Check It Out - Win Stuff . It's that Easy !

We have been blessed with some pretty amazing friends. Many of you know Alex and Cassie or have heard us talk about them and their son Sam. Despite an incredibly demanding schedule they find time to lend a helping hand. We couldn't ask for better people to call our friends.

Starting today on their blog, Cassie has created a raffle giveaway to help us raise money for our adoption. There are some pretty great prizes up for grabs. If you come across this blog please take a few minutes to check it out. The link is www.alexandcassie.blogspot.com
Also, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has left comments, sent e-mails, called, and especially those that have donated items to the giveaway. The support has been phenomenal and we are truly thankful.

Update with Picture's

As you all know the Home study meeting is next week. We are so excited and Nervous but ready for this step to be over with. From everything we've read adoption agencies want families to have their homes baby ready so we needed to start getting a room ready so we can be prepared for anything coming up. I have had my heart set on a Woodland creature theme for a long time now. We decided that a woodland creature theme would work out great for our room since we don't know if we will be getting a boy or girl and its very gender neutral.
Here is the Before and After of the room :

Before



After:








I am in love with the finished product. I can't stop going in there to look at it. We still have a few decorations here and there to put in later.
We won't be getting any more furniture anytime soon until we found out what age range we are approved for and of course what we need. The rocking chair came from Joseph's grandpa. I think he's going to try and refurnish it. Hopefully we'll have more updates soon.

Time has certainly gotten away from me. We have been so busy lately there hasn't been much time for things like blogging. We've been cramming as many things in to our days off as possible to get everything ready for the upcoming home study. Lovie had to be taken to the vet for an aggression test. I'm happy to report that she passed with flying colors. I have to admit, I had my concerns. She did an awesome job though, and really put on a show for the doc.

I had to get another FBI background check. That's the 2nd one this year. The tech taking our fingerprints said I was really good at it. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. After feeling like a criminal for a while we got that taken care of and in the mail.

The only thing that we have left is our meeting with the CPA to get our taxes in order. This is really the biggie and we've definitely been putting it off. But seeing as our first home study meeting is a little over a week away it's time we get that done.

The first home study meeting will be November 2nd followed by a second meeting and actual home inspection . So in theory we can finally be turned over to a placing agency in the next month or so. It's exciting but then we'll have to figure out how exactly we're going to finance the rest of the adoption. Something on the order of $25'000 . I've been in contact with the plasma donation center and looking in to all other means of financing it. We're hopeful we can find a bank willing to take a chance on us. Otherwise, it might take a while. I'm confident that we'll get there. We just have to keep moving forward.

On a completely different and serious note. It's been interesting to see the reaction unfold from family and friends regarding our adoption. It upsets me when people feel sorry for us and ask our parents how we're coping with not being able to have a baby. When they don't want to tell us good news about them having a child because they're afraid that it will upset us. When the awkwardness is palpable at a family function because all of a sudden people don't know what to say to us.

What people don't understand is that we have CHOSEN to adopt a baby. There are other procedures, and tests, and doctor's appointments that we could do and possibly be able to have a child naturally..... possibly. We have already spent several thousand dollars and endured much heartache and worry over tests and procedures and doctors appointments over the last 2 years.

When we sat down and seriously discussed adoption for the first time it's like a weight had been lifted from both of us. It was something that both of us wanted, but didn't want to be the first one to mention. Since making that decision, it's amazing how much better things have been. The stress level is significantly lower. Our marriage is stronger. And there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Adoption is something that both of us have carried in our hearts for a while and for us, it is the right decision. I know there are people that disagree, and there are those that don't understand why we wouldn't continue to do everything we could to have one of our own. All I can say to them, is that they shouldn't be worried about us. Because we are happy with the decision we've made and believe me, we did not come to it lightly.

This could have been 2 different blogs, and probably should have been, but it's hard to think about one subject without the other coming into play. I know there's nothing that can be done about how people look at adoption. I understand that it puts people in an awkward position. I just wish that they could share in our happiness and excitement. And if they happen to have $25'000 laying around, be generous. LOL

That is all.

