so fast!! I can't believe it's been 4 months since I have typed what's going on here in Pattywak Land! The kids are healthy right now! Bekah will be four on Sunday. I still can't believe it. She starts real Pre-K in the fall. At this time, I don't think I am going to handle it very well! Levi had a few bumps in the road with school but seems to be back on track. If yall remember their sister Brittany (now Ciara) she turned 16 last week. Isn't that crazy!! We haven't seen her since November but she is super tall (5'9") and still as pretty as can be. She seems to be doing well. Calls every now and then.
The bow business is doing well! We are actually getting more business than expected. Some days I miss not having to do a thing, other than home stuff! We are getting ready for the next Sacred Selections Fundraiser. It's scheduled for October with a pancake breakfast squeezed in there somewhere. We are hoping to have our own Sacred Selections baby one day soon! We are in the running for a baby in Arizona who will be born this week, or by c-section next week. He could possibly be a fetal alcohol baby, so we are just waiting to hear what's going on before we make a decision.
It would be great if you could remember the less fortunate mothers out there in your prayers. As Darleen said, "they can only dream of our worst days". I really believe that's true. Whatever we are going through in our lives is nothing compared to having to deal with an addiction, being homeless, being abused, and not being loved. I'm sure there's even more than that! I'm so thankful for my parents. Although I have tortured them through the years, I so appreciate them. I'm glad they were strict and were always there for me. I hope you all were so lucky!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Do you remember...
Well as most of you already know, baby Florida went home with his birth mom. We were really expecting that outcome after not hearing for several days what was going on with the birth family. We are continuing to pray for his health and for the strength of his caregivers.
In the meantime, we are working with a new agency, Sans Pereil. We have turned everything in and had our home study, but it seems to be going really SLOW. Maybe the slowest agency yet. They are brand new and still trying to get all their licensing done, so we will see. Honestly, we are not in that big of a rush. We know when God has the right child for us we will be here and ready.
Bekah starts pre-k next Monday, three days a week. We will see if that might help her home behavior some. She really needs a structured day and needs to have others to play with. I think she gets really bored here at home with me. Levi is doing really well in school. He is an advanced reader and has all A's and a B at this time. We told him if he could handle 3rd grade and have good grades he could play a sport. So he will probably play soccer in the Spring. I didn't realize how much homework 3rd grade was going to have!
Oh, forgot to mention something. Do you remember Brittany, Levi and Bekah's biological half-sister? Well we ran into her grandma yesterday at the movies. So we will now be having contact with her again with the understanding that she doesn't know where we live, or where the kids are going to school at. I hate it, but she still receives calls from her biological mom and those people are crazy. I have really been wanting to have contact so that I can find out exactly what is going on with Bekah's biological parents and where they are located. Unfortunately, her biological father is a criminal and drug addict. He is in jail right now in Alabama. Evidently, he was in jail in Houston for 9 months and then they sent him back to Alabama for writing fake presciptions. We really don't want them to show up at our front door. We also found out that the biological mother's mom died early this year. This saddens me in a way. It makes me wonder if Bekah will ever want to know what she looked like.
With this happening, it has made me realize that Bekah will know she was adopted. I always knew we were going to tell her. She doesn't look like us, and well her brother knows! I just didn't think I would be so scared when the time came. I really thought it would just be a small fact and we would move on. I pray that's how it happens. Maybe since she will know from really little it will be "normal" for her. I plan on loving these guys the same no matter what happens, but wow reality is hitting hard this week!
In the meantime, we are working with a new agency, Sans Pereil. We have turned everything in and had our home study, but it seems to be going really SLOW. Maybe the slowest agency yet. They are brand new and still trying to get all their licensing done, so we will see. Honestly, we are not in that big of a rush. We know when God has the right child for us we will be here and ready.
