Stressing Out

Of course I have the normal adrenaline, nervousness, and anticipation of the chance that we will have a son next week, but I'm getting very sad and stressed about leaving my other babies here.  The original plan was to leave Boogie here with Pasture so she could go to preschool.  She has been looking forward to it for many months, and I hate for her to miss out.  Since Monkey is home schooled, I anticipated taking her with me and we could read and do work at the hospital.  I found out that the hospital does not allow children under 12 years old in the NICU.  So we had to figure out other arrangements.

At first, I thought maybe different people could trade places and stay with me to watch her in Florida.  But that would be a lot of work to arrange, and I'm not sure I could find someone to cover everyday.  So it seems like the only clear option is to put Monkey in public school.  And I thank God that He has worked it out so it will be the easiest transition possible for her.  She already knows at least five other kids in her grade that go to the school.  She has visited the school a lot because she took after school piano lessons there last fall.  Her aunt works there, and two of her cousins will be there.  It is an amazing school with a great family atmosphere.  We also have several families in our church that's kids go there and could help with pick up if necessary.  I couldn't ask for a better situation.  However, I'm still very sad.  I'm sad like any mom when her child goes to Kindergarten.  This will be her first time at "real school" as she calls it.  I won't be there for open house.  I won't be there for her first day.  She's super sensitive and often worries a lot, I'm praying that she won't completely freak out her first day.  Right now she is super excited and I pray that attitude continues.  My heart is the same for Boogie, although knowing her personality, she will be fine.  I will miss her preschool open house and her first day of preschool.  But with her, we have met her teacher several times, and we have been to the school a lot because Monkey went there.  And because we we've know for over year that Boogie would be going to this preschool, it has been much easier to deal with.

Please pray for my girls that they will adjust fine to the different lifestyle, and with their mommy being gone. (Monkey cried tonight because she doesn't want me to go).  Pray for me as I stay strong so they'll be strong and trust that all will be ok.  Pray for Pasture as he will take on the responsibility of being a single working dad, missing his wife, and wishing he could be there for the baby.  A big thanks to all of those who I know will step in to help take care of my girls and pray for us!!

We are Matched!!!

Finally, we are matched!  We very soon may have a baby!!  He is due by c-section on August 1 in Florida.  We have a long road ahead of us because he has Gastoschisis.  He will need a surgery immediately after birth, and depending on how much intestines they are able to get in, he made need another surgery after they have gradually (over about a weeks time) put all of the intestines back in his body.  We are praying for the best and no other complications that will require more surgery or more time in the NICU.  What will take him the longest is learning how to eat and digest food.  I have heard babies go home as early as one week, and I have heard babies that have stayed 6 months.

We won't know the severity of his case until he is born.  And even then we will have to take it day by day.  I have so much to say, but I think I'm going to have to do it in several posts.  I do want to put in this post all the crazy things that God has worked out.  He has made himself very apparent to us.

1. This is really minor but strange.  Back in April I felt like something was going to happen on the 8th.  At the time, I thought maybe the baby we were waiting for back then was going to be born on the 8th.  The 8th came and went and I didn't think much about it, but I have not been able to shake the number 8 from my mind.  This baby's due date is 8-8-2013.

2. Because this baby is a special needs baby, he is going to qualify for an adoption subsidy.  The amount of the subsidy that we will get per month, is the exact amount of the monthly loan payments that we have looked into getting.

3.  My mom has been supportive of the adoption and even bought the baby some things.  However, she has been very reserved, hesitate, and worried about us having a third child.  The moment I told her about this baby, she started crying and said, "I think this is the baby."  She has not only felt confident that this is the baby, but she has a strong desire for us to go through with this adoption.  This was all before we knew if we were picked, or even before we sent our profile.

4. The social worker in Florida recommended a hotel to us (until we can get into the Ronald McDonald House).  It was $85 per night, which is a discount for adoptive families.  I felt like with my experience on priceline that I could get a better deal.  If you know about bidding on priceline you don't get to pick your hotel.  You just tell it how much you want to spend, the area, and how many stars you want the hotel to have.  Guess which hotel it picked?  The one the adoption agency recommended...only we get it for $40 a night!

I know we have a long road ahead, but God is certainly putting the pieces together.  Please pray for this little guy and his birthmother!!  I will have to keep the blog updated a lot more now!

Hoping this is it!

We have a new situation, and a new birthmother that was given our profile today.  I am going to call her Birthmother J.  It's funny how I want this baby more than any other baby.  And what might be strange to people is because he has Gastroschisis.  This is when his intestines are born outside of his body.  Depending on the severity of the situation, he will require 1 surgery to several.  Best case scenario (he only requires one surgery, and learns how to feed quickly), he could go home in a week.  Worst case scenario it could take several surgeries and he has to stay in the NICU 6 months or possibly more.  On average I have found to expect a hospital stay of 30 days.  I am hoping for best case scenario since mom is 37 1/2 weeks and he is still in the womb.  It seems like most often the difficult cases are made complicated by the baby also being a preemie.

Thankfully, he is only 4 1/2 hours away in Florida.  As soon as we find out if the birthmother picks us, we will have lots of plans and arrangements to make, especially for the girls. This time is so crazy with Boogie starting preschool, Monkey beginning 2nd grade homeschool, and I'm starting a new job training.  I know God will work it all out, and it will be great growing experience for us.