A Pill For Everything

Where to begin... In my last blog I mentioned that I had been to the doctor. I never imagined that mentioning the fact that I'm nauseated on a regular basis would lead me down a rabbit hole of pills and procedures. After a lengthy and heated discussion with my Dr. I was put on a blood pressure pill which I fully intend to stop taking as soon as possible. The medication that was prescribed for the nausea did not seem to be working so I was referred to a surgeon for more pills, more bills, and a scope on Monday. Needless to say, frustration is setting in. For someone who has never taken any medication save for an occasional Tylenol, being thrown into a regimen of taking several a day has been quite the obstacle. I am, however, feeling better. I suppose if you take enough pills one of them is sure to work. I've been in a better mood lately too. I'll blame that one on the blood pressure pill. Devin had better enjoy it while it lasts. Hopefully this will be behind us soon and I can get back to a somewhat normal existence. If such a thing exists. Alas, the battery on the laptop is flashing so I had better wrap this up and head to bed before my ramblings are erased. The lesson learned here: Never tell my Dr. anything is bothering me.

Dodgeball Eye

Back to school time is just around the corner. All the children who have been happily playing all summer without a health concern in the world will suddenly become patients when their teachers over-react to PE induced asthma, art induced smoke inhalation, black eyes from dodgeball, and the occasional seizure. I've been trying to figure out when schools stopped having a nurse in the office that would triage patients and send them back to class before turning the situation into a fiasco. I guess the days of that are long gone.

Much to discuss

Since last we spoke, dear readers, much has happened. Our home study paperwork is nearly completed. We ran into a few snags along the way but have managed to get back on track. Procrastination for my doctor's appointment was one of the major causes for the delay. I hadn't been to the doctor for anything of note since childhood and wasn't eager to hear things spoken that I had thought for quite some time. I suppose knowing a little too much about medicine kept me away from the doctor as long as it did. The nurse was certainly not happy about me arguing with her over whether or not my blood pressure was "high". I suppose doctor's offices have slightly different standards for these things than we in emergency medicine do. I relented my argument and let them say what needed to be said. They were the ones that would be signing documents for our home study so I just went with it.

Of course, life continues aside from the hustle and bustle of adoption happenings. Work has been busy and hot. And did I mention it has been hot? That seems to have been the general theme of late. I enjoy cold weather anyway but this year I am definitely looking forward to snowfall and shoveling. I wouldn't even be particularly upset if we were to skip fall altogether. Except for harvest homecoming that is. The apple dumplings are totally worth it.

In other news, my brother bought a house which I'll be helping to refurnish. Devin's business has exploded with summer orders. Pitchmen is returning to television without Billy Mays. The BP oil disaster appears to finally be stopped. Steven Tyler may be a judge on American Idol next season. And I've been praying every day. OK, there may be a few things in there that aren't personal news but the paragraph wasn't long enough. You can read about these other stories on other sites.

The highlight of that, is the prayer. I've never been one to pray. That is, until recently. Since the day of our yard sale I have worn my orange "Praying For Sam" bracelet that Alex gave me. After a couple of days I was looking at it on my arm and this overwhelming feeling of hypocrisy came flooding over me. How could I wear this bracelet and not listen to it's message. I began to pray about Sam and his parents, my good friends. Then went on to pray about our adoption. It went on from there as there was much we needed to discuss. Since then, not a day goes by that I haven't woke up and thanked God for the gifts in my life. My wife, my family, my friends, my health. Whether it leads to other things, at this point, I do not know. For now, it's nice to just be here. But I'm sure we'll be talking it over.

Yard Sale Success

Last Saturday we had our yard sale fund raiser. It was a huge success. We spent the better part of 2 weeks prior collecting items, pricing, making signs, advertising, and being worn out. It was definitely worth the work. We collected nearly $2000.00 passing our goal for the sale early in the day. We couldn't have done it without all the help from Devin's parents collecting items and sorting through everything with us. Or without all the generosity from our family and friends who donated items. We can't begin to thank those people enough. I was amazed by the generosity of absolute strangers who gave us donations and well wishes when they discovered why we were having our yard sale.

After all was said and done we had very little left unsold. A few boxes of things that will be donated to good causes. What we were left with was an inspiring testament to the good nature of people and a renewed energy for the road ahead. We have far to go but we keep moving forward.