Not doing much this weekend. Taking care of some yard work since it's in the 70's. Planting spring bulbs and dividing plants, etc. I'm an October baby and I love Halloween. I used to go Trick or Treating with my godson and his sister every year until they got too old. I miss it. We don't get any Trick or Treaters since we live kind of out of the way. So we'll do steaks on the grill and have a quiet night in.
Been enjoying Halloween TV programming. Saw Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" last night. Forgot how much I enjoy that. Caught last part of "Interview With a Vampire" also. Apropos for heading off to New Orleans this week. "Shaun of the Dead" is on now. It's a new favorite. I don't like gory stuff, just spooky and suspenseful. Wish I could find "American Werewolf in London" or "Ghostbusters" then my weekend would be complete. Happy Halloween!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A truly inspiring celebrity adoption
You never know where you'll find hope and inspiration. I try not to obsess about our future adoption, but some days I can't stop myself. So today found me looking at the forums on adoption.com for the millionth time. Every once and a while I find a golden nugget of information that helps me hang on and today was one of those days. Here it is..
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nia-vardalos/the-list_b_161241.html
I knew Nia Vardalos (of "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" fame) was featured in Adoptive Families magazine this month. I just subscribed, so I haven't gotten my first issue yet. The link in the forum was the first opportunity I have had to learn her adoption story. I'm just really thankful to her for sharing it. God Bless her. She had the chance to do the Hollywood Adoption fast track and refused. Instead, she mucked her way through the maze that is Domestic Adoption and waited for her daughter like the rest of us. Now she is working to raise public awareness about Domestic Adoptions and to correct any misconceptions people might have. No big fanfare. No "Entertainment Tonight" PR. Just letting her actions speak volumes about her character.
And, I have to say, just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about adoption, I learned a few new things through reading about her experience.
Thank you, Nia!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nia-vardalos/the-list_b_161241.html
I knew Nia Vardalos (of "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" fame) was featured in Adoptive Families magazine this month. I just subscribed, so I haven't gotten my first issue yet. The link in the forum was the first opportunity I have had to learn her adoption story. I'm just really thankful to her for sharing it. God Bless her. She had the chance to do the Hollywood Adoption fast track and refused. Instead, she mucked her way through the maze that is Domestic Adoption and waited for her daughter like the rest of us. Now she is working to raise public awareness about Domestic Adoptions and to correct any misconceptions people might have. No big fanfare. No "Entertainment Tonight" PR. Just letting her actions speak volumes about her character.
And, I have to say, just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about adoption, I learned a few new things through reading about her experience.
Thank you, Nia!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Open Adoption Round Table #8
The Open Adoption Round Table is a series of occasional writing prompts about open adoption. It's designed to showcase of the diversity of thought and experience in the open adoption community. You don't need to be part of the Open Adoption Bloggers list to participate, or even be in a traditional open adoption. If you're thinking about openness in adoption, you have a place at the table.
Publish your response during the next two weeks--linking back here so we can all find one other--and leave a link to your post in the comments. If you don't blog, you can always leave your thoughts directly in the comments.
One common thread running through the last batch of round table posts was that, even though balancing privacy concerns can be challenging, we keep blogging about adoption because the connections we make are worth the challenges.Blogging at its best is a conversation. An interaction between writers and readers who comment or even just mull over a post long after reading it. A paper journal gives you privacy, but it can never challenge your ideas or give you insight into another perspective. It never offers support in a difficult moment.
Blogging--or rather, the people reading and writing those blogs--can.There are people inside my computer--strangers--whose words have made a difference in my family's adoptions. That probably sounds nutty to those outside the blog world, but it's true. And I bet the same is true for many of you. In this round, I thought it would be interesting to recognize some of those people. Because I bet a lot of those folks don't even realize the effect they've had on us.Write about a blogger (or bloggers) who influenced your real-life open adoption, and how. It might be someone who became an offline friend who supports and challenges you. Or a writer who makes you uncomfortable, but gets you thinking. Maybe a blogger who doesn't even know you are reading. Tell us about them and how they've affected you.
*********************************************************
I have read the discussions at OART a few times, but have never participated. This one made me want to because I was just thinking of posting about this subject the other day. I began blogging at my social worker's suggestion. She sent me a couple of blog addresses and I started reading. And reading and reading. Hey, I'm playing the waiting game right now so I got a lot of time on my hands.
The first blog I ever read this summer was http://rebekahpinchback.blogspot.com/. At the time she was preparing to go to her child's birth mother's hometown in anticipation of his birth. I am always amazed at how eloquent she is no matter what the subject. And I was a little shocked at first to read just how open her relationship is with her son's birth mother. Definitely an eye opener.
