Exciting Contest!!

**Edit--Link Now Works**

Most of you know that we made the switch to cloth diapers a few months ago, and we are loving it! We use the BumGenius 3.0 one size pocket diapers, and we highly recommended them. (See previous diaper posts and links on the right.) So you can imagine my excitement when I found out about this contest (scroll down the page to find the contest information).

All you have to do is post an answer to the question, "What's Your Favorite Way to Beat the Heat in the Summer?" and you're entered! The winner receives 18 BumGenius diapers, a diaper sprayer, a dozen cloth wipes, and bottle of odor remover. We started off with 6 diapers, and that meant almost constant washing with a lot of supplementing with disposables. We recently bought another 6 to give us a dozen, and that has helped a ton. However, we'd love a few more so that we can rotate the diapers and extend their life span. I'm also dying to have a diaper sprayer to help with the not-so-fun diapers.

This would be the perfect way to start cloth diapering. Good luck!

Going to Colorado!

Dear Friends,

Two years ago, one of my closest friends was diagnosed with an eating disorder, and it has been a very difficult time for both of us. In order to know how best to help her, I have worked hard to educate myself on a very misunderstood disease. I am now learning how common this disease is even though very few people talk about it.

Eating disorders affect up to 24 million Americans, and 1 in 5 women struggle with eating disorders or disordered eating. Nearly half of all Americans personally know someone with an eating disorder, and 20% of those with eating disorders die prematurely from complications of the disorder. For more information, visit www.eatingdisorderinfo.org.

These statistics apply to those in our churches, and God has been burdening my heart for those who are fighting eating disorders. I know that He wants to use me to help others who are struggling with these issues.

In May, a friend and Navigator's missionary, sent me information about an upcoming national training seminar focusing on this issue: A Christian Approach to Disordered Eating and Body Image Issues. It is being hosted by the Navigators and will be held in two weeks, from July 17-19. It is being presented by Remuda Ranch, one of the top residential counseling facilities in the country that specializes in these issues. I encourage you to visit their website, www.remudaranch.com, to learn more about their program.

This three day seminar will take place at historic Glen Eyrie, a Christian retreat center and home of The Navigators Colorado Springs. I am looking forward to not only learning more how to help people in this area, but also to understand the struggle they are going through and how to help them spiritually. For more information about this seminar, go to their website at www.navigators.org/us/ministries/
gleneyrie/programs/programs/eatingdisorders.

I will be attending the conference with Katrina. The Navigators leadership team here in Detroit has encouraged us to attend. I am very excited to attend this seminar; however, I need your help. It will cost $575 to attend the seminar. That includes airfare, rental car, meals, housing, and seminar fees.

Would you be willing to give a gift to help send me to this training seminar? If 6-8 friends would give $50-$75 each, and another 2-3 friends give $100-$125 each, my costs would be covered. As the Lord leads, would you make your check payable to The Navigators and send it to me in the enclosed envelope? I will be sure your gift is sent to the right account and that you receive a tax-deductible receipt from The Navigators.

Thank you so much for your prayers and any financial support you may give. I am very excited to see how God will use this seminar to equip me to minister to many who are hungry for hope!

Sincerely,

Rebekah

Little Buddy in the Tub

Yesterday at Babies R Us, we were approached by a Kiddie Kandids worker and asked if she could take pictures of Steven and give us a free 8x10. Umm. . .yes! Steven was Mr. Personality while they took down our information, but then clammed up and got all serious as soon as it was time to take his picture. We finally got him smiling toward the end, and, of course, as soon as we were done, he was Mr. Personality again!

This is the picture that I picked, but I didn't pay extra to get it with the border and text. I added those through their site a few minutes ago.




They gave me referral coupons to give out--you get the same deal, a free 8x10. The nice thing? Absolutely NO pressure to buy anything!

I haven't blogged much this week because I just haven't felt up to it. However, we've had a number of things happen this week that I want to share. The one for now is that I took Steven to the doctor on Wednesday to have her check out his breathing. It sounded like he had a rattle in his chest, and I decided to get it checked out since I already had to stop by the office to get paperwork filled out and a copy of his immunization records to send in to the adoption agency.

