More of Our Trip

Wade and Liliana at Shedd Aquarium with all kinds of sea creatures behind them. Liliana explored the life aquatic while Wade and I enjoyed catching up with dear friends, old and new. What a treat!

Two dolphins "wow" the crowd as they fly out of the water at the aquarium. Although the resolution isn't great, I was thrilled to capture such a cool trick on camera.

On Christmas Eve, my family plays a game in which each person draws a number and selects a gift in numerical order. Each player can choose a wrapped gift from the table or steal an attractive gift that has already been opened by someone else. After some silly shenanigans, this is the gift I received when all was said and done. Gotta love Mexican artists!

Here's my mom on Christmas morning. She made this stocking (along with one for each of her three children) many years ago. Notice the toes on the stocking. I still have mine, but it has definitely seen better days!

In Michigan, we stayed in an apartment above my cousins house. It's a wonderful home-away-from-home for us every year. Left: Liliana pretends to have "thorns" in her feet and asks Mommy to help retrieve them. What a nut!

At the end of our trip, we spent time with my mom and brother's family in Indiana. I made chili for the group, and Wade agreed to chop the onions for me. Poor baby cried all afternoon! (Kinda reminds me of that YouTube guy that cried about Britney.)

A Photographic Overview

Liliana enjoys the high life at Chicago's Hotel Intercontinental.



Kayleigh, Liliana, Andrew, Nathan, Luke and Madelyn get ready for the dolphin show at the Shedd Aquarium.

We hung out with Joe and Steve (my good pals from college) and their families at Shedd Aquarium. What a great time for one and all!

Christmas morning in Michigan. Our little family prepares to open Christmas stockings.

Liliana and her cousins eating "Queen of Wheat" for breakfast. Thanks to Grammy Joy for a great time in Indiana.

A Positive Note

Great news! Our adoption homestudy has been approved by Bethany Christian Services! Next week, our profile will be available to expectant parents on Bethany's national website. Hopefully we'll be chosen soon!

Random laughs: This morning Liliana asked for "Queen of Wheat" for breakfast. As she washed dishes with her Grammy Joy, Liliana started laughing and exclaimed, "That cracks me out!" What a riot.

Enjoy your day. ~Ramona

Bittersweet Holidays

We just finished the first leg of our Midwest Christmas tour. Our first stop was downtown Chicago, where we stayed at the Hotel Intercontinental. It was our family Christmas gift--what a treat! The next day, we met up with dear friends from college & grad school and explored the Shedd Aquarium. After a seeing the sea life and catching up with cronies, we headed up to Michigan for a family Christmas.

It has been a bittersweet holiday for us this year. While we greatly enjoy spending time with family, we are still adjusting to the news that our pregnancy has come to an end. Because the miscarriage has not occurred yet, it's difficult to find closure and move forward. To make things even more emotional, this was the first Christmas without my gramcracker (she passed away in August). We had a memorial for her Christmas morning, and yesterday I went to her home for the last time. It was very difficult to say good-bye.

I also had an opportunity to see my dad's side of the family. My grandma (our last living grandparent) isn't doing well, and she commented that she doesn't think she'll be around in a few months. That was hard to hear. In addition, my aunt gave me some items that belonged to my father, including an old version of his will. Talk about emotional!

On a more positive note, our adoption home study has been completed. As soon as it is approved by Bethany's supervisor, our profile will go up on the national BCS website. We are still the first family on the networking (waiting) list, so we'll move into the active matching program as soon as a spot opens up. We're praying that the process is smooth and quick, because our hearts are bursting to love another little one!

Thank you for your continued encouragement and prayers. We are so blessed to have such supportive friends. Happy Holidays! Ramona

Celebrating Life

It is Christmas eve, and in my family...it's a time for games, goodies and great celebration. As I join in the festivities, I can't help but reflect on the events of recent weeks. Even though we are in the midst of sorrow, I am thankful for the many blessings in my life. While continuing to know the great hope of adoption and the gift of parenthood, we also experienced a miraculous pregnancy and several weeks of expectant joy. Now that our pregnancy is coming to an end, I smile through the tears knowing that our ninth child is resting in the arms of the Lord.

