What a reception! You know, after hearing how FERALS reacted to Naomi, I have to say she must be a pretty special girl.
Good luck, as always, with the next steps. Those will of course be the hardest. I'm always here for you Laurie.
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OK - here goes. We're adopting a daughter and she needs prayers.
- Thread starter ldg
- Start Date
Just remaining in awe,smiling for the steps she's taking....you all remain in my prayers.
Wow--every time I read your posts in this thread, my heart melts. I hope that Naomi continues on the path she has taken and becomes very successful! Let her know that we are her friends too!
Good luck Laurie--and please continue to keep us updated!
I am so glad that the kitties have taken to her. I am sure they will do alot to ease her fears and to help her adjust. Nothing is as calming as a purring kitty on your lap! I am sure as ferals they sense a kindred spirit!
I'm so happy things are going well. I agree that the cats liking her is a wonderful sign. I'm always wary of people my cats don't like!
I'm sending more prayers your way!! Keep us updated!
I'm sending more prayers your way!! Keep us updated!
oh, yay!! evertything sounds so good!! Tell her I hope she feels better (from the flu) soon! They're awful this year
What's her favorite color?
I'm without words, Laurie. This is all just so awesome. You guys -- all three of you -- are so awesome. How about that feline reception!! Kitties do not BS on important things. Continued prayers and thoughts. Thanks for the update, and of course we'll be eagerly awaiting the next -- whenever you can spring a few moments from your very full life.
Sounds like things are going really great!
As I started reading your post I was stuck by something. Occasionally you'll read about these children (or teenagers usually) who were, for some reason or another, abandoned by their parents - maybe they did drugs, maybe they stole, whatever. While you and Gary consider Naomi your daughter, in all actuality I don't think you've known her THAT long... and yet you both are so supportive, you don't hestitate to go get her when she asks for you, and you respect her wishes - even when she tests you (subconsciously or not). That's so great that you both are there for her and I hope she realizes how lucky she is to have found the both of you!
I'm also glad the cats responded so well to her! Anyway, good luck with everything you all have in the works!
As I started reading your post I was stuck by something. Occasionally you'll read about these children (or teenagers usually) who were, for some reason or another, abandoned by their parents - maybe they did drugs, maybe they stole, whatever. While you and Gary consider Naomi your daughter, in all actuality I don't think you've known her THAT long... and yet you both are so supportive, you don't hestitate to go get her when she asks for you, and you respect her wishes - even when she tests you (subconsciously or not). That's so great that you both are there for her and I hope she realizes how lucky she is to have found the both of you!
I'm also glad the cats responded so well to her! Anyway, good luck with everything you all have in the works!
Thanks for the update! All I can say is "WOW !"
Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Wow... amazing how the kitts know what a special person Naomi is, giving her love and such. They really are amazing critters.
I'm so happy to hear that things are going well, other than Naomi having the flu. I hope she gets better quickly, so she can start on the road to recovery from her addiction.
She sounds like an amazing person, from what you've written. And her new parents are truly amazing people as well!!
I'm so happy to hear that things are going well, other than Naomi having the flu. I hope she gets better quickly, so she can start on the road to recovery from her addiction.
She sounds like an amazing person, from what you've written. And her new parents are truly amazing people as well!!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #113
Wow, you guys are really just too kind. I guess it may sound extraordinary, but it so doesn't feel like it. I am SO amazed at how natural this all feels.
I did forget to mention something. Sometimes in life - especially when he was younger, Gary would, upon occasion, have dreams that came true. One dream he had 13 or 14 (before we'd gotten back together) years ago he told me about 11 years ago (when we got back together). It was that he was married to me (which came true), and we were going someplace with our daughter (which we never thought would come true as we decided not to have children). She had brown hair, and a very specific tatoo. It was "to be" in hebrew, written upside down on her back. It was the same tatoo a friend of his had (even though Jews are forbidden to have tatoos). In his dream, the writing in Hebrew was upside down, and even though the proper translation was "to be," in his dream, our daughter had it tatooed because she thought it meant "rebirth," which made no sense to Gary. We were aware of three tatoos Naomi has. I think I already mentioned that "Live Free" is tatooed across her fingers. She also has an angel (a really nice one, I think) tatooed on her left arm, and an "Earth Goddess" (pregnant with the earth) on her right arm. Well, last night we found out she's got the tatoo from Gary's dream - upside down - on her back. She thought it meant "rebirth," and the tatoo artist, not knowing hebrew, accidentally tatooed it upside down. Kind of wild, hunh? Gary was a bit freaked out for a while.
I know things are going to be really difficult. She is stubborn and opinionated - but finally feels comfortable enough to really just be herself, and that is SO COOL that it is happening so quickly. And she is that way in such a great and kind way. I'm so glad she's not turning out to be some beaten down, so "thankfully greatful" carpet. She's grown in her confidence and trust, and is really allowing herself to be vulnerable.
