OK so it's not much about ME going back to school because I am used to starting school in the fall, it's about ALEC starting school. Alec...my little baby boy! What happened? Where is my baby? He is gone. Let me tell you, the baby is gone, the toddler is gone, the pre-schooler is gone, and now he is a little man starting KINDERGARTEN. OMG....NO! I took him out the other day to get his school supplies and he was so excited. He picked out his bookbag, which is Speed Racer, his new favorite thing, and was so into getting his school supplies. I took him while Mikayla was at her Toddler Group/Therapy. I have to say I love that while Mikayla is at her class for those two mornings a week, I get to spend one-on-one time with Alec. Her school is too far of a drive to come back home so Alec and I have a routine that we do every Monday and Wednesday morning. We drop Mikayla off and then we head over to McDonalds playland for pancakes and fun. We do this EVERY time. And while I don't eat (I am not a breakfast person) Alec gets the napkins and straws and sets the table up while I wait for the order to come up. We sit at the same booth every time and he gets pancakes every time. He calls it Pancake Day. Then we usually head over to Wal Mart which is nearby as well and shop around. Those are OUR mornings together, just him and I, and I treasure them.
Alec will be attending afternoon Kindergarten. We got to pick AM or PM and I chose PM because it will fit better with my student teaching in the Spring. But is is wreaking HAVOC on the fall schedule. UGH. There are 15 kids in his little class and tomorrow we go in for his student evaluation. School started in our district today but they do a phase-in program for Kindergarten. His class phases in next Wednesday and his first day on his own is next Thursday. On his phase-in day I take him, stay with him while they do all the school tours, etc. and then I LEAVE. I LEAVE people. Like, as in, LEAVE HIM THERE AND HE RIDES THE BUS HOME. Gina is coming down to watch Mikayla while I take Alec in because Kris is working obviously. I told her BE PREPARED. There is NO question that I will open that door and cry like there is no tomorrow. I am totally tearing up now just thinking about how I am going to cry THEN. So needless to say...I am going to be one red, hot mess that afternoon. ROFL.
This is weekend is the big birthday bash and Alec is so excited about it. It's a super fun swimming party at the rec center here in town. Alec picked Speed Racer for his b-day theme! Well SIX YEARS OLD....here Alec comes!!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Guatemalan Summer Family Picnic 2008
Today was our 2nd Annual NEO Guatemalan Adoptive Families Summer Picnic. I just can't even begin to say how amazed I am at the wonderful families that make up this awesome group of people. I feel blessed to have started all of this way back when and to see how it has grown. We had over 20 families that came out and joined the fun today.
The weather was beautiful, the food was great, the children had a blast, and us parents made tons of memories. Thank you to all of the families that came out to celebrate today. It was so wonderful to see all of you and I am glad that everyone had a great time. We will see you all in October for Boo at the Zoo!
Luau Time! 
Alec and Tony
Lynne and her girls
Gina and I...partners in party planning crime:-) 
Kayla and Mommy
The boys being silly
Sweet Alec
Cracker Mouth 
Izzy
Just hangin' out
ALL THE FAMILIES
The weather was beautiful, the food was great, the children had a blast, and us parents made tons of memories. Thank you to all of the families that came out to celebrate today. It was so wonderful to see all of you and I am glad that everyone had a great time. We will see you all in October for Boo at the Zoo!
Luau Time! 
Alec and Tony
Lynne and her girls
Gina and I...partners in party planning crime:-) Kayla and Mommy
The boys being sillySweet Alec
Cracker Mouth 
Izzy
Just hangin' outALL THE FAMILIES
At least the ones I managed to get pictures of...we had over 20 families there today!
Gina~thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all that you did to make today possible. Seriously. There is so much more I could say.....
Kris and Joe
Cindy, Me, and Jenn
OK Gina...I don't look THAT much shorter here...but I know you are bending down!
Kris~I just have to take a minute to thank you for all that you do to make these events possible. He is the "silent" helper in all of this and I want to give credit where credit is due. You help me so much with the planning and preparation of these events and I couldn't do it all without your support, love, and help!
