He works in the most mysterious ways

Those who know me know our story. Late last year I was diagnosed with a ovarian cyst, or benign tumor. We were told that we may NOT be able to have any more children and that I was on a waiting list for surgery. We had put in our initial adoption application about 3 months BEFORE we found out this news so although we were disappointed and worried we weren't disheartened. A few days ago I was sent for some blood work to send to my surgeon to see if I was ready for upcoming surgery. Well I got a call from my family doctor today at 4:30. " Are you sitting down" he asked me ( this is NEVER a good thing to say to a person who has a tumor and automatically begins thinking the WORST)
"So it turns out you don't have to adopt ...because you're going to have a baby of your own"

..............................................................................................aahhh

I"M PREGNANT

After 6 months of prodding, poking and tests I won't be able to go for surgery anyway because I'm having another baby. Oh my oh my!!! I'm excited, I can't even express, but today my heart has also broken just a bit. Here in Canada once you become pregnant, you're pulled off the adoption lists, even the waiting list that we've been on for 8 MONTHS. I know that we'll adopt one day but after going through the paperwork, the criminal record checks, the medicals, I felt like I was "pregnant" already. I guess you call it "paper pregnant" I'm thrilled to be having another baby so is Dale and I assure you that although our plans have been altered ( in the most amazing way) our adoption story IS NOT OVER YET!

Adoption Fundraiser Awareness Blog

Hey blogland friends, I thought I'd share with you a great blog I found today "Post Your Adoption Fundraiser Here".  Its a blog to link up your online adoption fundraisers. I think its a great way to share fundraising projects with each other and to get YOUR project noticed from families that may not have found your personal blog. Its free and its a great way to support each other, we're all in this together!!! Check out the blog and read Kate's first post for all the details "Adoption Fundraising Network"

Mondays (tuesday) Pick-Me-Up Stickup

So here in Canada Monday was a holiday, so today is feeling like my Monday.

Author Unknown

T-Shirt Giveaway!

The Shubin Family

T-Shirt Giveaway!

Please go and check out the Shubin's blog "The Road Less Travelled" they're having a giveaway to promote their T-Shirt fundraiser. I've been following Erica and her family's blog since we first decided to start our adoption journey. She has 3 biological children and her little boy from Ethiopia, Silas. This fundraiser is to help them bring home their daughter from Ethiopia. This family was one of the families that inspired us to adopt. Go visit their blog and check out their shirts, this will be the LAST week to pre order. Support this wonderful family and help them bring home their little girl.

 Hope all you Canadians had a great long weekend!!

'Why Adopt if you can have your own?'

I see this question being asked and answered around blogland and honestly it usually the first question I get when we tell someone about our plans. So lets address it.

~ Why don't you just have more kids of your own? ~

Everyday a baby is born to a set of parent who WANT that baby more than anything in this world. Having two children naturally I can say truthfully that there is no greater experience than bringing life, and a part of you, into the world. Somewhere else in the world a child is losing parents that she NEEDS, LOVES, and  desperately WANTS. It's not the orphan who chooses his or her fate, they can't help what terrible thing has happened to them. I'm a great parent, my husband is a great parent, its our RESPONSIBILITY as great, loving, able parents to step up and take care of these children who did NOT WANT to be orphans. I'm sure that if you gave them the choice, they would choose to have kept there bio parents and family. These children NEED to be loved and cared for, and in a society where we are able to provide a home, a education, a bright future and lots and lots of LOVE ....   why don't YOU adopt? I have alot of love to give and there are alot of needy children out there waiting for a family to give them that love.

MONDAYS PICK-ME-UP STICKUP

Nancy McGuire Roche-Adoptive Parent

Pieces

Dale and my medicals are coming up this week. We've had them booked for over a month now and I'm so excited that we're finally getting them done. We decided to get our CRC the same week as they'll expire at the same time ( if it comes to that) These are the last pieces of info we needed to get sent in so we can get started on our official home study. I can't express the feelings of frustration I have been feeling just Waiting around, but now the pieces seem to be falling into place.

A Lesson Learned!

