I am writing this blog to kind of unravel my thoughts on paper and maybe get even more insight to my recent epiphany/realization about myself. When it comes to reading I am a very quick reader - like I can finish 150-200 page novel in an hour/hour and a half (depending on distractions and how interesting the book is). I'm not trying to brag, just trying to lay the facts as I delve deeper into my thoughts.
Side note: why and where did my speed reading abilities root? Well the earliest memory is when I was about 5 years old, maybe 6 or 7 ish, my dad took speed reading classes and I remember that I learned to read around the age of 5 (I had an older brother learning so I wanted to as well - Ben is 19 months older than I)...anyways, I specifically remember sitting in church and while the congregation was singing a Hymn, I would 'race' my dad reading the verses. How? I would tell my dad when to start and we'd both start reading, then as soon as I was done the verse i'd announce it to him - of course asking if I had beat him, and most of the time he let me win i'm sure lol, but it was beautiful moments we shared together. After that I just wanted to read fast like my dad I guess. Then I remember once I started school and into grades where the teacher would tell us to read something, then put our heads down when we were done, or something like that - I always wanted to be first. Whether it was to feel accepted or whether it was I wanted to feel 'smart' because I could read fast I couldn't really tell you (it wasn't intentional). That was about grade 4 that we started doing textbook work I would say, which is also when I moved into a new school, town, and new classmates.
Anyways, i'll tell you my realization, I don't know how to thoroughly read. When I read, I skim read. When it's a book or story that truly entertains me, I still skim read just a little less than if it were something that didn't 100% interest me. I can tell you everything that happens in the book because I have read it just in a different way than many others do.
But this explains so much to me! For instance:
1. School: I was never a great student academically - I passed many of my classes with a passing grade. I never really understood that because I felt like, and still feel like i'm quite intelligent, but in school I could never excel. Thinking back on it, the work I did best on was when teachers didn't do much more than copy a sentence out of the textbook and you had to find the rest of the answer. You know the ones, you find the key words and the answer is right there. But if I had to thoroughly read something and understand it and interrpret it - I never did well. I would have a basic understanding but I didn't know -how- to read it deeper.
2. The Scriptures: I am presently delving into reading the Old Testament cover to cover - something i've never accomplished in my life. Holy Smokes! I am strugging SO hard. I can't stay focused on one word after another. I sit there reading and next thing you know i'm to the next page but haven't 'read' anything! So i'll go back and force everyword into my mind and will have gotten even less than when I read it the first time - in fact reading word for word breaks it down too slowly that my brain physically can't internalize it.
3. Bowen: I absolutely love everything to do with Bowen and want to learn more, more, more! I sit and read my notes, my textbooks, and I truly can't read it word for word, I have to read it skim reading 3 or 4 times to get as much as I can out of it, but cannot go deeper or slower than that. I am terrified because I have to take an anatomy course, and they offer one via online learning, which is potentially good for me - but it requires straight reading! Not only just reading, but reading ANATOMY...I need classroom teaching, but at this point that's not feasable for my lifestyle to take a class that way. I'm nervous..
I just had another epiphany/realization. This reading problem likely is why I struggle with testing! Most multiple choice questions you have to truly read it, understand it, internalize it, then read the 4 option answers and THEN choose the 'best' answer. Hello! That isn't how my mind works.. no wonder I barely passed my high school classes, and no wonder I passed my college courses with a barely passing grade!
Anyways, so of course I can read and of course I am intelligent, but this is just some new information that I have learned about myself that may just help me (I'm not sure how yet) with my future learning - and my future teaching of my children.
The reason I started thinking about this is because when my father-in-law was here he mentioned how quickly he read, and I mentioned out of the blue that it's really a curse because if he's like me, I read a book in a night and then have nothing else to read! Then it's harder to find things to read because you've 'read everything' so to speak. So the curse is really deeper then that and i'm glad to have at least recognized it at this point in time.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Cleaning success
I wanted to share the success I've had with my 'chore chart' I have been following. I have added to it on my printed off version, but this is more or less my system. It's been lovely to be 'on top of' everything! The duties i've assigned myself are fairly simple when done in isolation, and by spending a mere 20 minutes a day working on a specific assignment keeps my house in pretty good shape! Logan also loves to assist me. He loves sweeping and mopping, and he loves holding the spray bottle and a paper towel to clean mirrors/windows! Also, I have a list of occasional duties that I am working on creating - things that really truly don't need to happen weekly but i'd like to see them happen monthly, or at the very longest every 2nd month. Example: This past week I washed the walls in my kitchen. On other days I will wash other room walls, wash the fronts of cupboards, clean fridge/stove, or I will do things like reorganize or sort Logan's toys, etc. My goal is never to have to do a spring cleaning!