Alan~Thanks for always helping as much as you do! I appreciate all that you and Jenn do so much!
Kris grilling out the hamburgers...it was HOT behind those grills
Logan
Christian was giving Mikayla a hug and kiss here in the tube. LOL.
Christian taking a rest in the shade of the tube
All done resting!
Miss. Mikayla Faith
Camille
Playing around...it was such a nice day weather-wise
Izzy and Ana deep in conversation
Girl Pow Wow Time
Daddy and Kayla
Miss. Diva here
Ana loved the sack race...when it was over she still wasn't done!
Playing the Ping Pong game
Hanging out with new friends
Gina~thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all that you did to make today possible. Seriously. There is so much more I could say.....
Kris and Joe
Cindy, Me, and Jenn
OK Gina...I don't look THAT much shorter here...but I know you are bending down!
Kris~I just have to take a minute to thank you for all that you do to make these events possible. He is the "silent" helper in all of this and I want to give credit where credit is due. You help me so much with the planning and preparation of these events and I couldn't do it all without your support, love, and help!
Alan~Thanks for always helping as much as you do! I appreciate all that you and Jenn do so much!
Kris grilling out the hamburgers...it was HOT behind those grills
Logan
Christian was giving Mikayla a hug and kiss here in the tube. LOL.
Christian taking a rest in the shade of the tube
All done resting!
Miss. Mikayla Faith
Camille
Playing around...it was such a nice day weather-wise
Izzy and Ana deep in conversation
Girl Pow Wow TimeSACK RACE!
Daddy and Kayla
Miss. Diva here
Ana loved the sack race...when it was over she still wasn't done!
Playing the Ping Pong game
Hanging out with new friendsPINATA TIME
Balloons!
It's all done mom! Lets go HOME!
Balloons!
It's all done mom! Lets go HOME!Friday, August 1, 2008
SOOOOOO Excited!
This weekend is the 2nd Annual Ohio Guatemalan Adoptive Families Picnic!! I have been working HARD on this since May. It's a lot of work to get everything organized, get people to respond BACK to you when you send the information, and, well, just everything! Very time-consuming. But Sunday is the big day and it will make all the effort sooooo worth while when over 24 families from all across Ohio and even Pennsylvania come together to celebrate our children! We have tons of things to do, lots of good food, and it's a super fun Luau theme this year. I can't wait and I will post pictures of it on Sunday night...I am sure I will be TIRED but I won't be able to resist posting them. If anyone is ever, EVER, interested in receiving the information for the various events I plan throughout the year then PLEASE leave me a comment and I will add you to the e-mail list.
In other news, Mikayla is having an OK week. She seems a little grumpy for some odd reason and I think it's because her top molars are coming in. Her bottom molars are already in. She just won't really eat and seems overly tired this week. Hope she hangs in there for the picnic.
Alec is getting super excited to start school. He has about 3.5 weeks and then he starts, and so do I. I got my student teaching placements a few weeks back and both of them, my special ed placement and my regular ed placement are in Massillon City Schools. I am thrilled about this because I LOVE LOVE LOVE inner-city schools. I want to teach inner-city and so this is perfect for me. I can't wait. In just EIGHT months I will be graduating! WOO HOO! Better late then NEVER, but I always knew I would do this and knew I would get there....even though I had SEVERAL delays along the way.
Hope everyone has an AWESOME weekend! Enjoy the summer while it's still here!!!
Sorry...no pictures.
In other news, Mikayla is having an OK week. She seems a little grumpy for some odd reason and I think it's because her top molars are coming in. Her bottom molars are already in. She just won't really eat and seems overly tired this week. Hope she hangs in there for the picnic.
Alec is getting super excited to start school. He has about 3.5 weeks and then he starts, and so do I. I got my student teaching placements a few weeks back and both of them, my special ed placement and my regular ed placement are in Massillon City Schools. I am thrilled about this because I LOVE LOVE LOVE inner-city schools. I want to teach inner-city and so this is perfect for me. I can't wait. In just EIGHT months I will be graduating! WOO HOO! Better late then NEVER, but I always knew I would do this and knew I would get there....even though I had SEVERAL delays along the way.
