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Adoption
Moms' Check-in: 12/03
Moving this to Mondays; I like the idea of both check-ins on the same day!
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Moms this is a place for us to check-in and keep up with one
another!
Feel free to include adoption-related info in question #1 if you wish. Adoptive/bio/foster moms all
welcome!
1. How many kids and ages?
2. How was your weekend?
2. Anything special/endearing/milestone-ish happen lately?
3. Any parenting concerns on your heart or mind this week?
5. Question of the Week: How many Christmas gatherings or parties are on your calendar this month? Taking your child(ren) to them all?
TTC September 2010 thru October 2011
SA February 2011: Normal
RE App. October 2011 - Recc. Clomid and IUI
Taking a break from TTC to pursue adoption
Met our 2 year old son in Russia July 2012!
Court trip October 2012
Home November 24 2012!
Back to RE Summer 2013. TTC journey continues:
Dx DOR, endometriosis, low sperm count
Clomid + IUI#1, #2 = BFN / IUI #3 = ???
Laparoscopy scheduled December 2013
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Moms' Check-in: 12/03
1. DS1 is 7 years old and DS2 is 5 years
2. Our weekend was nice and relexing because we really didn't do anything. My DS2's school called on Friday right after school started saying that he was vomiting. We spent the weekend with the 24 hour stomach bug. and a lot of cleaning on my part.
3. My DS1 just got his yellow belt in Hap Ki Do a few weekends ago!
4. My main concern for the next few weeks will be attending everything that we need to attend and still keeping everything stress free and fun for the kids.
5. We have 4 Christmas gatherings/parties that we need to attend. The kids are coming to them all.
Mother of two wonderful boys! Blessed through adoption.
1. DD, 3 in March
2. Not bad, even though DH had a cold. He's been working a lot, so it was nice to have him spend quality time with DD and for me to get a few things done in and out of the house alone
3. DD has discovered Santa. She talks about him daily, and is very excited. The cutest thing is, she not only wants him to bring presents for her, she wants him to bring presents for Mommy and Daddy too. Nativity set comes out this week, she's going to help me put it up
4. DD has started to exert her independence at mealtime. It's very frustrating to put a meal together, often with her help, and have her turn around and refuse to eat it. She usually gets something down eventually, but I'm not enjoying this phase. We are utilizing every technique we can to have patience with her.
5. Just a few Christmas gatherings/events. DD already saw Santa over Thanksgiving weekend. There's a MOMs group GTG, and we may hit one more large-ish event. She'll attend Mass with us on Christmas, and of course we're going to get a Christmas tree soon
1. How many kids and ages? 2 kids - M is 9 (adjusted age 12?), J is 6
2. How was your weekend? Awesome and productive: on Saturday we did a huge chunk of our Christmas shopping, my husband watched the Alabama game, and we put up our tree (we have one at home and one in Vermont, where we'll actually spend Christmas, and they are both up, so this was huge!) Yesterday we took the boys into NYC to see the decorations. It was J's first time in Manhattan, so it was very special to us.
2. Anything special/endearing/milestone-ish happen lately?
M has become so very cuddly since J has joined the family. He used to resist all types of physical affection and hugs, but now I'm getting to make up for all the years I've missed. Even though it likely started out of his insecurity, I know he's feeling secure now and it's totally endearing. I'm loving every minute of it, and getting as many huggs and cuddles as I can while it lasts!
J has decided he loves giving and receiving raspberries, and it's become a morning wake-up ritual. It sure beats me struggling to have to get him up in the semi-darkness with just my non-existent morning charm.
Also, I've turned his desire for positive attention and constant conversation into a storytelling game. Now, whenever he's with me or my husband or we are all together, he either wants to tell us a story or have us tell him one. It's becoming a great way to stretch his imagination!
