As I've mentioned before, we have struggled with infertility for just shy of 5 years. I pray about it all the time, but I know that if God had answered my prayers the first time, we wouldn't have Owen. And that would be a far worse fate!!!!!! I just ended taking any kind of treatment for infertility. (Which consisted of hormonal therapy) It wasn't helping with the irregular cycles anyway, and my doctor had stopped reviewing my chart, so I had a feeling he wasn't really confident that he could do anything else for me. Therefore, it seemed it was time to just let go of the treatments for a while. It hit me hard ending them, because I still pray that maybe someday God will think it's the right time for us to have a bio babe as well our adopted babes.
I might eventually try to get re-evaluted or get a second opinion about my irregular cycles. But, for right now, we are focusing on our next adoption. I know in my heart God has at least one other baby waiting for us to bring him/her home. This second babe is also in Russia, and I know that the infertility is a blessing, because our lives couldn't be whole without Owen or the next baby that God has planned for us.
I may never know the gift of life the same way as other mothers, but I have to remind myself, that the best thing you can want for another person is a relationship with God. My prayers, my husband's prayers, our family and friend's prayers, are what is nurturing and feeding our baby in Russia, just as they did with Owen. Our bond did not start through an umbilical cord, but rather through our hearts. Our baby is being physically fed by care takers right now, but our prayers are going to my baby's heart where God is his/her center. I know our prayers are being answered, because we've already gotten to experience this joy with Owen. So, as I end my post tonight, I ask everyone to continue praying for our family, especially for the little one we hope to soon welcome home. I know that my baby feels these prayers and love, because I can feel his/hers in my heart.
About Me
- JEM826
- My name is Jenny, and I am married to my wonderful husband Andy. We are the proud parents of Owen Daniil, who we adopted from Russia. Our Gotcha Day was 02/08/2011. Our family is a true gift, and we feel very blessed that God chose each one of us as members. I am not good at blogging, I'm just starting out and getting used to it. However, I am hoping to share some stories about our family. Welcome to my crazy, but wonderful, life!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
28 months and 16 months home.
My baby turned 28 months 5/30/12. Tomorrow, 06/08/12 marks Owen being home 14 months. I cannot believe how much he continues to grow and amaze me. He continues to increase his talking. His singing is getting better in terms of singing along with songs. I just love the fact that he LOVES Raffi, since that is a kids singer that I grew up with and loved. Up until a couple of months ago, he preferred these other CDs of kids songs, but now he ALWAYS wants Raffi on in the car. Luckily, kid music is still okay for me to sing along with too;)
Tonight, after we played outside for a little bit, Owen and I sat on the glider on our back deck, and we sang part of a Raffi song together while we glided. Now, that only lasted for a minute, but it still was nice. Of course he is SUPER energetic and has to constantly moving (alot like his dad actually), so i wasn't surprised that we didn't sit there longer.
He's so much better with listening/reading books now, that it's fun to see what book he's "in the mood" for at bedtime. He likes to read a lot, and for that I'm glad. I love to read, and find it so valuable as a hobby, because it keeps your mind sharper than being a TV junky. Plus, if he becomes a reader like me, He'll love diving into the stories.
Tonight, after we played outside for a little bit, Owen and I sat on the glider on our back deck, and we sang part of a Raffi song together while we glided. Now, that only lasted for a minute, but it still was nice. Of course he is SUPER energetic and has to constantly moving (alot like his dad actually), so i wasn't surprised that we didn't sit there longer.
He's so much better with listening/reading books now, that it's fun to see what book he's "in the mood" for at bedtime. He likes to read a lot, and for that I'm glad. I love to read, and find it so valuable as a hobby, because it keeps your mind sharper than being a TV junky. Plus, if he becomes a reader like me, He'll love diving into the stories.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
27 months!
My baby is now 27 months old! It's hard to believe how fast he is growing. He is always on the go, and getting into more and more trouble! Even the sitter commented on how much more ornary Owen has been the last few weeks! He can get into so much trouble, but be so cute doing it.