Hope everyone has an AWESOME weekend! Enjoy the summer while it's still here!!!
Sorry...no pictures.
Monday, July 28, 2008
SURGERY UPDATE
I have had several e-mails and calls and just wanted to take a moment to update on my blog how the surgery went.
We got there at 7:30 AM and were called back for her surgery quickly at 7:45. The staff at the surgical center was incredible and made Mikayla as comfortable as possible. I can't say enough about this place and if you live by me and your child needs something like this, contact me because they were awesome! The anesthesiologist came back with the nurses and talked to us about what they would do. They gave her an oral medication right away while they were taking her vitals to help her calm down and make her sleepy. He played with her, earned her trust quickly, he asked her if he could hold her, she held out her arms to him, and down the hallway and off to surgery they went. Mommy wanted to cry. Big Brother yelled after him "don't hurt my sister!" And then off to the waiting room we went. We were called back to get her at 8:05 AM. She was crying, disoriented and I hate to say this, but she looked drunk. She couldn't hold her head up and didn't want to be held but couldn't stand at all. She was totally confused and upset and very hard to calm down.
At his point the anesthesiologist and DR came back to tell us they had a hard time putting her under. ROFL. She fought it and so they had to give her a little "extra" because she was putting up a fight. That's my girl and I wasn't surprised to hear that at all. However, that made a more difficult time for her coming out I think. Everyone was wonderful and after she took a drink and they re-checked her, we were able to come. Her DR was awesome and even called us tonight at home to check on her!
Once we got home she was very fussy and falling all over the place. We had to put her in the pack-and-play because she was a danger to herself. I held her off as long as possible for a nap but caved at 11:00 AM. She slept until 2:15 or so and has been OK all afternoon. Not great, still cranky, but doing OK. Her DR said she had a lot of fluid in her ears and that this was really the way we had to go for her. They suctioned most of it out but she will still have drainage. It has been a LONG day. Kris and Alec went to see Tony Stewart's car up at Home Depot this afternoon and now they are out fishing:-) I will post pictures later of Alec and the car. And yes, we are Nascar fans, and yes, Tony Stewart is our man.
Thanks for your prayers and you can read the post below for more information on to why we ended up where we did today:-)
We got there at 7:30 AM and were called back for her surgery quickly at 7:45. The staff at the surgical center was incredible and made Mikayla as comfortable as possible. I can't say enough about this place and if you live by me and your child needs something like this, contact me because they were awesome! The anesthesiologist came back with the nurses and talked to us about what they would do. They gave her an oral medication right away while they were taking her vitals to help her calm down and make her sleepy. He played with her, earned her trust quickly, he asked her if he could hold her, she held out her arms to him, and down the hallway and off to surgery they went. Mommy wanted to cry. Big Brother yelled after him "don't hurt my sister!" And then off to the waiting room we went. We were called back to get her at 8:05 AM. She was crying, disoriented and I hate to say this, but she looked drunk. She couldn't hold her head up and didn't want to be held but couldn't stand at all. She was totally confused and upset and very hard to calm down.
At his point the anesthesiologist and DR came back to tell us they had a hard time putting her under. ROFL. She fought it and so they had to give her a little "extra" because she was putting up a fight. That's my girl and I wasn't surprised to hear that at all. However, that made a more difficult time for her coming out I think. Everyone was wonderful and after she took a drink and they re-checked her, we were able to come. Her DR was awesome and even called us tonight at home to check on her!
Once we got home she was very fussy and falling all over the place. We had to put her in the pack-and-play because she was a danger to herself. I held her off as long as possible for a nap but caved at 11:00 AM. She slept until 2:15 or so and has been OK all afternoon. Not great, still cranky, but doing OK. Her DR said she had a lot of fluid in her ears and that this was really the way we had to go for her. They suctioned most of it out but she will still have drainage. It has been a LONG day. Kris and Alec went to see Tony Stewart's car up at Home Depot this afternoon and now they are out fishing:-) I will post pictures later of Alec and the car. And yes, we are Nascar fans, and yes, Tony Stewart is our man.
