So, we have now been home for a week and 2 days now with our newest family member, Noah Jackson. The first few days were a little tough- just everything hitting us, being gone and little sleep and the kids having to start school, but now we seem to be getting into the groove of things (a little :)). I don't do so well with little sleep and having to be on the go all day so Dan has been a PRO in helping with the night time feedings. This whole process is definitely something we have all gone through together and I am just really thankful that God brought me Dan- he is an awesome person, hubby and daddy!
A few things that occurred last week . . . Noah's belly button fell off on Tuesday. While grocery shopping at Walmart on Wednesday I got my first strange response for having a child of a different race. I had just stopped my buggy at the deli meat section to grab some ham and I hear my little Camille telling another shopper "hey". When I heard the lady respond back I turned and it was an African American lady about 50 years old or so and then an African American man and women in their 30's. The older woman was pretty consumed with Camille and I noticed the man casually walk over and look at Camille and then peep in the back of the buggy into the infant seat. He did a double take and then looked up at me and said, "Hmmm."
It was a little humorous to me!
The kids love little Noah- can't seem to keep their hands off of him! Camille one day last week even went in the other room and took it on herself to pick him up out of his seat and hold him. Needless to say Dan ran in in a panic and put Noah safely back in his seat.
Noah really is a blessing to me and our family. As I was driving today I heard the line from a popular Christian song, "you must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain." I just couldn't help to think how true that is! I dont' really consider our experience a true "valley" but there were some tough and trying times in the process, and are still trusting in God to allow the rest of the adoption to work out smoothly in our favor.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
God is in control! ~ August 17-20
August 17-
The next step is for the paperwork to now go to Harrisburg, PA to be looked at. Once it is approved in Harrisburg it will be overnighted to Columbia, SC and then to our attorney. This part will be a test to see if it can all get approved before Friday!
It gets started in the mail today at 6pm!
August 18-
According to our attorney, the paperwork was tracked and made it to the Harrisburg, PA Interstate Office. We heard nothing from them on the 18th . . . Sure hope it gets out in the overnighted mail to the Columbia, SC Interstate Office soon!
August 19-
So, we are a little dissapointed . .. no news on the paperwork! Our attorney is actually having trouble with finding the tracking number which means one of two things- it was either remailed in a different shipping package or it is non existent! Uggghhh! Frustrated and really ready to go home! We have to call our attorney first thing in the morning.
August 20th-
I feel a bit emotional and frustrated this morning. After Dan called our attorney we found out that the packet is STILL in Harrisburg, PA and hasn't even been touched yet. We are now making plans for staying here in PA another week . . .
Our attorney says she is going to work hard to work something out!
Our attorney has contacted the Harrisburg, PA Insterstate Office and asked them to put our paperwork on top priority. She has asked them to email all documents to the SC office to have them approved. If all works out we get to go home tomorrow! If not, then I and the 3 little ones are headed to York, Pa and Dan and Carlee are headed back to Spartanburg.
3:30pm . .. YAY! We have such an awesome attorney and legal assistant!!! Paperwork has arrived via email to the SC Interstate Office and has been approved! Homeward bound tomorrow!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't looked more forward to taking a 10hr trip home!!! God is Good!!!!
The next step is for the paperwork to now go to Harrisburg, PA to be looked at. Once it is approved in Harrisburg it will be overnighted to Columbia, SC and then to our attorney. This part will be a test to see if it can all get approved before Friday!
It gets started in the mail today at 6pm!
August 18-
According to our attorney, the paperwork was tracked and made it to the Harrisburg, PA Interstate Office. We heard nothing from them on the 18th . . . Sure hope it gets out in the overnighted mail to the Columbia, SC Interstate Office soon!
August 19-
So, we are a little dissapointed . .. no news on the paperwork! Our attorney is actually having trouble with finding the tracking number which means one of two things- it was either remailed in a different shipping package or it is non existent! Uggghhh! Frustrated and really ready to go home! We have to call our attorney first thing in the morning.
August 20th-
I feel a bit emotional and frustrated this morning. After Dan called our attorney we found out that the packet is STILL in Harrisburg, PA and hasn't even been touched yet. We are now making plans for staying here in PA another week . . .
Our attorney says she is going to work hard to work something out!
Our attorney has contacted the Harrisburg, PA Insterstate Office and asked them to put our paperwork on top priority. She has asked them to email all documents to the SC office to have them approved. If all works out we get to go home tomorrow! If not, then I and the 3 little ones are headed to York, Pa and Dan and Carlee are headed back to Spartanburg.