So the other night I was on the phone with the CRA, it was late in the evening and the girls were settling down into their pre-bedtime routine. They were so adorable, cuddled on the couch together each with a cup of milk watching 'Finding Nemo', for the dozenth time.  ( they have a new fascination for aquatic life this week ) I had to grab some paperwork from my office aka our bedroom, so I thought I'd just pop around the corner and dig through my "filing system" which is basically a stack of papers that I assure my husband are in a "organized mess". I was gone for TOPS 90 seconds.... I came around the corner into the kitchen and I noticed little chunks of blond curls on the floor.... on the counter top...on the kitchen table...ARE THOSE MY SCISSORS....Sophia decided to experiment with her creative side, she cut OFF her bangs and gave herself some very short layers...ugh. Poor Ava obviously got caught in the cross fire as she's also sporting a new-do. I politely thanked the CRA agent for all his help, hung up the phone, and started cleaning up the beautiful golden tresses on the floor...Through Tears. Dale assures me its just hair and it'll grow back, I know that, I'm sure its just a motherly reaction, my mom freaked out if I cut my Barbies hair. I guess this is a great lesson for me #1. reorganize the "junk drawer" and all scissors go up, Up, UP. #2. get seatbelts for the couch...kidding. Hope y'all are enjoying your day wherever in the world you may be!

SHOUTOUT!!

I wanted to give a HUGE appreciation shoutout to the incredibly talented Katie, creator and designer of "The Polka Dot Pig" She designed my blog and I am "over the moon" thrilled with the way it has turned out. Not only is Katie extremely creative, but she is also patient and kind as she put up with the dozen of questions I had for her. THANK YOU KATIE, its so much more inspiring to sit and type on a beautifully designed blog.

Mother's Day

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all you moms and expecting moms.

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Go and read Debi's great post  ,The Jenkins' Journey to Ethiopia Adoption 2010: The Blessings of Moms and Motherhood she has a wonderful mother's day post and a bit of information on how mother's and children celebrate in Ethiopia.
Hope all you mommies have a wonderful relaxing day, I know I will! We deserve it!!

It Changed My Life Forever!!

I was browsing the internet one day a few years ago, and I came across a website full of quotes. I had just started glancing through them when a sentence almost Jumped off the page at me.

"Be the change you want to see in the World" ~ Ghandi

That is the day my life changed forever and its the quote that inspired us to make a real difference and do something great in the world. What inspired YOU???

NECKLACES!!!!!

I'm so excited to let you all know that, after speaking with the wonderful women at 147millionorphans.com, I'll be selling the Ugandan Magazine Necklaces to support the wonderful women of the Karamojong tribe, sending 50%+ of the proceeds back to a feeding program run by Amazima Ministries AND helping to fundraise for our adoption costs. I'm so thrilled to have this amazing opportunity to help make a real difference as well as to support us in our adoption dreams!

Blog Hop About Us

We're the Maxwells. My husband, Dale, and I were married Sept08 but grew up in the same small town so we've known each other our whole lives. We have two beautiful daughters Sophia, who is 3, and Ava, who's 2. We began our adoption journey in 2009 when I started to seriously consider that this was the right choice for our family, and in October we applied to CAFAC and got on the waiting list for a Ethiopian Adoption. About 2 months later my doctors discovered ( after about a year of tests ) a tumor on my right ovary. Benign thankfully. I actually have my FIRST appointment with the specialist TOMORROW. So all you women out there that think that something just doesn't seem right, I urge you to visit your family doctor. Anyway, I love reading/stalking all your wonderful blogs. We live in a town of about 1000, and we'll be the first family EVER to adopt internationally. We haven't told our families yet, we want to wait until there is something to tell. Its hard for us to sit on the waiting list, people who care want to know how the process is going and we have absolutely nothing to tell them. So for now its our special secret but its nice to share our story with other families that are going through the same process as well as to hear your stories and to share in your joys. Thinking about all my blog friends today as they are all going through a different part of their adoptions. All our love!

Lets Give Up

Do you ever have those days when it seems like everything is against you and the hope that you've been holding on to for months feels like it's slipping right out of your hands??? We've been on the "waiting list" to get on the waiting list for our adoption for 7 months now. With the weather warming up, and the girls at that busy age, we haven't had much time to sit around and think about alot of things but lately it just seems like every little roadblock is weighing us down a ton. Dale will be starting school again in two weeks and that is always a stressful time for us. He's gone for two months and we stay here, just us girls. The bills still need to be paid and the work still need to get done. I have my first appointment with the specialist this Monday, booo, the stress is just building up for that one. I have no idea what they're going to tell me. I'd like to talk to my family doctor about it, but he and his family are gone to South Africa on a family visit. So I guess I just have to suck it up and face the music.... good thing I'm taking MY mommy! Now with all these court ruling changes, we worry because we've read so many blogs where families have failed court one or two or THREE times. We can't afford three or four trips to Ethiopia, sometimes we feel like we're in over our heads and that we just need to take a step back to look at our situation............ hmm .....stepped back...thought a bunch.... Yup, right back to where we started, two little girls full of fun and caring, a husband that would do absolutely anything for his family and myself, a stubborn wife with a mission in her heart. It may take us some serious saving, some intense fundraising but the outcome of this decision will be the best that I could ever hope for or imagine. My hearts are with all the families waiting for the approval of court today.

