Another call from the caseworker and birth mom!

I am sitting in a chair at Great Clips getting my hair fixed from my last hair cut there as there was this little piece that hung down and looked lopsided. Anyway, my cell phone rings and I check thinking it was Emily who was at home with a sick kid. It was the caseworker and birth mom and here I am being rude to the stylist. I left the shop and talked to them outside. This time there was an echo on their end of the phone. I am so bummed about that. It really makes the conversation so choppy and broken and uncomfortable. But, I am always encouraged when she calls. Birth mom is having trouble sleeping, showing no signs of labor at this point and she picked out a name she wanted to share with me. The caseworker assured me that birth mom understands we'll have our own name for him but wanted to let me know the name she picked out and wanted to know if we had any idea what we might name him. The caseworker loved the name I said but it is very different than birth mom's and it makes me nervous that she will think she doesn't want him named what we picked. I really like birth mom's name as a middle name and will use it as that. I just hate to make her feel bad. I feel bad that she might feel bad sort of thing. She is not scheduled for an inducement at this time. She will go in for another appointment next Wednesday the 6th and the doctor will check her cervix and such and then decide what to do from there. Please be in prayer for birth mom and the variety of emotions she must be going through and for her body to be getting ready for this birth.

Things keep falling into place!

Last night I got a call from a young man and his wife who live where birth mom is having the baby. They have offered to let us stay with them while we are there and believe they are 5 minutes away from both hospitals in the city! Our midwife knew him from her home town. Today I went to visit my parents and my mom gave me the rest of my birthday gift, suitcases. We threw ours away years ago because they were falling apart. We use these large duffel bags we got but they are cumbersome to lug around. These have wheels and are red and are very neat! I did borrow her large suitcase too but how neat to get something we didn't have and that we needed. Praise be to God!

Not such a good idea!

OK, so painting the baby room myself wasn't such a good idea. I could hardly sleep last night. All my muscles were sore from using that roller and the up and down you do with painting! I have been quite tired today. I think my last 5 1/2 weeks I'll take it a bit more easy than that. Good thing my husband is having the chickens butchered at a butcher shop after all. I was feeling up to it last week but next week I might not have much stamina for 50 of them. He doesn't like to butcher, I do somewhat. It's "fun" at first and the last 15 or so get tedious.

Baby room is painted!!!

The baby room was finished just a few minutes ago. Kevin came home and did the finishing touch. I painted the whole thing and he had to do the top part next to the ceiling. I always, always get paint on the ceiling so that has become his job in the painting process. Once it is dry I can start putting baby things in there. I vacuumed it twice and will vacuum it some more before bringing baby home. I am afraid it doesn't get done as often as it should to stay really clean. It is a good feeling to have that done.

I am looking for a crib or two. Like-new since ours are about 20 years old and more and are looking a bit shabby and need some extra tweaking to get together now. If you happened to know anyone with one child or two and maybe twins and had a newer crib I would be willing to purchase it from them for some cost, after seeing them. I will be able to rummage sale in Wahpeton on Friday morning some so I am praying God will lead me to this particular item and maybe a newer bumper pad set for a boy. A prayer request for anyone looking for something specific. Kevin doesn't really understand the new crib thing. I told him it was a woman thing and he couldn't understand it because he's a man and wants to fix anything and make it work even if it means using chicken wire. As long as it works it doesn't matter what it looks like or if someone gets hurt crawling under the thing! Right? Can anyone relate to this?

Some very good news!

Our social worker from Minnesota called for some information she is sending down to Georgia. We talked about our stay in Georgia and when do we go, buy tickets, etc. Normally, you wait until birth mom signs the release at 24 hours old to buy your tickets. Most moms will change their minds in that first 24 hours if they are going to. In our case, birth mom wants to be able to give us the baby and meet us so we might have to take that chance and go when we find out she is in labor or if she is scheduled for an inducement we could go that day. It is our call. WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW and what changes all of our plans and constant thinking is that we can leave Georgia 3-4 days after he's born. Once we fill out and sign the appropriate paperwork we can leave to anywhere in the United States except North Dakota. He will be approved for ND after 10 days sometime and Lindsey said it isn't usually a problem and should happen fairly quickly. We will have to wait for some documents to clear North Dakota and for them to approve him into our family is how I understand it?!? Anyway, everyday I come up with a different plan as to how to go there, come home, where to stay, etc. This morning I thought up that Emily would come along and Kevin would leave after 4-5 days and go back to work and then if I can fly home we will fly but if not Kevin would drive and get us when we could leave. You see how complicated each scenario can be. If we can leave after 4 days, well, life just gets a whole lot easier. I'll be closer to home to have the baby and Kevin can keep working and we'll see the kids sooner. Most of you know, but we only live 20 miles from Minnesota. I just keep thinking how none of the details matter because God will have it happen in the way that it happens and how he loves to show us this.