3:30pm . .. YAY! We have such an awesome attorney and legal assistant!!! Paperwork has arrived via email to the SC Interstate Office and has been approved! Homeward bound tomorrow!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't looked more forward to taking a 10hr trip home!!! God is Good!!!!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday ~ August 16th
The big appointment is at 4pm today! We really wished it was sooner but that is just a part of it!
The good news is in the morning our attorney's office called to let us know that her attorney contacted them to say that Ashley, the birthmom confirmed that she was still meeting at 4. Good news for us that she is still committed!
I was amazed by the love of my friends - One sweet friend in particular let me know several times that she was praying and at 4pm I knew she was on her knees for us!
4pm rolled around and we were praying! We were anticipating the phone call from her attorney.
We decided to go out to dinner as a family to wait on the call.
Over two hours later we still heard nothing! We began to really wonder and doubt . . . but God was still in control!
Finally around 7:30pm (we were actually picking up some things in Walmart) my phone rang and it was the attorney. She signed!!! We were ecstatic! Thrilled!!!! I wanted to cry, scream, pick him up and hug him but it seemed so surreal!
I called my mom as Dan called his parents and everyone was so excited!
I fought back tears as I continued to get my items so I could get out of the store!
God is so good! All the time! Even in the hard times he has a plan! He is sovereign in all things!
Noah Jackson is amazing and perfect! We are thrilled to have him as a part of our family and so are our kids!
The good news is in the morning our attorney's office called to let us know that her attorney contacted them to say that Ashley, the birthmom confirmed that she was still meeting at 4. Good news for us that she is still committed!
I was amazed by the love of my friends - One sweet friend in particular let me know several times that she was praying and at 4pm I knew she was on her knees for us!
4pm rolled around and we were praying! We were anticipating the phone call from her attorney.
We decided to go out to dinner as a family to wait on the call.
Over two hours later we still heard nothing! We began to really wonder and doubt . . . but God was still in control!
Finally around 7:30pm (we were actually picking up some things in Walmart) my phone rang and it was the attorney. She signed!!! We were ecstatic! Thrilled!!!! I wanted to cry, scream, pick him up and hug him but it seemed so surreal!
I called my mom as Dan called his parents and everyone was so excited!
I fought back tears as I continued to get my items so I could get out of the store!
God is so good! All the time! Even in the hard times he has a plan! He is sovereign in all things!
Noah Jackson is amazing and perfect! We are thrilled to have him as a part of our family and so are our kids!
Sunday ~ August 15th
Today is a big day . . . we are meeting the birthmom and taking her out to lunch.
2:30pm came around pretty quickly (thank goodness!) and I know I was more nervous about trying to figure out what she was thinking at this point about everything.
We met her at the mall and ended up taking her to Applebees up the street. She was kind of quiet and laid back. We small talked about things and then once the baby began to stir I asked her if she wanted to hold him and was able to get a picture of them together. We had a nice time together and I felt a bit better after meeting her.
Before we left, we handed her her gifts- the necklace and a photo book we made of our family for her. I teared up in saying bye as I couldn't imagine saying goodbye to my newborn child not knowing when I would see him next. I just couldn't even imagine!
2:30pm came around pretty quickly (thank goodness!) and I know I was more nervous about trying to figure out what she was thinking at this point about everything.
We met her at the mall and ended up taking her to Applebees up the street. She was kind of quiet and laid back. We small talked about things and then once the baby began to stir I asked her if she wanted to hold him and was able to get a picture of them together. We had a nice time together and I felt a bit better after meeting her.
Before we left, we handed her her gifts- the necklace and a photo book we made of our family for her. I teared up in saying bye as I couldn't imagine saying goodbye to my newborn child not knowing when I would see him next. I just couldn't even imagine!
Still Waiting . . . August 14th
We knew as of Thursday evening that the birthmom had contacted her attorney to request that she not meet to sign any papers on Saturday, but that everything wait until Monday.
However, her attorney was going to call and try to make an attempt to get together with her on Saturday to sign papers.
Luckily we were with family on Saturday which made it a little easier. We didn't hear anything from the attorney . . . doing our best to be patient and waiting!
At this point, we were praying that the birth mom was not changing her mind. We were a nervous wreck!
Dan and I went out together and also picked out a sweet heart necklace that had a mom and baby in the middle of the two hearts. It was very unique and we felt it reflected the selflessness and love in her decision.
However, her attorney was going to call and try to make an attempt to get together with her on Saturday to sign papers.
Luckily we were with family on Saturday which made it a little easier. We didn't hear anything from the attorney . . . doing our best to be patient and waiting!
At this point, we were praying that the birth mom was not changing her mind. We were a nervous wreck!