Tuesday Topic: What Led You to Adopt?

Tuesday Topic: What Led You to Adopt?

this is the tuesday question posted by A Bushel and a Peck, and after rolling it around in my mind I decided to respond to it. Do I think that my situation makes me the most deserving..No.. I think there are families out there who are going to have answers to this question that are much more insightful or purposeful, but I wanted to address the question for myself. This was my post ~

When I was in school we'd have "Career Day" once a year. We'd dress up as the person we were striving to one day be. I'd dress up as a mom. And I went ALL OUT. I'd have a baby doll, stuff my oversized overalls with a pillow for that perfect preggo belly, scaptula in my pocket, diaper bag over my shoulder, you name it I did it. I usually had the most elaborate costume of the year for as all you mothers know, we seem to have quite a few different job decriptions in our repertoire. My husband and I were so lucky to have our two girls early in our relationship because we both hope for a big family. Adoption was always an idea we'd talked about from time to time but only in passing conversation. About 11 months ago I started having medical issues and finally after 6 months of testing they discovered large tumors on my ovaries. Can you imagine being 24 years old and being told that you might never be able to have another child. Please don't think me selfish, I LOVE my daughters with ALL of my heart and am thankful for them everyday but our family feels...unfinished. Something called to me and I started watching "gotcha day" videos and reading adoption blogs families had posted and my heart melted. I immediately realized that adoption was the road for us. We have alot of love to give. We are currently on the waiting list for an Ethiopian adoption. My appointment with the specialist is this Monday, but it won't change the decision thats in our hearts. Sometimes I dream about the child we are destined to meet and I wonder if they're dreaming about us as well.

"ART" Projects

Not sure what to do with all the artwork your kids are starting to create and home, or bringing home from school? A while ago I noticed the girls seemed really interested in the art work I had hanging in our living room. It was just a few pre-framed pictures I'd picked up at Walmart that I thought would fit in with our decor. That's when I got the idea, instead of having a fridge that looked like it had been attacked by a paper and crayon monster I'd incorporate what the girls made into our everyday living space. I went back to Walmart and picked up four EMPTY frames, at home I took our roll of easel paper and stretched it across the kitchen table where the girls sit. Then I dispensed the crayons and felts and sat back with a coffee to relax...and to watch that crayon was going on the paper and not on clothes and faces. When the girls were done I picked four areas that were the most colored, or decorated and cut them to fit the frames I'd already pre-measured. I hung my new works-of-art in our living room. Now when we have company, the first thing the girls want to do is show of their little masterpieces hanging for all to see. I know that their so proud of what they do. We replace the pictures with new ones every one or two months, it depends on the artist moods. ( and the mamas ) and I put the old ones into a folder to keep for the girls. It's a great way to display all that creativity that our kids are full of, and makes the kids feel incredibly special.

Weaning & Whining

With daughters that are only 14 months apart sometimes I feel like I have twins. And because they are so close we felt bad taking something away from one and not the other. When Sophia turned 2 I decided that I'd had ENOUGH of soothers in my house, so both Sophia and Ava ( who wasn't yet 1 ) reluctantly turned in their soothers and I felt like I'd won a small battle with little diffuculty... boy if I'd known what was in store! Smart parents would have taken soothers AND bottles at the same time, but we decided to let them keep the bottles a while longer. What could it hurt. The girls were on the bottle since hour 1, having major surgery at 19 prevented me from being able to breastfeed my children so they are both formulas fed babies. ( and perfectly healthy kids ) The older the girls got, the more panicked I got thinking I might NEVER get them to give up the bottle. I tried everything, the "big girls" talk, water in the bottle, milk in the cup. Every tip or trick that I got from family and friends going through the same process. All I got in my house was alot of whining, crying and screaming for their bottles which I finally realized were their "comfort objects" It had turned into a battle of wills and I WILLING gave in by the end of the day when they hadn't drank a drop and were pleading for a drink. And when you have two its like they're teaming up on you because they know it'll finally break you down. Finally I had enough, enough of being told by family that "they really should be on cups by NOW" ... I KNOW THAT PEOPLE and enough of being bossed around by two ( adorably cute ) little girls who can somethimes act like little monsters. So I resorted to guerrilla tactics. I took their bottles, caps, nipples and all other bottle paraphernalia put in in a bag gave it to their dad who promptly took it out back and threw it into the dumpster. It was a long week, with pleading .... from my husband who asked if they could please just have a bottle for an hour or two and he'd gladly go pick two up. But today at the ages of 2 and 3 I can proudly say that my daughters have kicked the habit and are permenatly on the cup. HURRAY a victory I can be proud of!! Now maybe we can concentrate on getting them 100% potty trained... ugh thats saved for another pot of coffee and an other blog. Hope all you mommies and mommies to be are enjoying the spring. Can't wait to blog with you again!

