Dazed

So, it's 2 days since our 1st parenting class. Raw is the only word to describe how we've felt since Tuesday night. Our trainer/social worker Mike explained to us that it's his job to ensure that we're sure that we're sure that we want to add to our family. It felt almost like warfare. He discussed many worst case scenarios in pretty vivid detail. I think I sobbed for a good hour of the class. There are just so many children who are in the system and who are at the mercy of so many other people outside of themselves. I left class with a real desire to purchase a large bundle of land so I can build a campus and just adopt at least 1,000 children so I can protect them and love them. Dayn ended that conversation pretty quickly. Needless to say, we're in it for the long term.

Waiting

So I've had a splitting headache all afternoon. I figured out it's because we have our first class tonight and I am so beyond excited to go yet I can't do anything about it because I'm supposed to be at my desk and focusing on my work, {take a breath Michelle.} So, because I can't focus on anything productive, I've been working on this pre-receiving-our child montage. Enjoy!

Pre Child Slideshow 3/18/08

Song for my child

I was driving home from work and India.Arie's voice came streaming in from the radio. Here are the words to the song that reminded me how in love I already am with my child...

It's like yesterday
I didn't even know your name
Now today
You're always on my mind
I never could have predicted that I'd feel this way
You are a beautiful surprise
Intoxicated every time I hear your voice
You've got me on a natural high
It's almost like I didn't even have a choice
You are a beautiful surprise
Whatever it is that you came to teach me
I am here to learn it cause
I believe that we are written in the stars
I don't know what the future holds
But I'm living in the moment
And I'm thankful for the {child} that you are, you are, you are
You are everything I ask for in my prayers
So I know my angels brought you to my life
Your energy is healing to my soul
You are a beautiful surprise
You are an inspiration to my life
You are the reason why I smile
You are a beautiful surprise

Famous adoptees

I just found a list of famous people who were adopted as children. Here are a few of my favorite:

Clarissa Pinkola Estes - author


Dave Thomas - entrepreneur: founder of Wendy's


Eleanor Roosevelt - First Lady


Faith Hill - country singer


Greg Louganis - athlete


Jesse Jackson - minister

Malcolm X - civil rights leader


Moses - Biblical leader


Nancy Reagan - First Lady


Nat King Cole - singer


Nelson Mandela - politician


President William Clinton - politician


Sarah McLachlan - singer


Scott Hamilton - figure skater


Steve Jobs - entrepreneur: co-founder of Apple computer


Tim McGraw - country singer

Parenting classes

For inquiring minds...

Here are the 9 modules (3 hours each) that we will be participating in most Tuesdays and Thursdays for March and April. It turns out our first class is March 18, not the 17th.


1
Introduction to Resource Parenting

2
Working with Birth Parents & Raising Children

3
Challenges and Support

4
Attachment, Grief & Loss

5
Discipline

6
Teens in Care & Growth and Development

7
Human Sexuality

8
Foster Care and Adoption

9
Changes/Preparing for the Next Steps

Trippy feelings!

First, shout out to Dayno! Today is his birthday. He's off to play golf with Dad, Mike, Cousin Keith and friends. Have fun birthday boy!!

So being an expectant adoptive mother has certain nuances that have surprised me. For instance, I went to Babies R Us a few weekends ago to shop for 2 separate baby showers. I thought, "well since I'm here...." I checked out the strollers and I debated about whether or not I should buy the jog stroller since of course I'd be recovering from child birth and I probably will have to have a c-section from a past surgery and I don't know how soon I'll be able to jog again and then, oh yeah--the baby's not coming out of my body. hmmmm, a little trippy.

The other head trip happened when I asked my OB/GYN if she knew much about baby formula. She's well aware of my gluten and dairy intolerance, so I thought she'd be the perfect reference for gluten & dairy free formula for my child. Once again, it didn't hit me until later that there's a great possibility that our child will be perfectly healthy and WITHOUT my health limitations. I've been having fun laughing at myself. Thanks for laughing with me!!

18 more days until our 1st parenting class (but who's counting).

We see the light...

So, we keep getting very sincere responses to our news and I feel the desire to clear something up. Dayn and I are returning to our original dream of how we want to start our family. When we first met, we often talked about adopting a child before having a biological child so that he or she would know that they truly belonged in our family. It turns out that in the last 9 years of our relationship we have let ourselves be carried away by outside energy. I began to long for carrying a baby bump. Girlfriends would tell me how magical the process is. Most of our friends have or are having a baby right now. Our families would talk about how they couldn't wait to meet our child. Neighbors told us how beautiful our child would be, and on and on and on. While all of this is such a beautiful part of life, it is not what we're choosing right now. Through prayer, meditation, and A LOT of talking, we've returned to our center and things have so amazingly fallen into place for us. And so, the journey continues...

We begin parenting classes on March 17th and should be finished by the end of May. We then have 9 hours of a home study by a Social Worker. After fingerprints we should be eligible to recieve a child by June or July.