First Contact with the Birth Mom

Wow, what a surreal experience getting to speak to the birth mother for the first time last Tuesday... What could I really say to express what I was feeling? She is absolutely giving us the most precious gift of all (and I told her that and we both got teary) but how do you say that with meaningful enough words?? It seems virtually impossible.

I spoke with her for about 40min and she was very, very sweet- she seems very excited for us (she told me, "have your family there, have the camera ready, bring the camcorder!, children are such a blessing" etc). She also still seems confident in her decision to place her baby girl with us. She said she and the birth father are both positive that they chose the right family when they chose us. And there was such a 'God incidence' involved in them choosing us, too (not suprising!!): she said that when they were given ~50 profiles of waiting adoptive familes (from the agency) to choose from, they were 'accidentally' given two of ours, so when they had each looked at them and were ready to discuss who they thought they should choose, they BOTH had our profile in their hands! Just amazing... She told me about her other four kids; what they like to do, what their passions are. She told me where she and the birth father are from. And she also said that she would like me and the birth father to be in the operating room for the birth, which is AWESOME!!! I will get to see this miracle up close and get to see baby 'Norah' right away!!!!!

Please continue to pray for the birth mother and father and of course, Norah. Pray that she would be able to hold off until the c-section date next Friday. WOW- next Friday, Andrew and I will be parents. We'll be leaving for Houston next Wed, and Andrew's aunt and uncle are letting us stay in their home while we are there for probably over week. You two are wonderful- thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear ..." 1 John 4:18. The Bible says that God is love, and He alone is the reason that Andrew and I have no fear as we enter this next week of meeting the birth parents and becoming parents ourselves! He truly has given us peace that passes all understanding, because we have seen how He has provided, strengthened, and prepared us for each step of this process, and we have full confidence and peace in the fact that He will continue to do so.

C-Section Date!!!

Rene went to the doctor this morning, and they scheduled a date for the c-section!!! Friday, July 10th will be the big day...the day we finally get to meet our precious Norah!!! However, I'm wondering if she will even make it that long- Rene is already 1-2cm dilated and 50% effaced, so I figure Andrew and I better get that infant car seat installed ASAP and get some bags ready!!! AAAAAHHHHHH, I am excited beyond words!!! The fact that it will be on a Friday is unusual (and wonderful for Andy's work situation). We will likely be driving to Houston the evening of Wed, 7/8, meeting Rene for the first time on Thurs, 7/9, and then the c-section will be Friday. We found out that we will be required to stay in TX (meaning Houston in our case) until all ICPC paperwork goes through, which usually takes a week. We'll be able to take her home from the hospital before then, but we can't bring her across state lines until inter-state paperwork goes through in both TX and LA. Thus, we may make it back to Lafayette on Sat, 7/18, or Sun, 7/19?

We will definitely keep everyone posted- by the way, I will start making a LOT more blog posts than mass emails ;-)

A prayer for Norah based on Psalm 139:13-18 "Lord, we are so thankful that you created Norah's inmost being; you knit her together in her mother's womb. I praise you because she is fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Her frame was not hidden from you when she was made in the secret place. When Norah was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw her unformed body. All the days ordained for precious Norah are written in your book before one of them comes to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand."

Three more weeks..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Tough Step

I turned in my letter of resignation last Friday, June 12th, giving my boss 3 weeks notice. Though I have absolutely LOVED working with and supervising the tutors, desk workers, and lab workers in the Learning Center, I feel it is my calling to stay at home with the soon-to-arrive Norah Jane. It is a tough step to take because I will miss the students and my Junior Division co-workers greatly, but I know I will never regret the time I will be spending investing myself in loving my child and my husband. I pray that a new Learning Center Coordinator would be found quickly and that the transition would be as smooth as possible for the sake of the students who work here- how fantastic they truly are!

Only about 3.5 more weeks until the baby arrives!!! Rene is 35 weeks tomorrow and will have another appt with the doctor tomorrow as well. We trust there will be good news! It is almost impossible to wrap my mind around all of the changes that are about to take place, but yet I feel ready and am more delighted than I can express to see what the future has in store.

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6. Andrew and I only have one chance to do this right and to love Norah with all of our hearts, and I believe that for us at least, that means me staying at home.

Friends showered us with love

The birth mom is now 34 weeks as of today! Very, very exciting to think that the baby will be here (via c-section) in about 4.5 weeks!! 'Norah' is already so blessed- my co-workers had a shower for us on May 29th, and Andy came too- how funny to watch him looking at some of these items with a look on his face that said, "what is that for"?? No, J/K, he LOVED it and thought the outfits were just as cute as I did :) Thanks to ALL of you- especially Susie and Francine, who organized it.


My awesome Lafayette friends (Mel, Steph, Courtney, Norma, Vanessa, and Kari) also had a beautiful shower for us last Sat, June 6th at Steph's house. What a sweet, sweet group of people we have supporting us. One of the best parts of the weekend was having my mom, sister Kelly, and Bryan here to celebrate with us. I can't wait for Norah to meet each and every one of you!!!

The birth mom is struggling- please be praying for her- she has had high blood pressure lately.

The baby seems to be developing just fine- praise God!! A short countdown continues....