The Day Has Come

As some of you know we are in the process of adopting through the Foster Care system here in our county. While it hasn't been easy on some days, overall, I can't really complain. The hardest part was to be completely transparent about my past. Hold nothing back and be completely and utterly honest.

Well our home study was finally complete and we were scheduled to be heard before the SNAP Council on March 14, 2011.

What a surprise we got today when our caseworker emailed to let us know that they added extra hearing days, we were heard today and were approved unanimously without question of my past.

We are beyond excited for this news and we are now starting a new chapter in our journey to adoption.

Canning - Brings me such happiness

Friends of ours from church (Jason's cousin) and us decided to go in and garden together this year. The Church had 20 30x20 spots for anyone that wanted them. We decided to take two. After several trial and errors, we started getting an abundance of crops. We had TONS of zucchini, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes. We each got half of the produce. Most of our zucchini I bagged into 1 cup servings and put in our freezer for the winter use. I also grilled, fried, sauted it as well.


The cucumbers, I made several batches of refrigerator pickles; kept some and gave some away.


The peppers, we have used in some recipes but today i am chopping the rest and putting in the freezer.


And then there are the tomatoes: Last week Jen and I canned (with the wonderful/gracious/assistance of my mother) 10 1/2 quarts of tomatoes. Today is another day to can. I am guessing we will probably get another 10-12 quarts of tomatoes. The next time we can tomatoes we are going to can salsa.


Growing up I would never 'admit' that I liked to can. I thought it was silly, too country for this city girl that had to be transplanted to the country b/c of my dad's new job. I mean I came from Kentucky up here and we moved to the middle of no where. Are you serious. Can't be anymore country than that. LOL. Okay, so I just digressed a bit. But my point is as a young girl/woman I would never want to help or anythign like that.


Fast forward to now, I am married and we have a son. I want to bring the freshest possible ingredients to the table each time I cook a meal for them. And that my dear friends, means that I am canning. Canning is one of the many ways that I know what my family is eating. There is no preservatives in the tomatoes. They aren't grown in place weird, no pesticides on the tomatoes. Just straight up organic tomatoes. And I love it.


I will post pictures later of our sows from our adventures in canning.

I am so excited. We started going through the adoption process and I am 1/2 way through with my classes. Next month Jason takes his and then we can start our home study!

YIPPIE for us.

Has it really been 2 years since I last posted. Wow, how time flies. Look at our "little young man". He is growing up so fast and right before our eyes he is doing things that just make our hearts smile daily.

A lot has happened in 2 years. He have had fertility issues and prayed and prayed and now are in the process of going through our adoption classes so that we can adopt a child through the Indiana Foster Care System. We are both so excited to have another child and cannot wait to meet the child that God has chosen for our family.

Well, I will try to post more pictures later.

Our Happy Family

We have an amazing God!

I recently found a website called www.ninetynineballoons.com, this is an amazing website about a family that shows their faith in God during the 99 days their son Eliot was alive with Edward's disease. The video that they made was an amazing testament to their faith in God our Savior. After crying through the whole entire video, it made me think about things that I take for granted.

Our son can cry, smile, laugh, pee, poop, eat, and he is still here. Sometimes we take for granted the things that we have in our lives and then when you read about someone else it makes you think, well it makes me think.

I need to be more grateful to God. God has given Jason and I such a wonderful life. We have an amazing marriage and an amazing son. We tend to forget the sacrifices that were made for us. After seeing the video on the website, I told Jason about the video and how lucky we are that there is nothing wrong with our son. We have a healthy, happy normal little boy. Or, what is normal? Is normal what we think it is, or is normal what God gives to us? I really don't think anymore there is such a thing as normal. I mean, God made us all and made us the way we are for a reason. He also will turn things upside down in your life in an instant just to remind you that just b/c you are a Christian does not mean you will not have trials and tribulations in your life. Just because you are a Christian does not mean life is "perfect". Again, I do not think there is anything that is truly perfect other than the ultimate sacrifice God made by giving up us only Son, that to me is perfection.

Take the time to go to this website: www.ninetynineballoons.com and read how the birth of their son has made their faith in Christ stronger and the love that they had for their son and the gifts that Eliot gave to his parents in such a short amount of time.

www.ninetynineballoons.com (Please have tissue ready)

Of daycare and work

Well, last week I went back to work for the first time after being off for 10 weeks. It was so hard to leave Elijah at the daycare facility that my first few days were really rough. The first day was not nearly as bad as the second day. I didn't realize how tired I would be on day two of work. Jason and I have a really nice system set up to deal with baby duty, but I never thought that I would be so tired the first day I went back to work. I think I was napping on the couch by 6:30 that evening.