He still impresses me with his talking and how everyday, it feels like more and more words he's saying correctly. He's been saying the sign of the cross and repeating parts of prayers when we do them. I just wish he would do it more in front of other people so they don't think we're making it up, LOL! He's even been trying to sing more. At church last week, we sang a song called rain down. He tried to sing this....with a full mouth of goldfish crackers. It was kind of cute, though I just hoped he didn't spray anyone with food. Then, he did try to say the "Our Father" during church, but the loudest word he said was "evil" which he proceeded to say in a very "evil" fashion, LOL! That one actually made me bust with laughter, to where I had to put myself in check that I was behaving.
I just came back down from rocking Owen, he woke up crying. While I held him, I started to wollow in my own pond of self pity. I was thinking how much I wished that I had helped create this little butterball of perfection- ornaryness and cuteness all wrapped into one. How I didn't get to carry this precious gift in my womb, to hear his heartbeat for the first time, feel his kick and to be the first to hold him.
But then I started thinking, I didn't get to do those things, but I did get to bring this precious boy home. I get to call him my son, and to plant kisses all over the cutest face, and to share my faith with him. I am not the one who had to say goodbye, but the lucky one who got to say hello! I am the one who gets to read him the bed time stories, rock him to sleep, cuddle him when he has bad dreams. I get to see him grow in every other way.
I get to love him forever, because as long as I'm living, my baby he'll be!
He still impresses me with his talking and how everyday, it feels like more and more words he's saying correctly. He's been saying the sign of the cross and repeating parts of prayers when we do them. I just wish he would do it more in front of other people so they don't think we're making it up, LOL! He's even been trying to sing more. At church last week, we sang a song called rain down. He tried to sing this....with a full mouth of goldfish crackers. It was kind of cute, though I just hoped he didn't spray anyone with food. Then, he did try to say the "Our Father" during church, but the loudest word he said was "evil" which he proceeded to say in a very "evil" fashion, LOL! That one actually made me bust with laughter, to where I had to put myself in check that I was behaving.
I just came back down from rocking Owen, he woke up crying. While I held him, I started to wollow in my own pond of self pity. I was thinking how much I wished that I had helped create this little butterball of perfection- ornaryness and cuteness all wrapped into one. How I didn't get to carry this precious gift in my womb, to hear his heartbeat for the first time, feel his kick and to be the first to hold him.
But then I started thinking, I didn't get to do those things, but I did get to bring this precious boy home. I get to call him my son, and to plant kisses all over the cutest face, and to share my faith with him. I am not the one who had to say goodbye, but the lucky one who got to say hello! I am the one who gets to read him the bed time stories, rock him to sleep, cuddle him when he has bad dreams. I get to see him grow in every other way.
I get to love him forever, because as long as I'm living, my baby he'll be!
Monday, March 12, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
25 months and so smart!
Owern turned 25 months on 2/29. Or should I say, between 2/29/ and 03/01, LOL:) He is getting so smart and I really think he's quite witty. On Friday, I put an OSU onsie on him, and it had a bit O in the middle of it. I worked on teaching him to say it was an 'O' and asking him to point to the 'O'. Which he did very well. Plus, he remembered that the 'O' started the O-H-I-O above the head the buckeye fans do. Well. the next night, I was wearing a buckey shirt as was Andy, and I asked Owen if I had an 'O' on my shirt, and he found it right away and said 'O'! I think it is great that we are working on O since it's what his name starts with too. LOL!
He's also really started trying to say more sentences. He tried to copy my sentence of daddy is watching basketball. You can tell he's really trying to work on his word sounds. He just amazes me. We've been trying to work on colors with him, but so far, that hasn't quuite sunk in yet. But, I just remind myself that he is only 25 months, and that he already does so many smart things, he's just taking in everything, and one day, it will come out;)
I think he is growing taller again, as his 18 month pants are starting to look shorter on him, though his waste is betweeen a 15 month old and 18 month old waste so, we'll see how his clothes continue to fit him. I cannot believe that he is 2, that we've had him home for a year, or that he is so bright and ornery. He just continues to amaze me and make me laugh.