I also enjoy reading this http://infertilitylicks.blogspot.com/. She has a young daughter through adoption. I always enjoy her posts. I like her perspective on issues adoptive parents face. Her posts always make me think and I really smile when she posts something humorous. I like her style.
After reading the forums at http://www.adoption.com/ one day, I came across this http://amstel-life.blogspot.com/. It was then I realized I needed to learn more about what birth mothers go through. Like I said, I was thinking about writing about how certain blogs had influenced me over the last few months. I have to say that hers is the one that really opened my eyes to open adoption. My husband and I were required to tell the agency just how open we were prepared to be in our adoption. We were pretty conservative and I think we said we were fine with pictures and updates at intervals to be decided between both sides. It was through Amy's post that I really began to understand the feelings of loss that birth mothers go through. It has me currently rethinking how open we should be in our adoption.
And as I wrote just yesterday, I have come to love this one http://999reasonstolaughatinfertility.blogspot.com/.
These are the ones that pretty much got me off and running in blogger world, but there are plenty of others that I read and am still discovering. I'm even branching out and reading blogs outside of the subject of adoption. Again, I'm waiting. Lots and lots of time... Hat's off to all! I'm so thankful for all of you out there who are blogging and sharing.
Publish your response during the next two weeks--linking back here so we can all find one other--and leave a link to your post in the comments. If you don't blog, you can always leave your thoughts directly in the comments.
One common thread running through the last batch of round table posts was that, even though balancing privacy concerns can be challenging, we keep blogging about adoption because the connections we make are worth the challenges.Blogging at its best is a conversation. An interaction between writers and readers who comment or even just mull over a post long after reading it. A paper journal gives you privacy, but it can never challenge your ideas or give you insight into another perspective. It never offers support in a difficult moment.
Blogging--or rather, the people reading and writing those blogs--can.There are people inside my computer--strangers--whose words have made a difference in my family's adoptions. That probably sounds nutty to those outside the blog world, but it's true. And I bet the same is true for many of you. In this round, I thought it would be interesting to recognize some of those people. Because I bet a lot of those folks don't even realize the effect they've had on us.Write about a blogger (or bloggers) who influenced your real-life open adoption, and how. It might be someone who became an offline friend who supports and challenges you. Or a writer who makes you uncomfortable, but gets you thinking. Maybe a blogger who doesn't even know you are reading. Tell us about them and how they've affected you.
*********************************************************
I have read the discussions at OART a few times, but have never participated. This one made me want to because I was just thinking of posting about this subject the other day. I began blogging at my social worker's suggestion. She sent me a couple of blog addresses and I started reading. And reading and reading. Hey, I'm playing the waiting game right now so I got a lot of time on my hands.
The first blog I ever read this summer was http://rebekahpinchback.blogspot.com/. At the time she was preparing to go to her child's birth mother's hometown in anticipation of his birth. I am always amazed at how eloquent she is no matter what the subject. And I was a little shocked at first to read just how open her relationship is with her son's birth mother. Definitely an eye opener.
I also enjoy reading this http://infertilitylicks.blogspot.com/. She has a young daughter through adoption. I always enjoy her posts. I like her perspective on issues adoptive parents face. Her posts always make me think and I really smile when she posts something humorous. I like her style.
After reading the forums at http://www.adoption.com/ one day, I came across this http://amstel-life.blogspot.com/. It was then I realized I needed to learn more about what birth mothers go through. Like I said, I was thinking about writing about how certain blogs had influenced me over the last few months. I have to say that hers is the one that really opened my eyes to open adoption. My husband and I were required to tell the agency just how open we were prepared to be in our adoption. We were pretty conservative and I think we said we were fine with pictures and updates at intervals to be decided between both sides. It was through Amy's post that I really began to understand the feelings of loss that birth mothers go through. It has me currently rethinking how open we should be in our adoption.
And as I wrote just yesterday, I have come to love this one http://999reasonstolaughatinfertility.blogspot.com/.
These are the ones that pretty much got me off and running in blogger world, but there are plenty of others that I read and am still discovering. I'm even branching out and reading blogs outside of the subject of adoption. Again, I'm waiting. Lots and lots of time... Hat's off to all! I'm so thankful for all of you out there who are blogging and sharing.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Laughter at last
I started reading this blog recently-
http://999reasonstolaughatinfertility.blogspot.com/
Don't know if it was around 3 years ago when we were going through IF, but it sure would have helped to have a few laughs during that time. I look back now, and I realize what a dark time it was. We were living life, but not really. We were was just going through the motions of life, doing whatever the doctors told us to do and obsessing on the Internet for any nugget of information that would help us finally achieve that BFP.
