I figure it's about time I sit down and let you all know how this little one (we still don't have a name -- but we will this weekend when Marcus comes out) came into our family. Because this post will not necessarily be super short, let me try to explain how quickly this all happened. It started on a Tuesday, and on Saturday I was handed our new daughter. That's fast. Last week, Tuesday, I was at Mothers' Group. Some of the ladies there are pregnant with their 2nd, and we were discussing what that will be like with 2 kids at home. I made the comment that I would be ok waiting until Samantha was walking and I could actually wake up in the morning before we had a new baby. (My morning routine has been, up until this point, getting Samantha from her crib when she wakes up and falling asleep with her on the couch for another 1-2 hours.)
When I got home from mothers' group, I talked to my friend, Marci, for a while. Then, I received a phone call from the director of the Provo LDS Family Services office. She informed me that someone had requested more information about us, but they couldn't find our file. (This is because they were calling us Marcus and Jenny, and we were filed under Roland and Jeanette. It gets complicated when you don't go by your real names.) I tried to call my parents, but noone was there. I emailed Marcus. And then I talked to his mom. I was just really excited that someone was looking at us.
About 45 minutes later, I received a phone call from our caseworker. She told me that we had been selected. The baby was born early, at 32 weeks, but was out of the hospital and doing really well in the care of a foster home. What?! She's already here? I couldn't believe it when she told me that the baby had already been born. Initially, I was thinking I would fly out the next day, Wednesday. I tried to call Marcus but couldn't track him down. I went over to MaryIrene's because I had to tell
someone. I didn't want news to get out before telling Marcus, but I just could not NOT tell someone. This was big! I was shocked, lightheaded, numb -- it was a very surreal moment.
I finally was able to talk with Marcus, at 5pm when I picked him up from work. Marseille watched Samantha so I could talk with Marcus about the adoption stuff, but I never really told him we had been selected until we got home and he saw the bassinet all set up with one of Samantha's pink blankets. He was shocked an went through similar feelings that I had gone through about 4 hours earlier.
We decided to not just fly out and get this baby. It was a lot sooner than we had ever imagined, and we had a lot of issues we had to pray about. We were/are both concerned about Samantha's care and the attention she needs while having a little baby at home. The rest of the story is more personal, but I will say that I am very grateful for the power of prayer. It is powerful. We both felt a confirmation from the Lord that this baby is supposed to be in our home at this time. I didn't feel anything that told me it would be easy, just that it is right. On Wednesday night we made our final decision and I called the Detroit LDS Family Services office to let them know our decision. That was the commencement to our newest adventure and journey.
I am expected to be in Michigan for about 6 weeks while the paper work is processed in the court and things are finalized in here. Then we will have to get them finalized in Utah. I am grateful that I am able to spend this time at home, and not in a hotel, and that my parents are here to help me. And boy, have they been helping me. It's been really fun to be here and spend this time with them while going through such a transition -- though I do miss Marcus a great deal and know that Samantha misses their nightly wrestle! But Marcus will have the opportunity to come out here a couple times. In fact, we will see him this Saturday. During one of his visits we plan on meeting with the birthmother, and I am sooo excited for that.
Thank you for all of your comments on our previous post. I get more and more excited for everyone to meet her each time I read a new comment. I will get more pictures posted and I really want a picture of Samantha and her new sister together, but Samantha is sick -- so I'm trying to keep them apart for the time being. Some people will think we are crazy, and that's ok. I think we are a little off our rocker, but I find so much peace knowing that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing. And this baby...well...she is just so easy to fall in love with! I feel so blessed to have 2 amazing daughters! Wow. We have 2 daughters. How did that happen? Maybe I should re-read this post...
Just the 3 of us.
Lookin' around.
Snoozin' in the swing.
Surprise!
Just another night at Grandma and Grandpa's. Surprisingly, those cords in the background haven't been a temptation yet for Samantha. I guess she's just too busy playing with pink packets of raspberry hot chocolate.
With Samantha being sick, this is about as much excitement as I can get out of her these days.
I can't get the pictures to rotate, and as annoying as it is, I had to share this picture. I just think she looks like such a little girl! No longer a baby, but always my baby.
Mother and daughter #2
Close up
I admit, I was so nervous before they came with the baby that I was light headed and felt sick. But as soon as I saw her, I was smitten. She reminds me a lot of Samantha when she was born -- both of them feel like a feather. And what was Samantha's reaction? So far so good. When they handed the baby over to me, everyone stood around and watched, including Samantha. While being held, she leaned over so she could get a good look at her new baby sister. I think they'll hit it off.
I think this is what Dr.Seuss had in mind when he created his characters from Whoville! A bit Cindy Lou don't you think?
