Monday, November 7, 2011

It's all part of our story...

We have been waiting now for about 2 months...On one hand I can't believe how fast the time is flying by (it is November already!) and on the other hand the days feel like they creep by just waiting for that phone call.  I am sure all adoptive parents experienced these difficult times in the months they waited...

We did get a presented with a very complicated situation about 6 weeks ago that eventually did not workout for a variety of reasons.  It was a really enduring time for us but we know in our hearts that our baby is out there and will find us soon.   While we were researching and learning about the situation, we quickly learned how blessed we are to live in a city with such great hospitals and world-wide recognized specialists.  It is amazing (and comforting) to know there are so many caring and helpful individuals and institutions dedicated to the health and well being of children.

During this time we were really hit over the head with the financial obligation of having a child, especially if other conditions arise that demand more financial support than anticipated.  It also reminded us how quickly this all could happen and quickly our lives will change once we become parents.  While stressful, it all makes us that much more determined and hopeful to grow our family through adoption.   The path to become parents is never a smooth sailing one for anyone and we realize our situation is no different.  Everyone has a story and this is just a chapter in ours...

We are involved in so many things through out the day to pass the time.  Brett is working really hard on finishing our basement so our guests will have a place to stay and I am continuing to put all my creative efforts into our hopesodreams business.  We are also beginning to gather some necessary baby items and start to think about the nursery.  Maybe one day soon, we will actually decide on a paint color and begin to change the extra bedroom.

The other distraction we have had these past months has been the Cardinals in the playoffs!  We feel so lucky and blessed to live in such an awesome sports town.  It has been so exciting (just what we needed) watching the Cards win the World Series.  We even got to go to the best game in world series history...Game 6.  I can't describe how awesome it was to be among the 47,000 people going crazy in Bush Stadium that night.  What a way to get your mind off of things...


We are still working on our adoption video that will eventually be posted on our website.  It seemed a whole lot easier to film ourselves being interviewed for the potential birth parents in theory.  To actually sit down and talk to the camera is a bit scary for me.  We have already filmed a bunch of "short spots"  showing activities we love, aspects of our lives, and us interacting with children.  We have also interviewed some family and friends and just need to complete our interviews and a few more short spots.  Hopefully by the end of the week/weekend we will be ready to send in the video to the specialists at the agency who will work their magic with us.  After they finish a 5 minute glimpse our our life, it will be be posted on the website along with our profile for potential birth mothers.

We have also been busy researching and writing a grant through the organization Help Us Adopt.  An adoptive mom started this as a way to help people with the financial struggles adoption brings.  We spent many hours working on the application and will find out in December sometime if we are able to receive some assistance.  Regardless, we feel strongly about this organization and would love to give back to them when we are back on our feet one day.  Check it out at http://www.helpusadopt.org/.

-Megan