The other joy of my list is that if I miss a week due to appointments or not being home, I feel no guilt because it will be done in a weeks time!
Frankly this system just works well for me! My house is in a manner that is pleasing to me and I can have my entire home tidy and clean within 10 minutes if I should happen to have company coming last minute which is a great accomplishment.
PS. You will also note that I do not do anything specific on weekends other than 'house maintenance' to keep the house tidy - it's nice to be able to just spend time with my boys :)
The other joy of my list is that if I miss a week due to appointments or not being home, I feel no guilt because it will be done in a weeks time!
Frankly this system just works well for me! My house is in a manner that is pleasing to me and I can have my entire home tidy and clean within 10 minutes if I should happen to have company coming last minute which is a great accomplishment.
PS. You will also note that I do not do anything specific on weekends other than 'house maintenance' to keep the house tidy - it's nice to be able to just spend time with my boys :)
SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY | SATURDAY |
WEEK 1 | Vacuuming + Mop Kitchen Floor | Gather Garbage’s | Bathrooms | Windows/Mirrors in Logan's reach | Laundry Day + sheets | |
WEEK 2 | Vacuuming + Mop Kitchen Floor | Gather Garbage’s | Dusting | Windows/Mirrors in Logan's reach | Laundry Day | |
WEEK 3 | Vacuuming + Mop Kitchen Floor | Gather Garbage’s | Bathrooms | Windows/Mirrors in Logan's reach | Laundry Day + sheets | |
WEEK 4 | Vacuuming + Mop Kitchen Floor | Gather Garbage’s | Dusting | Windows/Mirrors in Logan's reach | Laundry Day |
Logan's Sleep Training: Results
I have been asked alot about this, so I'll let you know that most of the time Logan now sleeps through the night - and by definition of an 8 hour stretch in a night Logan -always- sleeps through the night. If Logan is to wake up, it's either within an hour or two after going down (Michael just talks him back to sleep from outside the door - he doesn't require a bottle anymore), or he'll wake up briefly between 5 & 6am (Michael again just talks him back to sleep).
The best part about this process is Logan is on an extremely accurate schedule. He wakes up at 7:15am, he naps from 12-2 (and I have to wake him up by 2 98% of the time), and goes to bed at 8pm. This schedule is almost on the dot every day - if it strays i'm always very surprised. I even have his 'feeding' times to a T - he'll even ask if I haven't gotten him a snack by 2:30!
Our next steps (which i'm in no rush) is to start transferring his bottles into sippy cups at those three times - bedtime, nap and morning. The morning will be the first to go, then bedtime (he doesn't go to sleep with a bottle I better clarify, he has one downstairs while winding down watching a show), and lastly naptime.
So our goals I think have been met! The only problem at this point is that I haven't taken a shot at bedtime and am not sure what will bethe case when I do...but at this point we're okay with that - Michael has built a beautiful routine that I should be okay when the time comes. He is home every night until at least spring thaw occurs, and that's at least another month away before I need to stress!
The best part about this process is Logan is on an extremely accurate schedule. He wakes up at 7:15am, he naps from 12-2 (and I have to wake him up by 2 98% of the time), and goes to bed at 8pm. This schedule is almost on the dot every day - if it strays i'm always very surprised. I even have his 'feeding' times to a T - he'll even ask if I haven't gotten him a snack by 2:30!
Our next steps (which i'm in no rush) is to start transferring his bottles into sippy cups at those three times - bedtime, nap and morning. The morning will be the first to go, then bedtime (he doesn't go to sleep with a bottle I better clarify, he has one downstairs while winding down watching a show), and lastly naptime.
So our goals I think have been met! The only problem at this point is that I haven't taken a shot at bedtime and am not sure what will bethe case when I do...but at this point we're okay with that - Michael has built a beautiful routine that I should be okay when the time comes. He is home every night until at least spring thaw occurs, and that's at least another month away before I need to stress!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sleep training thus far
I am completely blown away by how smoothly this has gone (thus far). I anticipated a fight from Logan in lots of the little details she has requested from us to do with him (maybe because he has fought us the whole way when we've made the attempts in the past?) Anyways, the more i've had time to dwell on why that is, I think it's just the sequence of how she has asked us to do the steps.