We have been praying about what our next step will be in continuing to grow as a family. Any prayers any one wants to send our way are very welcome. We continue to hope that God may grant us the grace to conceive a child. However, especially since we brough Owen home, we feel the infertility, though difficult, is also a blessing. Had we conceived a child and not turned to adoption, we never would have had Owen, and I don't even want to think about that. So right now, we're just praying and trying to see where God is leading us to our next child.
I'm not going to say that I didn't miss getting to be the one to carry Owen and nourish him from day 1 through my body and at our home. Infertility and the idea of never carrying one of our children is still a difficult thing for me. But at the same time, Owen wouldn't be who he is if he didn't come from Russia. He couldn't be any more our son than he already is, he couldn't be any cuter than he already is, and he couldn't be any smarter than he already is. God knew this and he provided us the means and way to bring Owen home. The minute Andy and I heard of Owen, even before seeing pictures, we knew God had given us our son. There was never any doubt that we would say yes to the little guy, and our hearts burst with joy when we got the news.
No matter how our next child comes to us, we will have another unique experience, and we'll get to share it with Owen. We know God already knows who our next child is, and we cannot wait to be in on his little secret:)
He's also really started trying to say more sentences. He tried to copy my sentence of daddy is watching basketball. You can tell he's really trying to work on his word sounds. He just amazes me. We've been trying to work on colors with him, but so far, that hasn't quuite sunk in yet. But, I just remind myself that he is only 25 months, and that he already does so many smart things, he's just taking in everything, and one day, it will come out;)
I think he is growing taller again, as his 18 month pants are starting to look shorter on him, though his waste is betweeen a 15 month old and 18 month old waste so, we'll see how his clothes continue to fit him. I cannot believe that he is 2, that we've had him home for a year, or that he is so bright and ornery. He just continues to amaze me and make me laugh.
We have been praying about what our next step will be in continuing to grow as a family. Any prayers any one wants to send our way are very welcome. We continue to hope that God may grant us the grace to conceive a child. However, especially since we brough Owen home, we feel the infertility, though difficult, is also a blessing. Had we conceived a child and not turned to adoption, we never would have had Owen, and I don't even want to think about that. So right now, we're just praying and trying to see where God is leading us to our next child.
I'm not going to say that I didn't miss getting to be the one to carry Owen and nourish him from day 1 through my body and at our home. Infertility and the idea of never carrying one of our children is still a difficult thing for me. But at the same time, Owen wouldn't be who he is if he didn't come from Russia. He couldn't be any more our son than he already is, he couldn't be any cuter than he already is, and he couldn't be any smarter than he already is. God knew this and he provided us the means and way to bring Owen home. The minute Andy and I heard of Owen, even before seeing pictures, we knew God had given us our son. There was never any doubt that we would say yes to the little guy, and our hearts burst with joy when we got the news.
No matter how our next child comes to us, we will have another unique experience, and we'll get to share it with Owen. We know God already knows who our next child is, and we cannot wait to be in on his little secret:)
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Talking so much, so clear, and so loud! LOL!
Owen has really found his voice. I mean, he was talking alot before, but man, this kid has been saying so many different things and more sentences lately. Not to mention, he keeps getting louder, and louder! Most of the time it is cute, and it is hard for me to tell him not to talk. But, sometimes, like to day at the store, I had to keep saying, "Owen, we're inside, you have to talk quieter." or "Shhhhhh." I know it's all kids that have to learn what the "inside voice" is, though, and most of the time, he is just laughing and being goofy. So for the most part, I kind of chuckle at/with him.
