We have a page on Facebook!

That's right! I made a page on Facebook too! Am I crazy? YUP!

You can visit and like our page here. I am hoping that when we are ready this may be another way to network and get our profile seen.

I think I found my favorite bedding for a girl! Talk about perfect! I love HOUZZ.com (Thanks Mom!) They have all sorts of cool decor ideas for nurseries and such. Something for every room in the house.

Now I have to find something for a boy =)
Here are links to several rooms I like for a boy...most are pretty gender neutral though =)

• http://www.houzz.com/projects/53716/Aqua-Dandelion
• http://www.houzz.com/projects/53719/Blue-and-Green-Giddy-Dot
• http://www.houzz.com/projects/56461/Spa-Pom-Pon-Play
• http://www.houzz.com/projects/48946/Taupe-Suzani
• http://www.houzz.com/projects/53722/Windy-Day
• http://www.houzz.com/projects/59056/Black-and-White-Dots-and-Stripes    (Just add color)
• http://www.houzz.com/projects/52003/Gray-Geometric-Nursery

Anyone see a theme? Am I way ahead of myself? YUP

It's crazy all the gadgets and doo-dads, they have for babies now. Tons of options. Its a lot of stuff out there and wow! Again found all of this in research mode thanks to several blogs I've been reading. Again we won't be with an agency until next year at the earliest, but seriously who doesn't love looking baby items? A-freaking-DORABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs,
~Dy

Research Mode

Okay, so I am 100% in research mode. Talk about scary. I have found out all kinds of scary information and some good information too. Its all very overwhelming. Even with all this research we are just not exactly sure where to start.

A scary part, I my opinion, is finding an agency. I have heard horror stories about agencies just taking peoples money and never offering a service, missing steps or over-looking the Birth Father and having the adoption revoked and all other sorts of issues. However, I have found a few blogs that are by other Adoptive Moms and their experiences. My favorite blog so far seems to be Adoptive Momma of Three. You can see her blog here. She is a fount of knowledge and truly has a heart for all involved in Adoption.

The another scary part is the wait and the chance that the Birth Parents will change their minds. Truly the scariest parts are the "What If's". My head knows we shouldn't worry or dwell to much on what may or may not happen,  but my heart is the one that feels threatened with the unknown.

Ryan and I feel that we don't want to move too quickly and rush into anything we can't handle. Our goal is to be rid of the car payment and the two other bills we have before really starting. We are hoping to be debt free and have our home study completed by next Fall. At that time, we hope that we have selected an agency and have started or we are at least applying by that time. With Ryan's new job, it shouldn't be an issue.

So for all 3 of you who are reading this blog, please keep us in prayer! Please feel free to share our blog.

Hugs,
Dy

Decisions loom in the not too distant future....

Okay, so I'm not sure how to describe today. I did go pick up the application packet for the foster-to-adopt at the new agency we are looking at. The lady was very nice and had me do a quick informal questionnaire. Everything was going great until she asked about pets. "Do we have pets?" I of course said yes and explained how involved we are with our fur-kids. She seemed bummed and said that she would have to talk to the main Director to see if our dogs were going to be a "set-back". So judging from the reaction I got. I am assuming that we will be a "No Go". Which is very sad, but at the same time, we still have others doors to pursue. 

So when I got home, Ryan and I had a talk. He is so very supportive and let me know that, while he is okay with adoption...he'd really rather not go through the foster care system. He's just heard too many horror stories and doesn't want to be heart broken. I did try to explain to him that no matter what path we follow....there is always heartbreak. So he really, really wants a natural child and it breaks my hear that I cannot provide that. So as I sit here, I am looking at the packet and thinking: "Why do I even try?" Then I think, there is a reason God has placed this "need/feeling" on my heart and that no matter what road we choose, as long as we follow and trust in HIM then everything will turn out fine.

So now I am researching everything I can on domestic and international adoption. Talk about EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!! I am thinking of fundraisers and other ways we can raise money for which ever type we choose (domestic or international) According to several sites Domestic Adoption runs $8,000- $30,000 respectively and International Adoptions runs $10,000 - $40,000. While that is a lot of money to us and millions of others, it really doesn't matter in the long scheme of it all. Yes it may take us longer to accomplish this, but if this is what God wants for us, then nothing can stop us! Because in the end....all that matters is God's unconditional love that we can show to whomever, He places with us and the love that we can give to the child.