Even after we decided to stop all medical treatments, I still obsessed about charting my cycle and we continued to hope by some miracle it would happen. By then I was also ready to get started with an adoption. But, like most couples, my husband was less sure. Even though we talked about it and even had fights about it, he could never really tell me why.
That was a really lonely time for me. I think it was worse than the fertility treatments. It was just this long stretch of uncertainty. At least with the IVF cycles I knew that there would either be one of two endings. But I was just in this horrible limbo land. I hadn't discovered blogs and such. And although friends and family could feel sorry for me, I didn't really have anyone to talk to about it. Anytime the subject came up between my husband and I it usually lead to me crying and us getting nowhere. I had this constant feeling of being a hamster on a wheel that I just couldn't make anybody else understand and I thought it would make me insane.
When I discovered the 999 Reasons blog, I swear I laughed so hard I nearly fell off the chair. I don't know if I would have laughed quite that hard if I had found something like it 3 years ago. But I think it is a good sign that I can now.
http://999reasonstolaughatinfertility.blogspot.com/
Don't know if it was around 3 years ago when we were going through IF, but it sure would have helped to have a few laughs during that time. I look back now, and I realize what a dark time it was. We were living life, but not really. We were was just going through the motions of life, doing whatever the doctors told us to do and obsessing on the Internet for any nugget of information that would help us finally achieve that BFP.
Even after we decided to stop all medical treatments, I still obsessed about charting my cycle and we continued to hope by some miracle it would happen. By then I was also ready to get started with an adoption. But, like most couples, my husband was less sure. Even though we talked about it and even had fights about it, he could never really tell me why.
That was a really lonely time for me. I think it was worse than the fertility treatments. It was just this long stretch of uncertainty. At least with the IVF cycles I knew that there would either be one of two endings. But I was just in this horrible limbo land. I hadn't discovered blogs and such. And although friends and family could feel sorry for me, I didn't really have anyone to talk to about it. Anytime the subject came up between my husband and I it usually lead to me crying and us getting nowhere. I had this constant feeling of being a hamster on a wheel that I just couldn't make anybody else understand and I thought it would make me insane.
When I discovered the 999 Reasons blog, I swear I laughed so hard I nearly fell off the chair. I don't know if I would have laughed quite that hard if I had found something like it 3 years ago. But I think it is a good sign that I can now.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sad news
Yesterday was my birthday. It was lovely, despite the rainy weather. We had planned to run a 5K race. But it was pouring rain when we woke up at 5:30am and we decided not to go since we knew we had to haul two pickup loads of firewood to my old school for their annual Oyster Roast. We went back to sleep and Hubby made me breakfast in bed. Later in the afternoon, we hauled the wood over to my old school. The event went great despite the drizzle of rain. We came home and I hit the sack.
After a nap I decided to get on Facebook, only to find out that a young woman that I know had lost her fight with Leukemia. She wasn't someone I knew intimately, but she was someone who had touched many lives of the people around me. She only found out she had cancer a few months ago and from what I understand, she put up an heroic fight. I'm so sorry for her children, her family and her friends. I'm not an overly religious person, but I do thank God for giving me one more day. God Bless Marie and her family.
After a nap I decided to get on Facebook, only to find out that a young woman that I know had lost her fight with Leukemia. She wasn't someone I knew intimately, but she was someone who had touched many lives of the people around me. She only found out she had cancer a few months ago and from what I understand, she put up an heroic fight. I'm so sorry for her children, her family and her friends. I'm not an overly religious person, but I do thank God for giving me one more day. God Bless Marie and her family.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Progress?
I finally touched base with our new social worker. I emailed her to say hello and check if there were any updates. I had decided to do this once a month and asked her if that was ok. Her response was very encouraging and warm. She said to email or call anytime and that once a month was more than reasonable. She said they were still a bit slow. They had one baby in care who would be returned to his mother this week. She also said they had contact with a few pregnant women, but none of them were due any time soon. Sounds a bit better than the last update. She seems very nice, and that put my mind at ease a bit.
Still keeping busy. We are running a 5K on my birthday this month. It is also the time of year for oyster roasts-always a good time. And New Orleans is right around the corner. I got laughing at myself today. I'm trying to figure out how best to spend our free time there. I keep saying, "Well we gotta eat here. And don't forget about the food at such-n-such". There's a saying in New Orleans.
"Most places people eat to live, in New Orleans, people live to eat."
It's so true and I can't wait.
Still keeping busy. We are running a 5K on my birthday this month. It is also the time of year for oyster roasts-always a good time. And New Orleans is right around the corner. I got laughing at myself today. I'm trying to figure out how best to spend our free time there. I keep saying, "Well we gotta eat here. And don't forget about the food at such-n-such". There's a saying in New Orleans.
"Most places people eat to live, in New Orleans, people live to eat."
It's so true and I can't wait.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)