Haiti opening its adoption doors....

When we decided that we were ready to begin the adoption process we did things a little backwards. Since wait times seem to be getting longer and longer, we applied to CAFAC first. I wasn't prepared to go through the Home Study Process and then wait for 12-24 months before our application to adopt came off the waiting list. That was about 7 months ago. We've now started looking at our local Albertan Home Study Providers. I was contacted by the Christian Adoption Service a few days ago with an update. APPLICATIONS TO HAITI WILL NOW PROCEED. This is the April update from the CAS website

"Christian Adoptions has been informed that Adoption Services is accepting applications for Haiti and that files will proceed to Haiti as in the past. Applicants must expect two trips to Haiti, one for court, and one to accept placement. New requirements and changes in regulations are likely to be forwarded in the near future, but for now orphanages are accepting applications as in the past. At this time we assume time lines to be long, as in the past; children matched took more than 12 months to process and be allowed to come to Canada."

I know that this is wonderful news to alot of families that were waiting for the ok to go ahead with a Haitian adoption. My thoughts and hopes are with you as you start laying down the stepping stones to your children!

Easter!!!

So we got through another Easter without a sugar overload, which meant we didn't have to go through the terrible tantrum's I like to refer to as the "sugar high detox". This year, because the girls are so young still, we opted out of the candy route and got a few cute puzzles for them instead. That certainly didn't mean that they didn't get handfulls from the other family members that came by today to see them. Oh well... Having big families on both sides, Dale and myself, we had to decide who's family dinner to attend. It was my families turn so we loaded up the girls and the supplies we'd need for the day and ventured out to the family farm. Between the aunts, uncle, grandma, grandpa and three dogs that have become my parents new "children" now that we're all out of the house, the girls were entertained for the entire day and promtly fell asleep as soon as they were strapped into the carseats for the ride home. It was a great day spent together. From our family to yours Happy Easter! Heres wishing you a wonderful day filled with laughter and love!

FUNDRAISING OUR ADOPTION

As you all know, the costs of adoption seems to be getting higher and higher. Just this month we were informed by our agency that we'd have to travel to Ethiopia to be present for our court date. Do we get to see our child ??? are we going to have notice or will we be preparing to pack our bags and leave at anytime??? Because of the increasing fee's and general adoption costs we have started a few fundraising campaigns to better prepare ourselves. Firstly we opened a store through Just Love Coffee. What an amazing organization, not only are they helping to fund our adoption, its supporting the farmers through their Fair Trade coffee and helping orphans in great need. The other campaign we organized is the collection of used ink and toner cartridges. Not only will we raise money but we're also helping the planet by the reuse and recycle of millions of cartridges that end up in land fills every year. If anyone has any other ideas on how we could put a little money away let us know. Every little bit counts!

the beginning of the long road

so first post, hi, my name is Jamie and I'm a mother of two girls, Sophia & Ava, and happily married to my husband Dale. Early 2009 we began to look into adoption. With the hundreds of websites, and various information snips it was confusing at first, but we have narrowed everything down and now we're on the waiting list to adopt a child from Ethiopia. HURRAY!!!! I know that you waiting parents are probably understanding the feelings we're going through. We're so excited and just READY to start...but its going to be a long process so I try not to think to much about it all day. The girls keep me busy enough, but on down time I'm checking emails, looking up questions I randomly come up with and of course, watching the dozens of youtube videos of Gotcha Days, and first time meetings. I'm anxious to start blogging about our experiences, as well as to get to know the families that are also adopting. Any advice or tips from you experienced parents would be great...no matter what it is!!