11/30/10

Adoption Profile Update

I was reviewing our adoption portfolio today and realized it is now outdated.  Our youngest son who is 2 years old, is shown in our portfolio as our "21 month old".  Two year old sounds much older and as a birth mother reviewing our profile she could think we already have a baby, which a child whose age is counted in months definitely sounds like a baby.  He is very much an independent toddler and should be profiled as one.

Growing kids change quickly.  We change as well, life moves fast.  You want the family who is profiled to be the family the birth parent(s) meets when the time comes.  I do not want to be introduced and the birth parent(s) take one look at us and think, that's not the profile I chose.

So, I have decided to update our profile.  I will use the previous profile but update our ages, dates, and add new photos.

Am I getting impatient and starting to ache for a baby in my arms?  It's possible, but whatever helps me to feel better and to know I did everything I could to bring our baby home.  Peace of mind is worth a lot.

11/28/10

Blog Background

In need of a blog background?  I get mine from Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates.  She has many free designs but she also has designs you can download for $5.00 which helps support her adoption!

She is hosting a giveaway at the moment for a full custom template and many other prizes.  You should definitely check it out! Click here.

Just another way to support adoption!

11/27/10

Let There Be Lights!

Drumroll please......
The yard and roof are outlined.  The trees and bushes are full,
the fence around the backyard is topped,
the posts on the back porch are wrapped with lights.

Clark a.k.a Brian and his dad worked all day yesterday putting up lights.
 After several trips to Home Depot and Wal-Mart....
We have lights, a lot of lights and we can still watch television, use the internet and even run the washer and dryer.  Success.

Merry Christmas!
From The Griswolds

Clark

I had hoped to have pictures posted of all of Clark's hard work this weekend getting the house Griswold'd.  You will have to hang on a little longer.

Clark blew a breaker.

Clark has so many lights plugged in...actually his version is we need more outdoor outlets to accommodate the lights. Basically, we need more power.

So, we now have extension cords running under the garage door to the outlets in the garage.  We have an electrician on hold to come and add another outdoor outlet and increase the breakers.

We have so many inflatable Christmas decorations in the front yard you cannot walk across it.  I know.  I tried.  I fell.

We lost power to our tv and internet router yesterday because of a power surge.  I wish I was joking.  I am not.

Happy holidays.  Where's the Tylenol?!

11/24/10

Waiting During the Holidays

Waiting to adopt during the holidays can be especially difficult.  It seems during this time of year everything centers around families and children. Everywhere you turn you are reminded, you are waiting to become a parent.

Here are a few tips:

1. Take a trip just the two of you.  If you cannot handle all the baby talk and questions during the holidays get away from it.  If you can afford it take a trip even if it is somewhere close to home.
2.  Take care of each other.  Often it is just as hard for your partner as it is for you during the holidays.  Instead of letting the stress get to you and possibly causing arguments open the lines of communication and talk about it.  You are going through this journey together learn to lean on each other.
3.  Remind others you are waiting to adopt on your holiday a greeting card.  It never hurts to gently remind people you are waiting and if they know of a birth parent looking to place their child they should contact you.
4.  If you get the dreaded, "so when are you going to start your family?" or "any news on the adoption" be kind and simply say, "we are always hopeful and cannot wait to share our news when the time comes".
5.  Keep a journal.  Write down your feelings, your future child will appreciate reading about your anticipation and desire for their arrival someday.
6.  Scope out your family events before you attend.  If you are going to be surrounded by pregnancy and you do not think you will be able to handle it...skip out if you can.  Perhaps you can explain to those closest to you who will hopefully understand.
7.  Get support, join an adoption support group.
8.  If you are going shopping over the holidays, avoid the baby section.

Listed below are the sources I used to develop this list and some are from my own experience.  Check out the sources listed below for additional ideas and support.

http://library.adoption.com/articles/handling-the-holidays-.html
http://www.growninmyheart.com/waiting-through-the-holidays
http://library.adoption.com/articles/the-waiting-game.html

Thanksgiving Day Feast

Today, Brice's Pre-K class held a Thanksgiving Day Feast in their classroom and parents were invited to attend.  Rogan was busy napping while the class was feasting so I stayed home with him and Brian went to the feast.

Brian said the lunch was a lot of fun and he was so proud of Brice.  As the food was served, Brice said please and no thank you.  The kids went out to play and sat around the rug to sing songs.  I sure missed out.  I did however, receive a special gift when Brice came home.  Brice made a placemat stating what he is thankful for and an Indian headdresses.  Brice's placemat said, "I am thankful for my mom."  He was very proud of it and his headdress.

11/22/10

Tree Is Up!

Well, Brian caught a cold this past week and he did not feel like getting up on the rooftop to Griswold up our home.  So, next weekend the lights will go up. I promise to post photos.

Although he was stricken with illness, we did manage to get the inside of our home decorated.  Our tree is up, mantle decorated and Christmas decor is everywhere.  Usually we wait until the day after Thanksgiving to decorate but we have to travel for Thanksgiving and we have a birthday party as soon as we return.  So Christmas came early!  In true Griswold fashion, we love having the decor up for an additional week.


Decorating this year was a lot of fun because both of the boys are now old enough to participate and enjoy it. Brice was even able to place the star on top the tree with a little help from his dad.

The boys decided they needed their own tree.  So, in their bedroom is a small 3 foot Christmas tree set up between their beds.  We'll see if it lasts until Christmas.