The basic plan: Move Logan back into a crib (sleep training in a crib is a 3-4 week process while if we had done it from his bed - in a noncontained location - she said it would take 6+ months, or not work at all even at that point), teach him to fall asleep without a bottle, then do the sit next to the crib for so many days, then move farther away, etc.
Week one: I called this week 'prep week'.
-We had to spend a few times a day playing in his crib to allow him time to know it really isn't as traumatizing as he made it out to be.
-We had to put him down (still in his bed at this time) without a bottle to go to sleep. I was BLOWN away that he didn't fight this one. She (Dawn is her name) said we could still give him a bottle, but we had to do it before bed. So our bedtime routine has turned into watching a cartoon downstairs while he has his bedtime bottle, then when he's done Michael or I takes him upstairs and puts him to bed. It worked phenominally!
-We had to ensure he never slept passed 2:00 if we wanted him in bed by 8:00. Dawn said that before bedtime you must have them awake 5-6 hours or they will fight you or not go down on time. This has been interesting, not in a negative however! So I used to put him down for nap anywhere from 11:30-12:30, depending when he was ready. Well he was seeming ready between 12 and 12:30 all the time, but when 2:00 rolled around I always had to wake him! I decided to try putting him down earlier, which in past has never worked as he always would just drink his bottle and be awake afterwards, but now he just goes to sleep - it's weird! So I actually put him down at 11:30 now - and STILL have to wake him up at 2:00! There hasn't been a time in the past 10+ days since starting this process I havent had to wake him up. It's crazy. (and it's really humerous waking him lol)
3 Nights after the first week of prep:
-Dawn told us that Michael should do the first 3 nights and I should not be in the house when he goes down. The reasoning is that babies tend to have a different emotional attachment to daddy's than mommy's, and in Logan's case if he knows i'm in the house he is very difficult to be put to bed by Michael as he has a very strong attachment to me. This worked out great as I was in my Bowen all weekend so I wasn't around anyways!
-Michael was to sleep in the room these 3 nights
-Michael was sitting right next to the crib and could touch and talk to Logan (but his speech was to be restricted to specific words and phrases only) for comfort.
*We were both blown away that he didn't fight this process at all! Michael has done outstandingly phenominal - I am positive he's done better than I could have! So Michael goes in, lays him down, has him cuddle his puppy, dog and baby, and then within 10-15 mins Logan is out like a light! Can you believe that? I surely can't.. He wakes up in the night usually for a drink of water (like truly a sips worth) and then usually wakes up 1-2 other times. During those wake ups michael sits in the chair, and usues those key phrases and can hold his hand, pat his back, etc. Michael has embraced using those stuffed animals and it's working great.
As of last night we're starting the next phase. He has moved his chair away from the crib and can no longer console with touch, just speech, and he no longer sleeps in the room. Michael chose to sleep upstairs in Logan's bed across the hall last night (and probably tonight) so he can hear him when he wakes. He still was just as easy to put down and just as easy to console without the touch.
I have not done a night myself yet with Logan. I was going to try but Michael is doing so well that I thought i'd let him take this one. Dawn told us that whenever I do my first night to expect more tears than Michael does, so we talked about it and will allow Michael a chance to really instill the training before I step in.
So as I said in the beginning of this blog, I think that my past attemps have failed because I just didn't combine all the prep work, and the proper steps and such with what I was trying. And of course, it failed because I didn't have anyone to be accountable to, and being that I have to email Dawn every day with how the night went, it's much easier to keep on track. Also, i've read this same sleep training theory that she has given us in books, and people have told us about it,etc but it's not the same until you read it with Logan's name right in the sentences, and your specific issues written in the plan.
Well that's my update! We're pleased with things, but Logan's also being really easy on us (well Michael). I am not sure though that I can keep up the 'hiding' at bedtime thing.. I don't like doing it, but for the next few days it's necessary for Michael's sake more than anything - makes the process that much easier on both of them.
