No more cough, fever, or wheezing!

YAY!  Tred is better.  The little guy has been sick most of his life.  Shortly after he was born he got RSV.  It took about a month to kick.  He is eating great, sleeping like a champ and smiling like the happiest kid on earth!   I am a thankful Momma!

A lost wallet can do a heart good...

My wallet was stolen recently and there were 2 reasons I was sad about it.  One, it was a new HOBO wallet...so sad.  I will have to save up for a while to replace it!  Two, (and the real reason I was bummed) my wallet had BK's, our birthmother, information in it.  I was not sure how I would track her down.  I emailed the Hannah House to let them know and asked if they would pass it on to her.  A few days later, I had an email from her.  She is doing well.  I am so proud of her.  I love knowing that she has continued on the right path and to make good decisions.  It is just as good to know that she is at peace with her decision and Tred is exactly where she wants him.  It would be unbearable to know she regretted her decision to place her baby boy with us.

These were some of her words in the email...

"I was so happy to get your email today.  I think about you several times each day.  I hope things are going well for you....I have been doing great.  I have not forgotten about writing a letter for Tred....Thanks again for making a difficult decision seem so right!!! You all truly are a blessing from God.   I look forward to hearing from you soon....Lots of love, BK"

Just a little information and a little small talk....but it did BIG things for my heart.

I did not know that I would know

Tred is a Houston. He feels 100% fully mine...(and Matt's, of course. And, I definately know he is on loan from God:) I know I love him with all my heart. All that to say, I feel as if he were my own flesh and blood. I was so worried about how I would feel at this point before he was born. I did not know a child without my womb or labor involved. Those months of carrying a baby, feeling him/her move inside you, dreaming about what characteristics they would have from each family member, the sacrifice involved in being pregnant...nausea, vomiting, lack of sleep, loss of control with eating & urinating:). I thought that sacrifice is what endeared me to the girls before they were born. And, the anticipation of when they would enter the world. I did not have that with Tred. I did not know a child without all those details that lead up to loving them the moment they enter the world. I now know you don't need those things. Something happened a few days ago to remind me of this...
My 3 girls NEVER really spit up...thankfully. I think it is disgusting, and am repulsed by the smell of spit up. It stains and the smell never goes away and cannot be masked by any spray that I know of. (I know I am a wimp) I am not sure if Tred just likes to share or is just really into recycling. He feels he should share half of each of his bottles with me. I am usually pretty good at catching it with anything but my shirt. I use receiving blankets as burp cloths because so much comes up. I was holding him the other day and he dowsed my shirt with recycled Enfimil. It hit me immediately...I did not care. I calmly wiped it off and continued to cuddle him up. Usually, in a matter of seconds, I would have to disrobe because of the toxic spill. I realized that my gag reflex did not kick in and I was fine with the soggy wetness seeping down the front of my shirt and back....He is mine. When it is your kid, it doesn't matter. I was drenched all over and it did not bother me that there was not one DNA strand that belonged to me. I love him, no matter who he turns out to be, no matter what he looks like, no matter how much he spits up on me. This small moment culminated to this one truth...He is mine. I always "knew" blood would not make Tred my son, but I did not really know. But now, I know.

Home Sweet Home

Finally! We are home and, life has not slowed down one bit:) I think being away so long made me thankful for the choas of the Houston family. I am glad I am not missing out on Had's preschool projects she brings home, Holl's sweet "I love yous," and Neel's first words anymore. The mounds of laundry, carpool, extra diaper changes, loads of dishes, multiple virus exchanges with siblings, and the endless cleaning is all worth being home sweet home! I love our family being together...all 6 of us

Update on the little man...

He is 3 weeks old now. Having some minor respitory problems. The doc said this was common with c-section babies. He is doing some breathing treatments and will hopefully soon be better. I am looking forward to introducing to him to ALL my wonderful friends that have provided much needed prayer and support!

proud dad and mom!

Baby TRED!

He is here. He is loved. He is perfect (I feel I can say that since I had nothing to do with making him:). I wish I could fill you in on every detail since Monday, but I am afraid I cannot even grasp all that God is doing in our family. So, the rest of the story will have to wait. Until then, I will be holding this baby and lovin' him up! Please pray paperwork continues to process through the proper hands in order that we get a timely courtdate...making Tred "legally" ours. And, please continue to pray for BK. There is a mother not getting to hold her child right now. I cannot imagine. She is the bravest, most courageous person I know.

And, we are not so naive to think we are the only ones that need prayer. Please let me know how we can pray for you. I will have a lot of time on my hands in the middle of the night over the next few weeks! I would love to make a time to pray for you.

02-09-09

That's our son's birthday. Our little boy will be born on February 9th, 2009. One year ago from that date a baby shower was held in honor of Neeley and we were anticipating her birth. A lot can happen in one year. And, a lot more can happen in just 2 months. On Dec 8th we signed paperwork with Abba Adoption...2 months and 1 day later, we will be holding our baby. I sometimes feel bad because I did not have to wait the 9 months a mother normally does, or the 3 years a family wanting to adopt from China does. I have had a quote on my mind the last few days...knowing that I have no idea what lay ahead of us, these words have brought me comfort and perspective.

"What God calls us to do is always impossible. Impossible, that is, without His help. It is always too big for us, too demanding. The price is too high. Yet He calls us to count not our lives dear to ourselves. Fathers and mothers haven't much time to think about the impossibilities." -E.Elliot

I am overwhelmed at what God has put together the last 2 months. I know He began the process long before. Knowing that gives me great peace. Because there is no way we would have been blessed to cross paths with BK-but HE made it happen. There is no way we can express to her our gratitude, love and admiration for her, but HE will continue to love her even after we are gone. There is no way WE could work through the endless amounts of paperwork, fingerprints, background checks, and home study, and for the paperwork to be cleared and processed as timely as it has, but somehow-HE did! There is no way we could have come up with the financial support to adopt our son, but HE did through others generousity and prayers. There is no way we have the capability to love this child with the love of Christ, but with His grace and power we will. So many things WE have not done along the way. God has. He has pieced together each step of this journey. And, because HE is behind it, we trust in His plan. We are so excited for what's ahead!

Please pray for our little one and the delivery. We are praying for a healthy baby, but more than that we want the baby God wants us to have. No matter what. BK has never had a c-section. Her 3 previous deliveries have been smooth and I know she is anxious with this one. By the way, her birthday was this week and she turned 34! She and the baby's birthday are only 4 days apart! We love you BK & we'll see you soon!!!!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, Lean not on your own understanding." -Prov. 3:5