[redbonec]

Leigh, I also agree that picking boys names are harder!

Marci, I am the same as you--I have to think of names way ahead so I can live with it for a while--some I do get tired of!

And now, our birthmother has asked for the baby's name (not born yet), and it really counts! So I suggest to keep that list of names handy you thought of--because we have tossed names around, but it never seemed real. And, as Nikki said, the name is forever, so you have to love it!

[Vogi2002]

Okay so my dh and I have been throwing names in our heads around...this is what we have so far:
Girl:
Kylie Louise (my grandmothers middle name) Runyan
Kylie Lynn (my mom's middle name but my niece has this also) Runyan
Boy:
Nathaniel (called Nathan) Cole Runyan
I love the name Alexander Cole Runyan but dh is not so hip on the Alexander.

We are going to kinda play it by ear because even though we might love the name it just might not "fit" kwim? I would love to encorporate the birthmom but dh isn't so sure...we'll see I guess!

Natalie

[iwrite]

Okay, so they put me back in the hospital yesterday with a post-op infection. Wonderful, isn't it? Hurts like h-ll too. Don't worry, a couple days of antibiotics and I'll be able to get out of here.

I'm upset - not really because of the infection, but because it feels like this whole medical parade of horrors will never end. I won't be able to start the paperwork until at least a year of a clean bill of health. At this rate, its going to be years until I get started.

Now I'm just doing research. I think I've picked my agency - or at least I've narrowed it down. I've been working on my lifebook and attempting to write my autobiography. I know it's a little bit premature to being doing those things, but I have to do something to keep me busy. I want to feel like I'm DOING something, not just sitting around dreaming about doing something.

I've been reading profiles of waiting parents online, trying to get some idea of what I'm doing. So far I have what I do for a living, a bit about where I live, and now I'm trying to write about my family. The problem is that I'll be moving away from them soon, so I don't know how involved they will be from that far away (8 hours).

I'm just trying to stay busy. I am so torn whether I should do domestic or international, there's pros and cons of each. It seems to be that single mothers are better accepted to adopt internationally, but I could be wrong. What do you ladies think?

Em

[NurseNikki]

Natalie, I love the name Kylie Louise! It is different, and has a great sound to it. I like Nathan, too.

We have our boy's name picked out, so hopefully when we get matched with our pbmom, she won't mind it. Andrew Dwight (the middle name is a family name on DH's side.) I really like the nickname Drew, but DH wants Andy, so we will see. We can't decide on a girl's name. We have gone through several, and keep changing our mind!

Em, so sorry you are back in the hospital! Hope you are feeling better soon. Is your pain in your back? I might be having sympathy pain for you -- I have had back spasms all day! As far as domestic or international, I think you have to go with what feels right. We chose domestic because we really couldn't afford the travel costs (time off work, extended stay, etc.) Plus we really wanted to start from the very beginning, we felt this was right for us. And the clean bill of health - is that self imposed, or some one else's rule? I wouldn't see why you couldn't get things started, and work with the agency so your profile isn't being shown until you are ready. I know my cousin was sick for six months while they were working on their stuff, but they didn't have to stop. Of course, she didn't feel like doing much, so it was going pretty slow at that point. Anyway, I think your research and thoughtfulness will pay off, and you will find the perfect situation for you!

I have to say I am so glad to be able to "talk" to everyone here. Some days it gets so annoying to have to field the unwanted questions, etc. Today we had a family get together, and I was just not in the mood. I didn't get any questions this time (was mostly ignored, as is status quo). I am just having a bum day, I guess. And though he tries, DH doesn't always have the best attitude about it either. This morning I wished him a Happy Father's Day to the father-to-be, and his response was "Yeah, whatever" accompanied by the eye roll. So, it didn't start off on a great foot. That combined with not feeling 100% just didn't put me in the mood for extended family dealings. Ugh! Okay, I will stop complaining now.

[Lovebug]

Hey Gang,

We had a family get-together today, too, for Father's Day and my cousin's college graduation. We told them all that we are "waiting" and got a good response.

Em - Sorry you are back in the hospital!!! {{{Hugs}}} Hope you are all better soon!!!!!!

Natalie - Our DS is Alexander! So I am partial to that...lol.

Nikki - LOVE Andrew!!! DH doesn't like it.