However, I knew it was the end of our shopping trip today, when he started to have a melt down on the way to the cash register. I felt a bit like a bad mom, because he just wanted "hold me, mommy, hold me." I couldn't. I was there, just the 2 of us, and the store was packed, so I was in a self checkout lane too. I was also, apparently, at the wrong store for him, because he kept saying, "Horse, mommy, Horse!" and pointing toward the front of the store. I had to explain we weren't at Meijer and there was no horse....to a 25 month old! He kept saying meijer, and stare at me like, okay, but what about the horse. I am not one to want to spoil my child, but I don't really think the penny horse is that much of a spoiler, so I did feel kind of bad that it wasn't there. We survived the trip though, and Owen was fine after we left and headed home.
Of course, he did his "mommy doing?" about 50 million times on the way to the park, on the way to the store, in the store, putting the groceries in the car, and on the way home. Sometimes it drives me CRAZY, but it is also cute that he's doig it. I think he mostly does it so that we have a "conversation." I think he likes when we "talk" to each other, and it's not just me telling him to do something, or me reading him a book. I think he really wants to tell us things now and to have a voice.
Today, I tried to give him cottage cheese as a snack, to see if he liked it. He simply stated, don't want cheese. Okay then. At dinner, Andy tried to give him milk, and I was coming back downstairs from changing my clothes, and I heard Owen say, "don't want that milk!" I came in the kitchen, and asked Andy if that is what he said (since I thought it was clear as day), but Andy didn't even realize what Owen had said. So I tried to give Owen his milk again, and he pushed it away saying, "don't want that milk!" Then he covered his eyes. I had to laugh, becuase I know we are definitely going to be hearing alot more of "no" and "don't want...." And of course, those are going to be his clearest sentences, LOL!
Every time he says something knew, Owen impresses me. I know it's normal for kids to grow in their vocabulary, but it still amazes me and makes me happy he is doing so well. Even the Nos and the don't wants, because it shows his likes/dislikes, and personality. Grant it, I'll be squashing a lot of the don't wants, just like I did with the milk tonight, but I am so happy our son is growing and learning, and becoming him;)
He's starting to say "come 'ere" a lot to me. Also because I say it alot to him when i need him to change directions. I will usually say it and then use my pointer finger to coax him toward me. Wouldn't you know it, he's been really trying to do the finger thing too? It's cute that he has to focus so much to do it, but I know it's him working on his fine/gross motor skills, LOL:)
The other funny thing too he's been doing, is announcing TV shows. Not that we watch TV all the time, but he'll say, "mommy, coming. and point to the TV, and then say "Fresh beat band" or "Backyardigans" (which are a majority of his sippy cups).
Oh, and he also is doing very well with learning the sign of the cross. We can't get him to do it every time, but he is really getting "the Father, and Son," and we're continuing to work on the "Holy Spirit." I'm hoping that we can really start working more on colors, letters, numbers, and prayers. He's such a sponge, I know he's really going to start soaking it all in!
Well, I know I could go on and on, since I haven't posted in a while, on all the things Owen has been doing, and how he really can crack me up sometimes. But, I will have to save some for another day:)
However, I knew it was the end of our shopping trip today, when he started to have a melt down on the way to the cash register. I felt a bit like a bad mom, because he just wanted "hold me, mommy, hold me." I couldn't. I was there, just the 2 of us, and the store was packed, so I was in a self checkout lane too. I was also, apparently, at the wrong store for him, because he kept saying, "Horse, mommy, Horse!" and pointing toward the front of the store. I had to explain we weren't at Meijer and there was no horse....to a 25 month old! He kept saying meijer, and stare at me like, okay, but what about the horse. I am not one to want to spoil my child, but I don't really think the penny horse is that much of a spoiler, so I did feel kind of bad that it wasn't there. We survived the trip though, and Owen was fine after we left and headed home.
Of course, he did his "mommy doing?" about 50 million times on the way to the park, on the way to the store, in the store, putting the groceries in the car, and on the way home. Sometimes it drives me CRAZY, but it is also cute that he's doig it. I think he mostly does it so that we have a "conversation." I think he likes when we "talk" to each other, and it's not just me telling him to do something, or me reading him a book. I think he really wants to tell us things now and to have a voice.
