Happy Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, I have much to be thankful for...

* my family
* my awesome kids
* our wonderful exchange student daughter Leigh-Anne who is staying with us for the school year
* our jobs
* our wonderful small town community
* finally having answers to the reason behind my pain and knowing a solution is in the near future


Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Enjoy the good eats, the football, family, fellowship, and shopping!!!

Bittersweet Acceptance: Finally Some Answers

Today, I finally received some answers. After being in pain for 5 months and probably longer than that (I have a high threshold of pain and tend to ignore aches and pains as much as I can), I have answers. I have had test after test with doctors trying to figure out the cause of my pain, my nausea, my discomfort, the reason for my weight loss. Over the past few months, I've completely changed the way I eat. Most nights, I have pain, I'm exhausted, and I've been on sabbatical from my Internet social world except for quick catch-up times. But, after my test today, I finally have answers and it all makes sense.

I have endometriosis and adenomyosis. I had adhesions attached to things that didn't belong attached to each other. My fallopian tube is blocked and my uterus is a mess. So, this explains the pain, the nausea, the discomfort, and the infertility we have experienced.

How do I feel about all this? 1) Relieved to finally have answers. I was beginning to think people thought I was crazy. 2) Relieved to know what it is so I know how to treat it. 3) Thankful.... thankful you may wonder? Yes, thankful. I truly believe Romans 8:28 that all things work for the good of those who love God according to His purpose. I have always had a heart toward adoption, but the infertility gave us the direction towards adoption. In 2003, when I cried myself to sleep because I couldn't get pregnant, half-way across the world, my baby boy was born. We can not imagine life without Jay-R. 4) Bittersweet acceptance. The next step is scheduling my hysterectomy. No, Kory and I do not want any more babies, but it is the acceptance that I can never have babies again. I'm okay with this especially knowing in my heart that I want to adopt older children. The irony of this all...to find out in November...National Adoption Month. God's plan is greater than I can imagine and this I can accept with my whole heart.

The Adoption Connection

Some things have the power to connect and bond people, people whom you have never met face to face. Adoption is one of those things. My bloggy friends Renne and Brian who have been waiting a looong time for a referral finally received news of their little boy. I am overjoyed and excited for them. It also brings back memories of the day I received the news of my own son. Adoption is such a miracle!

Seven!

Yesterday, our baby turned seven. It's hard to believe he is seven already. Just a little over 2 years ago, we first learned of our son half way around the world. At the time, he was four, almost five, and looked little in his pictures. Now, he has grown...45 inches...only one more inch to go to be able to ride the Iron Dragon at Cedar Point this summer. He's gained a few pounds. He's learned a whole new language and is reading. But what he has gained the most is the unconditional love of a family...the same goes for us....we have gained the unconditional love of this amazing little boy.
We celebrated with a few boys too many over in the afternoon...no, they were fine. Just noisy! And then the family came over last night for a celebration. After church today, we journeyed to Chuck E Cheese with friends for the ultimate American experience. What a weekend.

"Do I look 7?"

The spider gift from the sisters...that thing is creepy! His "fighting" face in his new Lego Star Wars pjs.

His new Michigan shirt. No, Daddy, die-hard Ohio State fan did not buy this. Mommy did. Jay-R is now the only one in the family to sport the blue. Should make for a fun Ohio State Michigan party in a few weeks!