We've been super busy the past few months getting ready for our home visit.
Most all the paperwork we had to fill out is in...just waiting on a few extra pieces of info.
Our home visit is tomorrow morning at 8:30am.
I shouldn't be nervous...but I'm not gonna lie, I am a little.
After my recent foot injury I haven't been up and moving as fast as I usually am, and as I want. So I haven't been able to get all the things done that I want too.
No matter, it will go great. Our house is never really that messy (thanks to my OCD), and Mom came over and helped me clean yesterday.
So that's the update.
They said 4-6 weeks after our home visit is when the home study is usually finished and approved. At that point they will start showing our profile/biography to birth moms.
I'll probably have more to update you on then.
Please pray for us tomorrow morning as we answer questions we've already anwered and as we have our house looked at to make sure it's safe for a baby.
Again, thanks for all of your support. Chris and I are so blessed.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
BIG News!
I know it's been a while since I've written a post...but I've been waiting for a reason.
Chris and I have been married 7 1/2 years...and they've been the best 7 1/2 years of my life.
We've had ups and downs, and all the in betweens.
And we've weathered each of those storms together.
Last October we began looking into expanding our family through adoption.
We attended an information meeting at a local agency...and to say we were completely overwhelmed after leaving would be an understatement.
The next day I had an appointment with my Pulmonologist. I was telling him about our meeting the day before. He dropped the bombshell I had never expected. He asked if we'd thought of having kids biologically.
This was never on my/our radar. My entire life I thought this wasn't something that would be recommended for me.
We talked about it, we had some tests done, we met with Dr. Eigen again...
He told me I'm not sick enough to say no, and I'm not well enough to say yes. He will support us no matter what we decide.
There was a grief process I had to go through after that meeting.
You see I had always thought it wasn't an option...then it was put on the table...then it was half way taken away again.
All the dreams I have for being a Mom...I don't want those to be lost because I'm too sick to do them, or not even here to share them with Chris and our child.
So we decided that adoption was the right route for us.
Chris and I signed with an adoption agency a few weeks ago.
We are very excited, nervous, scared, etc...to start this process.
Currently we're sorting through the mounds of paperwork we have to fill out. In July we'll have our first interview and Home Study class.
August will most likely be our in home study, and as long as that comes back fabulous then we'll be active.
There are a lot of steps to the process and as nervous as we are right now, we hope the process goes as smoothly as possible.
I'm sure you'll have questions...feel free to ask.
Right now, if you want to help us, here's how:
1. Above all else, please pray for us as we're going through this process. We still have a lot of things to learn. Pray for us to not be overwhelmed by all the information thrown at us. That we can get everything (paperwork, changes to the house, etc) done when it all needs to be done.
2. Pray for the Birth Mom...obviously we don't know her...it's possible she's not even pregnant yet. But pray for her and her baby...that she would know how strong she is for carrying this baby and the baby would be the perfect baby for us.
3. Chris and I are going to be looking at our finances and finding places we can save money for this adoption. The truth is that adoption is not cheap. Please realize that there may be times we have to say no to things because we're working toward expanding our family. I'm looking for ideas of things to make and sell to help with the baby fund. Right now, if you know of anyone who is wanting a personalized scrapbook done, I'm offering up my talents ;0) I'm a pretty crafty person so if you've seen something on Pinterest or in a magazine that you like but aren't sure if you want to try and make it, or you don't have the time to do so, I'm willing to give it a go ;0)
Thank you for your support ahead of time. Chris and I know how awesome our friends and families are...and we know that you'll be behind us 100%.
Chris and I have been married 7 1/2 years...and they've been the best 7 1/2 years of my life.
We've had ups and downs, and all the in betweens.
And we've weathered each of those storms together.
Last October we began looking into expanding our family through adoption.
We attended an information meeting at a local agency...and to say we were completely overwhelmed after leaving would be an understatement.
The next day I had an appointment with my Pulmonologist. I was telling him about our meeting the day before. He dropped the bombshell I had never expected. He asked if we'd thought of having kids biologically.
This was never on my/our radar. My entire life I thought this wasn't something that would be recommended for me.
We talked about it, we had some tests done, we met with Dr. Eigen again...
He told me I'm not sick enough to say no, and I'm not well enough to say yes. He will support us no matter what we decide.
There was a grief process I had to go through after that meeting.
You see I had always thought it wasn't an option...then it was put on the table...then it was half way taken away again.
