Adoption Update {and one other little piece of news}

It was May 15th when we got the call that Hope had chosen our family.

 

For the past three months we have been getting to know each other.

 

We have been to 6 doctors appointments together.

 

We have gone through 3 hospitalizations.

 

We have even had Hope and her older children in our home for a three day stay.

 

We are building something special for all of us.

 

We have 3 doctor's appointments left.

 

Then we will have a baby.

 

A BABY.

 

The little man will be here before we know it.

 

Hope is more than ready to deliver him.  She has been extremely sick this pregnancy.  It seems unfair.

 

I am so glad for her that it is almost over.

 

Even though the time is near, I have been hesitant to prepare a hospital bag for our little man.

 

I just kept thinking it was because I was busy.

 

When I pulled out the tubs of newborn baby boy items it hit me...

 

I was a little scared.

 

The last time I packed a hospital bag for a baby boy, we never got to meet him.

 

Once again, I turned my fears over to the Lord.

 

He is in control.

 

His plan is perfect.

 

It is all going to be okay.

 

No matter what happens.

 

Now these precious items are all washed up and ready.

 

He is going to look so cute in his coming home outfit!

 

He will be the 5th baby to sleep sweetly in this bassinet next to Mommy and Daddy.

 

His sonogram pictures have graced our mantel for the past three months.

 

They remind us that someone is missing from the picture.

 

We love you little man!

 

We can't wait to see your face for the first time.

 

You are the answer to our prayers.

 

Until we meet,

Mommy, Daddy and your entire fan club.

 

P.S. Little man...you better be ready for this loving bunch! 

They are excited to be your big brothers and big sister. 

 

Guess what? 

 

You are going to be a big brother too! 

 

Mommy has been working on this little one for awhile now and you will get to meet him or her in February. 

 

I hope you are ready.  It is going to be fun!

 

God is so good!

 

THE CALL

Last week we got THE CALL.

Adoptive Families know exactly what I am talking about.

THE CALL.

We have been chosen by a birth momma!!!

Once upon a time I wondered if I would ever have children.  Now I am expecting my 5th baby here on earth.  I am in awe of this blessing.

Q's adoption happened at lightening speed.  We got the call on a Monday, he was born that Friday and we were home that Sunday.

Baby C's adoption roller coaster was 30 days long.  As you know, Baby C's Mom decided to parent, so he did not come home.

We have never entered an adoption relationship with much time to prepare.  In this case, our dear birth momma, Hope (this is what I have named her for the blog for obvious reasons), is 1/2 way through her pregnancy.  We will get to walk through the second half with her.

There was a time when this would have scared the daylights out of me.

After all, there is a lot at risk.  It hurts when an adoption fails.

We could pour out our hearts, resources and time and in the end we could end up without a baby.

That is just the truth.

No one likes to say it but it is always a possibility.

It is easy to consider our own fears, but what about Hope?

She made a brave and sacrificial choice.

In a society where ending the life of an unplanned baby is legal, she chose life...

and then she chose us!

She told me that she had more than a dozen family profiles but she just kept coming back to ours.

Hope invited me to come to the doctor with her in order for the sonogram tech to determine her due date.  Originally we thought it was too early to determine the gender.

It wasn't too early.

I got to hear the words, "It's a boy!" as I sat right next to Hope.

I got to watch our son wiggle and kick on the screen.

I can already tell he is adorable. 

A momma just knows these things.

I called EJ and put him on speaker phone.  I had Hope tell him the news.  He rejoiced on the other end of the line.

Hope is allowing us in.

What a privilege.

What amazing memories we will be able to share with our son!

I hated to say goodbye to her and drive back home.

I had to remind myself that we would see each other again soon.

When I got home EJ and I put a "clue" in a gift bag for the kiddos.  They knew there was a baby coming but didn't know if it was a boy or girl.

 

They worked together to open the present and discovered a blue sleeper! 

 

It's a BABY BROTHER!

 

We are all so thrilled to welcome a new baby into our family!

 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!



Happy Birthday W!

 

 

I can't believe you are already 6 years old!

 

You bring joy and smiles wherever you go.

 

We love you big time, W!

 

6 looks good on you!

I admit it...I was the weird lady at Target

Life is so busy with all these little ones.  My mind is often in 5 different places at one time.  I want to hear God in my day.  I want to listen to the Holy Spirit guide me.  I want to live in the spirit and not in the flesh. 

I want to...but I so often miss out.

I was checking out at Target the other day.  I only had my oldest two children with me.  My hubby was waiting in the car with the two littles.

As the young lady rang up my items, I suddenly saw her. 

I saw her.

I saw her sweet face as she talked with me.

I saw her arms.

I saw the scars from cutting. 

They looked like they were old wounds.

Then something welled up inside of me.

