Couch to 5k.....come join me!!

[Guest Leslie2Lose]

My brother (adopted as well) was taken from an abused home. He was severaly physically abused and to this day has learning disabilities. He looks normal, but had so much brain damage that his brain functions at the level of a twelve year old. My parents adopted him when he was two and then me two years later. Sounds like ya'll have big hearts. It is a challenge to raise a diabled child (wasn't always easy living with one), but it is so rewarding too. When my brother graduated HS (the same year I did) I was more proud of him than for myself. It took him so much to accomplish that.

Best of luck with the proceedings. Bring on the sap girl! I love sap...

I'm heading to the beach this weekend. I"m going to run when we get down there around the block (I'm not even attempting beach sand) for my day 3. First day outside - I hope the mosquitos and yellow jackets don't haul me off. Everyone have a great weekend!!!

[Kathybad 0]

Ok, my turn for sappy... we adopted our daughter. She moved in just before her 2nd birthday and her adoption was final 1 1/2 years later. She's now 4. We also have a 10 year old son (biological).

Sarah's story is also a sad one... her family was already under the watch (and care) of Children's Aid when her mom became pregnant with her. She is the youngest of 4 kids to parents that are alcoholic drug users. They could barely take care of themselves let alone all of their kids. Sarah was born at 26 weeks (way too early) and barely survived. She had lots of health problems out of the starting gate, but kept fighting to make it. She finally went home 4 months later, but only stayed with her birth family for about 3 weeks before Children's Aid stepped in. Then she bounced around the system for 18 months before she came to us as a "Foster with a view to Adopt" child. Which in Canada means we were taking her in with the intention to adopt her once she became a "crown ward" (similar to "state ward"). That took about a year for them to get all the paperwork in order and the judge to approve it.

Sarah has fetal alcohol effect and many other issues that will impact her life, but in many ways she is a wonderful, funny, loving little girt that drives us insane... but we love her so much.

Jesse, our son, has lost of special needs too. He is hearing impaired, intellectually disabled, has epilepsy, and a few other things too. Our intention when we set out to adopt was to give Jesse a sibling, we didn't intend to adopt another special needs child. But you can't tell your heart what to do... it tells you. So be it. In the end, it was the best choice we could ever have made. Sarah is so much like me and Jesse is so much like my DH... looks and all!

Ok, enough sap! Leslie, I always love to hear adoption stories, especially successful ones. Thanks for sharing. Renewed, I've said it before, but I'll say it again... you're amazing!

Georgia, a snake would have completely freaked me out. I would have had to leave the house and had someone in right away before returning. We had a baby mouse that we saw run into the house. It was 2 days before we caught it and let it go in the park (a long way from our house). I didn't sleep, and my DH certainly didn't get any rest (I wouldn't let him :biggrin:). I hope your ankle is feeling better, but congrats on Day 1 Week 2!!! Other than the trip, it sounds like the run went well.

[SugarBean 0]

Leslie - enjoy the beach. I'm jealous. We had a short vacation to Gatlinburg, TN in June

Whosya - You might already be aware of this: Nike is having the Human Race 10K on August 31st. I figure you are the only one of us that is ready for it. http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/?locale=en_us

I got this from the an apple e-mail. My son has an ipod and gets emails from apple.

If you are able to run it, you can run in honor of all your fellow bandsters.

[SugarBean 0]

My adoption story: I was unable to carry a child. I had Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. I did not ovulate, etc... We went through fertility treatments and lost 4 precious babies. (2 singles and a set of twins)

We were able able to adopt a little boy that my cousin was the foster parent to. He was 6 1/2 months old when we brought him home. He is now 11. He is very gifted in music. He plays the mandolin, fiddle, guitar, tenor banjo, and piano. He has just joined a local bluegrass/gospel band and will be playing the mandolin. I know is sounds weird that a kid would enjoy bluegrass, but he loves it and can play just about anything. I understand his biological father played guitar, but I really feel that his gift of music came straight from God.

That little stinker is such a blessing.

[renewedhope 4]

kathy, I went ot your sight awhile back. Your children are beautiful. Your dedication to them is obvious. We are just starting to really experience some of the challenges of a special needs child. Our 9 month old is delayed developmentaly, but thankfully he doesn't have any additional medical problems. I am very glad for that.

Our 19 month old was cocaine exposed. For some reason child protective allowed his mom to take him home from the hospital. His mom was positive for cocaine when he was born. He lived with his mom and her pimp (for lack of a better term) for his first 2 months. When we got him he had tremmors in his legs and cried ALL THE TIME!! He couldn't handle lights, loud noises, or even much eye contact. He woke up screaming about every hour and a half during the night. This went on for about 3 months. Then he started catching up. At his last Dr visit he is on target for his age. I really thought he would be our "special needs" child. He is at risk for challenges later, but I am amazed at the progress he has made in a very short time. We were not foster parents when he came to live with us. It is really crazy, but I got a call one night asking us to care for him. We went through CPS, but we have contact with his birthmom. She is in jail right now, and writes letters. When she is not high she will pop in to see him. She is an addict. It is really sad. I will always speak highly of her to Dylan. She voluntarily relinquished her rights for us to adopt him. As I told her, she loved him enough to give him a home and a brighter future. She knows she can't care for him. I am very thankful to her for giving him a happy ending..

