Speaking of My Health

I attended the local Speaking of Women's Health event last weekend. Psychologists would have had a field day at this thing. First, hundreds of crazy women stood in line, grumbling about the wait until they were sandwiched into a room with diaper type bags of free goodies. Then, these women were sandwiched into a small area full of vendors, forced to fend for themselves as they shuffled around, diaper bags running into each other's backs and sides, to get more free goodies and also grab a few bites and some wicked coffee.

I must be getting old and a little too practical. Out of all the goodies I received that day, I was most excited about the free toilet paper roll stuffed in my bag.

Signs and Wonders

What does a misplaced balloon in a large discount store mean?

I believe God has a sense of humor. I think I've seen this throughout Jack's adoption. I also like to think that my two grandmothers, one whom I never met, have been praying for us and maybe even pulling a few strings.

Mike and I met Jack's birth mother on Friday, July 13. A stereotypical scary pairing of the day of the week and the number 13 turned out to be one of the most incredible days of our lives.

I worked part-time for several months at a large discount store. Although I disliked the work, it kept me busy for a while and brought in a little cash. During my "short time in hell," I met a woman named Danna.

If you know me, you've heard my "difficulty becoming pregnant" story. Sorry, but it's been a big part of who I am for the past several years. Well, I told Danna about my difficulties and she confided that she gets "feelings" about people and has "dreams" about them. Danna told me that she'd let me know if she had any dreams.

Not too long after that discussion, Danna told me that I would have a baby. I tried not to laugh. I told her she must mean Maggie from China because nothing would spring forth from my dust covered uterus. She just smiled, saying she didn't know how a baby would come into my life. Not too many days after that discussion, I saw a forlone balloon in the ladies clothing area. It was a white/blue balloon with a teddy bear and the text, "It's a boy!" We knew after that initial meeting with the birth mother that she was going to have a boy.

That balloon stayed around for a while. Eventually, it was placed in one of the return bins. Every night when I took misplaced items from our area to the return bins, I would see that balloon and just smile, at that point, thinking of the little boy who might become our future son.

Jack's new "word"

Jack actually spoke his first word last Christmas. He said, "Hi," at only two months old. Of course, some people think I'm crazy, but my mother was a witness and knows I'm not making this up. I thought maybe it was an odd take on the midnight at Christmas Eve fable. You know, when the animals talk.

Now, Jack is into faking coughs, "Eh, eh, eh." Mike and I think this is a new sound he's discovered. We're pretty sure he's expanding his vocabularly, not his immunity.

Are we still going to China?

We've been asked this a few times in the past week and our best answer is if we can afford to. There is a lot of love in our hearts for children and we still feel that Maggie Rose is in China. Unless there is divine intervention, I don’t think my cob web, catacomb uterus will start to function like it’s supposed to. Despite my naturally shaped birthing hips (that I’ve had since grade school), I’m not sure a baby will ever pass through them. But, take heart those who are more fertile than me. I wanted to pass along some wise words of advice I’ve received over the years.

Don’t try so hard. (And how do you make babies again?)

Give it a year (or two, or three. . .six).

You need to go to (blank) and get away from it all. It worked for us. (Quote came from a parent who had two children, both conceived at the same place.)

You need to get rid of your cats. That’s why you can’t get pregnant. (This stupid remark from a few years ago actually came from a less than tactful uncle at a parish event with parishioners and strangers milling around. I was shocked and didn’t know what to say. Apparently, I didn’t know that cats carried a curse.)

And one that I’ve only heard a little but I’m sure will start to pick up momentum...
You’ll probably get pregnant now. (Now that Jack is in our lives.)

Juno

Mike and I finally had the courage to watch this movie last week. I wasn’t sure what to expect. There was a lot of hype about this little “sleeper.” My review? This movie is quirky, fun and honest. I love it! One of my favorite scenes in the movie is at the hospital when Juno and her boyfriend are lying together. You can tell that Juno's emotional about her adoption decision but she and her boyfriend feel like their baby belongs to someone else. That’s how our birth mother felt and we are forever grateful for her selfless decision. I think people sometimes think that birth parents are selfish for giving their babies up for adoption, when, in reality, they give their babies more. Our birth mother loves Jack and she did what she thought was best. She is young and working on her degree. She is Jack's first mom and he will always know that. Jack's birth mom is smart and confident. I am excited to see what the future holds for her.

By the way, you know you're a parent when you don't see movies until they are released on DVD. I guess that could also mean that we're cheap. Hmm...

Our Precious Miracle

"If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours?"

This passage from Luke, chapter 16, has been a source of support and inspiration for me over the past nine months. That is when a special young lady came into our lives and decided that she wanted to give her baby more. She said she always felt like her baby belonged to someone else. We were blessed to hear about her from a guardian angel and with a heart doing double time, I called her family.

The past nine months have been an emotional roller coaster for my husband and our birth mother. Although we weren't always sure how things would go, we kept praying to God that everything would work out. Today, we were granted custody of this precious baby boy.

Although conceiving has eluded us, God found another way to bring true our dream of a family. Jack is the best thing that has ever happened to Mike and me. His birth mother had other options but she chose life for her son and a transformed, more enriched life for Mike and me. God and Jack's birth mother have entrusted us with an incredible blessing and we hope that with the Lord's strength and guidance, we are able to provide Jack with the beautiful life he deserves.

She's Got Legs

I heard this classic song by ZZ Top on the radio this morning, thought about my legs and then remembered that I hadn't shaved them last night. E-gads! Oh, yeah. I'm bringing sexy back. How long have you gone without shaving? Have you ever felt like a Wildebeast? Although there's a chance for snow this weekend, I really think the winter's over. No more excuses. It's not like I need the extra layer for warmth. It's time to shed this winter coat and welcome spring, 40 degrees and all!