Update on the 2 possible babies

Hello,
Just wanted to send a quick update...we just heard on the 2nd baby this morning, we weren't chosen by either birth mom.

I'm feeling a bit more disappointed, one of the babies had already been born and was at the hospital on his own for about a week before his birth mom chose a family.  The second was a girl due about the same week as some friend's baby girl in November.  It is easy to start imagining how great it would be when you know real specifics about babies!

All in all, we're doing fine.  It's hard, but we know of at least 4 more women who are making decisions about adoption plans before the end of the year, and there is always a chance for more!

Thanks for all of your prayers and for checking in!

Have a great week!
Julie

Prayer Request!!!!

Ok People, start praying!!  We just got word today of two possible babies and I'm getting a little more antsy!  One is a boy, one is a girl.  The birth mothers will be looking at profiles in the next 2 weeks, so please pray that one of them chooses us!!!!  Thanks so much for checking in!

Have a great weekend!

July Update

We've just gotten home from a 10 day trip to Kevin's family's cabin.  Someone please remind me 10 days in too long to spend in our camper the next time we plan a trip like that.  I apparently had temporary amnesia, we did this 2 summers ago, but not last year, so I guess I forgot!  We did have fun spending time with our family in Akeley...Eli loves his cousins!!!  We were at the campground in town for a couple days, which was great, but all in all, a lot of work and not much rest.  I did get a couple of skates in, and a couple of walks, but this darn weather makes it hard to exercise outside!!!  Kevin was able to do lots of riding on his new ATV, which he loves, so that was good for him.

We had been waiting to hear news about a possible baby for the last couple weeks.  A young woman, who was due at the end of August was looking at profiles.  She was only a "5" on a scale of 1-10 (1 being least certain, 10 being completely decided) about if she wanted to place the baby for adoption or parent.  She took profiles home about 2 weeks ago, and wanted to hang onto them and keep looking at them.  She also wanted to talk with a mother who had placed her baby for adoption and an adoptive family to help her make her decision.  We got an email from our social worker yesterday that she has decided to parent.  It is a disappointing email to get, but at the same time, I am in no way angry or upset with the birth mom.  How could I be mad that someone has decided they will be able to parent their own, sweet, precious baby.  I will be praying that this woman has the support & resources that she needs to care for her baby.

So, we're back to waiting.  It has been almost a year since we applied to our agency, and only 7 months since our home study has been finished.  The "average" wait at our agency is about 18 months, so we're doing ok.  We haven't had an update this month on how many birth mom's are in counseling at the agency, but will probably hear about that next week.  From last month's report, there are several more possibilities in the next few months. Keep praying for us and the birth parents!!

Thanks for checking in!

Crazy Week

So, it's been a crazy week here with the adoption. We were aware last week that a birth mother would be looking at our profile on Monday, but then Friday we heard of another who would be looking at profiles Tuesday.  Then, on Monday, we got a call about a 3rd birth mother looking at profiles.  All 3 babies were boys.  We, of course, were thrilled.  We haven't had any showings of our profile book since December.  I was trying to stay calm, and did a pretty good job. Unfortunately, we found out yesterday and today that all 3 birth mothers went with other families.

We feel sad, but know of several more birth mothers currently in counseling with the social workers at our agency, so while it's disappointing, we have more possibilities coming up.  We really are doing okay, and plan on enjoying our summer with Eli.  (Hopefully his last as an only child!!)

Please keep praying!  We trust God will bring a baby to our family!  Thanks for your thoughts and prayers and checking in with us on the blog!

May Update

So, things are getting exciting around here!  After not much action the last couple months, things are picking up at our agency.  We need to keep most of the details private, but we would love prayer for our adoption.  There are several clients at the agency making decisions in the coming months, and that means that some of them will be looking at our profile.  We are very excited, but still cautious.  It is hard to keep that balance, but we are doing well.

Kevin is done with school, Eli has one more week, we've celebrated all of our birthdays and have travelled a little.  Summer is going to be busy with weekends away, sports and Vacation Bible Schools for Eli and lots of outdoor plans!  I'm doing my first 5k tomorrow morning.  I've lost almost 35 lbs (34.5 as of yesterday) and am feeling really great!  I have plans to keep active and keep losing more!!!

Thanks for reading and checking in on us. Again, all of your prayers would be so appreciated!
Have a great start to summer!!!!!

Spring Update

Well, it's been a while since I've posted so I thought I'd fill you in on what's going on, or really, not going on.  There is nothing really to report.  We've had monthly updates from our social worker a couple of times since I last posted.  In March, the news wasn't great, our agency really didn't have any clients or possible clients.  Our most recent update from mid-April was a bit better, there are 7 women either having decided to place their babies or are in decision making counseling right now, due dates ranging from June to November. None of these are ready to choose an adoptive family, but we're praying that one of these could be our match!  There are currently 12 families (including us) who are waiting to adopt at our agency.

We're doing ok with the process...Kevin has 3 classes left (last class May 16th) so he is really excited to be done! My diet & exercise have been going really well, I'm down a little more than 28 pounds & have been exercising most days. I'm feeling really good.  Eli is done with hockey & is on to baseball...he's playing on a coach-pitch team and is loving it! All in all, we're staying busy & enjoying spring...we're so thankful that we have Eli, it really makes the process a lot easier to stay focused on him.  Colten (my great-nephe, who I do daycare for) is also such a blessing.  He is such a sweet, happy baby, I love having him here.

We'd appreciate your prayers about this, and also, if you ever know anyone considering adoption for their baby, we'd love to be connected.  This is often how adoptions happen.

Have a great spring!!!

Update

It's been a while since I've posted and I've gotten questions on our adoption progress.  At this point, nothing has been happening.  I would think we'll be getting a monthly update from our social worker soon, and our last one pretty much said that not much was happening at the offices.  2 of the 5 offices of our agency didn't have any "decision making clients." (Birth families)

We are doing okay with this...as always, we are keeping busy.  Kevin's work has gotten super crazy and he is in his final weeks of school.  He will be done with classes in mid May, which we are all really looking forward to!!!  He has done so well with all of his classes and has learned a lot that is helping him in his job.  (His degree will be a BA in Organizational Leadership.) 

I have been dieting and exercising and have thankfully lost 17 lbs in the last 6 weeks.  It feels good to be making some progress in this area, where I always struggle.  I hadn't been looking for a new diet to try, but while at Costco, came across a book, called "The Simple Diet."  It really is simple!  3 meal replacement shakes (like Slimfast) 2 frozen entrees, (Lean Cuisine, etc) and then at least 5 fruits and veggies per day.  There is a 2nd phase and then a long term phase that adds other foods back in.  Exercise is always the key to losing weight and I just hate getting started.  Once I am doing it, I can keep it up, so thankfully I've gotten back into it.  I have been using our elliptical, doing some weights, Just Dance 2, and now, thanks to this crazy warm weather, run/walking outside.  I'll be able to inline skate and bike now too!  

Eli is as high energy and busy as ever.  He played hockey this winter and totally loves it!  We signed him up for a short spring league that goes until the beginning of April.  He'll be playing baseball this spring and them some other camps (Lacrosse, basketball and tennis) this summer.  He is definitely his father's child with his LOVE of all sports!!!!!!!  He just can't get enough! 

We're praying that we get a call soon about a baby.  Please pray with us that our agency has more clients coming in for counseling about their pregnancies and that one of them chooses our family.  Enjoy this beautiful weather and have a wonderful spring!  Thanks for reading!