We don't really have any names we can agree on. So far the contenders for a boy are Benjamin and Nicolas (the baby's middle name will be Louis, after my BIL who will be this baby's godfather). For a girl we are ALL over the board. We like Anna Katherine after our grandma's. I like Rebecca...he like Emily. Ugh! Who knows! Lol.

Here's hoping we all have a great week and get some matches!!!!!

--Renee

[Leigh131313]

Em, that really really sucks dog butt! Sorry you are laid up again....and don't worry about a little extra time, you never know, once you sign up you could have a really quick placement!!

No clue about international vs domestic....you just gotta do what feels right, ya know? International is very appealing to me, with the exception of not getting a newborn.

Natalie, my girlfriend named her son Xander, which could be short for Alexander...i think it's adorable!

I'm not in a name mood these days...so I don't really have a list to offer. Naming is very important to us, but it's not easy! lol as you all know!

Renee, glad it went over well with the family!

As for us, we had a great Father's Day. We all enjoyed the fine cuisine at McDonalds (only place M will eat), then picked up some decadent desserts from the cheesecake cafe....and then back to cleaning my house. I hit M's room, and my craft room today ...what a disaster!! I swear you could not walk into that room before today. We emptied out M's room to wash everything down, so it still has to be put back together...and my craft room still needs to be hosed down, now that it's all organized.

My mom has been doing all the hard work, I just empty out and organize...she's washing walls, cabinets, bathtubs...all the dirty stuff!

So far we've completed 2 bathrooms, and started M's and the craftroom....we have two weeks left to finish the house.

M did NOT puke today!!!

However, on a not so cheery note...we took him to see cars yesterday (thinking he was 100%). We bought our tickets, and then were waiting in line for popcorn....well, let's just say I think they lost alot of money on popcorn sales after M arrived. Poor kid...but we did get our money back for the tickets

[MarMad]

Hola. My hubby and I are almost waiting. Even though we only began the foster-adopt application process 12 days ago (choosing the agency took a while, as the state foster care system is being privatized in the next year), we've been fasttracked and expect to have a finished homestudy by the tenth of July.

The reason for the speed? We matched ourselves to a sibling group that has just become available for adoption. We have a good chance, we think, because most people would not prefer to adopt sibling groups with a ten year age difference. Their social worker knows of us, our social worker likes us, and from the non-privacy-invading information we've been able to get on the boys, we like them. Perhaps they won't really be the right kids for us, but for now, they're our motivation to get into the system. And gosh, do I hope they're right for us.

So yes, we are waiting. We look at the boys' photograph each day. We imagine tubing down the river, using mowing the lawn as punishment, decorating using pirate and dinosaur and guitar themes, and bringing them to Seaworld. Hubby is researching new cars, as a two-seat roadster is not 4 person family happy. I'm planning on trading in my Louis V for an adoptproud.org messenger bag. My mom has "her grandsons" on her refrigerator. Ya, we're waiting.

[Vogi2002]

Marmad Welcome!! I hope you are matched, and if nothing else, I hope you find the right children for you and a speedy wait!! How old are the boys?

Leigh- I'm so sorry your poor baby is throwing up...that is so hard...I hope he is on the road to recovery!! Man- I am so jealous that you get to clean like you are, I need to clean our house so bad and get rid of a crap load of stuff...but never have the time/energy!

Nikki- I love andrew!! We were actually going to name our son Andrew Dillon Runyan but then realized that our best friends (just a good friend at the time) was named Andrew Dillon (First & Last name) LOL we felt stupid after we realized that!! But we LOVE the name Drew or Andy both...I probably like Drew better myself, but either are great!!

Well we had a busy weekend. We cleaned the house, had friends over saturday night, i went with a girlfriend all day sunday (dh is not a daddy yet and rolled his eyes when i said happy daddy-to-be day) shopping & swimming (mainly swimming). I am REALLY hoping that the agency will call me today and set up an appointment for the home visit today....they should have got my profile already....okay I'm starting to get butterflies!! CLOSE to being in the BOOKS!! yeah!!

No word yet on if I have to pay for my laptop...girls I am thinking I may fight that. But it worries me because they could then just fire me for some stupid reason....I don't know, I never signed anything so I don't think legally I'm liable but who the heck knows.....in the end it's just 500$.