Bekah starts pre-k next Monday, three days a week. We will see if that might help her home behavior some. She really needs a structured day and needs to have others to play with. I think she gets really bored here at home with me. Levi is doing really well in school. He is an advanced reader and has all A's and a B at this time. We told him if he could handle 3rd grade and have good grades he could play a sport. So he will probably play soccer in the Spring. I didn't realize how much homework 3rd grade was going to have!
Oh, forgot to mention something. Do you remember Brittany, Levi and Bekah's biological half-sister? Well we ran into her grandma yesterday at the movies. So we will now be having contact with her again with the understanding that she doesn't know where we live, or where the kids are going to school at. I hate it, but she still receives calls from her biological mom and those people are crazy. I have really been wanting to have contact so that I can find out exactly what is going on with Bekah's biological parents and where they are located. Unfortunately, her biological father is a criminal and drug addict. He is in jail right now in Alabama. Evidently, he was in jail in Houston for 9 months and then they sent him back to Alabama for writing fake presciptions. We really don't want them to show up at our front door. We also found out that the biological mother's mom died early this year. This saddens me in a way. It makes me wonder if Bekah will ever want to know what she looked like.
With this happening, it has made me realize that Bekah will know she was adopted. I always knew we were going to tell her. She doesn't look like us, and well her brother knows! I just didn't think I would be so scared when the time came. I really thought it would just be a small fact and we would move on. I pray that's how it happens. Maybe since she will know from really little it will be "normal" for her. I plan on loving these guys the same no matter what happens, but wow reality is hitting hard this week!
Monday, November 8, 2010
9:27 am and waiting...
Three minutes usually isn't that long, but when you are waiting to make an important phone call it can seem like forever.
So it's been four days since we have heard from Florida and have been expecting a decision. I spoke with Jerry this morning and he said that he sent a text yesterday the family stating that he was praying for them. He received a text back stating they had not had a chance to sit down as a family yet and discuss adoption vs keeping him. Jerry is a little frustrated with the situation. He said they are going to sit down tonight and discuss it. So hopefully we will know tomorrow sometime what their decision is.
Jerry received a call this morning from the hospital social worker asking him for the adoptive parents info because they were wanting to talk to them about moving the baby to another unit, a family friendly unit. He asked for an update on the baby's condition and she said she was covering for his social worker but that if they were wanting to move him out of the NICU that he was probably doing better. That is a very good sign! All the prayers for his health are being answered. For that we are so grateful.
I asked Jerry if he had by any chance sent our letters of encouragement to the birthmother. He said he did.
How could a mother, even at 15, not love her child and want to keep him??? I know she is still thinking about taking him home with them, especially if she is visiting him. His physical condition is so much better than expected. Then there is us and another adoptive family. That makes three options.
Tonight, when you sit down for dinner, please just say an extra prayer for Baby Florida's health and that his birthfamily makes a decision that brings them a sense of peace.
As for our family, we have two amazing healthy children. We are blessed beyond words.
So it's been four days since we have heard from Florida and have been expecting a decision. I spoke with Jerry this morning and he said that he sent a text yesterday the family stating that he was praying for them. He received a text back stating they had not had a chance to sit down as a family yet and discuss adoption vs keeping him. Jerry is a little frustrated with the situation. He said they are going to sit down tonight and discuss it. So hopefully we will know tomorrow sometime what their decision is.
Jerry received a call this morning from the hospital social worker asking him for the adoptive parents info because they were wanting to talk to them about moving the baby to another unit, a family friendly unit. He asked for an update on the baby's condition and she said she was covering for his social worker but that if they were wanting to move him out of the NICU that he was probably doing better. That is a very good sign! All the prayers for his health are being answered. For that we are so grateful.
I asked Jerry if he had by any chance sent our letters of encouragement to the birthmother. He said he did.
How could a mother, even at 15, not love her child and want to keep him??? I know she is still thinking about taking him home with them, especially if she is visiting him. His physical condition is so much better than expected. Then there is us and another adoptive family. That makes three options.
