I had the opportunity to spend time with many families as they traveled to Ethiopia to meet their kids for the first time, and I follow-up with each and every one of them through message boards, blogs, emails & phone calls. Most of these families, with loving homes and longing hearts, are STILL waiting to bring their kids home and I pray for them every day to get that long waited phone call saying, "you've been cleared to travel".
And, then there's "Baby Boy K" that I was blessed to meet in Ethiopia after one of my adoption friends received his referral. I got to take his picture and hold him and whisper in his ear "you have a mom and dad who love you, and they'll be here soon". I'm so looking forward to the day when I hear that family share news that they have a court date and get to meet their sweet little boy.
And, last by certainly not least, one of my dearest friends is hanging onto hope that soon she will get the news that she will meet her three waiting children in Ethiopia for the first time. These kids know that they have a family who loves them, but there's a vague, open ended timeline on when they will be held in their mama's arms and smothered with kisses. I pray for her adoption as fervently as I prayed for my own, and I ache for the day when I'm standing in the airport welcoming them home just as she was for me.
Today two of my adoption friends, Megan & Mike and Courtney & Bob, will be flying to Ethiopia to pick up their sweet babies (Baby Boy "K" and Baby Girl "A"). We all started this adventure within weeks of one another, and have been supporting and encouraging each other every step of the way. I couldn't be happier that they're finally bringing their little one's home, and praying more families get the same good news soon.
8/19/11
8/17/11
Biggest Struggle
It seems that most adoptive parents have similar struggles when they bring their babies home. The biggest, of course, is attachment. That's something that all adoptive parents will deal with to varying degrees no matter what age their kids are when they come home, and all social workers & agencies do a good job preparing us for that struggle.
Other than attachment, my biggest worries were: Bath Time & The Car Seat
So, we prayed and prayed and prayed that those would be smooth transitions for him. And, guess what...they were not an issue at all!
The one thing that wasn't on my radar (that probably should have been) was sleep. I didn't even think that my 8-month old child wouldn't sleep, but Mr. Kad is not a fan of night time. Since the day we picked him up, he would wake up every hour for a little reassurance that we wouldn't leave him. This went on for the entire stay in Ethiopia and continued once we came home.
Don't get me wrong, I love any opportunity to spend time with my little man, but it was making for very tired parents after nearly three months! I have read more books & websites than I care to mention, but they all recommended "crying-it-out" for periods of time, and that just wasn't something that we felt comfortable with. After all, we want Kad to know that when he cries we're here for him. We just prayed and prayed that eventually he would understand that and feel better about sleeping through the night.
And then, this morning it happened. Mike and I both woke up at 5:30 am and said, "Did you get up with Kad last night?" And then we both said, "No..did you?"
HE ACTUALLY SLEPT ALL NIGHT!!! He would whimper every few hours but would put himself right back to sleep.
Please God, let this be the new normal around here!!
Here's a picture of him when we checked on him this morning (because yes, we had the standard "new-parent-panic" moment when we wanted to make sure he was still breathing):
Seriously..isn't he one of the cutest things you've ever seen?!?
Other than attachment, my biggest worries were: Bath Time & The Car Seat
So, we prayed and prayed and prayed that those would be smooth transitions for him. And, guess what...they were not an issue at all!
The one thing that wasn't on my radar (that probably should have been) was sleep. I didn't even think that my 8-month old child wouldn't sleep, but Mr. Kad is not a fan of night time. Since the day we picked him up, he would wake up every hour for a little reassurance that we wouldn't leave him. This went on for the entire stay in Ethiopia and continued once we came home.
Don't get me wrong, I love any opportunity to spend time with my little man, but it was making for very tired parents after nearly three months! I have read more books & websites than I care to mention, but they all recommended "crying-it-out" for periods of time, and that just wasn't something that we felt comfortable with. After all, we want Kad to know that when he cries we're here for him. We just prayed and prayed that eventually he would understand that and feel better about sleeping through the night.
And then, this morning it happened. Mike and I both woke up at 5:30 am and said, "Did you get up with Kad last night?" And then we both said, "No..did you?"
HE ACTUALLY SLEPT ALL NIGHT!!! He would whimper every few hours but would put himself right back to sleep.
Please God, let this be the new normal around here!!
Here's a picture of him when we checked on him this morning (because yes, we had the standard "new-parent-panic" moment when we wanted to make sure he was still breathing):
Seriously..isn't he one of the cutest things you've ever seen?!?
8/10/11
New Job
It was clear after meeting Mr. Kad that there was no possible way that I could miss another minute of his little life...so after returning home I made a career change -- from engineer to stay at home mom! I have to say...this is hands down the most difficult job I've ever had, but I absolutely love it!
Instead of sitting at a desk, this is how I'm spending my days at my new job:
Making baby food....
Cuddling with my little boy....
Playing, Playing, Playing....
I think I have the best job on Earth!
Instead of sitting at a desk, this is how I'm spending my days at my new job:
Making baby food....
Cuddling with my little boy....
Playing, Playing, Playing....
I think I have the best job on Earth!
7/31/11
Anniversary
Today, Michael and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary.
I never could have dreamed, seven years ago, that our life would look the way that it does today. We are living proof that God's plans are ALWAYS better than our own. And, there is no one I would rather live this wonderful life with than my sweet, sincere, just-the-right-amount-of-crazy husband!
There's no way we could exclude Mr. Kad from our anniversary plans, so the three of us went out to dinner to celebrate.
Okay...so Kad may have been a little bored:
Happy anniversary, Michael. I love you, and I can't wait to see what our family looks like seven years from now!!