Thanks for your prayers and you can read the post below for more information on to why we ended up where we did today:-)
Sunday, July 27, 2008
I'm BACK and Mikayla's Surgery is TOMORROW!
I apologize, we are here, we have just had a lot of things going on and I haven’t had the time, or the computer actually, to blog.
When we came back from Florida in May Mikayla had an ear infection. She still had it at her birthday party and it never went away. After four unsuccessful rounds of antibiotics we had to resort to giving her shots. We had to take her to her pediatrician everyday for a week for them to give her shots to finally clear up the infection. It was horrific and Mikayla did NOT do well. Our pediatrician wanted us to get in to see an ENT ASAP because there was so much fluid built up behind her ears. THANKFULLY we have connections in that one of my awesome friends Nikki’s husband works for a wonderful ENT office about 30 minutes from my house. He was able to get us RIGHT in and we are forever thankful to him and to her for asking him to help us. So after weeks of medications, shots, and PAIN, Mikayla goes in tomorrow morning bright and early at 7:30 AM for Tube Surgery. Kris took the day off work and will be going with me. Please pray that it goes well and that she is OK.
We also had to go to a specialist at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland because of Mikayla’s never-ending yeast infections and diaper rash. We had to take pictures of her at the “height” of one of her infections and it was so awful they kept the picture to use in their training! I obviously am NOT going to post it on my blog but please trust me when I say it is the most painful thing you would ever see. When it gets bad, like it does all the time, it spreads all the way down to the middle of her inner-thighs. We now have her on a treatment regimen that is very intense and full of multiple creams and ointments that are steroid-based. She has been on them now for two weeks and it is STILL not fully clear. They are worried that she has a rare skin disorder because of some other characteristics that she displays and if this is NOT fully cleared in two weeks we will be looking at a skin biopsy. Please, please pray for Mikayla. She has been through a lot since coming home and she really hates the doctors at this point. The past three weeks we have been to doctor offices over 12 times. That’s insane.
She is still doing great at her school. Her therapies are really helping to improve things. We are still having terrible trouble with her pulling her hair out and some major feeding issues still. Her OT has been working endlessly with us on those issues and we are desperately trying to divert her when it comes to the hair-pulling as she has now pulled out ½ the hair on the top of her head. We were also approved for a grant through our MRDD so we will be able to purchase various adaptive items to help her, including a weighted vest which she desperately needs.
I was under a great deal of stress because it turned out I needed to take one of my Praxis tests earlier then they originally told me. I found out two weeks before the test and crammed like a wild woman. Kris and the kids dropped me off yesterday to take it at The University of Akron. I think I did OK. It was 60 multiple choice and 6 essays and I had two hours to complete it. If I would have had 30 more minutes I would have felt MUCH better. I felt rushed. But I think I did fine. I will get my results in 4 weeks. Pray I pass because I really don’t want to take it againJ
My computer broke about two weeks ago and my dad had to take it and get it fixed for us. THANKS DAD! We picked it up today and obviously, since I am on it now, it is working GREAT. It had to have a new power box put in it. It probably died because I am on the computer too much. ROFL.
Today we went to Mansfield to see my Aunt Chris and Uncle Dan who are up from Florida and my Aunt Zell who was up here as wellJ We had a great afternoon visiting and hanging out. We don’t get to get together often at ALL so this was a wonderful, wonderful day.
Please say a prayer for my sweet grandpa. They found a mass in his colon this past Thursday and will be operating tomorrow. I am praying that it will be “nothing” and that he will recover quickly. But I will appreciate your prayers for him and for my dad, who left after our picnic today to head down to be his with family. They live two hours south of my mom and dads in Southern Ohio.
So as you can see we have been up to a lot…none of it real good! I am hoping for an EASY rest of the summer….we deserve it at this point for SURE.
I have no idea why this is blue underlined...sorry about that...but I am too tired to figure it out!
