AND ANYONE WHO WELCOMES A LITTLE CHILD LIKE THIS ON MY BEHALF IS WELCOMING ME. -MATTHEW 18:5-

Monday, July 25, 2011

Reasons why I am blessed:
1.  I have an amazing husband who has stuck by me through the hardest of times.  He is the best father a child could ask for and he treats me better than I deserve.
2.  My son...enough said.  He fills me with more joy than I thought I could know.
3.  My home.  Sure, it's nothing special, but it's clean, warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and simply...it's home.
4.  I have a job that pays the bills (most of the time haha!)
5.  My family in large.  From my parents to my sister to my in-laws, I could not have better.  They are some of my best friends and I can't imagine life without them.
6.  My country.  I'm free.
7.  My friends.   I have met some incredible people over the years.  Some in passing, some long-time friends. They have all taught me something and helped mold who I am.

Other things that bring me joy:
the smell of fresh air
the beauty of the mountains
taking pictures
listening to my son laugh
reading books
listening to the ocean
eating ice cream and cake :)
the colors of fall
traveling
fresh vegetables!


I have to remind myself to look at life through the eyes of a child sometimes.  They are so carefree and just enjoy what is put in front of them.  I see it everyday in Brayden.




Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Baby Bug!!

In my new-found photography obsession, I've started to look a lot at newborn photo shoots to get some ideas and learn positioning, lighting, etc...  I'm thinking that I need to stop.  The baby bug is kicking in pretty bad!  Every time I look at them I just want to grab one and squeeze it.  OK, well, not SQUEEZE, but I think you get what I mean :).  We are in such a lull with the adoption paperwork right now that my enthusiasm is dwindling and I'm getting antsy.  Jon continues to work on his autobiography, we need two papers notarized, and we need our FBI clearances...then we can finally send our home study packet in.

In the meantime, my surgery is scheduled for the middle of august and we're trying to come up with some new fund-raising ideas for the adoption.  I'm pretty stressed with now having the cost of surgery co-pays and deductibles on top of everything else, but,  I'm trying to remember that God has it all under control.  Such a hard concept to grasp at times.

My pushing is starting to pay off for Brayden and the Early Intervention team leader decided (after our long conversation on the phone today) to move up his 6 month review and get the whole team together in one room to discuss what may need to be changed.  We also got our referral paperwork in the mail for the developmental pediatrician consult.  Yet another 10-page packet of paperwork to fill out!  I should take out stock in an ink company.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Long Time no Post

I realize it's been quite some time since I've been around here!  Phewww...what a week!  At the beginning of July I looked at my calendar and it had about 3 things on it for the entire month.  If you were to come and look at it today you would see black marker everywhere!  It's filled with Dr's appointments, Brayden's therapy schedule, time with friends, my Tastefully Simple party, adoption meetings...I'm tired!

My Tastefully Simple fund raiser went very well!  Between online orders and my home party, it looks like we will have raised over $200 towards our adoption!  Thank you Kara for your big heart and generosity.  Friday night was a lot of fun and filled with tons of yummy food :).  Every day we get closer to our goal and it's so exciting!

I also had a great time on Saturday doing my first photo shoot for some friends of ours!  I had a blast and realized how much I love photography.  I'm lucky to have some fantastic people teaching me and hope I can continue taking pictures for others to enjoy.

Well, it's currently 10:00pm and I've been getting to bed WAY too late this past week.  So, I'm off to go sleep.  Think time it won't be another week until I check in here :).

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Success!

Last night was my Tastefully Simple party, donated by my WONDERFUL  friend, Kara, to support our adoption.  It was such great fun!  We had neighbors, friends from church, and friends of friends there.  Between online orders and our home party, things were really a success.  We are truly blessed to have such wonderful friends and family to support us.  Every day we get closer and closer to our goal and it just gets even more exciting :).  Looking forward to the day we can post pictures of our new little bundle of joy!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Mom on a Mission

Sometimes going through adoption takes over you life.  It did for Jon and me for a little while...every night sitting and filling out paperwork, sending for background checks and writing papers that tell perfect strangers every detail of your personal life since you were 5.  Luckily we are getting towards the end!  We still have a few things left to do before sending in our packet to our home study social worker, but we're getting there!

The past few days have been more focused on Brayden, though.  I'm currently a mommy on a mission....big time.  The doctors ignored me 5 months ago (every every visit before that) when I was worried about his delayed development (especially since he was so premature), so I had to take it upon myself to get therapy in to see him...without the support of the doctor.  When early intervention came in to evaluate him, it proved I was right.  They very much agreed with me.  Now, 5 months later, he has PT, OT and ST and I'm once again fighting with the doctor.  

Brayden's occupational and speech therapists have been fantastic.  So good with him and very, very  supportive.  Unfortunately, his speech has not improved and his sensory processing issues have been bad the past week and a half so I decided it's time for me to call and make an appointment with a developmental pediatrician...except...I find out I need a referral.  Great.  So, once again Jon finds himself at the doctor with Brayden today, and what does she say?  She thinks it's all behavioral, aka...she thinks there is nothing wrong with him.  Of course.  She seems to be the only person who thinks that.  The only good thing we got out of that appointment was that she did give us the referral to the devel. ped. (likely just to appease us)...which has a 4-6 month waiting list.  So here we are again...waiting.  

In the meantime, I'm a mom on a mission to find out what is going on with her child.  And  I will fight....because he is worth it.  He deserves for someone to pay attention to what is going on.  He is just the best little boy and we couldn't ask for more.  

He fills our hearts with such joy...we owe it to him.  

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Hiking

Prior to having Brayden, one of Jon and my favorite things to do was to go hiking.  As you can imagine, that hasn't occurred quite so frequently since then!  Today we were finally able to go again.  Those who know me well likely wonder why I love to hike so much when I HATE bugs and dirt.  Let's just say, I won't go "camping" unless it involves a camper, running water and electricity :), but hiking, that is my peace.  There is something about the smell of the air, the feel of the breeze on your skin, the colors surrounding you, and the way sunlight shines coming through the trees or reflecting off the water.  I feel like nothing else exists.  No sounds of cars or people.  No phones ringing or electrical appliances buzzing.  No one is telling you a deadline is due.  Time sort of stops and your blood pressure drops about 20 points.

Brayden ran some if it, but most of the time we had to carry him because the terrain was sort of rough and there was quite a bit of poison ivy around! (Although I had no clue what it looked like...Jon had to point it ALL out to me...see?  I wouldn't do good camping!).  What a great day it was!