Homecoming

Over the last month, I have desired to type a full update but my eyes have been tired and my arms full!  (Tonight I am attempting to write balancing our littlest man on my chest.) 

Gratitude, heaviness of heart, joy, excitement, and extreme exhaustion hardly encompasses the array of emotion we have felt over the last couple of weeks.  Much has transpired since our last update.  As many of you know we spent the first 2 weeks of Little B’s life in Illinois.  Due to Interstate laws and restrictions, our paperwork had to be submitted and reviewed before we could come home.  The time spent away was divided between the hospital and hotels.  The isolation in another state provided two-on-one time to facilitate bonding but it also came with challenges of balancing work and the older brothers.  We have offered much thanks to our parents for caring for the older boys in our absence. 

There are obviously questions many have had surrounding the details of our adoption of Little B.  Our adoption is an open adoption.  We know his birth mother and she knows us.  Our adoption was facilitated by our agency but has mainly been left between us to sort out the personal details.  We spent a lot of time together with Little B’s birth mother (or Tummy Mommy) during the hospital stay.  We celebrated together and cried together.  As the future of our relationship is yet to be told, we pray that he will know her.  But we can ensure he will always know his story.  The details will always be celebrated, shared and conversations about it readily available.  Right now, we currently struggle on how much information to share with others.  It is not that we don’t want to tell the details, we just feel the story is his to share as he chooses.  Sometime in the future (once I have sorted it out in my head) I do desire to share my struggles and triumphs the journey and The Lord have accomplished in my heart.  He has worked mightily and it is our desire for that to be known!!!

Since we have been home we have been overwhelmed with support.  We cannot thank everyone enough for the food, gifts, borrowed items, prayers, kind words and visits.  Our short term physical and financial needs related to the transition have been provided for but the sincere offers of people giving of themselves have greatly impacted and encouraged our hearts. 

The older brothers love having Little B around.  Their excitement, tenderness and love ooze as they sing “this little piggy” or talk about everything they will teach him.  They have accepted him with open arms and the transition has truly warmed our hearts and even now brings tears to my eyes. We are slowly settling into the life as a multi racial family of 5.  I am positive there will be much excitement to share about crazy experiences to come.