The response was a lovely round of a applause. AMDG.
We are looking at an April or May adoption. Her baptism date is scheduled and a park pavilion is booked for the par-tay.
I don't have to look back too far to remember when parenthood seemed impossible. I have learned so much in the last few years. Literally, every tear led us to this place of readiness to be "showered in babies." I am in awe of God and blessed to see His plan for our family being revealed.
Last night I hosted "Living Out Lent" at our parish. We had 22 tables and about 160 women. It was beautiful. As this is my third time as host and emcee of this event, I figured it was time I introduce myself properly to these women. I put up a picture of my kids. I explained that someone had stopped me and stated they did not know I was pregnant when I hosted the first event. I laughed. To an outsider, I am a woman who keeps having babies....but never seems to be pregnant. Well...once (thanks be to God). So I explained that my kiddos are coming to me by way of foster care adoptions. The response was a lovely round of a applause. AMDG.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
adoption opportunity
two week old down syndrome boy in NJ. Parents have already signed termination.
http://mommylife.net/archives/2012/02/adopt_baby_with.html
http://mommylife.net/archives/2012/02/adopt_baby_with.html
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
court
We had a review hearing today. It was the biggest wait for the least dramatic 2 minutes of my life.
The last week has been insanely crazy:
Tuesday Feb 14- Foster Care home re-evaluation by our social worker. We stink at homestudies these days. I will just say our 5th home study is SO different than our first. This is the picture - messy rooms (forgot she had to look in them), plugging the outlets as we walked by them, locking the cabinets as we walked by them, oh yeah...I forgot we happen to have electrical wires hanging from our downstairs ceiling at the moment, I printed out our escape chart as she waited...the kicker, I had to send my BIL to the store to buy another smoke detector (during the home visit!).
Wed Feb 15 - Closing visit with bio mom...see previous post for details on that one (big kids at sitters)
Thursday Feb 16 - Social worker visit (by Catie's social worker). Later our adoption social worker came over to have us sign papers and pick up what she needs for our adoption home study, PLUS, OT for Catie.
Monday Feb 17th - Creighton appointment - (kids at sitters)
Tuesday Feb 18th - Creighton appointment, followed by court (big kids at sitters). We arrived at 3pm. We sat in the waiting room until 4.45pm. Evidently you NEVER want to have court scheduled for the day after a holiday. We waiting downstairs another 10 minutes before we went into the "makeshift court room" for literally 2 minutes. The master said "you're still here? You didn't have to stay for this." Um, yeah. Wish someone would have told me that a few hours ago.
Tomorrow is Mass followed by a family visit with bio-aunt, followed by OT. And then, I think we can breathe for a few days.
I will say...for the record - sitting in the waiting room of CYS for an extended period of time is gut wrenching. I got involved with two other families and their CYS drama. One sibling group of four. The mom came back from court and sat in the room in tears hugging all her kids as foster mom explained that mom is sad because they can not go home yet. Second was a sibling group of five, split among three foster families. Parental rights were terminated. No resource available to take all five.
For so long we waited for a child. We prayed, we begged God. I was unsure if I would ever be so blessed. Now, I am so blessed to be a mom. And I see SO many kids who need a family. Sitting in the waiting room is so different than browsing photo listings on your state website. I know families that want kids and I see kids that need families. And I can't do much more than pray they find each other somehow.
The last week has been insanely crazy:
Tuesday Feb 14- Foster Care home re-evaluation by our social worker. We stink at homestudies these days. I will just say our 5th home study is SO different than our first. This is the picture - messy rooms (forgot she had to look in them), plugging the outlets as we walked by them, locking the cabinets as we walked by them, oh yeah...I forgot we happen to have electrical wires hanging from our downstairs ceiling at the moment, I printed out our escape chart as she waited...the kicker, I had to send my BIL to the store to buy another smoke detector (during the home visit!).
Wed Feb 15 - Closing visit with bio mom...see previous post for details on that one (big kids at sitters)
Thursday Feb 16 - Social worker visit (by Catie's social worker). Later our adoption social worker came over to have us sign papers and pick up what she needs for our adoption home study, PLUS, OT for Catie.
Monday Feb 17th - Creighton appointment - (kids at sitters)
Tuesday Feb 18th - Creighton appointment, followed by court (big kids at sitters). We arrived at 3pm. We sat in the waiting room until 4.45pm. Evidently you NEVER want to have court scheduled for the day after a holiday. We waiting downstairs another 10 minutes before we went into the "makeshift court room" for literally 2 minutes. The master said "you're still here? You didn't have to stay for this." Um, yeah. Wish someone would have told me that a few hours ago.
Tomorrow is Mass followed by a family visit with bio-aunt, followed by OT. And then, I think we can breathe for a few days.