.JPG)
Kisses for Grandma.JPG)
She LOVES corn.JPG)
Daddy's Dude.JPG)
I like this pic:-).JPG)
My family!.JPG)
~Smiles~.JPG)
Kayla and her Aunt Chris.JPG)
Spinning on Papa's computer chair.JPG)
Alec with his "grabber-nabber".JPG)
Alec and Kalya chasing each other.JPG)
Here she comes!.JPG)
Off she goes!.JPG)
She looks so big here:-(.JPG)
Sweet Little Girl.JPG)
Alec...almost SIX!.JPG)
Mikayla's turn by the Soy Beans.JPG)
Awwww....
Mom and Dad
Kris, me, and Aunt Chris
HAIL STORM!
It was WILD!
Close up!
She wore this last weekend when we went to have lunch with my mom and dad:-)
We went to the ENT this day
Book anyone?
This was the day we went to the specialist in Cleveland...she crashed
Visit with CHRISTIAN!
Hanging out:-)
Mikayla wanted to take Libby for a ride!
No fear at all
Christian trying to take Mikayla for a ride
SPEED RACER ALEC
He is obsessed with Speed Racer. That's his B-Day party theme!
One shoe on, one shoe off, hiding because she saw the camera. This was a "shot day"
Reading
You can tell she doesn't feel well here...keep us in your prayers tomorrow...or likely when you read this ...TODAY!Friday, July 4, 2008
Happy 4th of July EVERYONE!!!!
I hope that everyone had a wonderful July 4th today! It's such a special day to us for so many reasons, one of which being that we are so proud that our daughter was able to become a citizen in this wonderful country where so many people dream of coming!
We celebrated the day by heading up to the first annual Red, White and ZOO at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo today. It was so much fun and the kids just loved it. It was so neat to see everyone celebrating there and all the children and families decked out in red, white, and blue. Just a really, really neat day. We were able to do so many fun things there today and with the weather in the 70's, it was just the perfect day for an outing to the zoo. Before we headed to Cleveland we stopped at Friendly's for lunch and then made the hour trip north for a fun-filled, festive, Fourth of July day! LOL.
We got home at about 7 PM and of course Alec was DYING to see the fireworks. I knew that one of us would take him, but with Mikayla's sensory issues I wasn't too sure about her. Not to mention they didn't start until 10PM and Mikayla is asleep no later then 8 pm each night. We kept her up and by the time we left here to head downtown she was in total meltdown mode. LOL. Oh well...we were going. We didn't take her last year and it was time she witnessed her first firework display. She was OK when we got down there and parked and then they started...and OH MY did she ever LOVE it. She totally got all excited saying WOWEE, WOWEE, BOOM BOOM BOOM. She was clapping and pointing and jibber-jabbering away. She loved it. Alec of course thought it was the greatest thing ever and told Mikalya "see honey, your big brother knows the cool things to do, I knew you would like this. Just stick with me Mikayla and I will teach you all the cool and fun things like this to do." He said it so innocently and sweetly.
All in all, this was one of the BEST days I have ever had. We just had a total blast today and the kids were in great spirits all day. It was a wonderful, amazing day...I hope and pray yours was the same!
They had this set up at the entrance of the Zoo for pictures...all flowers. Pretty cool!
Off we go on the train ride!
Alec, map in hand, on the train
Kisses for daddy
Checking everything out
Looking at the Kangaroos
Coming back in to the station:-)
OK this was SO cool. You buy little cups of nectar and then you go into this bird sanctuary where there are about 25 beautiful birds who will just fly right up on your hand and drink the nectar. It was AWESOME!
Alec would barely move...he was a little freaked out by it.
Can you tell here? He looks like "DAD HELP ME!"
Mikayla has no fear....here she is feeding one of them
She loved it!
Alec making his penny into a souvenir
Waiting for the "TOUCH" exhibit where you touch the rays and sharks
Here is Kris and Alec in the TOUCH exhibit
Mikayla checking out the Flamingos
Mommy and Alec
Isn't he pretty? Or she? Who knows!