The basic plan: Move Logan back into a crib (sleep training in a crib is a 3-4 week process while if we had done it from his bed - in a noncontained location - she said it would take 6+ months, or not work at all even at that point), teach him to fall asleep without a bottle, then do the sit next to the crib for so many days, then move farther away, etc.
Week one: I called this week 'prep week'.
-We had to spend a few times a day playing in his crib to allow him time to know it really isn't as traumatizing as he made it out to be.
-We had to put him down (still in his bed at this time) without a bottle to go to sleep. I was BLOWN away that he didn't fight this one. She (Dawn is her name) said we could still give him a bottle, but we had to do it before bed. So our bedtime routine has turned into watching a cartoon downstairs while he has his bedtime bottle, then when he's done Michael or I takes him upstairs and puts him to bed. It worked phenominally!
-We had to ensure he never slept passed 2:00 if we wanted him in bed by 8:00. Dawn said that before bedtime you must have them awake 5-6 hours or they will fight you or not go down on time. This has been interesting, not in a negative however! So I used to put him down for nap anywhere from 11:30-12:30, depending when he was ready. Well he was seeming ready between 12 and 12:30 all the time, but when 2:00 rolled around I always had to wake him! I decided to try putting him down earlier, which in past has never worked as he always would just drink his bottle and be awake afterwards, but now he just goes to sleep - it's weird! So I actually put him down at 11:30 now - and STILL have to wake him up at 2:00! There hasn't been a time in the past 10+ days since starting this process I havent had to wake him up. It's crazy. (and it's really humerous waking him lol)
3 Nights after the first week of prep:
-Dawn told us that Michael should do the first 3 nights and I should not be in the house when he goes down. The reasoning is that babies tend to have a different emotional attachment to daddy's than mommy's, and in Logan's case if he knows i'm in the house he is very difficult to be put to bed by Michael as he has a very strong attachment to me. This worked out great as I was in my Bowen all weekend so I wasn't around anyways!
-Michael was to sleep in the room these 3 nights
-Michael was sitting right next to the crib and could touch and talk to Logan (but his speech was to be restricted to specific words and phrases only) for comfort.
*We were both blown away that he didn't fight this process at all! Michael has done outstandingly phenominal - I am positive he's done better than I could have! So Michael goes in, lays him down, has him cuddle his puppy, dog and baby, and then within 10-15 mins Logan is out like a light! Can you believe that? I surely can't.. He wakes up in the night usually for a drink of water (like truly a sips worth) and then usually wakes up 1-2 other times. During those wake ups michael sits in the chair, and usues those key phrases and can hold his hand, pat his back, etc. Michael has embraced using those stuffed animals and it's working great.
As of last night we're starting the next phase. He has moved his chair away from the crib and can no longer console with touch, just speech, and he no longer sleeps in the room. Michael chose to sleep upstairs in Logan's bed across the hall last night (and probably tonight) so he can hear him when he wakes. He still was just as easy to put down and just as easy to console without the touch.
I have not done a night myself yet with Logan. I was going to try but Michael is doing so well that I thought i'd let him take this one. Dawn told us that whenever I do my first night to expect more tears than Michael does, so we talked about it and will allow Michael a chance to really instill the training before I step in.
So as I said in the beginning of this blog, I think that my past attemps have failed because I just didn't combine all the prep work, and the proper steps and such with what I was trying. And of course, it failed because I didn't have anyone to be accountable to, and being that I have to email Dawn every day with how the night went, it's much easier to keep on track. Also, i've read this same sleep training theory that she has given us in books, and people have told us about it,etc but it's not the same until you read it with Logan's name right in the sentences, and your specific issues written in the plan.
Well that's my update! We're pleased with things, but Logan's also being really easy on us (well Michael). I am not sure though that I can keep up the 'hiding' at bedtime thing.. I don't like doing it, but for the next few days it's necessary for Michael's sake more than anything - makes the process that much easier on both of them.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Showhomes
Last night Michael, Logan and I went to look at some showhomes in the Riversong area (a new development in Cochrane) just because. They are 3 bedroom homes starting at 279000 which is potentially in where we'd like to be as far as a home purchase goes. Anyways, certain elements of the homes were beyond wonderful (like it seems they really focus on the kitchen/dining area in all of them which is crucial in my future home) but I actually was overall disappointed in every single one of them. My favourite ones were the larger ones of course and they are 320K at 1600sqft which isn't -awful- BUT they all come with unfinished basements! I have HUGE issues with unfinished basements. Frankly, it seems that the unfinished basement is the most commonly used area of the home!