I hadn't really paid attention to his breathing, but someone asked me about it last weekend, and that made me more aware of it. It wasn't constant, but it did come and go a lot. The doctor listened to his breathing (and of course it sounded fine!), and she said that since he didn't have a fever, runny nose, cough, etc. that he was fine. Babies don't cough/clear their throats like they need to, and sometimes that results in what sounds like a rattle in their throats.

When I went to pay, I knew that I owed for our last visit. I hadn't paid then because I found out that they accepted Medicaid, and I didn't have his card with me since I had never used it before. But, when I got there, I found out that they don't take his type of Medicaid (Omnicare), and that's why I owed for two visits. However, the lady at the desk told me that I had a credit on my account, and that I didn't owe anything for either visit. In fact, I think I still have $10 left! I have no idea why there was the credit, and she couldn't tell me either.

After the doctor's office, Steven and I went to lunch and shopping with my friend Rachel, and while we were at Kohl's, the doctor called us. The connection was bad, so if I moved (or breathed), she started cutting in and out. However, I'm pretty sure I got all the important stuff. When the nurse did Steven's vitals, she took his pulse twice. The first time it was 240 (really high), but the second time it was normal. I guess that there is some type of condition that can cause a rapid heart rate to come and go, and there is usually also some breathing difficulties (but nothing related to a rattle in the chest).

As a precaution, the doctor is sending us to the children's hospital to get a resting EKG which will be read by a pediactric cardiologist. If we feel his heart rate spike at all, then we need to take him in right away. I've never really felt his heart beat, but the doctor said to check it occasionally to see if I notice anything.

Right now, there is nothing to worry about, but it is a bit scary to have to take your baby to the hospital. I think we're going to do it on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. (It wasn't urgent to the point of having to do it right then, but it needs to be done in the next week or two.) I will let you know when we take him in and what the doctor says. Thank you for your prayers about this!

Car Update

There was a screw stuck in our tire! I got it fixed after work last night, and it only cost $20. Yay!!

My Day So Far

1. Woke up much earlier than I wanted to when Mark called me on his way to work to tell me that I needed to take my car in to get one of the tires fixed since it was leaking air. (Mark drove my parents' car to work today since they're letting us borrow it while they're out of town.)

2. Lollygagged to the extent that I didn't have time to get the tire fixed. Instead, I just got it filled with air and am taking it in after I get off work.

3. Got stuck behind all the slow people who are trying to save money on gas by going below the speed limit no matter what lane they're in.

4. Called work to let them know I'd be 15 minutes late. I HATE that.

5. Get to work and find out that I actually started LAST WEEK! Oops. No one noticed, though; I didn't get a call or anything. I also didn't have any appointments during that time. Still, it's really frustrating, and it means that I lost a day's pay.

6. Realize I forgot my flashdrive at home. I don't need it for work, but since I only have one appointment out of a possible eight today, it would have been nice to get some work done.

Those things usually add up to a bad day, but so far, it's not been too bad. When I got up this morning, I found an anniversary card waiting for me in the bathroom. That kind of thing usually gets your day off to a good start. I also got to see my best friend Rachel this morning when I dropped Steven off at her house. Steven wore his "My aunt loves me" shirt just for her :) I so thankful for her watching Steven for me today. I don't have to worry about him at all while he's with his Aunt Rachel!

Back to work. . .

but first I have to get my tire fixed :(

Today's the Day!

Today Steven gets to meet all his cousins! Well, not all, but all the ones on my mom's side of the family. Last year we had one little boy, and this year we have at least four! Matthew is almost 1, Josiah is probably around 11 months, and Steven's 7.5 months. It will be interesting to see them all together.

My mom and sister both asked me what Steven's going to wear. I don't know yet. Lauren told me that as long as it's not argyle, she'll be fine with it :) My mom gave the nice grandma response by saying that he looks cute in everything, so it doesn't really matter.

