The first 6 weeks and our NEW OLD news

Time is flying by as tomorrow Littlest B will be 3 months old!  Our family is still transitioning (or maybe just mommy) with growing accustomed to more responsibilities and things to accomplish each day – which is my excuse for such slow updates here :) .

We had hoped to explain a little of how the first 6 weeks unfolded after arriving home. We cocooned Littlest B to introduce him to our family and to strengthen the parent-child bond.  Littlest B was removed from everything he knew to be familiar.  Some may argue that birth is a transition to everything unknown but research has shown that newborns and infants in utero have developed many things familiar to their mother (smell, taste, and sound).   Cocooning is supposed to be a protective environment where the child is introduced to new things and a nurturing environment to grieve the things lost.  After we left the hospital with B, we based our cocooning on recommendations from “Handbook on Thriving as an Adoptive Family” by David and Renee Sanford, published by Tyndale and Focus on the Family.  Little B spent almost all of his waking hours in our arms. We completed everyday tasks with him in a carrier.  

We attempted to limit others holding him to less than 5 min. a day.  I (J) was the only one who fed him.  He had daddy skin to skin time.  We tried our best to form a daily routine.  Having other children at home and moving from State to State, we found the first 6 weeks more challenging than we had anticipated.  We already have determined new ideas and ways for how we will navigate cocooning of future adopted children.

Our new old news:  We received another adoption grant!!!!  WOOHOO!!! 

Prior to placement in June, we filled out another Show Hope grant specific to this adoption (our other Show Hope grant award can be found here).  Last week we had received award notification for $3,000!  I(J) will be completely honest by saying  I was not anticipating this at all.  I had assumed that considering they had already awarded us one for Boaz’s adoption we would not make the cut.  I was amazed and continue to revel in details of how the Lord is using his church to provide for us.  We have both award notification letters taped to our fridge to be a constant reminder of His provisions.

An Overdue Thank You

We were floored a couple of weeks ago when we received a large adoption grant from our local church, HSC.  The grant covered all of our remain bill at our Illinois agency and a large portion of our lawyer fees.  Wow. Wow. Wow. Thank you for blessing our family!

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.

He is here!

Pending arrival of a...

It's a....

Girl? Boy? We don't know, but we are ecstatic to announce the potential for a new addition in our family.

The past 2 weeks have been a whirlwind.  From the phone call from our social worker that our family has been chosen by a birth mother, to meeting her, to leaving for a family vacation to Florida, and now getting home to prepare.  Due to the sensitive nature of the circumstances- we aren't giving you any details - except that the new baby may show up anytime in approximately the next 4 weeks!

It is amazing to see how the Lord has gone before us to this point.  He has worked out so many of the little details of timing and we have felt an incredible amount of peace.  But there is still a lot more to go!  Please pray.  Pray that we will reflect Him no matter the circumstances and that we will be flexible.  Please pray for health for mom and baby.  Please pray for us as new demands emotionally, spiritually and physically are put upon us.  

Yeah for crazy and exciting times!  We aren't sure who is more excited. Dad and mom, or the big brothers. 

Good News Out of Ethiopia Today!

In response to the last couple of weeks, today the Minister in charge of MOWCYA stated that neither they or the Ethiopian Government plan to shut down adoptions within Ethiopia. She encouraged our agency and others alike to continue their work as normal.


Here is actual release sent by our agency:
http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/blog/2014/01/positive-news-from-ethiopia.html


Change and reform is still needed and will continue to be. For we know that whenever there is opportunity to do good there is also opportunity to abuse or corrupt.  Please be in continued prayer for Ethiopia's leadership and wisdom as adoptions continue.