Ok, there is more sap for you Leslie. I love hearing everyone's life stories. It seems there is always a way to make a connection.

[renewedhope 4]

Sugarbean, I also have PCOS. We did lots of fertility tx. (I guess lots is realtive) In the big picture I guess we didn't do all that much.

When we quit treatments I got pregnant. He is 9, and is absolutely awesome!!

Have never gotten pregnant since. We don't prevent it, but no more treatments either. I am very content with my family. I have probably not ever been able to say that in my adult life. God is good, and has blessed me abundantly!!

[SugarBean 0]

renewed - too weird, Your children's names are Dylan and Drew. Zachary's birthname was Andrew Dillon. We had Zachary picked out long before we adopted. And if we could not have changed his name, we would have called him Drew.

Oh and I say I had PCOS because I have had a hysterectomy.

[Guest Leslie2Lose]

From an Adoptee's point of view...

My adopted parents ARE my parents. They've always been so - even as a young child. I've always known I was adopted. I don't remember my parents actually telling me - it was just inate. I always felt special as a child. My mom would tell me so because they chose me. They just didn't get what God gave them, but chose me to be their daughter. I have a bond with both of them than many biological children don't even have with their natural parents. Both of my biological parents were in high school. They were young and decided to give me up to give me a better life. I was a seven month baby - my foster mother started taking care of me from the hospital. She'd come and visit me. She also made my clothes. I've always thought it was a blessing to have the parents that raised me. They couldn't be more mine than if I shared their blood. Sometime blood isn't thicker than Water. Everyone that takes in a child that is in need is God's messenger in my opinion. It's not easy but believe me they will one day know how special each of you are.

[renewedhope 4]

That is too funny about the names. Dylan's name is Dylan Wade. His name was Adrian Wayne. Our foster baby is going to be Drew Weston.

Our 9 year old son is Dalton Wyatt.

So... We have Dalton, Dylan and Drew. My Three Sons. :biggrin:

[renewedhope 4]

DH is also adopted. He and our adopted kids will always have a special bond as well. Thanks for sharing your experience. We have planned for our kids to always know they are adopted. It just seems that honesty is the best choice. Everything in the light.

[Guest Leslie2Lose]

You're welcome. I've always talked honestly and openly about my adoption. I think that when kids grow up and find out that the people that raised them aren't their "blood" parents there ends being resentment. The kids feel they were lied to...it just turns out bad.

[Kathybad 0]

Leslie, thank you for sharing your story. It is wonderful to hear your perspectives. Sarah will always know she was chosen too, our special choice. We've talked about the concept of adoption with our kids, but Sarah is too young to understand it, and Jesse really doesn't get it completely. I think he has a basic understanding that she came from somewhere else but is now his sister. Every once in awhile he says something like "I don't want Sarah to go to her home, I want her to come home with us". when he says this, I know he understands enough.

All I know is that it was the best choice we could have ever made. Bringing Sarah into our family made us complete. Not that I wouldn't like a bit of Serenity once in awhile, but I'm ok with the craziness. BTW, Serenity is her birth name, now its her middle name.

[renewedhope 4]

Today my 2 and 4 year old are at mother's day out. Kathy, serenity is a wonderful word for it, and what a beautiful middle name. My 9 month old and 19 month old are watching a Praise Baby DVD and my 9 year old and I are cleaning house. I know that doesn't sound like a lot of fun, but I'm sure Kathy can relate. The quiet and time to get housework done is well.....serenity... I only have 1 1/2 hours left. I better get with it.

We are going to a foster parent appreciation dinner tonight. Our agency does this once a year. Very nice. Just me and DH. We do something by ourselves once a week. It is really helpful in staying connected. He is awesome.

[Guest Leslie2Lose]

renewed - I hope ya'll have a good time tonight. I think all parents need their own time every now and then. Your DH sounds like a keeper!!!

DH and I also have "date night"...lol It really helps us. We realised after having some problems last year that we have to work on our marriage as well as our family. We'd quit doing anything together, we focused 100% on the kids. We're doing great now and are closer than ever.

On a side note - I lost 2 pounds this week. I literally jumped up and down in the doctor's office today. I am now truly addicted to C25K!!!

[renewedhope 4]

OK, I can't resist. After talking about adoption so much, I have to introduce yall to my little Dylan. This is a picture of us DH took a couple of weeks ago. His face says it all. He is our ham...our comic relief. Our son, Dalton, had been praying for a brother or sister since he was 2. He says that God saw Dylan in a bad place and reached down from heaven and put in in mama's lap. what a wonderful way to look at it.

Ok, this is the end of my sap for today. I have got to finish cleaning house!!