adoption.

I have thought a lot about adoption over the last year. I have read blogs of those adopting who I do not know at all, and felt connected to them. And you know out of every story I've read or heard.. adoption was never simple. It was never a flawless process without hiccups. In most of the adoption accounts I'm familiar with there were very hard times. Birth parents changing their decision to put their child up for adoption, judges who didn't understand a families desire to adopt a certain child, incomplete paperwork, and heavy hearts. But you know what I've never read about.. a family who gave up. A family who said helping this baby is too much work. I've read pleads for prayers, I've read of multiple trips overseas, I've read of friends and families pulling together to help see the adoption through. You see it is firmly my belief that people who feel adoption is what their family should do are not those who are faint of heart. They are stubborn. And persistent. And the ones I know have total faith that God will see them through to the very end. I am thankful for the inspiration these families have been to me. I am thankful for the homes they have created and the hearts they are touching. I am thankful for the adoptive parents I know personally and love... aunt tina and uncle stan.. anne marie and elisha.. and for those who I do not know.. but admire.. the black family and the pearces. And I am thankful that through adoption tim and I will be blessed with a son.

blessed.

I didn't want to blog about court until everything was complete. The court part is over now, outside of the final declaration of adoption. It went well. Much better than I ever could have expected. One of my prayers was that it would not be overly emotional because my heart felt very sensitive. And it wasn't. It was very to the point. Now, I did still cry the entire time.. but mostly just because 15 months of love was laying out before me. It is our prayer that our adoption will be complete by january. I know the only thing that will change is an official piece of paper and my babys last name but it will be such a day of relief for me and for us. Your prayers have meant everything to us. Thank you seems too simple but that is what I am.. truly thankful.

It is also important to update you on our little girl :) On Halloween, we took our first grade to a farm on a field trip. It was so much fun! There were corn mazes and a hay mountain and so many other things! After our field trip Tim and I headed to my regular dr. appt. Our plan was to leave there and take our man trick or treating. I have had perfect blood pressure my whole pregnancy.. but this day it was up. I told them I was sure it was after having 60 6 yr olds at the farm all day! Regardless they sent us to the hospital where my blood work wasn't perfect so I was admitted. I was so sad we couldn't go trick or treating. Thankfully mama and daddy dressed up my little scarecrow and took him around! I spent two nights and on the third day they decided to induce me. They started about 3pm on Wednesday. tim and mama and daddy were with me and about ten o'clock mom and dad started to leave. We haf agreed they'd be back by 6am because nothing was expected to happen until lunchtime. As they were walking out my daddy said..he just didn't want to leave. So they didn't. We had a big labor spend the night party :) all night and morning the nurses told me how textbook we were doing.. her heart rate was perfect.. my blood pressure was perfect.. it was going well. Then that changed. Her heartrate was dropping with my contractions. My blood pressure was dropping too. The Dr came in and said we were leaving right then for a c section. There was no discussion or time to think.. so I cried. When we got to the operating room I was sick even on the operating table. They finally let tim come in and that really helped my feelings. Nothing really hurt and it wasn't long before I heard her crying. They showed her to us and took her to check on her. They told tim he could go with her but he didn't leave me until I told him I was okay. I will always remember that. He didn't leave me. I told him I was fine and he went and took lots of pictures. Then he brought her to me and then took her to show my parents and brother and grandparents and tiffany who were all there waiting :) on Cates first fay of life 20 people came to meet her. Before we left the hospital over 35 people had visited. We felt such love. Since we have been home people from church have come everyday and brought us food. She has already had over 15 home visitors! I want to blog and list each person soon as this blog also serves as a record of our life events. Tiffany loves holding her and Andrew wants to pat and kiss her all the time :) mama took off work all last week to take care of us.. and daddy has come to see her everyday of her life.

Blessed.