I never could have dreamed, seven years ago, that our life would look the way that it does today. We are living proof that God's plans are ALWAYS better than our own. And, there is no one I would rather live this wonderful life with than my sweet, sincere, just-the-right-amount-of-crazy husband!
There's no way we could exclude Mr. Kad from our anniversary plans, so the three of us went out to dinner to celebrate.
Okay...so Kad may have been a little bored:
Happy anniversary, Michael. I love you, and I can't wait to see what our family looks like seven years from now!!
7/25/11
Cincinnati Children's
Anyone who has been following our adoption story at all, will know that we absolutely love, love, love Dr. Mary Staat and the team at the International Adoption Clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. They have walked through this with us, illness by illness, since we accepted our referral. They have reviewed hospital reports, guided us on what tests to request, analyzed results that often made absolutely no sense, comforted us when we felt that we couldn't handle anymore, told us the straight-up honest truth even when it was difficult, and wrote letter after letter to the Ethiopian government & the US Embassy to get our little boy home.
Did I mention that they're AMAZING?!?!?
And, today, we finally got to introduce Kad to the team that has fought so hard to get him healthy and get him home. We arrived at the Children's Hospital this morning for a multi-day evaluation extravaganza. Poor baby Kad is not going to love this team as much as we do for the next few days as he gets evaluations, injections, blood draws, etc. But..its all necessary as we work with CCH to finally understand everything that's going on with our little guy's health and work to put together a plan of treatment.
And, I just have to share how wonderful my husband is for holding Kad during the 11-vial blood draw. I couldn't even watch them take his blood as he screamed and cried. Way to go dad..you're the best!!
Here's our brave little man after his first day of evaluations. Yes...he cried himself to sleep...poor baby.
Oh, and did I mention that today is my birthday? This is what we did to celebrate:
Not many people can say that they spent their birthday taking their child's stool samples, huh?
Did I mention that they're AMAZING?!?!?
And, today, we finally got to introduce Kad to the team that has fought so hard to get him healthy and get him home. We arrived at the Children's Hospital this morning for a multi-day evaluation extravaganza. Poor baby Kad is not going to love this team as much as we do for the next few days as he gets evaluations, injections, blood draws, etc. But..its all necessary as we work with CCH to finally understand everything that's going on with our little guy's health and work to put together a plan of treatment.
And, I just have to share how wonderful my husband is for holding Kad during the 11-vial blood draw. I couldn't even watch them take his blood as he screamed and cried. Way to go dad..you're the best!!
Here's our brave little man after his first day of evaluations. Yes...he cried himself to sleep...poor baby.
Oh, and did I mention that today is my birthday? This is what we did to celebrate:
Not many people can say that they spent their birthday taking their child's stool samples, huh?
7/16/11
In His Crib
Kad is asleep right now --- in in our house --- in the crib that has been set up and waiting for him for months. I used to sit in his room and dream of the day when I would be rocking him to sleep and laying him in this bed, and now here he is.
All of the emotions of this journey are finally hitting me. Its actually over. The waiting, the longing, the wondering if its REALLY going to happen. Its over.
He's home.
This poem sums up my thoughts tonight perfectly:
WELCOME HOME
Tonight as you lay sleeping
for the first time in your bed
There must be something lasting
and profound that must be said.
But as your face is gazed upon
Framed by your black hair
No words can tell or quite express
the feelings that we share.
The wait is finally over
You're home, at last, to stay
And there will always be the memories
of the joy that filled this day.
With a love that's running over
By the sight of you alone
Welcome home, dear cherished child
At long last...welcome home!
~ Author Unknown
Here is a picture of me putting sweet baby Kad in his crib for the very first time:
All of the emotions of this journey are finally hitting me. Its actually over. The waiting, the longing, the wondering if its REALLY going to happen. Its over.
He's home.
This poem sums up my thoughts tonight perfectly:
WELCOME HOME
Tonight as you lay sleeping
for the first time in your bed
There must be something lasting
and profound that must be said.
But as your face is gazed upon
Framed by your black hair
No words can tell or quite express
the feelings that we share.
The wait is finally over
You're home, at last, to stay
And there will always be the memories
of the joy that filled this day.
With a love that's running over
By the sight of you alone
Welcome home, dear cherished child
At long last...welcome home!
~ Author Unknown
Here is a picture of me putting sweet baby Kad in his crib for the very first time:
Welcome Home, Kad!
I can't even express in words how AMAZING it was to step off of the airplane and into the Indianapolis airport this morning!!! I will truly never forget turning the corner and seeing our friends and family with signs and cameras, tears in their eyes, ready to meet our little boy for the first time.
Joining us at the airport were:
Mom & Dad Elliott
Mom & Dad Williams
Jenny & Jeremy
Grandma Dorthy & Pop Williams
Jen, Justin & Sadie
Mary & Bob
Donna & Ms. May
(...and of course Darla & Todd, Jill & Jeff, Jenny & Matt who were all in the terminal waiting but had to miss "the big moment" to head for Guatemala)
Thank you all so much for coming to support our little family of three and to witness us crossing the finish line of this long adoption journey!
Here are a few pictures of our airport welcome:
Joining us at the airport were:
Mom & Dad Elliott
Mom & Dad Williams
Jenny & Jeremy
Grandma Dorthy & Pop Williams
Jen, Justin & Sadie
Mary & Bob
Donna & Ms. May
(...and of course Darla & Todd, Jill & Jeff, Jenny & Matt who were all in the terminal waiting but had to miss "the big moment" to head for Guatemala)
Thank you all so much for coming to support our little family of three and to witness us crossing the finish line of this long adoption journey!
Here are a few pictures of our airport welcome:
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