Called the Case Worker

Hi, I called the case worker for birth mom. Last time she called she did say call me anytime if you want to talk or have questions. She hadn't seen birth mom since I last talked to them on the 8th. She had spoken to her. I was curious how birth mom thought the phone call went since it was a patchy call but the case worker was very positive and emphasized that birth mom picked us because of our family and she wants us for her child. She told me birth mom is ready to hand baby over to us into our arms and has bought an outfit just for that purpose. I wanted to know about buying birth mom a gift and the case worker thought that was appropriate. She said a frame or the necklace idea I had was good. Other adoptive parents have done the same. I told her about the children and how they are helping prepare for this baby. She was happy and encouraged and said she was going to tell birth mom everything I said. Since she picked us for the size of our family too I wanted her to know how truly happy the children were to be getting this new sibling. She said how birth mom is anxious to have the baby and go back home and go to college. I don't take this as her being unfeeling though. This has to be difficult and the closer the birth is the more emotional this must be for her. This is a first for her too. From our conversation I was encouraged and I think I needed that. With my pregnancy so close and hormones changing daily I was feeling some worry about birth mom's going through with it. I don't know this baby but neither do I know the one I'm carrying so it is a little like that. You start thinking about him and what he'll look like, his place in your family and you make a place for him there and in your heart. I just tear up thinking of how he will by "my" child soon. It is such a huge thing.

Shopping is dangerous

OK, so I'm not buying lots of stuff but I went to town for groceries and closet organizer baskets for kids closets. I found this blanket and Gideon saw the puppy to match and wanted it too so it will be his gift to the baby. It is fun to know the sex of the baby we are adopting. I kind of wish I knew what we were having. I'd already bought 2 blue crib sheets, blue receiving blankets and blue onesies to have while we are there and that's it so I haven't gone overboard but it is so fun to know and buy these adorable things. I am nesting. I haven't mustered the get everything cleaned up nesting but washing up the boy things we have and getting the bassinet ready nesting. My spurts of energy are getting smaller each day. I am feeling quite large and I guess I am getting ready to have this baby, less than 7 weeks to go. The basement is a disaster so if anyone comes to visit us and the baby or babies you'll be forbidden from there unless I can by some miracle get it looking presentable. I know, I'll just shove it all back from where I've dug it out from. Then I can breath easier down there if I can't see it!!!! Please do come visit though, I didn't mean to sound so forbidding. The upstairs is tolerable:)

Has anyone bought carpet lately? Wow! $500-600 for one room. I guess new carpet in the baby room is out of the question. Unless someone out there has a like-new carpet piece 15' by 12'. I'll just vacuum a ton before they are born. Kevin is home working some on the little girls room. It has quite a ways to go but will be so cute when it is done, purple, lavendar and a splash of pink for Riah. Well, I'll keep updating as I know things. No phone calls or emails about the baby this week. I am thinking of calling the case worker tomorrow just to talk and touch base. God Bless and have a good weekend!

Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow

I've been singing the Doxology this week. God has been very good to our family particularly with regards to the adoption. We can see Him helping set it all up so we can leave and go pick up our newest bundle of joy! Join me in praising God for His wonderful blessings.
1. A like-new car seat used only with one child! We now have two car seats.
2. We had an additional $5,000 given towards our adoption!!!!
3. An offer of a swing, bassinet and bouncy seat from someone at church. We had one of each of these except we didn't have any bouncy seats!!
4. An offer of a book on nursing multiples, a boppi thingy to wear to nurse them and a breast pump!
5. An offer to take all the children. Only five will go but how wonderful to not have to figure out what to do each week. I was planning in 5 day increments and it was getting challenging. My mom will take the other two and bring them over here to take care of animals and do gardening duties. Much lighter load for my oldest which is a huge blessing for her and us. I didn't want her to make meals for all of them for that long. Now I don't have to plan meals for the entire time I am gone. That should have it's own number!!!!
6. Our midwife knows someone where the baby is due and is calling to find a midwife there and maybe a place for us to stay! This person goes to a Baptist church there and I was looking at Baptist churches but there were 115 of them so didn't know where to start.