Mikayla HAD to have this Polar Bear in one of the shops. She never let go of it all day and had to take it to bed with her too. It is soooooooo soft!
And here is a real one!
Sorry...don't know what this is. LOL.
Grizzly Bear
My two amazing, smart, beautiful kids:-)
Riding on daddy's shoulders. WOW...doesn't he look HUGE up there?
Mikayla LOVED sitting on this Elephant
Oh NO I am NOT getting off of this thing mom!
Nope...going to have to pry me off!
Slide time for Alec!
Slide time for Kayla!
They had this set up for today too! Pretty cool! You can't see it real well but it says
Wish someone could have taken one of ALL of us:-( But Kayla and I still look good! HAH!
Mommy and Alec
In the van waiting for the fireworks to start
She didn't know WHAT was going on while we were waiting!
This is a good picture:-)
Me and my kiddo's
Here they GOOO!
Alec the cameraman!
She was totally fascinated by them
Pretty!
Way past bedtime...she fell asleep before we were out of the parking lot!
We celebrated the day by heading up to the first annual Red, White and ZOO at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo today. It was so much fun and the kids just loved it. It was so neat to see everyone celebrating there and all the children and families decked out in red, white, and blue. Just a really, really neat day. We were able to do so many fun things there today and with the weather in the 70's, it was just the perfect day for an outing to the zoo. Before we headed to Cleveland we stopped at Friendly's for lunch and then made the hour trip north for a fun-filled, festive, Fourth of July day! LOL.
We got home at about 7 PM and of course Alec was DYING to see the fireworks. I knew that one of us would take him, but with Mikayla's sensory issues I wasn't too sure about her. Not to mention they didn't start until 10PM and Mikayla is asleep no later then 8 pm each night. We kept her up and by the time we left here to head downtown she was in total meltdown mode. LOL. Oh well...we were going. We didn't take her last year and it was time she witnessed her first firework display. She was OK when we got down there and parked and then they started...and OH MY did she ever LOVE it. She totally got all excited saying WOWEE, WOWEE, BOOM BOOM BOOM. She was clapping and pointing and jibber-jabbering away. She loved it. Alec of course thought it was the greatest thing ever and told Mikalya "see honey, your big brother knows the cool things to do, I knew you would like this. Just stick with me Mikayla and I will teach you all the cool and fun things like this to do." He said it so innocently and sweetly.
All in all, this was one of the BEST days I have ever had. We just had a total blast today and the kids were in great spirits all day. It was a wonderful, amazing day...I hope and pray yours was the same!
They had this set up at the entrance of the Zoo for pictures...all flowers. Pretty cool!
Off we go on the train ride!
Alec, map in hand, on the train
Kisses for daddy
Checking everything out
Looking at the Kangaroos
Coming back in to the station:-)
OK this was SO cool. You buy little cups of nectar and then you go into this bird sanctuary where there are about 25 beautiful birds who will just fly right up on your hand and drink the nectar. It was AWESOME!
Alec would barely move...he was a little freaked out by it.
Can you tell here? He looks like "DAD HELP ME!"
Mikayla has no fear....here she is feeding one of them
She loved it!
Alec making his penny into a souvenir
Waiting for the "TOUCH" exhibit where you touch the rays and sharks
Here is Kris and Alec in the TOUCH exhibit
Mikayla checking out the Flamingos
Mommy and Alec
Isn't he pretty? Or she? Who knows!
Mikayla HAD to have this Polar Bear in one of the shops. She never let go of it all day and had to take it to bed with her too. It is soooooooo soft!
And here is a real one!
Sorry...don't know what this is. LOL.
Grizzly Bear
My two amazing, smart, beautiful kids:-)
Riding on daddy's shoulders. WOW...doesn't he look HUGE up there?
Mikayla LOVED sitting on this Elephant
Oh NO I am NOT getting off of this thing mom!
Nope...going to have to pry me off!
Slide time for Alec!
Slide time for Kayla!