Let me explain that.. so there are 3 bedrooms upstairs and then on the mainfloor there is a kitchen, dining room, sitting room and bathroom. Okay, did anyone see where I mentioned playroom space? or space to put toys? How about where do I put my computer? Or my piano? The rooms are too tiny to fill with all their toys, and I definely do not want toys in my living room because then it just looks cluttered and for me, clutter is EVIL. I could put my computer in a corner of the living room, and I suppose my TV, but then there's no space for a piano, etc. 1600sqft is plenty big but I don't feel they've maximized these starter homes to fit a -family- lifestyle! So, my favourite one was 320K (already going over budget), which I don't think included all the taxes, then on top of it all we'd need to finish the basement. The builder quotes 30-33K to finish it but said that if we're handy pepole it's possible to do a basement for 12-15K. But even still, that's 12-15K more than I don't have!
So as lovely as it seems to buy a brand new home, I personally think that I would still want to find an older home. For one, I know this sounds crazy but I want a 4-5 bedroom home! I want 3-4 bedrooms available for kids should it be needed, then I would want an office room to set up my sewing, my Bowen and my computer, then it'd be realy nice to have a spare room! Who doesn't have guests over? In those starter homes they'd be put in... you guessed it, THE BASEMENT! sigh.. I just don't understand why a tiny little home costs so much and is incomplete.
Anyways, that's my little rant :) I've been watching MLS and Kijiji, and there are older homes in the same price range that meet my criteria which is hopeful for the end of the year when we are actually serious about buying a home. Oh and another reason I would want an older home is that then it's in a nicer neighborhood! I have huge issues with these 'cookie cutter' neighborhoods. I love the neighborhood i'm in because it doesn't feel so squeezed in, it's got nice wide streets, lots of developed parks and not every house looks the EXACT same.
The home we are in is WAY better then the ones looked at. We fit lovely in here, we have TWO sitting rooms, all three rooms are huge and it's just all around wonderful. My only complaints is I would really love that 4th room space without having to cut down our living space in the basement portion of the home, I'd like an updated kitchen and I would like a front hall closet. It's interesting this smaller space is more functional then the showhomes which have an entire basement space that we don't have..
Let me explain that.. so there are 3 bedrooms upstairs and then on the mainfloor there is a kitchen, dining room, sitting room and bathroom. Okay, did anyone see where I mentioned playroom space? or space to put toys? How about where do I put my computer? Or my piano? The rooms are too tiny to fill with all their toys, and I definely do not want toys in my living room because then it just looks cluttered and for me, clutter is EVIL. I could put my computer in a corner of the living room, and I suppose my TV, but then there's no space for a piano, etc. 1600sqft is plenty big but I don't feel they've maximized these starter homes to fit a -family- lifestyle! So, my favourite one was 320K (already going over budget), which I don't think included all the taxes, then on top of it all we'd need to finish the basement. The builder quotes 30-33K to finish it but said that if we're handy pepole it's possible to do a basement for 12-15K. But even still, that's 12-15K more than I don't have!
So as lovely as it seems to buy a brand new home, I personally think that I would still want to find an older home. For one, I know this sounds crazy but I want a 4-5 bedroom home! I want 3-4 bedrooms available for kids should it be needed, then I would want an office room to set up my sewing, my Bowen and my computer, then it'd be realy nice to have a spare room! Who doesn't have guests over? In those starter homes they'd be put in... you guessed it, THE BASEMENT! sigh.. I just don't understand why a tiny little home costs so much and is incomplete.
Anyways, that's my little rant :) I've been watching MLS and Kijiji, and there are older homes in the same price range that meet my criteria which is hopeful for the end of the year when we are actually serious about buying a home. Oh and another reason I would want an older home is that then it's in a nicer neighborhood! I have huge issues with these 'cookie cutter' neighborhoods. I love the neighborhood i'm in because it doesn't feel so squeezed in, it's got nice wide streets, lots of developed parks and not every house looks the EXACT same.
The home we are in is WAY better then the ones looked at. We fit lovely in here, we have TWO sitting rooms, all three rooms are huge and it's just all around wonderful. My only complaints is I would really love that 4th room space without having to cut down our living space in the basement portion of the home, I'd like an updated kitchen and I would like a front hall closet. It's interesting this smaller space is more functional then the showhomes which have an entire basement space that we don't have..