All the dreams I have for being a Mom...I don't want those to be lost because I'm too sick to do them, or not even here to share them with Chris and our child.
So we decided that adoption was the right route for us.
Chris and I signed with an adoption agency a few weeks ago.
We are very excited, nervous, scared, etc...to start this process.
Currently we're sorting through the mounds of paperwork we have to fill out. In July we'll have our first interview and Home Study class.
August will most likely be our in home study, and as long as that comes back fabulous then we'll be active.
There are a lot of steps to the process and as nervous as we are right now, we hope the process goes as smoothly as possible.
I'm sure you'll have questions...feel free to ask.
Right now, if you want to help us, here's how:
1. Above all else, please pray for us as we're going through this process. We still have a lot of things to learn. Pray for us to not be overwhelmed by all the information thrown at us. That we can get everything (paperwork, changes to the house, etc) done when it all needs to be done.
2. Pray for the Birth Mom...obviously we don't know her...it's possible she's not even pregnant yet. But pray for her and her baby...that she would know how strong she is for carrying this baby and the baby would be the perfect baby for us.
3. Chris and I are going to be looking at our finances and finding places we can save money for this adoption. The truth is that adoption is not cheap. Please realize that there may be times we have to say no to things because we're working toward expanding our family. I'm looking for ideas of things to make and sell to help with the baby fund. Right now, if you know of anyone who is wanting a personalized scrapbook done, I'm offering up my talents ;0) I'm a pretty crafty person so if you've seen something on Pinterest or in a magazine that you like but aren't sure if you want to try and make it, or you don't have the time to do so, I'm willing to give it a go ;0)
Thank you for your support ahead of time. Chris and I know how awesome our friends and families are...and we know that you'll be behind us 100%.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Fun Stuff
Just thought I'd post a few fun things that we've been up to this month!
I can't believe April is already almost over. This is when the busy part of our year starts...and to be honest, it really doesn't slow down until about January 1st the next year. Good gracious.
Spring Break was the first week in April.
We went to Madison for a few days and hung with D&K.
When we got home we did some work around the house.
I visited my Pookster and FINALLY got to meet Alli and Ben
Roommates and Wombmates! (Yes, this will be the title for the scrapbook page) ;0)
We spent two whole days working on our front flower bed. Now we know why we put it off so long.
Before:
The ducks helped...by help I mean they sat there (inside) and looked gorgeous:
Go Husband:
Lots of digging:
After:
For those of you wondering...NO, we are not available for hire. If something ever happens to the flower bed we will pay for it to be redone.
By far...I think my favorite April event was celebrating Chris and his Birthday.
After all, life just wouldn't be the same if he wasn't ever born.
SUPER HOT HUSBAND!
So, I did something festive that I found on pinterest (woo hoo, all those hours of pinning are not for nothing).
Here it is:
Chris turned 32, so I did 32 balloons and attached to them were 32 pictures of memories we wouldn't have ever had together if he was never born.
He LOVED it...but I think he loved the turn tables I got him more ;0)
I love my hubby!
I can't believe April is already almost over. This is when the busy part of our year starts...and to be honest, it really doesn't slow down until about January 1st the next year. Good gracious.
Spring Break was the first week in April.
We went to Madison for a few days and hung with D&K.
When we got home we did some work around the house.
I visited my Pookster and FINALLY got to meet Alli and Ben
We spent two whole days working on our front flower bed. Now we know why we put it off so long.
Before:
The ducks helped...by help I mean they sat there (inside) and looked gorgeous:
Go Husband:
Lots of digging:
After:
For those of you wondering...NO, we are not available for hire. If something ever happens to the flower bed we will pay for it to be redone.
By far...I think my favorite April event was celebrating Chris and his Birthday.
After all, life just wouldn't be the same if he wasn't ever born.
SUPER HOT HUSBAND!
So, I did something festive that I found on pinterest (woo hoo, all those hours of pinning are not for nothing).
Here it is:
Chris turned 32, so I did 32 balloons and attached to them were 32 pictures of memories we wouldn't have ever had together if he was never born.
He LOVED it...but I think he loved the turn tables I got him more ;0)
I love my hubby!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Deep thoughts by Holly
I was driving home the other day, top down (on the car), listening to the radio, sun shining down, cool breeze tangling up my hair...when for some odd unknown reason it hit me...
This would be how my movie would end.
No, there are no ambitious film makers out there just knocking on my door to make a movie about my life.
But if there was.
If there was a movie about me.