Daycare - well it is wonderful. Elijah is cared for so well. He has some amazing "teachers". Ms. Rachel, Ms. Roseanne, Ms. Jan, and Ms. Myra. I love all those women. Each night wehn I leave with Elijah, Ms. Jan and Ms. Myra always tells their "buddy" goodbye and they will see him tomorrow. They really do care about him and the other 5 kids in his class. Mommy and daddy do not have to worry at all about the care that he is getting while they are both at work.

Milestones - last Monday he went and had his 2 month shots and did awesome. He also got checked out. He is now 9 pounds, 21 1/4" long and is growing like a weed. He is also eating cereal and it is so funny to see him eat cereal off of a spoon. The minute one of us takes it out of his mouth he screams as if we are starving him. Plus it is so cute when it is in his hair, on his hands and all over his mouth.

Elijah's first visit to a law firm

Today, Elijah and I went to my office for his first official visit with the people I work with there. I have to say it was so nice to see everyone and to talk to them about things going on in their lives. Elijah was of course an angel, in fact he slept most of the time while he was there and then he decided he had too much excitement he is still asleep and it is going on 5 p.m.

I am a little mixed about coming back to work in 4 weeks. I do not want to leave our son with anyone, but at the same time, I think it will be good for both of us. I miss the adult interaction that I do have at the office. I think with Elijah being in daycare it will help him be around other people that will give him all the attention he needs, nuture him and most importantly explain and teach him the importance of our Christian faith. Jason and I cannot be there 24/7, and we feel that the center that we have chose for him to go will give him and teach him everthing that we would if we were able to stay at home.

I was able to spend quite a bit of time at the office today. It was nice to sit down at a table, have lunch and talk about adult things and not about poop, pee, amount of food that was eaten throughout the day, etc. For all you parents you all know the following phrase is true: when you have a child, your vocabulary changes! But you know, I would not have it any other way. I am so blessed with a wonderful husband, son and family that surrounds us.

Jason is such an amazing dad. As soon as Jason comes home he basically runs over to Elijah and swoops in and picks him up and kisses him over and over again. Of course, I am over on the sideline like hello, remember me, but Jason does remember me and he is happy to see us both.

While visiting the office today I was reminded by a friend how anal I was before I left about germs and people touching our son, etc. Since I have been off, I have realized that sometimes germs are good and that no matter how hard we try to protect him there are going to be times when he is exposed to germs. He is going to daycare, he is out in public and he goes to other people's houses. I mean, germs are everywhere and I do not have the energy or desire to keep Elijah in a sterile environment.

Easter is coming up and it reminds me of the sacrifice that was made for my sins. I sin everyday and I will be the first to admit that I do. There are things that I do and say that are not something that I should be saying and/or doing. Jason and I try our best to be the best Christians we can be. We want to teach our son the values and morals that are wholesome. We want the best for Elijah in that we want him to grow up in a Christian home. I never grew up in that environment and I was a late bloomer when it came to being a Christian and living that life. Jason has been in that environment so he is a constant reminder to me of how grateful we should be for our lives that we have, b/c there is always someone else out in the world that is not as fortunate as we are with the lives that we live. I am trying to get better to remind myself daily of the sacrifice that was made for me and not just around the holiday time.

How cute is our son?

Yesterday Elijah and I went to the mall to have his photos taken for Easter. Now the first round was not that great since he did not want to be photographed at all. So after a little feeding and some loving, he did awesome. JCPenney is where we went and I am not sure if I will go back or not. The photos were good, but the guy taking the photos made me a little nervous for a few reasons.

Later in the afternoon after daddy got home, we went to Picture People b/c I had a coupon for a free 8x10 or 10x13. Of course they want to tease you with that free photo to get you in there so that you will purchase their outrageously priced packages. Luckily Jason was with me b/c I would have bought more photos but he is the voice of reason and we walked out not spending a dime!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter.

The beauty of a child

Every day we find ourselves more and more enamored with the things that our little 3 week old son will do. I love the way he just makes baby sounds when he is happy and content with the world. There are facial expressions that he makes when he is trying to gunt something out of his body. I love him just staring deep into either my eyes or Jason's eyes when he is getting fed. Our son means the world to us and we are so truly blessed. Jason loves spending time with Elijah. Once Jason gets home and gets settled, he spends a lot of the evening taking care of Elijah or just simply playing with him. It gives me a chance to be able to do some things around the house I want to get done. We love this time right now because he is so small, but can't wait to see what the future holds. Right now his weight is increasing on a regular basis and the last time we went to the doctor, he was weighing in at 6 pounds and 14 ounces and was 19" long. YEAH for the growth spurt.