They had this set up for today too! Pretty cool! You can't see it real well but it saysJuly 04, 2008
Cleveland
Zoo
Wish someone could have taken one of ALL of us:-( But Kayla and I still look good! HAH!
Mommy and Alec
In the van waiting for the fireworks to start
She didn't know WHAT was going on while we were waiting!
This is a good picture:-)
Me and my kiddo's
Here they GOOO!
Alec the cameraman!
She was totally fascinated by them
Pretty!
Way past bedtime...she fell asleep before we were out of the parking lot!Have a great weekend everyone!!!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Happy "Born Into Our Hearts Day" Mikayla Faith
How do ever put into words the day that you get your referral? I am not sure those emotions are possible to put in black and white but you know me and I will surely try!
In the (early for me) morning of June 30th, 2006 my phone rang. As usual I was still in bed at 9:00 am and while I was awake, I wasn't much into actual getting up so to speak. We don't have a phone in our bedroom but I heard it ring and Alec bounded downstairs to answer it for whatever reason. He never answered the phone back in those days. But on this day, he did, and he brought it to me and said "Mom, its the building block." My heart skipped I think ten beats. The building block, was Building Blocks, our agency and them calling me meant one thing only. That we had a daughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't remember much of that conversation. I know it wasn't very short and there were lots of instructions for me, I must have heard them because I followed through with them later that day, but all I could think about was this statement "How would you like to have an extra Happy July 4th holiday...a baby girl was born, her name is Clara and she was born in Villa Nueva. I have sent you over pictures to your e-mail account and if you can accept her referral today then we can send your completed dossier to Guatemala today!" Well that was it. That was where the phone conversation ended for me! Downstairs, in my AOL inbox, was a simply stated e-mail that said "referral." I could barely breathe.
Kris and I had promised each other that when this day came we would wait to look at the pictures together. Sitting together, sharing it together. It was 9:00 am. Kris got home at 4:30...he had JUST gotten to work. I somehow hung up and managed to call Kris. I was hysterical, could barely speak and I am sure he thought someone had died. We were told it would be another few weeks before our name made it to the top of the wait list for baby girls so this was very unexpected. All I could muster was "she's here!" "Who is?" he asked me back. MIKAYLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then HE began hyperventilating. I told him I couldn't wait, it was actually about 9:45 at this point and that e-mail had been sitting for over 45 minutes staring at me waiting to be opened. He told me he was going to a computer, he would call me, and we would look at them together over the phone. I waited and WAITED for him to call and when he finally did he said "OMG SHE IS JUST BEAUTIFUL MINDY!" I said WHAT!? You already looked! He told me that there wasn't a phone by the computer. UGH....so I opened up the e-mail, with him on the phone with me, and there she was.
Sweet Mikayla Faith was born into my heart around 9:45 am. After years of secondary infertility, years of negative pregnancy tests, years of trying to build our family, and then months of "adoption labor" Mikayla was born. In all her beautiful glory my sweet daughter was here, or, well, rather THERE, but she was healthy, she was beautiful, and we felt over the moon with excitement and love. And to make it even more amazing, a single, small pink butterfly adorned the sleeper she was wearing. I had prayed that God would send me a sign, something, anything, so that when we got our referral I would know that He had had His part in it. And as silly as it sounds, that was my sign, and the moment I saw it was when I truly, truly let the emotions spill down my cheeks. I couldn't stop crying or thanking God for this blessing.
To my daughter...Mikayla Faith...your name was chosen because of the undying FAITH your mommy and daddy had that someday we would be blessed with a daughter. In a whirlwind of emotions you came into our lives on the warm, June morning with the sun shining bright, thousands of miles from where you lay in a crib. We loved you from the moment we saw you in those pictures. For all the questions you will have someday about your journey that brought you here, please know this one thing...we love you more then you will ever be able to imagine. You are loved, and wanted, and have made our lives and our family complete and full of so much laughter, love, and shear joy. You and your brother are the light of lives and I pray not a day goes by that you ever question your place in our family, our lives, or our hearts.