That's how the movie would end. Or at least that's how I would want it to end.
I've always said I won't die of CF...it's not going to be the reason I leave this earth.
Sorry, it's just not! (Who exactly I'm apologizing to there, I don't know. Maybe CF in general...)
And Chris and I have decided that we are both going to die at 86 of euthanasia.
In my head though, I pictured me driving my convertible, top down, hair gracefully blowing in the wind (there will be no tangling, because that just doesn't happen in movies) and some lovely melody (or Ludacris) playing in the background, with a closing monologue about how I left the earth gracefully.
And then later I was home, turning off the lights in the office/scrap room and had ALL kinds of scrapbook stuff just hanging out on the desk, floor, etc...and it hit me again.
I wonder if this is how the room would look like when someone returns to my home afterwards!?!?!?!
Of course then I remembered how OCD I am and figured probably not. But I guess it could.
And will someone really ever look at these scrapbooks I've done?
To be perfectly honest, I haven't the foggiest idea why I would be thinking about such a morbid topic.
There's no real point to this post, or deep meaning.
I just wonder if anyone else has these crazy thoughts run through their head.
Or is it just me...that I'm somehow morbidly interested in how my life would be perceived at the end, and how someone might choose to "end scene."
What would your life movie look like?
Who would play you?
How would your movie end?
This would be how my movie would end.
No, there are no ambitious film makers out there just knocking on my door to make a movie about my life.
But if there was.
If there was a movie about me.
That's how the movie would end. Or at least that's how I would want it to end.
I've always said I won't die of CF...it's not going to be the reason I leave this earth.
Sorry, it's just not! (Who exactly I'm apologizing to there, I don't know. Maybe CF in general...)
And Chris and I have decided that we are both going to die at 86 of euthanasia.
In my head though, I pictured me driving my convertible, top down, hair gracefully blowing in the wind (there will be no tangling, because that just doesn't happen in movies) and some lovely melody (or Ludacris) playing in the background, with a closing monologue about how I left the earth gracefully.
And then later I was home, turning off the lights in the office/scrap room and had ALL kinds of scrapbook stuff just hanging out on the desk, floor, etc...and it hit me again.
I wonder if this is how the room would look like when someone returns to my home afterwards!?!?!?!
Of course then I remembered how OCD I am and figured probably not. But I guess it could.
And will someone really ever look at these scrapbooks I've done?
To be perfectly honest, I haven't the foggiest idea why I would be thinking about such a morbid topic.
There's no real point to this post, or deep meaning.
I just wonder if anyone else has these crazy thoughts run through their head.
Or is it just me...that I'm somehow morbidly interested in how my life would be perceived at the end, and how someone might choose to "end scene."
What would your life movie look like?
Who would play you?
How would your movie end?
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
"I could make that!"
So whenever my sister and Mom and I go to a craft show or we're in a store, there's one phrase that is inevitably uttered from one or all three of our mouths.
"I could make that!"
And we could. We just haven't...yet.
I've become obsessed with Pinterest!
Seriously...there's so many great ideas on there.
O'Connell Creations needs to be relaunched because I believe we will become millionaires selling what we can make from Pinterest.
Ummm...I guess that would involve actually making the things we find on Pinterest...but it could happen.
Tonight I'm trying out a recipe I found on Pinterest. And my next menu plan is going to be based entirely off of recipes I've found on Pinterest.
I do plan on making many of the household cleaning agents that I've found recipes for.
I haven't had any mod podge for crafting in years...and good gracious, it's so expensive to buy, so I do plan on making that.
I have a million of old t-shirts just waiting to be made into scarves or something super festive I've found a tutorial on.
I can't wait to get our front porch built and the back patio done so I can make the really neat porch swing and outdoor benches.
I've found some really neat ideas for decorating the Red Barn Retreat.
When Chris and I decide to add to our family, there's some really cute baby ideas I've found. Or I can just use them for my neices and nephews.
I'm really excited to go on some new dates with my super Hot husband...all thanks to Pinterest ideas of keeping the romance alive (brown chicken, brown cow)!
I've already learned how to finally do my hair...why didn't anyone tell me I wasn't using my root lifter right before?!?!?!?!?!
You see...I can be a stylish, loving, crafy, adorably decorated homeowner, maniac...
All because of Pinterest and four simple words...
"I could make that!"
"I could make that!"
And we could. We just haven't...yet.
I've become obsessed with Pinterest!
Seriously...there's so many great ideas on there.