I will say...for the record - sitting in the waiting room of CYS for an extended period of time is gut wrenching. I got involved with two other families and their CYS drama. One sibling group of four. The mom came back from court and sat in the room in tears hugging all her kids as foster mom explained that mom is sad because they can not go home yet. Second was a sibling group of five, split among three foster families. Parental rights were terminated. No resource available to take all five.
For so long we waited for a child. We prayed, we begged God. I was unsure if I would ever be so blessed. Now, I am so blessed to be a mom. And I see SO many kids who need a family. Sitting in the waiting room is so different than browsing photo listings on your state website. I know families that want kids and I see kids that need families. And I can't do much more than pray they find each other somehow.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
a closing visit
Feb 15, 2012. Catie had her final visit this morning with her birth mom.
Last year's closing visit happened on Feb 23 (for Augie...I am just amazed at how time lines collide).
~~~~~~~~~~~
We got up this morning and I packed her bags, her food, a change of clothes...the usual. I also included a letter to her birth parents. I wanted to assure them of our love for Catie and update them on her developments. I told them that we pray for them nightly. At the close of the letter, I extended an invitation for further contact. I stated that I would love to send them updates and maintain some form of contact through the years.
{backstory: they signed TPR back in September. They walked out of CYS refusing to provide any photos of themselves and stating they did not want further contact. A few weeks later mom "unsigned". TPR happened in Court Jan 30th. Dad's termination was voluntary, Mom's termination was involuntary. Since unsigning mom has refused all opportunity for visits. I was glad to hear she agreed to be a part of a closing visit.}
Catie's first foster mom had the opportunity to supervise the visit. She also offered to bring her in to the visit for me. She picked her up and it was a pretty quiet morning. Rosie was missing her daddy so we called to see if he could come home for an early lunch.
After lunch we went to Target. I wanted to get a small gift for her mom. I had a photo printed to 5x7, purchased a pretty frame and planned to give it to her and promise to keep it filled through the years.
I made arrangements to have my kids at a sitter so I could pick up Catie from the visit and attempt to say thank you to mom. This can be tricky in the foster world because they are not giving up their child willingly.
On my drive there I was planning what I would say, how the exchange might go. I was 15 minutes from CYS and cars started to slow, then came to a dead halt. Traffic on the bypass is never a good thing. There is no way out. I sent foster mom a text that I was stuck in traffic and may be late. It turned out there was a bad accident and all traffic was being diverted off the highway. I was so stuck, all I could do is clutch my rosary and start to pray. I was praying for Catie's birthmom and another birth mom that is in my prayers right now.
Thirty minutes later, the texts started coming back "how much longer"; "can we meet outside" and then "they had to leave." Birth mom was there with her teenage daughter, whom I have never met. I missed the opportunity to say goodbye.
When I finally arrived they were long gone. I dropped off the picture to my social worker to be mailed to birth mom. I collected Catie, I went back to the sitters, picked up my kids and came home.
There was a reason I was not there. Only God knows. I am told it was a wonderful visit. Birth mom read my letter and sobbed. She clearly accepted the fact that she could not care for Catie and she was where she needed to be. Hearing all this I breathed a sigh of relief. She has come to terms with the adoption, praise God. I am hopeful the rest of our FWW (four week wait to TPR) will be uneventful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Look for my guest blog tomorrow on Foster2Forever. I am honored to be invited to be a regular part of a guest column on her blog.
Last year's closing visit happened on Feb 23 (for Augie...I am just amazed at how time lines collide).
~~~~~~~~~~~
We got up this morning and I packed her bags, her food, a change of clothes...the usual. I also included a letter to her birth parents. I wanted to assure them of our love for Catie and update them on her developments. I told them that we pray for them nightly. At the close of the letter, I extended an invitation for further contact. I stated that I would love to send them updates and maintain some form of contact through the years.
{backstory: they signed TPR back in September. They walked out of CYS refusing to provide any photos of themselves and stating they did not want further contact. A few weeks later mom "unsigned". TPR happened in Court Jan 30th. Dad's termination was voluntary, Mom's termination was involuntary. Since unsigning mom has refused all opportunity for visits. I was glad to hear she agreed to be a part of a closing visit.}
Catie's first foster mom had the opportunity to supervise the visit. She also offered to bring her in to the visit for me. She picked her up and it was a pretty quiet morning. Rosie was missing her daddy so we called to see if he could come home for an early lunch.
After lunch we went to Target. I wanted to get a small gift for her mom. I had a photo printed to 5x7, purchased a pretty frame and planned to give it to her and promise to keep it filled through the years.
I made arrangements to have my kids at a sitter so I could pick up Catie from the visit and attempt to say thank you to mom. This can be tricky in the foster world because they are not giving up their child willingly.