Mom is scheduled for a C-section on the day she turns 39 weeks.  Pray that if this is the baby for us, that God places that in the heart of the mom.  And pray that no matter the outcome for us that the baby is born healthy and does well with surgery.

If this case does not work out, I will send our information in for Birthmother I, which I have not done yet. (Caucasian boy due in October in Florida, drug use during pregnancy)

Summary of situations that didn't work

A- (DUE in August) initially heard about her on March 7, found out it was a boy on April 25, lives in Georgia, African American boy, not matched (have not heard what birthmother has decided to do)

B - (BORN in April) given information on April 1, lives in Georgia, African American boy, mom decided to keep baby, met the birthmother in June, but she continued to decide to parent

C - (BORN in September 2012) given information on May 23, lives in Utah but adoption would happen in Arizona, African American boy, 8 months old, not matched (agency changed adoption to apply to Arizona families only).

D - (BORN in July) found information online in early June, lives in Kansas, Hispanic boy, mother decided to parent baby.

E - (DUE in September) given information June 17, lives in Texas, Caucasian boy, mother has been taking heroin but now on methadone, mother picked another family

F - (DUE in September) was emailed information from agency on July 3, lives in Arizona, Caucasian boy, drug use during pregnancy however baby looks healthy so far, requested to look at other families after looking at our profile, decided she did not like any profiles so far

G - (DUE in July) given information July 3, lives in Utah, African American boy, mother picked another family

H - (DUE in August) was given our profile book on July 16 along with 4 other families, we had decided to not to give her our book so we could work on more grants, however, agency had already given it to her, have not heard anything so I assume she picked someone else, lives in Arizona, African American boy, baby is healthy as is mother

Gonna run out of letters

Here are the new birthmothers with current updates:

Birthmother F (was emailed information from an agency on July 3, lives in Arizona, Caucasian boy, due in September, drug use during pregnancy however baby looks healthy so far) has requested to look at other families.  She has not said no to us but wants to look at more options.

Birthmother H lives in Arizona, African American boy, due in August, baby is healthy, mother is healthy.  She was given our book today.

Birthmother I lives in Florida, Caucasian boy, due in October, drug use during pregnancy however baby looks healthy.  We are filling out an application for her and she will look at profiles on July 24th.

Situations that didn't work out

A - (DUE in August) initially heard about her on March 7,  found out it was a boy on April 25, lives in Georiga, African American boy, not matched (birthmother has not made up her mind)

B - (BORN in April) given information on April 1, lives in Georgia, African American boy, mom decided to keep baby, met the birthmother in June, but she continued to decide to parent.

C - (BORN in September 2012) given information on May 23, lives in Utah but adoption would happen in Arizona, African American boy, 8 months old, not matched (agency changed adoption to apply to Arizona families only)

D - (BORN in July) found information online in early June, lives in Kansas, Hispanic boy, mother decided to parent baby.

E - (DUE in September) given information June 17, lives in Texas, Caucasian boy, mother has been taking heroin but now on methadone, mother picked another family.

G - (DUE in July) given information July 3, lives in Utah, African American boy, mother picked another family.

Updates...praying for our profile showing today

Update for today is that we have only one prospect right now.  That is Birthmother F who is due in September.  I am very excited about this because it gives us more time to get grant money and fundraising together.  This mother will be looking at our book hopefully today.  Please pray that all work out.

I finally heard back from the agency about Birthmother D that was due last week, and she decided to parent the baby.  I also heard today that Birthmother G has picked another family.  I will update as soon as know more!!

Praying for good news on Monday!

As most of you know, Birthmother B, decided once again to raise her child.  Although, throughout our wonderful beach vacation this week I was a little bummed, I know the rollercoaster of emotions I'm experiencing is nothing compared to what she feels.  I pray that her and her baby are able to receive the support and love they need.  My heart goes out to her.  She really wants to give her baby a good family, as well as pursue her dreams, but she lacks the support for adoption from her family.  And unfortunately even though their opinions rule, she is the one raising this adorable baby.  I do see her great love for him, though, and know how amazing it is see a child grow.  I am happy she is blessed with that, even though it wasn't in "her timing."  As I have learned with my surprise baby, Boogie, God knows exactly what we need and exactly when to create another little person.

So, as before, we must move on as we continue the search for Baby M.  I will call him that for now, because as you know, I don't use real names on here, and he doesn't have a fitting nickname yet.  In case I haven't filled you in on the last two situations below didn't work out, the updates are in parenthesis:

Birthmother D - found information online in early June, lives in Kansas, Hispanic boy, due in July, waiting to here if this situation is still open (this situation didn't work out because the agency had a family emergency and did not hear back from them about this).

Birthmother E - given information June 17, lives in Texas, Caucasian boy, due in September, mother has been taking heroin but now on methadone, profile is being sent and she will look at it on June 24! (In this situation the birthmother picked another family)

But Monday our profile is being shown to two new birthmothers!!

Birthmother F - was emailed information from an agency on July 3, lives in Arizona, Caucasian boy, due in September, mother has been on different drugs however baby looks healthy so far.

Birthmother G - given information July 3, lives in Utah, African American boy, due next week!

I am in a rush to make sure those agencies get all the information they need.  Both of these situations are on the higher end of our budget, so hoping money works out.