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Ode to High School & life
Last night I was lying awake in bed at 3am because Logan was tossing and turning (he was fighting off his fever which seems to have gone away by this morning), and I was thinking that I have been graduated from high school 8 years this coming spring. It got me to wondering if someone is actually going to plan a 10-year for our grade. By all means I do NOT want to be involved in it - unless someone asked me to bring food for a meal or something lol but I would absoluetly love to see where everyone is and what everyone looks like 10 years later! It's partially selfish because frankly I want to show off what I've become as well! lol.. married, kid(s), healthier body, etc.
As I lay in bed I got to thinking more about my life and decided that my life can fairly easily to this point to be broken up into different phases. Childhood (phase 1), school age/ high school (phase 2), single life (phase 3), dating life (phase 4), married/family life (phase 5).
Phase 2 - Ode to my friends: We had SO much fun together! We went to my church's dances once a month, once I was driving we would regularly go to Edmonton (Rock&Rides! and of course shopping), we just would hang out at usually my home or Jade/Delaney's home, we did the online thing together, and since Jade at the time was dating long distance a guy in Florida, we would entertain ourselves with making home videos to send to 'our boys' down there! (lol Jade - "this is a ga-zee-bo, can you say ga-zee-bo?"). We truly had a great time! We didn't fight, we didn't hold grudges, we had fun, we were all just best friends! I could blog and blog and blog and blog about the good times and inside jokes we share. These people I met and spent time with in highschool were a huge building block in helping me become who I am today.
(me and Niki)
Dating: we took a camping trip to Thunder in the Valley
Yup, he proposed in a snow bank!
Time & All Eternity
My family
One of my most prized blessings in life
As I lay in bed I got to thinking more about my life and decided that my life can fairly easily to this point to be broken up into different phases. Childhood (phase 1), school age/ high school (phase 2), single life (phase 3), dating life (phase 4), married/family life (phase 5).
I've blogged about this stuff before but as I consider homeschooling Logan I constantly am thinking back to my school experience. Elementary was ok - I was extremely shy, and extremely uncomfortable most of the time - the shyness really aided that. I'm not sure that I would say that it really was beneficial to me or not - being home may have actually helped me more than the actual public system. Junior high was hell. Yup, I gained a crazy amount of weight, lost all my friends to them venturing down different directions, and suffered every amount of emotional pain possible! High school was when I found a huge transition in my and my peers lives - meaning people were starting to grow up a little. I was ever so lucky to meet my bestest friends Jade, Delaney & Tina! If it weren't for them I am not sure what I would have done!
(Tina, Delaney, Me, Jade)
Phase 3 - well after high school we all went our seperate ways. I'm sad to say we didn't really keep in touch for a few years. Jade and I have since talked about this and really it comes down to I was indugling in my church life and my friends were experimenting where they wanted their lives to go. So I continued on with where I was going. I full-throttle went into the single's ward and dated, partied, did the school thing, and just enjoyed the single life!
(me and Niki)
Phase 4 - I met Michael :) Best May 11th of my life hehe. Dating/engagement is a completly different ball park then single life. It was also extremely fun and entertaining and enjoyable.
Dating: we took a camping trip to Thunder in the Valley
Yup, he proposed in a snow bank!
Time & All Eternity
Phase 5 - currently in. AMAZING!
My family
One of my most prized blessings in life
As much as I have stated how much fun and wonderful the different phases are, I would never want to lose any of them. Each phase I have felt like I know everything (and of course in the moment I did right? lol), but wow the learning experiences we are faced with are phenominal. When I look at people in their different phases of life I always think that despite how wonderful they were, I would never want to go back because the more we grow the more we learn. I know that means 'aging' but frankly in the last 8 years specifically, the aging process hasn't really been that terrible! And I look at my own mother and she seems excited about life even still - grandbabies, watching her children succeed in various activites, etc. So that gives me hope. As my 10-year mark from graduation high school comes closer I look forward to it because it allows me to look at my life and truly see how happy I am/have been, and how lucky I am with all I have been blessed with.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Adoption Process
I finally feel ready to blog about this 'publically'. Michael and I (and of course Logan) have been pursing the adoption process since August. It's been a fabulous journey and so interesting along the way!