She was feeling much better today. We let her sleep in until noon. Then we visited Carrier. It turns out that the typical medication they use at Carrier is something she's been on in the past and had a very bad reaction to. They gave us a list of other clinics that use medication, but not methodone, to help "large" heroine users to come down over a period of time. (They also didn't have a bed open today anyway, and probably won't until next week sometime).
Gary's nick-name for her is Sunshine, so the first one we called together was the Sunrise House. Turns out they're 3 1/2 miles from us. It's not the "glamorous" spa facility that Carrier is, but the people were SO nice. They may have a bed open tomorrow (no guarantees), but should within the next few days. We're going to visit them tomorrow.
So we stopped to see our Doctor on the way home. I might have mentioned this before, but he ran a detox program for a local hospital. He counceled Naomi today, and prescribed some heavy morphine-like drug so she doesn't have to go back to the city. It won't be like heroine, but it will prevent her from going through withdrawal. he also prescribed several things to help fight withdrawal symptoms. She's handling all of this amazing well, and I really don't know how to explain it. She believes, very much like Gary and I do, that some things were meant to be, and she agrees that this is one of those things. She doesn't leave the room any more to have her conversations with friends - and they're amazingly intelligent conversations about their relationships and drugs, and she's really standing up for herself and her decision to go through detox, and getting mad at her "friends" for not being supportive - I mean, not just telling us, but having conversations with them about it.
We've been talking with her about how she needs to be comfortable being needy and being vulnerable, and she said she'd like to start at about age 13. She said she had to act like she was in her 20s for the past five years, and now she'd like to start over and be a teen. She feels comfortable calling Gary dad already, and though she kept asking if everything was OK Monday night, ("can I go to the kitchen to get some juice?"), she already acts like this is her home, and we just couldn't be happier.
We stopped to look at furniture on the way home. She picked out a mattress - not a bed yet.
So - tomorrow we go visit the Sunrise House. If they have a bed, she'll probably go in. If not, we'll go shopping to get her some comfortable clothes, a few sets of pajamas and stuff, and they expect they'll have a bed open before the end of the weekend at the latest.
Because of the level of her habit, we already know she'll be on the 28-day program. And it turns out that friends of ours (the ones who own the furniture store) are affiliated with Canyon Ranch, and there's a facility in upstate NY. They're making plans for us to use their family discount, so once she's out of detox, I think we'll all head up there for 10 days. It'll help us all get exercise, focus on getting healthy, continue healing - and all get on a schedule (which we DON'T have right now!!! - As Gary puts it, we're living on "Naomi time," LOL).
Our friends and family are being so supportive, and she's already said "hey" to quite a few people on the phone - because Gary is SO proud of his daughter!!!!!!!!!!
So ..... thank you all again for all of your amazing support and considerations and thoughts. But things really do seem to be going so well, and she remains committed to doing this. We're not on the schedule we expected (surprise, surprise), but it really could be any day now.
Gary and I feel SO blessed to have this incredible woman in our lives.
I guess we do have the touch with ferals - and the cats just sense she's one of them?
Here's a pick from today: (Doesn't she look so much better already? Amazing what a little food and sleep can do!)
Dad and his daughter:
I did forget to mention something. Sometimes in life - especially when he was younger, Gary would, upon occasion, have dreams that came true. One dream he had 13 or 14 (before we'd gotten back together) years ago he told me about 11 years ago (when we got back together). It was that he was married to me (which came true), and we were going someplace with our daughter (which we never thought would come true as we decided not to have children). She had brown hair, and a very specific tatoo. It was "to be" in hebrew, written upside down on her back. It was the same tatoo a friend of his had (even though Jews are forbidden to have tatoos). In his dream, the writing in Hebrew was upside down, and even though the proper translation was "to be," in his dream, our daughter had it tatooed because she thought it meant "rebirth," which made no sense to Gary. We were aware of three tatoos Naomi has. I think I already mentioned that "Live Free" is tatooed across her fingers. She also has an angel (a really nice one, I think) tatooed on her left arm, and an "Earth Goddess" (pregnant with the earth) on her right arm. Well, last night we found out she's got the tatoo from Gary's dream - upside down - on her back. She thought it meant "rebirth," and the tatoo artist, not knowing hebrew, accidentally tatooed it upside down. Kind of wild, hunh? Gary was a bit freaked out for a while.
I know things are going to be really difficult. She is stubborn and opinionated - but finally feels comfortable enough to really just be herself, and that is SO COOL that it is happening so quickly. And she is that way in such a great and kind way. I'm so glad she's not turning out to be some beaten down, so "thankfully greatful" carpet. She's grown in her confidence and trust, and is really allowing herself to be vulnerable.