I felt the Lord compelling me to speak to her.

He wanted me to speak to her worth.

I felt sick to my stomach.

I tried to reason my way out.

She will think I am weird.

I don't want to embarrass her.

What do I say?

We were almost done.

The lady behind me was ready to check out.

I chickened out.

I walked away.

Then I stopped.

I looked back.

I tried to bargain with the Lord.

If no one else comes in her line then I will go.

A man got in line.

Okay, I am out.

I looked back up.

He was gone.

No excuses left.

I walked back to her.

I still had no idea what to say.

I put my hand on her shoulder and called her by name.

"I feel like the Lord wants me to tell you something before I leave." I told her.

"Okay," she said with a strange look on her face.

Then these words came out...

"You are precious in His sight.  He wants you to know that."

Then I walked away.

Shaking.

When I got in the car I told EJ what had just happened.  He prayed for her and I cried.

I have no idea what she thought.  I suppose that is none of my business.  I just need to be obedient.

Lord,
I pray you touch her. 
Touch her arms and heal her. 
Touch her heart and heal her. 
Make her your own. 
In Jesus Name,
Amen

One Year

Our Lil' Ruthie has been such a sweet blessing to our family.  We were cruising along just fine with three boys.  It was all about manly stuff around here. 

 

Then we heard those three little words, "It's a girl!"

 

While I was pregnant, I think EJ was in denial.  I would show him little pink outfits and he would sort of glance at them and say, "that's nice."  It was as though he was unaware of what was about to happen.  I don't know how he could have missed it considering the explosion of pink that occurred in the nursery.

 

 

When Lil' Ruthie was born something was different.  Obviously, she was a girl but I am talking about EJ.  Something was just different.  That first night in the hospital, I was exhausted from surgery.  I nursed her and then handed her over to him.  I expected him to snuggle her for a bit and then hand her back.  Instead, he told me to rest.  I dozed in and out.  Each time I glanced over, there they were.  Daddy and daughter all snuggled up together.  One time when I looked over he was just staring at her with tears streaming down his cheeks. 

 

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

 

"I just love her so much!" was his answer.

 

 

 

I feel that my words are inadequate to describe my love for her.  The work of mothering is so intense.  Particularly in those first few weeks and months.  In this photo, I see a tired but happy Momma holding her perfect gift from God.  We spent countless hours snuggled up this way.  In the middle of the night, I would pull her close to feed her and all she wanted to do was stay by me.  My anxiousness over her safety would sometimes keep me up while I watched her sleep.  "Lord, keep her safe." I would pray.  She wanted to feel warmth and comfort that only her Momma could provide.  I am so thankful for those moments.  When the nights got long, I would remind myself that this time will pass.  I am glad I treasured those moments. 

 

Don't even get me started on her big bubbas.  They adore her.  She seems to hold court when they are near.  She is well loved by these little men.  In this photo she is wearing a onsie that says, "This princess is guarded by 3 big brothers."  Oh. So. True.

 

Pop would say, "She is no bigger than a minute." 

She was such a tiny baby!

 

 

 

By three months old, she knew some stuff! 

She was a vacation diva!

 

 

 Next thing we knew she was rolling over.

 

Then crawling.  Pop's response to this was, "look out, she is mobile, agile and hostile!"  She never looked back.  She was so glad to be able to chase after her bubbas.

 

 Her precious smile and those bright blue eyes light up our world!

 

She was so proud the first time she

pulled up to a standing position.

 

And now she is taking those first wobbly steps as her

biggest fans cheer her on.

 

One year goes by quickly!

 

Grammy always says,

"that first year is just the right length of time." 

 

I agree. 

 

As we celebrate our baby girl's 1 year birthday we also celebrate making it through those sleepless nights and long days of nursing a tiny baby (well, I celebrate that part).

 

Tonight, Bubba said, "I can't believe our baby sister is going to be 1 year old tomorrow!"

 

(Also, he and the other brothers requested pizza on her real birthday since she doesn't get her party until this weekend.  They feel it is the right thing to do.  For her, of course!)

 

We are all ready to party!

 

Happy 1st birthday my sweet little lady bug!!!

(photos by Aunt Rock Star of course)

 

 

 

 

We love you so much Sissy!

Happy Easter!

He is Risen.

 

He is Risen Indeed!!!

 

(Thank you to Grandma & Papa (EJ's folks) for the happy yellow Easter outfits)

It's only March

and these fellas have kicked some serious math tail! 

 

We have had lots of fun doing Math U See Primer this year.  This is a photo of their clocks.  They are catching on quickly to all things math.  They must take after their Daddy!

 

Little Brother would like some props for staying busy with toys and allowing them to complete their school time each day.  Baby sister is napping at school time so that is a blessing.

 

We love teaching our children at home!

 

Way to go fellas!