Is that not an amazing list to have happened all in one week! Our God is an Awesome God, He reigns on Heaven and Earth. With wisdom, power and love Our God is an Awesome God.

NWA will let me fly!

I called Northwest Airlines and if you are within 30 days of your due date they will let you fly with a doctor's note saying it doesn't pose a risk for you to fly. The note has to be no more than 72 hours before your flight. If birth mom is induced on the 6th I'm pretty sure I could fly down there at least. If everything goes real fast down there maybe I'll find a doctor in Georgia to sign a slip so I could fly home, if I'm not showing any signs of labor. Something to be praying for. God is in control of it all!

Interesting Cell Phone Call

First of all this morning I got a call at home from birth mom's case worker. She was on her way to pick up birth mom and wanted to know if after the doctor visit they could call me for a conference call. I was going to be at the pool for lessons so I gave her my cell number hoping the thing would work there. I drove real fast to assure I wouldn't get her call in the dead zone on the Colfax road and then waited and waited for the call. I was so nervous, what was I going to say? I called our social worker to tell her about it and ask for suggestions. Anyway, I got the call and my end of the phone was echoing me so I always thought I was interrupting them but I really wasn't so it didn't go as well as I would have liked. According to the conversation she is due Aug. 13 (I thought Aug 18) (minor detail) and she is hoping to be induced Aug. 6th. Wow! That puts it real close to when I could fly so I am wondering what will happen here. I asked if she would write down her birth story so I would have it for his baby book and she seemed to like that. She wanted that we would be there and he wouldn't go into a caring facility so I was able to tell her that was what we wanted. The hospital is not adoption friendly because of some bad experiences. We can go there and visit with birth mom and see baby if she has him in her room but we cannot hold him!!!! Birth mom does want to meet us so I really hope I can get down there on time for that to be convenient for her. I am thinking of getting her a gift, like a locket or some small token from us. Anyone else do something like this? Most of the talking was the case worker and me. Birth mom was quiet but case worker assured me she was quite pleased with the chance to talk to me and hopefully will again. An ultrasound today showed the baby to be about 4 lbs 6 oz. I know that could be off but I love the details. I'll have to fill in his baby book this date and that figure for some fact about him. I love to fill in baby books with as much detail as I can the first few months because chances are that's all they will get and then we get their book out on their birthday and read about their first few days. It was very exciting even though the call was spotty with their being in a drive-thru also getting food. I am thankful for that time with her. God is so good!

8 weeks and 6 weeks

Here I am now at 8 weeks to go. I saw back an entry where I said 21 weeks to go and wow can time go fast. I received an email from our agency and birth mom just had a doctor's appointment last week and baby and mom are doing well. She's willing to wait for us to do the circumcision. We usually wait and do it a week later or so until baby is a bit stronger and me too but since I'm not giving birth to him I have wondered if we should just have it done in the hospital. Kevin say's "He's our child and we wouldn't do that for one of ours." I like it when he has a say in things. I was very encouraged that she was fine with it and that she isn't wavering so far on her plans to go ahead with the adoption.

I could use some prayers for my thyroid. I'm trying, really trying to be patient with going naturally but I am having so many doubts. I am especially not feeling well these last two days, tired beyond tired, headaches, swollen throat and hard time sleeping. I am so hot most of the time I put a fan on me last night and it helped but the noise of it bugged me all night!!! After last night I plan to ask my doctor for a prescription to Armour, the natural kind of thyroid replacement. I just have to feel better. I might make an appointment with an herbalist for the same day as my doctor's appointment to see what he says about all of this.

We started swim lessons today and it was raining and a nice 65 degrees. After all of these days of being 85 or higher the first day of lessons turned out like this. I actually ran home after Emily's 9 a.m. lesson for an hour and will go back for Isaac's 11 and Caleb's 12 lessons. Rebekah woke up with a sore throat and fever so doesn't want to do lessons. Emily doesn't want to go back. She was the only one her group today and has a bad cold that is making swimming hard to do and they feel she should be in the next level down. She seemed fine with it all but after we left it hit her and she's upset. I think she is just really tired but we'll see if I can talk her into it especially if tomorrow is a nicer day and we will get to go in an hour later!!!! I sure like that better! Oops the time got away from me. Talk later!