To Mikayla's sweet, beautiful birthmother...because of you, our family was able to become complete. Your unimaginable love for your daughter will never, ever be forgotten. We will pray for you, talk about your love, and be indebted to you for the rest of our lives. While we have never met, and likely never will, you have a place in our hearts forever, and the sacrifice you made will never be forgotten to us.
We love you sweet baby girl!
In the (early for me) morning of June 30th, 2006 my phone rang. As usual I was still in bed at 9:00 am and while I was awake, I wasn't much into actual getting up so to speak. We don't have a phone in our bedroom but I heard it ring and Alec bounded downstairs to answer it for whatever reason. He never answered the phone back in those days. But on this day, he did, and he brought it to me and said "Mom, its the building block." My heart skipped I think ten beats. The building block, was Building Blocks, our agency and them calling me meant one thing only. That we had a daughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't remember much of that conversation. I know it wasn't very short and there were lots of instructions for me, I must have heard them because I followed through with them later that day, but all I could think about was this statement "How would you like to have an extra Happy July 4th holiday...a baby girl was born, her name is Clara and she was born in Villa Nueva. I have sent you over pictures to your e-mail account and if you can accept her referral today then we can send your completed dossier to Guatemala today!" Well that was it. That was where the phone conversation ended for me! Downstairs, in my AOL inbox, was a simply stated e-mail that said "referral." I could barely breathe.
Kris and I had promised each other that when this day came we would wait to look at the pictures together. Sitting together, sharing it together. It was 9:00 am. Kris got home at 4:30...he had JUST gotten to work. I somehow hung up and managed to call Kris. I was hysterical, could barely speak and I am sure he thought someone had died. We were told it would be another few weeks before our name made it to the top of the wait list for baby girls so this was very unexpected. All I could muster was "she's here!" "Who is?" he asked me back. MIKAYLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then HE began hyperventilating. I told him I couldn't wait, it was actually about 9:45 at this point and that e-mail had been sitting for over 45 minutes staring at me waiting to be opened. He told me he was going to a computer, he would call me, and we would look at them together over the phone. I waited and WAITED for him to call and when he finally did he said "OMG SHE IS JUST BEAUTIFUL MINDY!" I said WHAT!? You already looked! He told me that there wasn't a phone by the computer. UGH....so I opened up the e-mail, with him on the phone with me, and there she was.
Sweet Mikayla Faith was born into my heart around 9:45 am. After years of secondary infertility, years of negative pregnancy tests, years of trying to build our family, and then months of "adoption labor" Mikayla was born. In all her beautiful glory my sweet daughter was here, or, well, rather THERE, but she was healthy, she was beautiful, and we felt over the moon with excitement and love. And to make it even more amazing, a single, small pink butterfly adorned the sleeper she was wearing. I had prayed that God would send me a sign, something, anything, so that when we got our referral I would know that He had had His part in it. And as silly as it sounds, that was my sign, and the moment I saw it was when I truly, truly let the emotions spill down my cheeks. I couldn't stop crying or thanking God for this blessing.
To my daughter...Mikayla Faith...your name was chosen because of the undying FAITH your mommy and daddy had that someday we would be blessed with a daughter. In a whirlwind of emotions you came into our lives on the warm, June morning with the sun shining bright, thousands of miles from where you lay in a crib. We loved you from the moment we saw you in those pictures. For all the questions you will have someday about your journey that brought you here, please know this one thing...we love you more then you will ever be able to imagine. You are loved, and wanted, and have made our lives and our family complete and full of so much laughter, love, and shear joy. You and your brother are the light of lives and I pray not a day goes by that you ever question your place in our family, our lives, or our hearts.
To Mikayla's sweet, beautiful birthmother...because of you, our family was able to become complete. Your unimaginable love for your daughter will never, ever be forgotten. We will pray for you, talk about your love, and be indebted to you for the rest of our lives. While we have never met, and likely never will, you have a place in our hearts forever, and the sacrifice you made will never be forgotten to us.
Mikayla Faith
Born into this world on June 17th, 2006 but born into our hearts on June 30th, 2006
We love you sweet baby girl!