3. Any parenting concerns on your heart or mind this week?
M will have his FASD screening on Dec. 12th, and we are adjusting our mindsets to our new reality. Even if they don't diagnose him as having FASD, it's become clear that he will need much more support throughout life than we originally planned/expected, so we are adjusting our life plans. I may "retire" in the Spring, when I become vested at my job, and stay at home until my husband really does retire in the next few years and we move. Then I'll return to work in our new location, and my husband will be a SAHD. All sorts of new.
For J, we are having a hard time breaking through. It's as if he's resisting bonding to us because he's afraid to let us in. He's letting us in some, but is fighting the true bonding, and there's nothing we can do but keep chipping away at him until he lets himself really need us.
5. Question of the Week: How many Christmas gatherings or parties are on your calendar this month? Taking your child(ren) to them all?
I have two work things, but they both happen during business hours. My husband has four work things, three of which are in the evening. I usually go to one of these, but will stay home to save the dinner fee, cost of traveling into NYC, and babysitter for the night.
The only thing we're doing together is our annual Santacon (dress as Santa and roam the City with thousands of other Santas), and the kids are NOT coming to that!
We do have a birthday party and will be adding dinners with friends, but that's not scheduled yet. Then, on the 21st, we leave for Vermont, and will be surrounded by family until we return home on the 1st! Lots of family time and skiing in my future!
1. How many kids and ages? Two. A- 3 (will be 4 next month) and L- 17 months
2. How was your weekend? Wonderfully busy. Saturday I had craft fair all day, and Sunday we got our Christmas tree and decorated our house!
2. Anything special/endearing/milestone-ish happen lately?
We had our first adoption conversation with A. We talked about how many kids don't have families and asked her what she would think if we had a child join our family. She was very excited, but I know we have a long way before she really understands the concept.
3. Any parenting concerns on your heart or mind this week?
For the second week in a row A has been kicked out of her kids church class. She is too talkative and is distracting other people. This is so stressful since my husband is preaching (the teen service) and I really have no where to bring her.
5. Question of the Week: How many Christmas gatherings or parties are on your calendar this month? Taking your child(ren) to them all?
I really don't know yet. We will be driving to PA the Friday before Christmas. It is a 12 hour drive from NH to PA... that is sure to be fun...
DD2 | June 2011
DS1 | Oct 2013
ADD3 | Oct 2014 (April 2001)
DS2 | June 2016
DS3 | Dec 2018
Due with baby blob August 2021
1. How many kids and ages?
One two year old, and one on the way in March, both boys.
2. How was your weekend?
Our weekend was pretty awesome. We spent it over at my parents' house, putting up the Christmas tree, having pork roast, kluski, and sweet and sour cabbage, and having some family pictures. My brother's girlfriend flew back to her home in Texas after spending a couple weeks with my family, and we were sad to see her go. We had some good times though!
2. Anything special/endearing/milestone-ish happen lately? We just got back from my in-laws, where we spent Thanksgiving, and I was so pleased to see my son actually asking to hold his oma's hand when we were walking. Oma and Poppy very much want to be part of his life, but they live ~6 hours away and we only see them a few times a year. DS is cautious by nature, and hadn't shown them a lot of affection previously.
3. Any parenting concerns on your heart or mind this week?
Ugh, how normal is it for a two year old to lay quietly in the dark for over an hour and still not go to sleep? Between naptime and bedtime, I am spending at least 3 hours of the day getting him to sleep. I'm getting a lot more uncomfortable laying next to him being still as this pregnancy advances, and this is so frustrating.
5. Question of the Week: How many Christmas gatherings or parties are on your calendar this month? Taking your child(ren) to them all?
Probably three or four, depending on people's ability to stay healthy! They're all low key with close friends and family, so DS will definitely be part of the festivities.
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1. How many kids and ages? I have a 3 yr old daughter, and one in the oven
2. How was your weekend? It was extremely stressful. I dont rember pregnancy ever being this hard. I think when you have so many important decesions to make at one time overwhlemingness begins to take hold.
2. Anything special/endearing/milestone-ish happen lately? I got to see my little beans heartbeat! It was amazing!!!
3. Any parenting concerns on your heart or mind this week? I am scared of how my unborn bean will see me, will he/she htink im selfish? giving up? lazy? Why didnt you choice me? I am afraid that this will eternally confuse my daughter....