Okay girlies- talk to y'all later!! (sorry, TX is coming out in me!)

Natalie

[MarMad]

Runyan, the boys are 5 and 15, both birthdays are coming up soon.

Fire safety inspection in two hours lol. Yay for living in a smallish town where your neighbor, the fire marshall, comes over to make sure your extinguisher is full enough and that you haven't piled gasoline soaked rags in the family room.

[NurseNikki]

Good Luck MarMad, and welcome! We live in a small town, too, and those little perks are definitely worth it!

Natalie, I got the same expression from my DH yesterday, too. Good luck with the computer thing - I don't think you should have to pay for it, either! I hope you get that call soon from the agency, too.

Hopefully Em is doing better today. Let us know, Em!

My back spasms have tamed themselves, but are not completely gone yet. It will be an early day home for me, and then bring on the drugs! I figure laying flat on my back this evening is in order, to get rid of these once and for all! DH is out of town, so no one to be worried about but me tonight.

Leigh, I hope M is doing better tonight, too. Being sick when you are little is no fun, for you or for him!

Hi to everyone else! One last question - what does everyone thing of the name Greta? My grandmother's name was Margaret, and I really want to use that for our girl, but can't use the nickname Maggie (my niece's name is too close, we would be tongue-tied all the time!) So, I thought another nickname that I could learn to like (maybe even love) is Greta. Middle name would be Elizabeth. Thoughts? Opinions? DH says it sounds like too old of a name. I like it because it is different. Just wondering!

[iwrite]

I am doing much better! I'll be stuck in here a few more days, but most of the pain has subsided and I'm able to eat again. The pain was in my back and it was absolutely unbearable. Pain meds helped a little but not much. Thank God that's over.
As for waiting to start the paperwork - this is something self-imposed by me. I want to be able to give the process and then my child all my attention - if I'm still sick I won't be able to. I want to enjoy being "paper pregnant"! The doctor told me this morning that this is just a post-op fluke and that once we get this taken care of I should be home free.

Hospital food sucks.

Em

[Leigh131313]

Marmad, Welcome!! Hope your fire safety inspection went well...sounds like it did!! We don't have to do that here. Wow, a 5 and a 10 year old, that would be so fun!! I hope it works out for you!

Natalie, I agree...it's only $500, but I'm sure it's even LESS of a deal for a company (not to mention a write-off!!) So I hope they do the right thing and take care of it for you.

Nikki, I think Greta is adorable!! I hope a night on your back solves your problems....eek, i am such a baby when it comes to pain.

Em- So glad you are feeling better. Here's to a speedy recovery!!

As for us, Mason is pretty much at 100% No pukes for 2 days and he really has been back to his active self the last two days. We had a playdate with his buddy (who also had this bug last week) today and it was so nice to see him outside and having fun....and fighting...

Well, the craft room and M's bedroom are completely done! M's room looks so empty with all the crap removed..lol

So, tonight I'm staying up late (really late) and organizing my bedroom, so that tomorrow my mom can get in there and hose it down. She's going to get up with the munchie in the morning so i can sleep in....I guess we are doing shift work! lol

I can't tell you how thrilled I am to see so much clutter disappear! Our garage sale is going to be HUGE.

[Vogi2002]

Leigh- I am officially jealous that your house is that clean. Really. I need to do the same with my house.....stuff just keeps piling and piling up, my girlfriend and I are talking about having a garage sale so hopefully we can get on the ball!!

Nikki- Okay I like Greta....it is old fashioned but sweet!! Especially if it is a nickname...I don't know why but I like it more as a nickname than a name name, but i like drew more as a nickname than a name too...so who KNOWS what i'm thinking!! LOL

Iwrite- oh you poor thing!! Back pain is the worse because it seems like no matter what you do you feel it!! Are you feeling any better today?

MarMad- Oh my what fun!! 5 and 15 sound like a blast!! Of course, you are going right into teenage years which, despite pulling your hair out I'm sure, will be sooo much fun for you!! Good luck!

Okay so my agency STILL hasn't called me yet to say they recieved my profile. I am going to call them here in about thirty minutes or so. I mailed it Weds so it should have been there LATEST Friday (it's in town)......I'm worried it got lost... oh man i hope not!!

Natalie

[Lovebug]

I hope not, too Natalie!!!!!!!

--Renee