Life is really good right now. I do not want to go back to work in four weeks, but in order to maintain the lifestyle we have right now, duty calls. Sometimes I do miss being able to have conversations with adults that do not include the word, poop, binky, pacifier, or gas. I miss all my friends at work and next week when we go for a visit, it will be good to see everyone.

I am so loving the weather right now. The weather has been great. I am ready for the cooler/rainy weather to be completely gone and some warmth falling on our faces whenever we go outside.

My surgery scars are starting to heal a little better. Hopefully by the time I go back to work, they will be completely healed. I do not want, but will if I have to, have to leave early once a week to have them checked just coming back from 10 weeks of maternity leave.

Jason and I praise God daily for the beauty that our life has been since we met. I try to imagine/remember what my life was like before I met Jason and it all seems such a blur. I love my husband more each day and I am truly grateful for the life we have. Jason is such a great husband and I can't imagine my life without him. I pray that we have just as much fun in five years that we are having now.

Our baby has arrived

On Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at 9:06 a.m. we welcomed into the world through God's grace a healthy 5lb 14oz baby boy. We named him Elijah Otto-Lee Froelich. We are just so totally in love with Elijah and still find ourselves staring at him for a long period of time.

Jason is the greatest daddy in the world. As soon as he comes home he just starts playing with Elijah making sure that Elijah knows that daddy is there and it is just so adorable and beautiful to see another side of my husband.

Yesterday we had Elijah's aunt and great aunt visiting. They brought food for us to eat on the rest of the week. I have had a minor set back in my recovery since part of my incission has ripped open a little bit. It is painful and requires Jason to do some "Dr. Froelich" handling of the incision. It is really hard for Jason right now b/c as soon as he gets home from work he has to come home and cook dinner so with this food it will give Jason a break for this week. Hopefully by next week I will be on my feet enough to have dinner ready when Jason gets home from work.

I have attached a few photos that we took during our hospital stay.

The final countdown has begun.

It is Sunday afternoon and it is finally almost here. Jason and I have less than 2 days to go before our son is born. WOW! What an amazing journey. It has went by really quickly and without much drama. Okay, so I have been on bedrest the last two weeks, but if that is the worse that happened, I am not complaining. Two weeks of bedrest is better than two months. We have had a few people call today to make sure it was okay they came up to the hospital to see us and our son on Tuesday. We are so excited that they are coming up to see us. I can't wait for them to see our son. Plus what better way to celebrate a birth than with the love from our family and friends celebrating up at the hospital with us.

I am starting to get a little nervous. Not in like a really bad way, just nerves about the whole process, the surgery, being a mom and at the same time remembering to be a good wife to Jason. I am sure as I am sitting here, that at the end of the eight weeks of leave I will not want to go back to work at all. I mean, lately yes I wish I was at work, but once he is born, how can anyone want to go back with having a new baby - but we have to do what we have to do.

Lately I have had dreams of what he looks like, whose nose, whose eyes, whose smile he has. Man, I can't wait for Tuesday. Right now Jason is making cookies for him to take with us so he will have a snack for the 4 days I am in the hospital.

Everything is complete, our son's laundry is done, the room is ready and there is just one thing missing - HIM!

I have to give thanks and praise to God. Because of God this would not be possible. Everything is done by his plan. God had a plan from the beginning. Who knew. Jason and I sure didn't, but God did. Jason and I both said today three years ago we would have never imagined in a million years that we would be here getting ready to give birth to our son. God is amazing and while sometimes I do not know what he has in store, why he does the things he does, or why he puts me through some of the trials and tribulations that I have been through, it is still amazing and I am truly blessed.

My First Post

I have attempted not to have a blog. I figured it was just something else I would have to keep up with after our son is born. After careful review and consideration, we feel it would be best b/c it will help our loved ones who live out of state to keep up with how things are going.

We are a little over 34 weeks pregnant. In approximately 5 weeks we will have a c-section for the birth of our son. Am I scared? Absolutely! There are so many things that could go wrong. I try to be as positive as possible, but there are complications that could arise from any surgery. My biggest thing is that I have tried to give this to God to watch over and handle, but I keep taking it back. I know that once I give something to him, I am supposed to let him handle it, but. . . I guess I still want to hold on to this worry a little longer to make myself worry even more. The saving grace is that my husband is the calming side to our marriage. He is the voice of reason even when I can't see the reasoning or why he is saying what he is saying. He helps me realize that regardless of how we want things to go, God is in control and things will go according to God's plan, not ours.