5. Question of the Week: How many Christmas gatherings or parties are on your calendar this month? Taking your child(ren) to them all? I have soooo many! Alot of them say no kids! But we do have a special sensory sensitive santa visit comeing upSon age 3.5
2. How was your weekend?
Great! Friday night my MIL took DS for a sleep over, which he LOVES, and I went hang out with my neighbor, who is also adopting and is a member of this board. It felt like it had been a LONG time since I have had a girls night, so it was really fun! H had been away on business for 2.5 weeks, and he finally came home this weekend!! We are SO glad to have him back, especially DS. He is very much a creature of habit, and likes being in his regular routine with mom and dad.
2. Anything special/endearing/milestoneish happen lately?
Potty training is getting MUCH better! I probably just jinxed myself by saying that though. LOL
We also started doing Elf on the Shelf for the first time. While I was putting him to bed, DS said "mom, my elf doesn't mave any magic." So I said "how do you know?" And he said "Because he's not a musician!!" I laughed so hard! That led to a very fun conversation about the difference between magicians and musicians!! LOL
3. Any parenting concerns on your heart or mind this week?
Waiting for the new ped OT to call us back to let us know if they will take him. I would just really like to get him started to see if they can help.
5. Question of the Week: How many Christmas gatherings or parties are on your calendar this month? Taking your children to them all?
Oh geez, a bunch! We have birthday parties for both my niece and nephew. We have our annual group outing to our local village of lights with the cousins, which is always fun. On the 20th my aunt and uncle are coming to town to take us all out to celebrate the holidays. DS will probably not be attending that one, since its usually a late night event. Then we will probably spend the weekend before Christmas with my husbands grandparents. Christmas Eve with my husband's family, then mass. And my sister and cousin are driving in to celebrate Christmas day with us and my brothers family. It will be busy, but fun! Lots of little kids around this year to make for a really fun holiday season.
1. How many kids and ages? 2 boys - 7 & 4
2. How was your weekend? Way too busy. Friday night, ds1 came home from a sleepover around 10 pm b/c he missed us; annual Christmas burnch at church Sat mornng; parade of lights and friends for dinner Sat night with another 7 yr sleeping over; church; grandparents house; dinner at friends last night. Phew, am tired just writing it out! Both kids were a mess last night and happily went to bed an hr early. Well, 4yr was screaming but that is normal
DH & I have committed to a nothing week, apart from Wed night church since dh works Sunday's and can't come then
2. Anything special/endearing/milestone-ish happen lately? Ds2 has SN - inherited from his birth mom - and used to be afraid of our dog. So much so that Cody went to my parents for an extended vacation. We brought him home at Thanksgiving and ds2 now pats him, then looks to us for praise! Even claps for himself
3. Any parenting concerns on your heart or mind this week? Ds1 is in the midst of big mood changes. He started ADHD meds almost 2 months ago and is depressed and weepy now. He is off meds for 4 weeks to see if the sadness goes away. I would much prefer to deal with the hyper out of control boy he was, than this kid clinging to me in the playground, weepy about going in to school. SIgh.
5. Question of the Week: How many Christmas gatherings or parties are on your calendar this month? Taking your child(ren) to them all? Already been to 1, got a girls cookie exchange and possibly DH's work party. My sister and her kiddos are coming for 3 weeks - they live in England and we haven't seen them for almost 2 years. All plans to travel over there stopped when we realised that ds2 has special needs, and would flip out with the flight, jet lag etc!!!
1. How many kids and ages?
1 DS, 21 mos (today!) (bio)
2. How was your weekend?
DH works with our church, so today is our weekend. Going well so far!
2. Anything special/endearing/milestone-ish happen lately?
DS is finally starting to say more words, and boy are they random. He also pretend talks on the phone, including pauses, "mhmm"s, and "byebye." I'm pretty sure he's tattling to his grandparents on how mean his parents are.
