This weekend will mark 8 weeks that Amos has been home. On one hand it seems like the longest 8 weeks of my entire life, but on the other hand it seems as though he just got here. One thing I do know is that each day we see improvements. It was about this time with Story that we looked at each other one day and realized that it was going to be okay. That she was going to make it, she would adjust and we would get in a groove. I would say that sometimes we have a groove going on around here and other days it is mass chaos!
This past week has been fabulous with Amos. Aaron has been home a lot more and that makes a huge difference for him. He doesn't pull some of the stuff that he pulls on me with Aaron. Aaron can have a talk with him and he is a different kid. With me, he just pushes and pushes and pushes. Not sure what I'm not doing right, but whatever. He is super duper all over me, so maybe he's all over me and pushing me away to see what would happen all at the same time. Who knows!
The other day I took all the kids through a car wash and it was Story's first time. Amos had been through once before with Aaron, so he knew what to expect. It was the sweetest moment b/c he reached over and held Story's hand and kept reassuring her that it was going to be okay. I see so many moments of him nurturing her and protecting her. They have a strong bond since they lived together since she was about a week old. I love that so much for them.
There are times when all three boys play together, but I still see a lot of 2 and 2 playing. Amos and Story together and Deacon and Cayden together. Or sometimes it's Cayden and Deacon playing together, Story playing alone and Amos all over me!
I went to my mom's group for the first time this week and Amos did okay. I could see him wanting to be around me a lot and not the kids, but for the most part he did great. Today we met some moms and kids at the park and stayed an hour before I could see Amos about to lose it. I jetted out of there quickly to try and keep him from going to that place. We did pretty good and only had a few “I don't like Mommy's car” comments on the way home!
I have to laugh at myself for the past two days of screwing stuff up. Yesterday I sent Aaron to practice with all the kids at 5:45 and he was already running super late. He got there about 30 min late to find out that the practice was at 4:45. I had told him the wrong time.
Then today I took C & D to the dentist only to find out that when our insurance changed they are not in our network anymore. Oh yeah I drove 35 min there at 8AM. The sad thing is that the lady from the office had called me earlier this week to verify the insurance and I told her I would call her back and never did. UGH.
I had to laugh at myself. I'm hoping today that I get Cayden to his doctor and soccer practice at the right times!!!
Tomorrow we're taking the boys to Sea World for the weekend. They don't know yet. Story doesn't know she's not going either. 🙂 Fun times!
Well, laundry is calling my name during nap time. Thanks to all of you for your sweet comments on my last post. I know that there may be some of you out there that don't agree with me (I just happen to read a blog of someone talking bad about me b/c of the post I wrote. gotta love that!) and that's okay. I promise. But just know that I'm okay. I'm not driving my minivan around high on meds. I'm taking a low dose of a medicine and I don't plan to be on it the rest of my life. I didn't adopt and realize I'm in over my head. I love my kids. ALL of them. I'm okay. I'm not going to be scared to talk about post partum adoption stuff. i will always be honest and real on this blog. I just had to get that off my chest.
Happy Thursday!
You’re a good momma.
Jamie,
I don’t know from personal experience how difficult adoption is, but have several friends in our circle that do, and I am so thankful for transparent people like you who are open about the struggles that come with adoption. It helps prepare people like me who feel called to adopt be prepared for what may lie ahead. There is a family in our church who had a very naive idea of what it would be like, brought ther 18 month old son home from Vietnam, and 18 months later, have put him up for readoption. My heart is so grieved for that little boy. I am praying for you and your family as you find your “normal” being a family of 6! Thanks for sharing your life with us!
My BFF has adopted two children internationally and I have two birth children.We lament OFTEN on the ups and downs of mothering…the transition for children entering a family NOT from birth and all of the other “unglamorous stuff” involved in the day to day. I think we all need to COLLECTIVELY give ourselves a break! I’m glad that you said you laugh at yourself! I don’t do that enough and…really…sometimes…that’s the best thing to do! Good job momma 🙂
Jamie,
I love reading your blog and SO appreciate your honesty! Yep, we all need a little help sometimes. Thank God for granting some the ability to do and advance medical research in order to assist us in times of need! Literally, thank God for those gifts!
Kelly
You’re a great mom and I love reading your blogs and totally appreciate your honesty. In fact, I admire it.
I am still new to this blogging world but I know I worry about being judged by my little response posts let alone a whole blog, so half the time I don’t even post. Thank you for being brave and honest and not backing down. I am sure Satan would love to shut you up and shut you down, because what you do is honest and encouraging and the treasure from it is eternal.
I agree with Alisa. I’m a bit of an adoption blog lurker, and yours always encourages me…even when the story for that particular day might not seem encouraging to you! Thank you for your honesty and candidness! I’m a bio mom and pre-adoptive mom and eat it all up.
Thank you for being open and honest! You and your family are real and that is what helps others the most. You’re amazing!! My husband and I are praying about adoption for our future- and your trials and sweet times help me see the whole picture- and that is SO helpful to us!
Thank you for being so opened. We always wonder what the adoptive child goes through, but never wonder what the parent goes through. Reading your blog gave me a better understanding of adoptive parents and that makes me have much respect for adoptive parents. It really takes a special person to adopt and take on the challenges that you face. Know that God does not give us more than we can bare and there are people that you have never met that are standing in the gap for you.Remember the foot prints in the sand story, when you feel like you can’t go on Christ will carry you. Be blessed!!
I love how you said “post partum adoption stuff” . . . we all KNOW post partum depression is REAl when it comes to child birth so why wouldn’t there be a post partum experience with adoption?! I love your honesty and I believe by sharing it you are helping others that struggle to share what they are going through after child birth or adoptions.
I really love your honesty on here. We have had our hard times since bringing our child home and you have made me see that I am not the only one! The people that have said mean stuff about you obviously aren’t adoptive parents!
I think many people feel that adoption is a “happily ever after” story book ending and when the ending changes, many people feel bad and don’t let others know. I think it is great you talk so freely here on your blog (I found you through the blog of one of our adopting families…I am the director of All God’s Children’s Hannah’s Hope in Taiwan and an unwed mother’s home)……….. my family fostered teens for 7 years, and again, seems like when the family gets tired, we did something wrong. But that is not it….we are human. Keep writing your heart out here, you are helping other families, I know it.
Deana in Taiwan
Shame on that person for talking bad about you in their blog….shame on them. It’s not okay for them to do that, it’s not. I admire you and, even though I’m old enough to be your mom, I learn ALOT from you. More than anything, I appreciate you being REAL & HONEST. I know from personal experience that real-ness & honesty isn’t always appreciated. But you girl are great at it and that’s my favorite thing about you. I praise God for yours & Aaron’s presence at the Stone. xoxo
We’ve not adopted yet, but are hoping to sometime in the next year. Having three children has been a challenge even with them coming into our family the “traditional” way. I really appreciate your transparency and honesty. Thanks for sharing your heart even when it’s hard.