We leave early today, so I had better go to bed and get some sleep! I'm a complete night owl, and that's not a good thing. I'm also going to investigate why something keeps going off and singing "A, B, C." I think it's his alphabet ball because it never gets past the "C." Either one of the critters is investigating it, or it's doing its own thing. Gotta love toys that go off randomly!

First Big Boy Bath!

Up until this point, I've been giving Steven his baths on his yellow bear sponge in the bath tub. However, now that he can sit up like a pro, I pulled out his little bath seat from the basement and tried it out.

Steven did great! I was worried a little about the hair washing with the water going over his face, but he handled it pretty well. I had practiced some before by letting the water spray in his face. He always reacts, but he doesn't cry.

I also experimented with the video camera and tried it out while he was in the tub. Steven didn't do anything exciting, but now I know how to work it. When I used my regular camera, I didn't realize that the flash eliminated some of the shadows. Fortunately, I noticed this before posting the pictures. I'm trying to keep this a G-rated site :)

Yays for the Day!

Steven doesn't have to get a new physical! The doctor will just fill out the form based on his 6 month physical at the end of May. This saves me the hassle of finding a way to get him to the doctor's office. Yay for that!

(It doesn't save us a copay since we recently found out that the doctor WILL take his Medicaid, but still, yay for not having to make the trip!)

Other yay for the day--It is 4:00, and Steven is just now waking up from his nap. I put him down at 11:30. That's 4 1/2 hours!! And he's just jabbering to himself in his crib right now, so I can finish what I'm doing before I go get him. Double yay!!

Heading To Finalization!

This morning (way too early for both Steven and me!), we had our final homestudy visit. It went well, and we answered the usual questions about Steven--his routine, favorite toys, favorite foods, etc. Our social worker also asked us how people are responding to him and what kind of reactions we get to him.

I told her that I had my first negative encounter last week, and it was from a very surprising source. It bothered me, of course, but it was from a person that I very rarely see, so it isn't something I'm likely to face from this person again. It wasn't against Steven really; it was more against his race in a way. That sounds bad now that I've written it, but basically, this person didn't think that I should be teaching him about his black heritage and instead just raise him as "an American." This person's argument was mainly based on stereotypes and said that it didn't make sense to teach Steven about the black community since it is mostly about criminals/poor people/undereducated. Why raise him as a black man when that is all about prisons and stuff.

Needless to say, I disagreed, but because of the situation, I couldn't really get into too much of an argument. Instead, I had to just let it go/change the subject. I know that some of you will disagree with my response, but trust me, in the situation that I was in, I really couldn't risk the argument.

Overall, though, everyone has reacted really positively to Steven, and we always are getting comments on how cute he is. I have to agree with all those comments, of course!

The last few things we have to do are take Steven in for a physical, fill out some court paperwork when it comes in the mail, and mail both the paperwork and my psych. eval to Bethany. After that is all processed, we will get the official documents in the mail saying that he is legally ours and his new birth certificate with both his new name (Steven James -----) and our names on it. The last thing our social worker has to do is write out her recommendation for adoption based on all our post-placement homestudy visits. We're definitely getting to the end!

At the end of the visit, much to Mark's dismay, I asked the social worker (hypothetically, of course!) how long you have to wait before filling out another adoption application. She said that they generally prefer that you wait until a year from placement, esp. in a cases where you are open to transracial adoption since that can happen so quickly. Mark likes the idea of waiting four years! I want our kids to be much closer together than that--I've told him that I'm ready now :)

I'm off to bed now for a nap while Steven's asleep. I woke up nauseated several times in the night, and it hasn't gone away. I realized about an hour ago that it is probably due to a new medication that I started on Sunday. I was on similar medication back in high school, and it made me really sick then. I've been on a variation of it for the last year or so and was fine, but because of my insurance, I switched to another (and apparently stronger) version. If the nausea continues for the rest of the week, I'll have to talk to my doctor about other options. There's no way I can function like this!