Kara Marie

It's called "Busy Mom" around here, that's why I haven't been very faithful at emailing and keeping you updated.  So this might be short and to the point but that seems to be all I have time for these days.  (I know, go ahead and laugh, you that have more than one kiddo in the house)  We are having lots of fun though with our sweet little Kara.  Her smiles are so precious these days.  Rare, yes.

I'll just give a run down of our trip to NYC a week and a half ago.  We left around 7:30 Wednesday morning and arrived in the Bronx right around 1:00.  We parked up the street from Xavier and Angela's house to meet with the case workers (discussed some things) and then walked to the house.

We had a very open time of discussing our lives, their lives, Kara's progress, our/their level of openness in the adoption.  

We also shared some gifts with them (not even coming close to the value of the "gift" they gave us).  A P.Graham Dunn plaque with the verse from Jeremiah 29:11, a basket with some goodies: 2 kinds of cheeses, grape jelly, asparagus, choc/toffee pretzels, potted plant, lollipops. Chocolate chip cream cheese bars, a stuffed puppy for Nevaeh (Kara's sister), (Kara has a matching puppy)  After we left, the case worker told us that they were all over the goodies; and what warmed my heart is Muenster cheese is Angela's favorite! I think it was a little God-thing :)

You might be wondering why in the world I would give asparagus as a gift- well, it was suggested to us that since they are intrigued with our community and they haven't ever bought something from a farmer's market let alone had a garden, that something grown here and that's in season (which isn't much right now) would be a nice gift for them.  Hence the asparagus.  It sounded fun to them.

At one point while we were there, Xavier asked Marvin to step into another room with him.  He wanted Marvin to know that -Marvin is the dad and that he is ok with it.  Our faith encouraged him and possibly reconsidering church/getting back to God.

Marvin thanked him for choosing life, etc.  And tried to validate him.  Kara was not a mistake.

At one point Angela shared with the case worker and me that she scheduled or planned to abort Kara 10 times but never felt right about it.  PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!

After about an hour the grandmother thought it was time to pack up and let us head home.

We tucked little Kara in her car seat.  Took some pictures with the parents.  And then came the good-byes.

It felt almost like I was ripping a piece out of their lives.  We hugged, we cried, thank you's were said (thank you seemed like such a pitiful word, but what else was there to say?)  Neither of our lives will ever be the same; we are rejoicing; they will be mourning.  It's so bittersweet.  

What a feeling on the way home - going from just the 2 of us to now having a baby!  And she's staying!  I'm not just babysitting, she's ours.

We arrived home around 8:30 to a lovely decorated house.  Some friends popped in while we were gone and put up streamers, balloons, and fun baby things.  It was so special to know that they thought of us in that way.

Mom & Dad B. stopped by to see their new little granddaughter soon after we got home.

Our first couple of days/nights were interesting - trying to get to know each other and get in a routine.  Kara has adjusted very well.  (I think we have too :)

The doctor in NYC had said Kara will need surgery to place a shunt within a couple of weeks because of Hydrocephalus.  We decided we want to transfer her to a doctor closer to us.  So we have been in contact with a Neuro doctor from Rochester.  An appointment was scheduled for last Wednesday.  Kara's head circumference is outside of the normal growth curve but at this point it is still following the curve (not shooting straight up - if that would happen, something would have to be done soon).  A CT scan was done at the hospital the same day.  Her ventricles are enlarged but the doctor is not so concerned that something should be done immediately.  He said placing a shunt is a life long commitment.  Also, she still had soft spots on her head; no hardness or extreme pressure where there shouldn't be.  She eats VERY well (as in about every 2-3 hours), does not cry excessively, sleeps well (waking only about once a night for feeding).  So there's really no concerning symptoms other than larger head size/ventricles.

The doctor would like to see her on June 21 to check head circumference/to see if there's been notable change.  So at this point there is no surgery scheduled!  And we would be very happy if there never is!

Thank you again for your many prayers for our little family.

A Dream Come True

The last week and a half feels like I've been having a dream...  We were contacted by our adoption agency, Bethany Christian Services, on Wednesday, May 15 about a little girl born in NYC on April 4.  They wondered if we would be interested in putting our names/profile out for the birth family to look at.  After spending some time praying, asking God to show us what He would have us do, we felt peace about putting out our profile.

Not wanting to get our hopes up too high, we waited.  A few days seemed like so long.  But a week later we were told the birth family really liked our profile and wanted to get to know us better.  That sounded like good news to us but of course we had heard something similar to that with some of the other cases we went through, so our hopes still weren't too high.

A phone call was scheduled for Thursday evening between us and the birth family, which consisted of mom, dad and grandmother (who takes care of the baby most of the time).  The call went very well... Which means that, yes, they REALLY want us to be the parents to their little girl. (umm, yeah, it was really hard to keep ourselves together, lets just say :)

Some of the things that drew them to our profile:  we are Christians, we live in a quiet community (unlike NYC), and as a couple- we looked like we fit well together.

They wondered if we wanted pictures of the baby.  Why, yes, of course! :)  The birthmom said she would send us pictures a few minutes after we got off the phone.  and oh, my.  Our hearts nearly melted in a puddle when we saw her.

It was very obvious the parents loved her, but felt very overwhelmed with caring for the baby and also their daughter who just turned one.  She also has a condition called Hydrocephalus (which to our knowledge she has a mild case) which will need medical attention in the very near future as well ongoing.

The parents are very anxious to have placement happen quickly.  So, the plans are for us to make the trip down to NYC on Wednesday to pick up our new little daughter. (Oh! it just sounds like music to my ears!)

So, those are the details for now.  I'm sure more will follow after Wednesday! :)

little ones- to Him belong

Life was pretty quiet until about a month ago.  And now our lives may never be the same... but that's ok.  Two very precious little people will need a home and a mommy and daddy who will love them.  And we are hoping we can be that mommy and daddy!  Brother is 3 and sister is 2.  Saturday evening we met them for the first time in Syracuse.  Before we got to the meeting place we were quite nervous and excited!  But God was so good- the children came right up to us and our nervousness slipped away.  And through out the evening they were very comfortable around us.  Destiny USA had lots of fun things for the children to do and see. Riding the carousel was a highlight for them and afterwards their favorite: chicken nuggets and fries.

Rewinding a bit... In February we started foster classes.  We are still in waiting with Bethany Christian Services for an infant but felt led to step out and do something a little more.  Foster classes have been so good for us.  We are learning a ton of information.  I come away from the class each time with my head so full!

God's leading and timing is so...amazing!  (the word amazing hardly does justice)  We were made aware of these two children through an acquaintance of ours that heard we haven't been able to have children.  She had heard through a network that they will be available for adoption.  This wasn't really what we had planned but we feel God leading us.  A friend of mine encouraged me that maybe we wouldn't have been ready for this when we first started out on our adoption journey but through everything that has taken place up to this point, maybe God has been preparing you for this.  Thank you, Ann, your encouragement blessed me so much.

Our foster classes should be wrapped up by the time the children will be placed in our home if it's God's will that we adopt them.
This just all feels so huge to us- going from no children - to a 2 and 3 year old.  But if God is calling us to this then I feel confidant that He will provide the grace and strength to go with it.

We are working at trying to find some weekends that will work for the children to come spend some time in our home.  By doing this, we hope to establish a relationship with them so it won't be as difficult for when they are placed.

With everything that has taken place in our lives, it's exciting to think what God may have for our future.  God is always good!