This Christmas, I celebrate the loves we have known, and the love we have lost. Most of all, I celebrate the Savior.

May you know the the greatest love of all. Blessings, Ramona

The Lord Giveth and Taketh Away

Today we are grieving the loss of yet another child and preparing for a miscarriage in the midst of our Christmas plans. Yesterday's ultrasound revealed that the baby's development stopped somewhere around 5 1/2 weeks. Dr. Pineda requested lab tests to confirm what the sonogram images suggested, and we received the results at 9:30pm last night. Our tests showed that the HCG level only went up to 1332, instead of the desired 7200. As a result, the doc ordered that I discontinue my progesterone supplements to allow my body to recognize what has happened. Unfortunately, we should anticipate a miscarriage within the week.

Of course, we are deeply saddened by this turn of events. We hoped and prayed that this miraculous conception was a sign that we would know this precious child on earth. This is not how we had envisioned our holiday, but we know that God has a plan bigger and better than ours. And we are thankful that we had a brief opportunity to experience a pregnancy & the joy and anticipation that goes hand in hand.

We are ever grateful for your support, encouragement and intercession during this difficult time. We don't know what we would do without our family & friends...and our faith.

Peace with God brings the peace of God. It is a peace that settles our nerves, fills our mind, floods our spirit, and in the midst of the uproar around us, gives us the assurance that everything is alright. ~Bob Mumford

From our hearts to yours, have a blessed holiday weekend. ~Ramona

Holiday Happenings

Liliana has been opening one gift per day, leading up to the grand finale on Christmas day. Here is one of her favorites (mine, too). It's a FurReal pet chimpanzee that talks, drinks, burps and hiccups. So cute!

Last week, Liliana informed me that she does not like Santa Claus. Tonight Kris Kringle just happened to be at our neighbor's house, so we ventured out to join in the merriment. Even when Santa offered a toy, Liliana kept her distance. She seems to be smiling in this photo, but "happy" was not her sentiment about being in the same room with the jolly old fella.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This is, hands down, the most wonderful time of the year. I love the holiday music, shining decorations, hustle & bustle and joyful, giving spirit that fills the air. Most of all, my heart sings to hear the name of Jesus so boldly proclaimed everywhere I go. For one month of the year, the words "God" and "Jesus" flow through the airwaves and store speakers without a second thought. I love it! If only every month could be celebrated this way!

Christmas, my child, is love in action...
When you love someone, you give to them, as God gives to us. The greatest gift He ever gave was the person of His Son, sent to us in human form so that we might know what God the Father is really like. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas. ~Dale Evans Rogers

Of course, I am also thrilled to be experiencing this holiday season as an expectant mother. It is a precious blessing. Thank you, Lord! As our ultrasound approaches, I am filled with hope that this time will be different--that we will see the image of a healthy, thriving baby on the screen. Fortunately, my symptoms are strong, and my body seems to be telling me that all is well. I have never been so happy to have 24-hour nausea, heartburn, tender "parts," and an aching back! What an unexpected and glorious gift.

Here's to believing in miracles! Ramona

Winter Wonderland

This has been a wonderful winter day. We played in the snow, went sledding, enjoyed hot cocoa and learned that our pregnancy is cruising right along. Praise the Lord, all is well!

My HCG level was 1782, just a bit shy of the desired 1800 mark. My labs were done a couple hours earlier than normal, and that may account for slightly lower number. All in all, we are thrilled to know our baby is healthy. Although we still have a long way to go, this is a good sign. I'll be six weeks on Friday, and we have 0ur ultrasound at 2:20pm that day.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We are so grateful!