O'Connell Creations needs to be relaunched because I believe we will become millionaires selling what we can make from Pinterest.
Ummm...I guess that would involve actually making the things we find on Pinterest...but it could happen.
Tonight I'm trying out a recipe I found on Pinterest. And my next menu plan is going to be based entirely off of recipes I've found on Pinterest.
I do plan on making many of the household cleaning agents that I've found recipes for.
I haven't had any mod podge for crafting in years...and good gracious, it's so expensive to buy, so I do plan on making that.
I have a million of old t-shirts just waiting to be made into scarves or something super festive I've found a tutorial on.
I can't wait to get our front porch built and the back patio done so I can make the really neat porch swing and outdoor benches.
I've found some really neat ideas for decorating the Red Barn Retreat.
When Chris and I decide to add to our family, there's some really cute baby ideas I've found. Or I can just use them for my neices and nephews.
I'm really excited to go on some new dates with my super Hot husband...all thanks to Pinterest ideas of keeping the romance alive (brown chicken, brown cow)!
I've already learned how to finally do my hair...why didn't anyone tell me I wasn't using my root lifter right before?!?!?!?!?!
You see...I can be a stylish, loving, crafy, adorably decorated homeowner, maniac...
All because of Pinterest and four simple words...
"I could make that!"
Friday, February 24, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Completely Random Facts
Most of you know me pretty well...but since I post my blog updates on Facebook, who knows how many people I'm not aware of that actually read my blog. So, I thought I'd give you some random tidbits about me ;0)
*Warning: This post contains MANY seriously nerdy facts about me...most of which I am very proud of. Please don't mock me for them. 
*Yes, my closet always looks like this! And Yes, Chris does have to deter me from the organization and purse sections of stores...they are my weaknesses. He told me the other that under no circumstances am I ever allowed to go to the Container Store. ;0)
4. I love to scrapbook. Yes, I know you all know this...but what you don't know is that I see inspiration for scrapbooking EVERYWHERE! I sometimes have trouble falling asleep at night because I'm thinking about an idea I have for a layout and I'm just so excited about it, I can't get it off my mind. At this point I have never actually gotten out of bed and started on the layout (my realistic side tells me how insanely tired and irritable I would be in the morning if I got out of bed to scrap).
5. I love bacon. My sister got me a bacon air freshener for my car a couple Christmases ago...I've never opened it because I'm afraid it will make me crave bacon every time I get in my car.
6. Steak is my favorite food. Basically I'm a carnivore. Salad is what real food eats ;0)
7. I don't like any kind of salad sandwich...ham salad, chicken salad, etc. It's a texture thing, not taste thing. Same with breakfast casseroles made with bread.
8. I always look for the person chasing those crazies who are running on the side of the road. Why?...you ask...because I don't see the point in running unless someone is chasing you to kill you or steal your purse. And even then, there is nothing so very important in my purse, and if God is ready for me then so be it. People who say they enjoy running make me chuckle...those people have something seriously wrong with them.
9. I have road rage. I don't flip people off...but I do scream at them! I realize they can't hear me and to an onlooker I probably appear rather crazy as I scream at the top of my lungs...but it does make me feel better. To be honest...this started after I took a safe driving course in college (my Dad got a discount on my insurance if I did it...Can I blame him for this?) and realized just how many people don't know traffic rules.
10. Michael Jackson is one of my favorite artists. His music just makes me happy.
11. I have very random taste in music. You'll find Third Day, Eminem, Michael Buble', and soundtracks to musicals on my Zune.
*Warning: This post contains MANY seriously nerdy facts about me...most of which I am very proud of. Please don't mock me for them.
1. I love making "to do" lists - to be more specific, I love crossing things off the "to do" list. I watched a movie once (I think it was one of the lifetime original movies) where a male actor had a pda and made his "to do" list on it and the female actress commented to him about the inability to cross off things on his list when using a pda (I believe you just click a box next to the "to do" and it disappears)...and that was why she wouldn't ever get one. This obviously resonated with me, because I'm the same way. Part of the excitement, for me anyway, of finishing my task is that I then get to cross the task off my list. Wanna know something even more nerdy about me? Sometimes I write things down on my list that I've already done, for the sheer fact that I then get to cross it off.