Today, I tried to give him cottage cheese as a snack, to see if he liked it. He simply stated, don't want cheese. Okay then. At dinner, Andy tried to give him milk, and I was coming back downstairs from changing my clothes, and I heard Owen say, "don't want that milk!" I came in the kitchen, and asked Andy if that is what he said (since I thought it was clear as day), but Andy didn't even realize what Owen had said. So I tried to give Owen his milk again, and he pushed it away saying, "don't want that milk!" Then he covered his eyes. I had to laugh, becuase I know we are definitely going to be hearing alot more of "no" and "don't want...." And of course, those are going to be his clearest sentences, LOL!
Every time he says something knew, Owen impresses me. I know it's normal for kids to grow in their vocabulary, but it still amazes me and makes me happy he is doing so well. Even the Nos and the don't wants, because it shows his likes/dislikes, and personality. Grant it, I'll be squashing a lot of the don't wants, just like I did with the milk tonight, but I am so happy our son is growing and learning, and becoming him;)
He's starting to say "come 'ere" a lot to me. Also because I say it alot to him when i need him to change directions. I will usually say it and then use my pointer finger to coax him toward me. Wouldn't you know it, he's been really trying to do the finger thing too? It's cute that he has to focus so much to do it, but I know it's him working on his fine/gross motor skills, LOL:)
The other funny thing too he's been doing, is announcing TV shows. Not that we watch TV all the time, but he'll say, "mommy, coming. and point to the TV, and then say "Fresh beat band" or "Backyardigans" (which are a majority of his sippy cups).
Oh, and he also is doing very well with learning the sign of the cross. We can't get him to do it every time, but he is really getting "the Father, and Son," and we're continuing to work on the "Holy Spirit." I'm hoping that we can really start working more on colors, letters, numbers, and prayers. He's such a sponge, I know he's really going to start soaking it all in!
Well, I know I could go on and on, since I haven't posted in a while, on all the things Owen has been doing, and how he really can crack me up sometimes. But, I will have to save some for another day:)
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
1 Year Gotcha Day Anniversary!
Today was our 1 year Gotcha Day Anniversary, and we cannot believe it has already been a year. Waiting to bring Owen home had felt like FOREVER, but on 02/08/11, Owen said goodbye to the Kaluga Baby home, and Hello to his new home with us. Andy and I both took the day off work, and we went to COSI. They have a Kids Place, and Owen LOVED it. He got to play in these wood cars and houses, turning lights on, and "driving." He got to play with blocks and ride some different little car toys. He got to play in water and get him and Mommy wet:) We got to walk through some exhibits, and we had a WONDERFUL day just being together as a family:) The rest of the day, after Owen's nap, we played around the house, and then had pizza for dinner.
Owen, now my 2 year old "baby", has grown so much, and I'm really starting to be able to put together his "sentences" and have some "conversations" with him. I now know certain phrases that i must say alot, because he is starting to use them as well. Such as when Owen would say "mommy" and I say "what Owen?" Now I say Owen, and he laughs and says "what?" I also think I ask, "Owen, what are you doing?" alot, because he'll say, "Mommy, Doing?" I know he's asking a question too, because he uses the correct tone of a question. He's just so smart! He talks all the time, which is great since we were so concerned a year ago about speech delays. Honestly, even 3 months after we brought him home, he was doing so well with his speech, we couldn't believe it.
I tell Andy all the time, I'm going to have a hard time as he keeps getting older and talking more, because he's as stubborn and determined as I am! Andy thinks it's totally funny how much Owen is like me. Of course, I think he is alot like Andy too. I have a feeling, he'll be tall and thin like his dad, too. He's definitely growing taller, even if he hasn't really gained too much weight this last year. He fits height wise into the 18 month size clothers, but sometimes they are still big around his middle (alot of times actually). Of course, that just means that I can still carry him around more. Though today, he kept saying, "walk, walk." He probably walked around at COSI today 2/3 the time we were there, maybe more. Of course, I kind of freak out about him running off, so I make him wear a backpack "leash" thing, plus hold my hand. I'm hoping to instill the holding of the hand, and actually he did really well with that, and the backpack was really just a safety net for me:) I know there are some parents who don't like those, but especially at a crowded zoo, it makes me feel better about Owen getting to walk around.