It took a long time to gather all the information. They give you a few pages of information and a list of things they require, which in the end isn't all that 'complex' but just time consuming! Our biggest hold up was Michael's criminal record check. No, my husband is not a criminal, but there are pardoned "offenders" in this country, and the police station do not have any personal information on those people except for things like birthdates - really just no names. Anyways, Michael's birthday falls on the same day as one of these people and thus he had to go downtown Calgary to be fingerprinted. They then send the fingerprints to the federal gov who confirms or denies if Michael is the offender in question. Does that make sense? It truly was a pain as there was only specific days and times he was able to go, first come first serve basis. Thankfully with prayer and inspiration on our side we chose the day and time that allowed him to get in and out quickly.
It's been an incredible journey. We weren't sure how we were going to financially cover the cost of adoption but again, we have the Lord on our side and it hasn't been a problem at all. In fact we've had occasions where things have ended up costing half or less the full cost 'just because'.
We recently finished our home study. We had a wonderful lady meet with us about 3 times (twice in our home) and she evaluated us and grilled us thoroughly. Thankfully Michael and I dont' have any secret ghosts in our closets and we have a fairly normal relationship - which resulted in a great written up analysis of us! I am very very pleased with the study.
As of monday (should the printing/copying process go as planned) I will be dropping off our profile and a cheque at LDS social services in Calgary. We are finished the paperwork side! At this point our file goes to be reviewed and eventually when the time is right our profile will be placed with the other profiles for adoptive parents to look at and choose from.
What a wonderful experience this has been, and Michael and I are very excited what the following years will bring us. Adoption can take years, and we anticipate this as we hope to have an addition to our family one way or another - if we have a biological baby then our account is put on hold until after the baby is born - no additional cost thankfully, just put on hold. My inspiration to get the process going was in my opinion strictly to get into 'the system'. My case worker had told me the rules were to be changing soon, which i'm not sure that they are changed yet or not, but the rules will allow only infertile mothers an opportunity to adopt. I'm sure this is supply and demand based. My own mother said this goes in and out of the rule book all the time, and apparently right now it's going in!
Anyways, looking forward to whatever comes onto our plate in the future :)
It took a long time to gather all the information. They give you a few pages of information and a list of things they require, which in the end isn't all that 'complex' but just time consuming! Our biggest hold up was Michael's criminal record check. No, my husband is not a criminal, but there are pardoned "offenders" in this country, and the police station do not have any personal information on those people except for things like birthdates - really just no names. Anyways, Michael's birthday falls on the same day as one of these people and thus he had to go downtown Calgary to be fingerprinted. They then send the fingerprints to the federal gov who confirms or denies if Michael is the offender in question. Does that make sense? It truly was a pain as there was only specific days and times he was able to go, first come first serve basis. Thankfully with prayer and inspiration on our side we chose the day and time that allowed him to get in and out quickly.
It's been an incredible journey. We weren't sure how we were going to financially cover the cost of adoption but again, we have the Lord on our side and it hasn't been a problem at all. In fact we've had occasions where things have ended up costing half or less the full cost 'just because'.
We recently finished our home study. We had a wonderful lady meet with us about 3 times (twice in our home) and she evaluated us and grilled us thoroughly. Thankfully Michael and I dont' have any secret ghosts in our closets and we have a fairly normal relationship - which resulted in a great written up analysis of us! I am very very pleased with the study.
As of monday (should the printing/copying process go as planned) I will be dropping off our profile and a cheque at LDS social services in Calgary. We are finished the paperwork side! At this point our file goes to be reviewed and eventually when the time is right our profile will be placed with the other profiles for adoptive parents to look at and choose from.
What a wonderful experience this has been, and Michael and I are very excited what the following years will bring us. Adoption can take years, and we anticipate this as we hope to have an addition to our family one way or another - if we have a biological baby then our account is put on hold until after the baby is born - no additional cost thankfully, just put on hold. My inspiration to get the process going was in my opinion strictly to get into 'the system'. My case worker had told me the rules were to be changing soon, which i'm not sure that they are changed yet or not, but the rules will allow only infertile mothers an opportunity to adopt. I'm sure this is supply and demand based. My own mother said this goes in and out of the rule book all the time, and apparently right now it's going in!
Anyways, looking forward to whatever comes onto our plate in the future :)
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