She was feeling much better today. We let her sleep in until noon. Then we visited Carrier. It turns out that the typical medication they use at Carrier is something she's been on in the past and had a very bad reaction to. They gave us a list of other clinics that use medication, but not methodone, to help "large" heroine users to come down over a period of time. (They also didn't have a bed open today anyway, and probably won't until next week sometime).
Gary's nick-name for her is Sunshine, so the first one we called together was the Sunrise House. Turns out they're 3 1/2 miles from us. It's not the "glamorous" spa facility that Carrier is, but the people were SO nice. They may have a bed open tomorrow (no guarantees), but should within the next few days. We're going to visit them tomorrow.
So we stopped to see our Doctor on the way home. I might have mentioned this before, but he ran a detox program for a local hospital. He counceled Naomi today, and prescribed some heavy morphine-like drug so she doesn't have to go back to the city. It won't be like heroine, but it will prevent her from going through withdrawal. he also prescribed several things to help fight withdrawal symptoms. She's handling all of this amazing well, and I really don't know how to explain it. She believes, very much like Gary and I do, that some things were meant to be, and she agrees that this is one of those things. She doesn't leave the room any more to have her conversations with friends - and they're amazingly intelligent conversations about their relationships and drugs, and she's really standing up for herself and her decision to go through detox, and getting mad at her "friends" for not being supportive - I mean, not just telling us, but having conversations with them about it.
We've been talking with her about how she needs to be comfortable being needy and being vulnerable, and she said she'd like to start at about age 13. She said she had to act like she was in her 20s for the past five years, and now she'd like to start over and be a teen. She feels comfortable calling Gary dad already, and though she kept asking if everything was OK Monday night, ("can I go to the kitchen to get some juice?"), she already acts like this is her home, and we just couldn't be happier.
We stopped to look at furniture on the way home. She picked out a mattress - not a bed yet.
So - tomorrow we go visit the Sunrise House. If they have a bed, she'll probably go in. If not, we'll go shopping to get her some comfortable clothes, a few sets of pajamas and stuff, and they expect they'll have a bed open before the end of the weekend at the latest.
Because of the level of her habit, we already know she'll be on the 28-day program. And it turns out that friends of ours (the ones who own the furniture store) are affiliated with Canyon Ranch, and there's a facility in upstate NY. They're making plans for us to use their family discount, so once she's out of detox, I think we'll all head up there for 10 days. It'll help us all get exercise, focus on getting healthy, continue healing - and all get on a schedule (which we DON'T have right now!!! - As Gary puts it, we're living on "Naomi time," LOL).
Our friends and family are being so supportive, and she's already said "hey" to quite a few people on the phone - because Gary is SO proud of his daughter!!!!!!!!!!
So ..... thank you all again for all of your amazing support and considerations and thoughts. But things really do seem to be going so well, and she remains committed to doing this. We're not on the schedule we expected (surprise, surprise), but it really could be any day now.
Gary and I feel SO blessed to have this incredible woman in our lives.
I guess we do have the touch with ferals - and the cats just sense she's one of them?
Here's a pick from today: (Doesn't she look so much better already? Amazing what a little food and sleep can do!)
Dad and his daughter:
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #114
One more quick pic - can't resist!
Well, I have to say that you are a more patient person than I. It is amazing that you are doing this for this woman and I hope that she is able to pull through. As many other people have mentioned addicts are a tough breed of person and more often than not those who love them or try to help them get hurt.
I wish you all the best.
I do have one question though, why take out her piercings for the photo?
I wish you all the best.
I do have one question though, why take out her piercings for the photo?
AW Laurie...this is just so awesome! (Am I repeating myself?) Well, whatever! It sounds like things are going remarkably well, and you three are making an amazing connection. I hope your visit to Sunrise House goes well, and Naomi can get started on this next phase.
That's pretty spooky about the dreams and the tattoos
but sounds as if this is just meant to be, eh??
Continued and renewed prayers and vibes...
That's pretty spooky about the dreams and the tattoos
Continued and renewed prayers and vibes...
I have read this thread several times and I have learned to get the kleenex before I start now. I can relate to Naomi in a few ways. I was a drug addict until a wonderful family opened up their home and hearts to me. Although circumstances were different I would like to share one thing with you....Some of us go through life guarding ourselves, our hearts until one day someone stands beside us and loves us. They do not mind loving from a distance to allow us time to adjust to this new found treasure. That in itself is what draws us closer,...the ability to make our own decision. I love and respect my parents dearly for what they did for me (as they adopted me 18 years ago).
My hats off to you and your husband. The gift of love is the greatest gift you can give and the most costly. I wish you and your family all the best. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us!!!!
My hats off to you and your husband. The gift of love is the greatest gift you can give and the most costly. I wish you and your family all the best. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us!!!!
Laurie thanks for the pictures--Naomi definitely does look better already!
