My Daisy Belle: 2009

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

October 2009

Photo Tinks by WiddlyTinks.com

Photo Tinks by WiddlyTinks.com

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Miss Ryleigh

Photo Tinks by WiddlyTinks.com

Photo Tinks by WiddlyTinks.com

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

1st Birthday!!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, BABY RYLEIGH!!

One year ago this moment, you were 2 hours and 39 minutes old!!!

I LOVE YOU!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I'm feeling so emotional right now!! One year ago, at this VERY minute, my hubby and I were eating at Texas Roadhouse in Muncie, IN...eating our last meal as a family of two. Less than 24 hours later, we were a family of 3!

Our bags were packed and my in-law's were back at our house, ready to go to the hospital with us the next morning. Our birth mom was being induced at some ridiculously early hour on July 1!

I cannot believe a whole year has gone.

I cannot believe God truly answered my prayers to become a mom.

I cannot believe something so precious, so beautiful is mine.

Thank You, God.

July 1, 2008

June 30, 2009

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Ryleigh's Bday pix

Click on the link to see pix of Ryleigh's first birthday party!

Ryleigh's Pix

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Blog coming to a close & new pix!

Ryleigh's first birthday is coming up in about 3 weeks. I cannot believe it!! It seems like yesterday that I began this blog, journaling our journey through the adoption process!

I've been fairly weepy the past week or so. Could it be because I had a hysterectomy 3 weeks ago and it's a hormonal thing?? Maybe, but I don't think so.

Everyday, I've been thinking back to one year ago...what was I doing that day last year in anticipation of Ryleigh's arrival? Ryleigh was actually due in June (but she waited until July!), so each day we were on pins and needles.

Last year was without a doubt one of the most stressful years of our lives. I almost lost my husband in the spring to a parasite that got in his blood stream. After 9 days in the hospital being treated by 5 specialists, he was able to come home but spent 2 months in recovery in his recliner. For 2 months I slept alone and I nursed my husband and prayed (begged!) God to spare his life. All the while, I was trying to get to know our birth mom by myself, etc.

Then in June last year, my in-law's came for a visit. My MIL went with me to a DR's visit so she could hear the baby's heartbeat plus meet our birth mom. Before we even got into the building, my MIL fell and broke her knee and we were bombarded with a trauma team and crash cart, the whole 9-yards!

She then spent the next 20+ days recovering on our couch while my FIL slept on a mattress in the nursery....did I mention he was going through chemo at the time???

All of the above situations combined did not equal the stress I felt while waiting for Ryleigh to come...would the birth family change their minds? could God really be answering a prayer I'd prayed for 15 YEARS?? So many fears. So many doubts.

But here we are, one year later.

I still hold Ryleigh at night sometimes and cry. I hold her and rock her, sobbing, "Thank You Jesus" over and over. At times the depth of gratitude I feel to God feels like a physical ache in my heart. If you haven't experienced 15 years of infertility and ovarian disease and pain, then you won't understand the depth of my gratitude to God for this miracle He's given me.

I can remember many years back when the pain of infertility consumed my life. I told my husband one evening that I had to get a hold of God and get some peace and that I was going to the bedroom to pray and would not come out until I got peace, else I be totally consumed by the pain and die from brokenness.

I went to our bedroom and lay face down in the carpet. I remember there being 4 stages to my prayers and not because I planned it that way but I remember each change in my attitude washing over me like an ocean wave. My prayers started out with the WHY? and then I got ANGRY. I reminded God that I lived for Him, served Him, worshiped Him, went to church every time the doors were open, paid my tithe. WHY wouldn't He give me the desires of my heart??? I railed and railed at God. And He TOOK it and He loved me anyway. Then I became repentant for my attitude and prayed for forgiveness. Then, I remember surrendering my will to God. I finally came to the place in my prayer that I was able to say I would love God, live for God, worship God, go to church every time the doors are open and pay my tithe...even if He never gave me a child.

Ten years went by and I felt tested many times. When I struggled with the pain of barrenness, I would remember the place where I met God those years before and would find peace once again.

We brought our miracle from God home from the hospital on our 15th wedding anniversary. We had planned on taking a big trip...Australia?... to celebrate our anniversary, but then we found out about Ryleigh...so, instead of jetting to Australia, we ate hospital food and fed a hungry baby every 2 hours. And, we wouldn't have had it any other way!

Now here we are, with a little one running all over the place! Taking care of a baby is one of the hardest things I've ever done! But, the most rewarding by far!

I'm busier than ever now and don't have a lot of time to update this blog, so I'm wondering if this might be one of the last posts? I'll definitely post about her 1st birthday, but beyond that, we'll see.

After all, this blog was started to chronicle our adoption journey and what a journey it was!

Here are some pix I took of her in her birthday dress. Enjoy!

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Happy 11 months, baby girl!

Here is Ryleigh yesterday, on her 11 month birthday! She is SOoOoO tired! I had a hysterectomy May 18 and there's been upheavel around here for her...too many people...off her schedule, etc. She just zonked out on her daddy's lap yesterday morning!

Not only does she walk, but she RUNS all over the house! It is SO sweet looking because she's so tiny!

I can't believe our little miracle will be a year old in less than a month now!

Friday, May 22, 2009

1st Birthday party ideas

Ryleigh's first birthday is coming up on July 1! I need some help with a party theme! being July 1, we could go with a red, white and blue theme, but I'd love to hear your ideas!

Ry in her 1st Jacuzzi last week! lol

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Thanks for the Mother's Day wishes!

I got some very sweet wishes for Mother's Day and thought I'd compile them here so I'd always have them!

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Happy Mother's Day my dear friend!!! I know this day is super special for you and I hope that you have a day as special and dear as you!!! love ya!!!!!!!

Alma Harlow

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MICHELLE! ~Sherri Perdue

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Happy Mother's Day! I love you!! ~ from our birth mom via text message

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#1 MOM! Kisses! I love you!!~ Amy

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"Happy Mothers Day babe. You have been a great wife for almost 16 years and now
you are blessed to celebrate your first Mothers Day. I know you are and will
continue to be a great mommy to baby Ryleigh. I love you and Happy Mothers Day!"
~ From my hubby!

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Happy Mothers Day! hope it's a goodun for you ~Dad

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I CAN RELATE WHEN YOU GET BLESSED WITH A CHILD THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CARRY IT IS TRULY A MIRACLE. ~ TAMARA RUSSELL

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I am so happy for you! Congratulations!!!! and Happy Mother's Day! -Michelle Cron

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I am so happy for you Michelle!! HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

Paige Messick Brown

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Faylene Bickford Quinn:

Mothers Day is the 3rd best day of the year (after Christmas and Easter)! Congrats on your first and may each one that follows be as blessed as this one!

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I am so happy for you! (and Fred) Happy Mother's Day! -Lisa Meadway

Monday, May 11, 2009

Mother's Day gift

For Mother's Day, hubby & Ryleigh gave me a ruby (Ry's birthstone) and diamond ring. The photo just doesn't do it justice! It's so beautiful! Thank you hubby! Thank you baby girl! The band is inscribed with Ryleigh Ema Jane.