Exciting News!

I am proud to announce that Ryan interviewed and was promoted to Greenfield Unified School Districts Network and Database Manager. =) This may seem like a small step, but this has opened the door for us to really be able to start the Foster-Adopt process through Pathway Family Services. I am going on Monday to pick up all the necessary paperwork to get this started.

I am so very excited. We had friends over last night for dinner and their youngest is about 4 years. She was totally into Ryan. She is the first child under the age of 6 that has not looked at Ryan and burst into tears. Let me tell you Ryan ATE up all the attention. He really did great with her. She was quite crabby, since she had missed her nap. Ryan just doted upon her. He pulled the Winnie Pooh and Eeyore that we have purchased as decor for the gender neutral room and took her into the guest bedroom to lay down for a nap. She came back of course and sat with Ryan holding Eeyore. She almost fell asleep. You could see that Ryan was just as happy as a clam with all this attention. He really does love kids and I think he's going to make a wonderful father!

So keep us in prayer! This is going to be a crazy ride...but I think in the end 100% worth it!


Dy

Life Gets Away from Us

Okay, I am so very sorry about the over 6 months of no posts, but there really hasn't been anything to write about. The acupuncture...a no go. It helped a bit, but didn't get anything going. God has a plan and a reason for everything that happens. So I am guessing that right now, a natural child is not the right path for now.

Are we going to give up?
Absolutely NOT! We actually met a wonderful gentleman that works for a private Christian Foster Care Service. He gave us new hope in the possibility of being able to Foster-Adopt.

We had a bad experience with the past agency we dealt with. They made us feel like we were not worthy or good enough. So fingers crossed and prayers are being sent up. We only want God's Will in this situation and this seems like the past we are to take.

Thanks,
Dyellen & Ryan

Bood Work Part 2 : Another late post with some exciting information. . .

Okay, so I went on on Monday to see Dr.R and we went over some more of my test results. . . they pretty much said the same thing as as last time. . . My body just hates me, lol. So this time she took me into the treatment room and had me lay on my back this time with my legs elevated. She then places about 30 needles in various places. My hands, arms, lower abdomen, legs and toes. She even used the electro-stim on a few needles on the lower part of my abdomen. I still have no period! =( Dr. R did put me on some Chinsese Herbs. They are called Wen Jing Wan. They are supposed to help me and my menstruation issues. I have to take 15 of these little black (fish egg looking) pills between meals with a warm drink, twice a day. So far I seem to remember to take them. . .

Another bit of news for us. . . Some friends of ours just lost a cousin in a automobile accident. The cousin left behind a two year son and his young wife. Needless to say the little boy had been in picked up by CPS and placed in Foster Care prior to all of this and had pretty much just been placed back with the his parents right before the accident. In this terrible time, our friends family has asked Ryan and myself if we were interested in adopting this little guy, should they be able to gain custody. Just please pray with all your might for God's Will in this situation. Ryan and I are very open to this arrangement, but with the circumstances and everything being unknown and the fact that this baby is in another state, we know that this would be very expensive and costly to all involved. So please pray for us in all of this.
As Ryan said last night. . ."He needs a young mind to mold!". . .what a scary thought!

I seen Dr. R next Monday. . .here's hoping for a period!

Dy

Blood work results part 1

Hi all,

Sorry I have been remiss in adding posts, but there was nothing to report last week. However, my appointment that was on Tuesday was very interesting! So I did get part of my results back and things are not good. My body is completely upside down. My metabolism is practically non-existant, my body cannot detox itself, my body and amino acids are completely either non-existent or way too high AND all my fatigue markers are off the chart. Dr. R also ran a food sensitivity test. I am severely sensitive to grape, sunflowers, tilapia and other items. . .my okay food list is almost non-existant. . .I have a handful of fruits I can eat, a good bit of veggies, but half of them I will either never eat or that I have never even heard of. For meats, I can eat pork, turkey and buffalo (yeah, we can just get buffalo any where in Bakersfield for cheap)

I still have some test results that are still pending. . .so we shall see what the final results are and what my future menu holds, lol. I will update again on Monday!

Dy