Lab Tests Tomorrow

The weekend is coming to a close, and I'm looking forward to the results of my blood tests tomorrow. Despite my not-so-hot bloodwork on Thursday, my pregnancy symptoms (especially nausea and sensitivity to smell) are going strong. I'm hopeful that the baby is experiencing healthy growth and development.

My HCG level was 452 on Thursday, which means it should be around 1800 tomorrow. God willing, it will be right on target (or higher). I'm praying for good news. I can't imagine that God would provide this incredible miracle, only to take it away. However, stranger things have been known to happen.

Right now, I'm thanking God for this pregnancy and praying that we will meet and know this child on earth.

In His grip,
Ramona

Christmas Party, Pregnancy & Adoption

Tonight we celebrated the holidays with church small group. Although just a few of us braved the elements (crazy amounts of snow), we had a ball together. The children played downstairs while the adults had great conversations and game time. The more we learn about our friends, the greater our love for our church family. What a blessing!

On to our pregnancy. Many people have been asking about our baby's due date. At this point, it looks like the pregnancy is five weeks along, which makes the due date in August. I'll know more on Monday. Despite the so-so lab results on Thursday, I've been experiencing many positive symptoms. So even though my heart is not at peace, I am optimistic that all is well.

It seems that inquiring minds also want to know if we're still planning to adopt. The answer: Absolutely! God has prepared our hearts for adoption, and we will continue the process regardless of what happens with the pregnancy. We've always desired a large family, and we will welcome and adore all of the children the Lord places in our family.

Please feel free to ask all of the questions you wish. We are happy to respond! Thank you so much for your encouragement and support. We appreciate it more than you know!

Stay safe, St. Louisans. ~Ramona

Updates

I just received my lab results from this morning. My progesterone level is great, thanks to the supplements. However, my HCG level is not as high as we had hoped. It is within the "normal" range, but somewhat on the low side. Please pray that this is just a temporary lull...and that all is well with our growing baby. I'll have another lab test on Monday morning. So, it's time to wait and pray (the story of my life). Thankfully, our calendar is full, and I have plenty of distractions.

I must admit that I'm taking this news pretty hard, even though everything may be fine. Things tend to have a negative slant due to our history of miscarriages & loss. Plus, my emotions are running high after being at the hospital & seeing my friend Kate. She is experiencing a difficult complication following her brain surgery. Please pray that she would quickly and fully regain motor control on her left side. For more info on her status, visit http://katesnodgrass.blogspot.com Her situation is very close to my heart.

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. I feel like a basket case today!

Blessings,
Ramona

Reeling

I'm still reeling from our news yesterday. I feel like taking another pregnancy test just to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Thankfully, I have another blood test tomorrow to monitor my hormone levels. The results will be a much-needed confirmation, since this is such an unbelievable (but very welcome) situation!

Since this is a "high risk" pregnancy, we will undergo many tests and ultrasounds during the next weeks and months. Hopefully we will have nothing but good news and praise! I am so thankful for the well-wishing calls and emails we've already received. We especially appreciate your prayers. Thank you so much for praying on our behalf!

Liliana is so excited about her new brother or sister. She touches my tummy and says, "the baby is cute and cuddly!" Liliana is such a blessing to our family, and I can't wait to see what a nurturing and adoring big sister she'll be. Praise God for her and for this new miracle!

On to another subject close to my heart. I am currently at Kate's house with Stuart and Liliana, while Sandy (Kate's mom) is at the hospital. Stuart is napping and Liliana is enjoying the boys' toys. Although my pregnancy exhaustion is hitting me hard today, I'm glad to be able to serve my friends. If you feel led, please lift up Kate's health to the Lord. She has been in surgery since a little after 11:00am. Her spirits were bright & her sense of humor intact, but this is a heavy and serious surgery. It is my prayer that she be completely healed through this surgery and that her personality remains unchanged. Thanks a million for your prayers.