3. Any parenting concerns on your heart or mind this week?
Just DS's agression. He's always been physical and always been quick to anger, but he hits so much (me in particular) and doesn't respond to any type of discipline concerning it. Hoping it's just a phase?
5. Question of the Week: How many Christmas gatherings or parties are on your calendar this month? Taking your child(ren) to them all?We have two: one for the college students in the small group we lead (E not invited), and one for the church staff (E also not invited). I look forward to those times, since he's with me all day and night, every day! It's nice to get a chance to miss your child and have them actually be excited to see you.
Application approved Dec '11
Mar '12: Homestudy interrupted by change in Uganda requirements - where do we go from here?
After searching and searching, back with Uganda but with our homestudy agency's program.
Homestudy complete July 19
USCIS I-600A submitted July 20. Biometrics appointments arrived Aug 17; fingerprinted Aug 21; 171H received Sept 25th. On the wait list Oct 1st: #18. By Jan 25th, we're #13!
Come home, baby A!
1. How many kids and ages? 1 DD, 9 weeks old
2. How was your weekend? It was really good. We had a play date with an old coworker and his wife. They had a baby girl just a week before our DD was born. It was fun to compare notes and hang out.
2. Anything special/endearing/milestone-ish happen lately? DD is smiling a ton and continues to get stronger. She is so alert, so aware of everything around her and so curious with her big blue eyes!
3. Any parenting concerns on your heart or mind this week? DH is going out of the country for work this Sunday for a week. I am nervous about being a single parent 24/7 during that time and just hope everything goes as smooth as possible. I am also anxious about our trip to Louisiana for Christmas. DD got a cold when we went to Michigan for Thanksgiving so I really just want to rest and take a break, especially because there is so much pressure with DH's family..they want to do not one, but two "meet the baby" showers, along with Christmas and New Year's get togethers. I think it's going to be insane and just pray we make it through!
5. Question of the Week: How many Christmas gatherings or parties are on your calendar this month? Taking your child(ren) to them all? As stated above, we'll be in LA for Christmas (well actually we will leave the day after so we can at least enjoy our first Christmas with DD in our own home), but there will be at least 2 shower-type events and I can only imagine what else.2. How was your weekend? Long. DH's grandmother passed away it was a long and emotional process and the services will be in PA. We had to make all the arrangements and our travel arrangements.
2. Anything special/endearing/milestone-ish happen lately? DD has become so affectionate- hugging and kissing on us all the time. It's SO sweet!
3. Any parenting concerns on your heart or mind this week? Similar to Jill- parenting a toddler. I'm having a struggle between letting her become her own person with her own likes/dislikes and letting her be a terror/rude/dictator of our family.
5. Question of the Week: How many Christmas gatherings or parties are on your calendar this month? Taking your child(ren) to them all? Currently, 3. DD will likely go to all of them baring she stays healthy- knock on wood!I haven't been on in awhile, and when I am, I usaully lurk, but I love this idea!
1. How many kids and ages? 1, he just turned 1
2. How was your weekend? It was ok, I'm in school, and spent all my spare time studying for finals, DH was working, so I can only do things while DS is sleeping. I also worked on puting up christmas decorations, DS helped by pulling everything out of the totes and boxes
2. Anything special/endearing/milestone-ish happen lately? DS has started dancing everytime he hears music, especially christmas music, it's so cute. He took his first steps on his birthday, and he's been walking more and more, he always looks so proud of himself when ever he walks all the way to get to something
3. Any parenting concerns on your heart or mind this week? I'm afraid DS's diet isn't healthy enough, now that he's off formula, and all his nutrients comes from milk and solid food, I'm really paranoid about he eats, and he's boycotting vegetables right now
5. Question of the Week: How many Christmas gatherings or parties are on your calendar this month? Taking your child(ren) to them all? Only 1 party, and its a kid's party, so yes, DS is coming. Our parents live out of state, and they'll be visiting the week of christmas