Tonight, when you sit down for dinner, please just say an extra prayer for Baby Florida's health and that his birthfamily makes a decision that brings them a sense of peace.
As for our family, we have two amazing healthy children. We are blessed beyond words.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Here is November!
Well, here we are and it's November! The snow is falling...ok maybe not here but probably somewhere, right!?
In late September we received a call from Dana Carrozza with Sacred Selections. She said I have a baby in Florida that will be born soon and is going to need a home, but he has spina bifida. We received medical reports from the adoption agency and to make a long story short, they were thinking his prognosis was not good. We prayed and prayed about it and came to the difficult decision that we would not be able to meet his needs and our own family's needs. I had talked to Dana a few weeks ago when she called about a 2 y/o little boy that is needing a home and asked if we would be interested. We sent in our profile for him as well. I asked her how "Baby Florida" was doing and if she knew. She said she thought he was going to be delivered via c-section around the first of November. This little guy just has never left my mind! So, Monday November 1st I decided to call Dana and see if she knew if Baby Florida had been born and she said she would check. As crazy as it will sound, he was born and was doing great! He weighed in a whopping 6 pounds 14 ounces. That's a big baby for a 15 y/o girl! Yeesh! They said he was kicking and screaming and sucking! Wonderful signs! Jerry, with Christian Family Services said he would pull his blanket towards his mouth and when they would move it away he would get a little upset. I love it! He did have an open lesion from his spine on his back, but it was closed up on Tuesday. They were monitoring his little head for swelling and he did start to show some fluid, so they were going to put a shunt in on Thursday. In saying all this, Adrian and I asked Jerry to please resubmit our file to the birth mother. He said he was glad and that the step-father had asked if we would reconsider this baby - which was a wonderful coincidence! Thursday I received a call from Jerry and he said he had an update on the birth mother. He said that she was considering us, another couple and contemplating taking her baby home. Jerry asked if we would write her a letter and he may give it to her, if he felt it was right! We had friends and family send the most lovely letters as well! How blessed we are! Dana made a funny, she said that one good thing about adopting is the letters you receive, you find out how people feel about you before you die and not at your funeral! Very true. So, Baby Florida was born November 1st, today is November 6th...I've missed his whole life already. BUT, if we get to bring him home, I will spend forever making it up to him! Please continue praying for his health and for his mom. I know it has to be the hardest thing to love a child so much you would let them go. Pray God would give her peace about whatever decision she comes to. m
In late September we received a call from Dana Carrozza with Sacred Selections. She said I have a baby in Florida that will be born soon and is going to need a home, but he has spina bifida. We received medical reports from the adoption agency and to make a long story short, they were thinking his prognosis was not good. We prayed and prayed about it and came to the difficult decision that we would not be able to meet his needs and our own family's needs. I had talked to Dana a few weeks ago when she called about a 2 y/o little boy that is needing a home and asked if we would be interested. We sent in our profile for him as well. I asked her how "Baby Florida" was doing and if she knew. She said she thought he was going to be delivered via c-section around the first of November. This little guy just has never left my mind! So, Monday November 1st I decided to call Dana and see if she knew if Baby Florida had been born and she said she would check. As crazy as it will sound, he was born and was doing great! He weighed in a whopping 6 pounds 14 ounces. That's a big baby for a 15 y/o girl! Yeesh! They said he was kicking and screaming and sucking! Wonderful signs! Jerry, with Christian Family Services said he would pull his blanket towards his mouth and when they would move it away he would get a little upset. I love it! He did have an open lesion from his spine on his back, but it was closed up on Tuesday. They were monitoring his little head for swelling and he did start to show some fluid, so they were going to put a shunt in on Thursday. In saying all this, Adrian and I asked Jerry to please resubmit our file to the birth mother. He said he was glad and that the step-father had asked if we would reconsider this baby - which was a wonderful coincidence! Thursday I received a call from Jerry and he said he had an update on the birth mother. He said that she was considering us, another couple and contemplating taking her baby home. Jerry asked if we would write her a letter and he may give it to her, if he felt it was right! We had friends and family send the most lovely letters as well! How blessed we are! Dana made a funny, she said that one good thing about adopting is the letters you receive, you find out how people feel about you before you die and not at your funeral! Very true. So, Baby Florida was born November 1st, today is November 6th...I've missed his whole life already. BUT, if we get to bring him home, I will spend forever making it up to him! Please continue praying for his health and for his mom. I know it has to be the hardest thing to love a child so much you would let them go. Pray God would give her peace about whatever decision she comes to. m
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Patience....what is that!?!?!?!?