I praise God for our wonderful blessing and for caring for Kate as she is in the hospital. ~Ramona

Holiday Miracle

Every day holds the possibility of a miracle.
Nothing is impossible with God. ~Luke 1:37

I stand before you humble, amazed and honored to share a Christmas miracle. For so long we have hoped and prayed, waited and trusted. And in God's glorious timing, He has granted us the desire of our hearts. Yes, my friends, we are expecting a child! (Cue Halleluiah chorus.)

It has taken the entire day and three pregnancy tests for the reality to sink in. Part of me still doesn't believe it. At this point, my hormone levels look good. Progesterone was the exception, but it's always the black sheep..so I started a prescription supplement today. While Wade and I are absolutely thilled, we must also remain cautious. Keep in mind this is my fifth pregnancy, and we have eight unborn children in heaven. So we're taking it day by day, and we're calling for prayer.

Please boldly lift up this tiny life to our Lord. Pray that s/he is healthy and remains so to term. Please pray that my body will support this pregnancy, and that we will meet this child & know him/her on earth. We thank you, in advance, for your prayers and support.

While you're on your knees, please remember my friend, Kate, who will undergo brain surgery tomorrow. My heart is with her. Click the following link to read her prayer requests: http://katesnodgrass.blogspot.com/

All praise and glory to God, with whom nothing is impossible! ~Ramona

Presents and Prayer

I'm an "it's better to give than to receive" kind of gal. In fact, I spend weeks--sometimes months--preparing special gifts to celebrate Christmas. Tonight I completed about 20 hand-made (not your grade school homemade, but your high-tech-with-a-personal-touch homemade) gifts. It's such a beautiful thing to see the finished result of hours of left & right brain collaboration. Just like a child pines for Santa, I'm looking forward to delivering these presents to my family members. 14 days and counting! Now that this giant project is complete, I can rest easy tonight.

Tomorrow night will be a different story. My dear friend is having brain surgery on Wednesday, and my mind and heart are with her. If you are so inclined, please pray for Kate--for successful surgery, no complications, total healing, and quick recovery. Also, please lift up her husband and three boys, that the Lord will grant them comfort, peace and rest. I know that God is working in their lives through this trial, and I praise Him for the blessings that continue to shine through.

In His service,
Ramona

Faith

Today's quote in my Day Brighteners book is simple, but profound.
I'd like to share it with you...

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. ~Martin Luther King Jr.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ~Hebrews 11:1

May our faith grow and deepen with each passing day of this advent season. In Him, Ramona

Our Profile

Tomorrow is our home visit and final interview with Bethany Christian Services. After that, our home study will be complete! By the grace of God, we have had the diligence to tackle the agency's many requirements in the midst of this busy season. As a result, we will soon be off the networking program (waiting list) and in the active adoption program. That's music to our ears! Above is the primary photo that will appear on our online profile, which will go on Bethany's website as soon as our home study is approved.

At this point, we would like to share our personal adoption page at http://wadeandramona.blogspot.com/. Should you know an expectant parent who is considering adoption for their baby, we invite you to refer them to our site. Quite often, matches are made through friends or family...so we're involving our network--YOU!

As we wait to meet the child God has chosen for our family, our love for one another continues to grow...and so does our ability to trust the Lord's timing. This process has been (and still is) a wonderful opportunity to work on our virtues, especially patience, perseverance, flexibility and determination. We are thankful that God has brought us to this place in our lives, and we look forward to seeing how this situation will reveal His goodness and glory.

Many blessings to you! Ramona

Hustle and Bustle

Do you ever feel like you're juggling so many projects that you need to pull a college all-nighter to catch up? I do. Between new clients, adoption preparations, household duties, event planning, Christmas shopping and caring for family & friends, I'm continually moving and shaking! Now I'm trying to add Christmas photos & cards to the mix. This is a busy season, alright! And I love it, every single stressful moment! 'Tis the Season!