Dan and I went out together and also picked out a sweet heart necklace that had a mom and baby in the middle of the two hearts. It was very unique and we felt it reflected the selflessness and love in her decision.
Waiting . .. August 13th
What a cutie! The kids have taken to him and he is an amazing little baby boy! Friday was nothing but a day of waiting. Waiting to hear if the birthmom would reconsider signing sooner . . . waiting in hopes of not hearing any bad news. Prayer also played a huge part! I know God was in total control the entire time and honestly at this point, I was begging God to allow us to keep this sweet baby.
I did hear from Ashley, the birth mom once on this day. She was having a very hard time with the death in the family. I was just hoping that this wouldn't cause her to rethink her decision.
She also requested that we get together on Sunday to meet. We will be meeting her for lunch with the baby.
The next few days seemed SO long!
I did hear from Ashley, the birth mom once on this day. She was having a very hard time with the death in the family. I was just hoping that this wouldn't cause her to rethink her decision.
She also requested that we get together on Sunday to meet. We will be meeting her for lunch with the baby.
The next few days seemed SO long!
What!?! ~ August 11th
My mom came up for a few days to spend some time with the kids and I before starting back to school. Around 3:30pm Dan called me on my cell phone and said that Ray (our attorney) called him and said we possibly just missed out on an awesome adoption opportunity by a hair. There was a birthmom that delivered a baby boy in Pittsburgh just the day before and decided not to keep him. However, Ray then said that there was another family in the running but that he would let us know. In the meantime Marion (our legal assistant) called with another african american 15month old boy that needed to be picked up in Alabama by Saturday. Our minds were going 100 miles an hour. She told us that if we felt interested in either that we should start packing our bags just in case because we would need to leave that night. At this point I personally had mentally given up on the Pittsburgh baby boy as that seemed to good to even be true- it would never work out!
Within the next 2 hours, we were in the midst of a whirlwind . . . packing to get on our way to Pittsburgh! I was all so surreal!
After driving all night and feeling worried, anxious, nervous etc. We arrived in PA at our families house around 6am. We were exhausted but ready to face the big day!
We headed up to the hospital to meet the birth mom around 9am, and on the way stopped to get her a beautiful mixed bouquet of roses. We had to be at the hospital at 10am to sign papers per the birth mom.
On the way, the attorney called to tell me to call the birthmom, so I did. This is where things began taking a different turn. The birth mom was upset and crying - apparently a family member had been at the wrong place at the wrong time and was killed in a drive by just a few days earlier and this was the day of the funeral.
Upon arriving at the hospital with a beautiful bouquet in hand and nervous as nervous can be, we found our way up to the maternity floor.
We met the sweetest nurse named Donna- she informed us that the birthmom had just left and checked herself out of the hospital. Our day began taking a much different turn . . .
She did sign for us to be able to hold, take pictures and see the baby, so we did. We ended up spending the rest of the day there in that muted pink hospital room . . . it seemed like that day would never end!
I did have the privilege of speaking with the birthmom several times on the phone and we were praying that things would continue to go as planned.
After meeting with social workers and going over documents and health records and finally meeting with her attorney, around 5pm baby boy and us were discharged! Exhausted, happy and anticipating what the next day would bring we were on our way back to see family.
Within the next 2 hours, we were in the midst of a whirlwind . . . packing to get on our way to Pittsburgh! I was all so surreal!
After driving all night and feeling worried, anxious, nervous etc. We arrived in PA at our families house around 6am. We were exhausted but ready to face the big day!
We headed up to the hospital to meet the birth mom around 9am, and on the way stopped to get her a beautiful mixed bouquet of roses. We had to be at the hospital at 10am to sign papers per the birth mom.
On the way, the attorney called to tell me to call the birthmom, so I did. This is where things began taking a different turn. The birth mom was upset and crying - apparently a family member had been at the wrong place at the wrong time and was killed in a drive by just a few days earlier and this was the day of the funeral.
Upon arriving at the hospital with a beautiful bouquet in hand and nervous as nervous can be, we found our way up to the maternity floor.
We met the sweetest nurse named Donna- she informed us that the birthmom had just left and checked herself out of the hospital. Our day began taking a much different turn . . .
She did sign for us to be able to hold, take pictures and see the baby, so we did. We ended up spending the rest of the day there in that muted pink hospital room . . . it seemed like that day would never end!
I did have the privilege of speaking with the birthmom several times on the phone and we were praying that things would continue to go as planned.
After meeting with social workers and going over documents and health records and finally meeting with her attorney, around 5pm baby boy and us were discharged! Exhausted, happy and anticipating what the next day would bring we were on our way back to see family.
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