So, as you all know, Hailey and Eli left on July 16th. They are now with an older couple who have no children in the home. We advocated hard for that and they actually found a place that would be a perfect fit.
We have thought and prayed long and hard and concluded that we do want another child and that maybe even two more would be ok. We petitioned God to give us more children if it is his will.
Since then, we decided to leave our agency Spaulding for Children, due to the fact that their communication was very poor. CPS is in the process of getting our file from Spaulding so that we can have further placements. Will let you know how that goes.
Wednesday, August 5th we receive a call from Dana Carrozza, with Sacred Selections. In case you don't remember, they are the group that grant christian families money to use for legal expenses. She said that she had a couple of little girls that needed a home and asked if we would be interested. She said that she would send our life book to the family and let them choose. It's a pretty complex case. The girls are ages 1 and 3. We have been praying that if God wants us to have these children we will take them. We did receive a call on Friday and the family really stressed the desire to have the girls moved quickly. So we are here waiting, patiently, for the word from the family as to if they are ready to sign over their legal responsibilites to the girls.
Patience is defined as: an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay. Wow, I am the exact opposite of patient.
My friend D posted this on her facebook wall regarding our possible placement: Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to purpose."
So in saying this, we are going to sit back and pray. Sounds easy right!
We have thought and prayed long and hard and concluded that we do want another child and that maybe even two more would be ok. We petitioned God to give us more children if it is his will.
Since then, we decided to leave our agency Spaulding for Children, due to the fact that their communication was very poor. CPS is in the process of getting our file from Spaulding so that we can have further placements. Will let you know how that goes.
Wednesday, August 5th we receive a call from Dana Carrozza, with Sacred Selections. In case you don't remember, they are the group that grant christian families money to use for legal expenses. She said that she had a couple of little girls that needed a home and asked if we would be interested. She said that she would send our life book to the family and let them choose. It's a pretty complex case. The girls are ages 1 and 3. We have been praying that if God wants us to have these children we will take them. We did receive a call on Friday and the family really stressed the desire to have the girls moved quickly. So we are here waiting, patiently, for the word from the family as to if they are ready to sign over their legal responsibilites to the girls.
Patience is defined as: an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay. Wow, I am the exact opposite of patient.
My friend D posted this on her facebook wall regarding our possible placement: Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to purpose."
So in saying this, we are going to sit back and pray. Sounds easy right!
Friday, July 9, 2010
My guys...
Wow. I can't believe these are my kids! From little to big! Levi is weighing 51.5 pounds these days...not too tall, but that's ok. Maybe he'll be like Uncle Tim and be 25 before he hits his growth spurt. (haha) Bekah, my sweet little rotten Bekah. Just the other day she was a baby. I can remember the day she came to us and was scared to death! Didn't realize raising these kiddos would be much scarier! The above picture is the guys July 2010 and the bottom pics are so great. Wish I had taken more. Bekah was 5 months and Levi was a few days shy of 5. That was the first time we met Levi. Really should have taken more pictures!!!
Eli & Hailey
Believe it or not, the little guy on the back of the dinosaur is getting bigger and bigger by the day. He was having fun until his sister hopped on. Hailey had quite a bit of trouble getting on and off of the dino, but it was a good learning experience for her.
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