My baby has been home 1 year today, and I still get teary just thinking about the whole process of getting to the Gotcha Day, and then making it home the following week. Oh, and not to mention the waiting prior to even knowing the child God had chosen for us. I know I say this all the time, but I'm seriously amazed by God's ability and love in putting together families, particularly mine.
I could not imagine going through the adoption process or my life for that matter without my best friend and love, Andy, by my side. He loves Owen so much, and the first day we met Owen in 2010, I couldn't believe how much that love showed! I knew he was excited about Owen, and I knew Andy couldn't wait to meet him and to have him home. But, the emotion I felt seeing that love come out in Andy and Owen's first meeting, the memory still makes my heart burst with joy and love! I am one lucky woman to have a husband who has loved me, supported me, and believed in me and to be given a son who is so precious, loving, smart, and beautiful. There are not enough words in any language to express the gratitude I have for my family and for the gifts God has given me. Blessed, blessed, and blessed, that is as best as I can describe it!!!
Owen, now my 2 year old "baby", has grown so much, and I'm really starting to be able to put together his "sentences" and have some "conversations" with him. I now know certain phrases that i must say alot, because he is starting to use them as well. Such as when Owen would say "mommy" and I say "what Owen?" Now I say Owen, and he laughs and says "what?" I also think I ask, "Owen, what are you doing?" alot, because he'll say, "Mommy, Doing?" I know he's asking a question too, because he uses the correct tone of a question. He's just so smart! He talks all the time, which is great since we were so concerned a year ago about speech delays. Honestly, even 3 months after we brought him home, he was doing so well with his speech, we couldn't believe it.
I tell Andy all the time, I'm going to have a hard time as he keeps getting older and talking more, because he's as stubborn and determined as I am! Andy thinks it's totally funny how much Owen is like me. Of course, I think he is alot like Andy too. I have a feeling, he'll be tall and thin like his dad, too. He's definitely growing taller, even if he hasn't really gained too much weight this last year. He fits height wise into the 18 month size clothers, but sometimes they are still big around his middle (alot of times actually). Of course, that just means that I can still carry him around more. Though today, he kept saying, "walk, walk." He probably walked around at COSI today 2/3 the time we were there, maybe more. Of course, I kind of freak out about him running off, so I make him wear a backpack "leash" thing, plus hold my hand. I'm hoping to instill the holding of the hand, and actually he did really well with that, and the backpack was really just a safety net for me:) I know there are some parents who don't like those, but especially at a crowded zoo, it makes me feel better about Owen getting to walk around.
My baby has been home 1 year today, and I still get teary just thinking about the whole process of getting to the Gotcha Day, and then making it home the following week. Oh, and not to mention the waiting prior to even knowing the child God had chosen for us. I know I say this all the time, but I'm seriously amazed by God's ability and love in putting together families, particularly mine.
I could not imagine going through the adoption process or my life for that matter without my best friend and love, Andy, by my side. He loves Owen so much, and the first day we met Owen in 2010, I couldn't believe how much that love showed! I knew he was excited about Owen, and I knew Andy couldn't wait to meet him and to have him home. But, the emotion I felt seeing that love come out in Andy and Owen's first meeting, the memory still makes my heart burst with joy and love! I am one lucky woman to have a husband who has loved me, supported me, and believed in me and to be given a son who is so precious, loving, smart, and beautiful. There are not enough words in any language to express the gratitude I have for my family and for the gifts God has given me. Blessed, blessed, and blessed, that is as best as I can describe it!!!
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