Support for Infertility

50 Excellent Blogs for Fertility Support
http://www.nursingschools.net/blog/2010/11/50-excellent-blogs-for-fertility-support/

National Adoption Month activities continued...

Monday, November 22

-Ask your child to write a letter to his birth parents. Have your child think of questions, tell about himself, and about your home. Include hand drawn pictures and photos. If unable to send, keep for a possible future reunion. His birth parents will cherish this gift.

Tuesday, November 23

- Donate books about adoption to your local or school library.

11/20/10

National Adoption Day!

Happy National Adoption Day!  Want to know the history of this special day?  Click here.  

11/19/10

Holiday Season

The Griswolds are a common reference here on my blog.  If you knew us personally, you would know the reference is not off base.  Well this is our time of year to shine!

Clark/Brian will be heading out this weekend to decorate the Griswold/Mitchell homestead.  The electrical meter will begin to spin wildly and the Oklahoma nighttime sky will soon have an extra glow.

About an hour north of here is where my friend Mandy at Campbell Family Party of Three lives.  I told her to walk outside this Sunday evening and look southward to see the gleaming lights reflecting into the sky.

Clark has big plans.  New lights will be purchased.  The house, fencing, and entire front yard will be illuminated.  Christmas "yard art" will appear. It will be festive.  It will be a sight to see.

My Christmas wish will be that we can afford our electrical bill and that no planes attempt to land in our yard.

The holiday season is here...
The most enjoying traditions of the season are best enjoyed in the warm embrace of kith and kin. Thith tree is a thymbol of the thpirit of the Griswold family Chrithmath. ~ Clark W. Griswold

11/17/10

Anna Day Rocked!

Anna Day was the best yet. The weather was beautiful, clear blue sky and fall colors everywhere. I love autumn, most definitely my favorite time of year. Brian took off work at noon and brought home lunch including desserts. After eating our weight in food, we took the boys to the neighborhood playground. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching movies and playing with the kids. Perfection.













I did not get so caught up in Anna Day that I have forgotten about National Adoption Month.  There are so many calendars and suggested daily activities, I have chosen to pick and chose from each of them.  All of the suggested activities are great and as long as you are celebrating adoption you cannot go wrong.  Here are some suggested activities for the most recent days.

Tuesday, November 16

- Subscribe to an adoption themed magazine or one dealing with a specific culture.

Wednesday, November 17

-If your child was adopted internationally display the map of his/her homeland in a prominent place in your home. Make a special dinner that is common in your child's country. For more ideas read Focus on Culture.

Thursday, November 18

- Call your local adoption agency and ask if there is a family who needs mentoring as they wait for a child to be placed in their home.
Click here for 30 days of activities.

11/16/10

It's Anna Day!

Today's my birthday or Anna day as it is affectionately known to me and all the poor peeps who are related to me and have to live with my obnoxiousness about my special day.

I love my birthday, the whole getting older thing does not bother me.  I treat this day as if it should be a national holiday.  I have no idea when I became so obnoxious about my special day.  I was an only child but my parents never made a huge deal of my birthday.  In fact, I am pretty sure they spend this day reflecting and thanking the Lord it was not twins.

My only birthday wish this year...to get "the call" from our adoption agency. No matter what, it will be a great day spent with my kids and rumor has it my husband is taking off of work early.  The four of us hanging out together equals the best gift ever.

11/15/10

Happy Birthday!

Road Trippin' Granny turned 84 yesterday!  A special birthday wish to Granny. She'll be hitting the roads once again in the spring.
Happy birthday Grandma, we love you!

11/12/10

Chuck

For no apparent reason, other than to mess with his grandfather's head, Brice has taken to calling my dad "Chuck".  My dad's name is Mike.  Brice has always called him Grandpa, until yesterday.  Yesterday, he decided he would call him Chuck.  We do not know anyone named Chuck.  Brice has never been around anyone named Chuck.  He has no friends at school named Chuck.  I have never noticed any cartoon characters named Chuck.  It appears he pulled "Chuck" out of thin air.

It is hilarious to hear Brice say, "Hey Chuck!" or "Chuuuuucccck, I'm talking to you."  No matter what, I am afraid from this day forward my dad will be known as Chuck or Grandpa Chuck.

Brice has a way of making up names for people.  If you recall, I was known as "Boss" for a long while.  I am now thankful he calls me "Mom".  It keeps me from having to give strangers awkward explanations when he would yell across a store aisle, "Hey Boss!".

Oh Briceman, he's an original.  We wouldn't change a single thing about him.

11/9/10

Locate a Social Worker

One of the first steps in the adoption process is the home study.  The home study is conducted by a social worker.  When we began the process we knew we needed a social worker but did not know where to begin to find a social worker who would conduct the home study.  We found our social worker through an internet search and a little bit of luck on our side.  We did not use a database of social workers but I have since then found such a database.  If you are in need a of an adoptions social worker you should start with the National Association of Social Workers who has partnered with HelpPro to create a Social Worker Finder.  I hope this tool assists you in finding a social worker so you may begin your adoption journey.

11/8/10

Happy Birthday Gramps!

Today is my dad's birthday.  I wanted to take a minute to give Gramps a shout out!  The boys love their Grandpa and usually spend their time with him wrestling and beating the snot out of the ol' guy.  He's a good sport.  Enjoy your day Dad, see you this weekend!