On my drive there I was planning what I would say, how the exchange might go. I was 15 minutes from CYS and cars started to slow, then came to a dead halt. Traffic on the bypass is never a good thing. There is no way out. I sent foster mom a text that I was stuck in traffic and may be late. It turned out there was a bad accident and all traffic was being diverted off the highway. I was so stuck, all I could do is clutch my rosary and start to pray. I was praying for Catie's birthmom and another birth mom that is in my prayers right now.
Thirty minutes later, the texts started coming back "how much longer"; "can we meet outside" and then "they had to leave." Birth mom was there with her teenage daughter, whom I have never met. I missed the opportunity to say goodbye.
When I finally arrived they were long gone. I dropped off the picture to my social worker to be mailed to birth mom. I collected Catie, I went back to the sitters, picked up my kids and came home.
There was a reason I was not there. Only God knows. I am told it was a wonderful visit. Birth mom read my letter and sobbed. She clearly accepted the fact that she could not care for Catie and she was where she needed to be. Hearing all this I breathed a sigh of relief. She has come to terms with the adoption, praise God. I am hopeful the rest of our FWW (four week wait to TPR) will be uneventful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Look for my guest blog tomorrow on Foster2Forever. I am honored to be invited to be a regular part of a guest column on her blog.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
six months
Six months. We have only officially had Catie in our care for six months. Unofficially, we had long visits for two months prior to her placement.
When I say the words "six months" it seems like no time at all. When I think about her role in our life, it seems as if she has always been a part of us.
I wish I could share pictures. She scrunches up her nose to smile at me now...every time she sees me. EVERYthing is "mommieee". My husband does not love this...but boy does Catie love him (even though she calls him "mommieee"). She is always complimented on her personality. She can be such a charmer. She can also scream louder and with more intensity than any child I have ever met. She does this if I attempt to remove my cell phone from her hands.
She is still a bit behind in the development department. The best way to say is she moves at her own pace. She is by far my safest-on-the-stairs baby and the first one to have not fallen down them. She is very cautious of new movements, but as soon as she figures something out...she's golden. It was amusing at a baby play date seeing a 7 month old standing (almost walking!) while my 14 month old won't even put her feet on the ground. We are making progress. She will get there!
I made the last of my treks to the children's hospital on her behalf; while at the same time scheduling my first appointment at said hospital on Augie's behalf. More on that later. Never a dull moment here.
~~~~~~~~
I was recently moved reading an adoption account from another blogger. Part 3 gives me insight into Catie's early NICU days. Reading her account made me sad that we were not yet a part of Catie's life to love on her so intensely.
~~~~~~~~
Bio mom called and wants to schedule a closing visit. I am actually thrilled to hear this. First, to know she recognizes and accepts the end. Second, because it is possibly my first and only chance to talk to her, thank her, hug her...and get a picture of her. I hope she does not bail.
12 days down, 18 days to go. It is a bit challenging to plan for things such as baptisms, but I have set a date for the end of May. Hopefully she will be finally and officially ours before then...and May will be the big party!
When I say the words "six months" it seems like no time at all. When I think about her role in our life, it seems as if she has always been a part of us.
I wish I could share pictures. She scrunches up her nose to smile at me now...every time she sees me. EVERYthing is "mommieee". My husband does not love this...but boy does Catie love him (even though she calls him "mommieee"). She is always complimented on her personality. She can be such a charmer. She can also scream louder and with more intensity than any child I have ever met. She does this if I attempt to remove my cell phone from her hands.
She is still a bit behind in the development department. The best way to say is she moves at her own pace. She is by far my safest-on-the-stairs baby and the first one to have not fallen down them. She is very cautious of new movements, but as soon as she figures something out...she's golden. It was amusing at a baby play date seeing a 7 month old standing (almost walking!) while my 14 month old won't even put her feet on the ground. We are making progress. She will get there!
I made the last of my treks to the children's hospital on her behalf; while at the same time scheduling my first appointment at said hospital on Augie's behalf. More on that later. Never a dull moment here.
~~~~~~~~
I was recently moved reading an adoption account from another blogger. Part 3 gives me insight into Catie's early NICU days. Reading her account made me sad that we were not yet a part of Catie's life to love on her so intensely.
~~~~~~~~
Bio mom called and wants to schedule a closing visit. I am actually thrilled to hear this. First, to know she recognizes and accepts the end. Second, because it is possibly my first and only chance to talk to her, thank her, hug her...and get a picture of her. I hope she does not bail.
12 days down, 18 days to go. It is a bit challenging to plan for things such as baptisms, but I have set a date for the end of May. Hopefully she will be finally and officially ours before then...and May will be the big party!
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