2. I'm not good at printing out pictures on a regular basis (hmm...maybe this should be one of my hopes). I tend to only print pictures out when I'm going on a big scrapbook retreat or having a crop with my girlfriends. Which means, I then have to spend 3-4 evenings going through pictures on the computer, uploading them, putting them in my cart, then editing/cropping them, actually ordering them, and then go pick them up. Ugh, I'm tired just thinking about the process. I'd still have to do all of that...but if I ordered one or two months worth of pictures at a time, as opposed to what I did this week (which was order all of 2011 at once...I am excited about the 750+ pics to be delivered to me soon) the process wouldn't take nearly as long, and I wouldn't stress so much when prepping for my scrap retreats because most of my pictures would already be right in front of me. *For the record, I ordered all of 2011 at once because Snapfish is doing there 99prints for 99cents deal...which is WAY cheaper that what it would cost me to get my pics throughout the year like I usually do.
3. I'm EXTREMELY organized. I believe I've mentioned this before...about how I have some ridiculous OCD tendencies (especially when it comes to being organized). Case in point...my closet:
2. I'm not good at printing out pictures on a regular basis (hmm...maybe this should be one of my hopes). I tend to only print pictures out when I'm going on a big scrapbook retreat or having a crop with my girlfriends. Which means, I then have to spend 3-4 evenings going through pictures on the computer, uploading them, putting them in my cart, then editing/cropping them, actually ordering them, and then go pick them up. Ugh, I'm tired just thinking about the process. I'd still have to do all of that...but if I ordered one or two months worth of pictures at a time, as opposed to what I did this week (which was order all of 2011 at once...I am excited about the 750+ pics to be delivered to me soon) the process wouldn't take nearly as long, and I wouldn't stress so much when prepping for my scrap retreats because most of my pictures would already be right in front of me. *For the record, I ordered all of 2011 at once because Snapfish is doing there 99prints for 99cents deal...which is WAY cheaper that what it would cost me to get my pics throughout the year like I usually do.
3. I'm EXTREMELY organized. I believe I've mentioned this before...about how I have some ridiculous OCD tendencies (especially when it comes to being organized). Case in point...my closet:
Things are all hung in like order (short one colored shirts are all together and organized by color, same with the long-sleeved one color shirts, t-shirts that can be worn to work are together, then the other t's, then skirts, then dresses.
NERD ALERT: I even organized my scarves and belts.
NERD ALERT: I even organized my scarves and belts.
*Yes, my closet always looks like this! And Yes, Chris does have to deter me from the organization and purse sections of stores...they are my weaknesses. He told me the other that under no circumstances am I ever allowed to go to the Container Store. ;0)
4. I love to scrapbook. Yes, I know you all know this...but what you don't know is that I see inspiration for scrapbooking EVERYWHERE! I sometimes have trouble falling asleep at night because I'm thinking about an idea I have for a layout and I'm just so excited about it, I can't get it off my mind. At this point I have never actually gotten out of bed and started on the layout (my realistic side tells me how insanely tired and irritable I would be in the morning if I got out of bed to scrap).
5. I love bacon. My sister got me a bacon air freshener for my car a couple Christmases ago...I've never opened it because I'm afraid it will make me crave bacon every time I get in my car.
6. Steak is my favorite food. Basically I'm a carnivore. Salad is what real food eats ;0)
7. I don't like any kind of salad sandwich...ham salad, chicken salad, etc. It's a texture thing, not taste thing. Same with breakfast casseroles made with bread.
8. I always look for the person chasing those crazies who are running on the side of the road. Why?...you ask...because I don't see the point in running unless someone is chasing you to kill you or steal your purse. And even then, there is nothing so very important in my purse, and if God is ready for me then so be it. People who say they enjoy running make me chuckle...those people have something seriously wrong with them.
9. I have road rage. I don't flip people off...but I do scream at them! I realize they can't hear me and to an onlooker I probably appear rather crazy as I scream at the top of my lungs...but it does make me feel better. To be honest...this started after I took a safe driving course in college (my Dad got a discount on my insurance if I did it...Can I blame him for this?) and realized just how many people don't know traffic rules.
10. Michael Jackson is one of my favorite artists. His music just makes me happy.
11. I have very random taste in music. You'll find Third Day, Eminem, Michael Buble', and soundtracks to musicals on my Zune.
12. I love ducks. You all should know this by now...if you didn't, where on earth have you been?
13. Sunday is my favorite day of the week. It's Crosspoint day and a relaxation day in all in one ;0)
14. I have the best husband on the planet. Seriously...I do!
15. I spend 1-2 hourse twice a day doing treatments.
16. I am a Christ Follower!
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