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.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
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..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
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....
Friday, April 17, 2009
Our first glimpse of her face
Wow- yesterday the social worker at the agency emailed us an ultrasound picture, and we got to see our baby girl's face for the first time. The ultrasound picture is absolutely amazing- I don't think you can normally make out facial features so well!!! And she's going to be a happy baby- it looks like she's smiling already! :) It definitely made everything sink in a little more... We can not wait to see her in person!
We're thinking about naming her Norah Jane (but don't hold us to that). Norah means 'light', and Jane means 'Jehovah has been gracious', so we LOVE the meaning of it, and it flows well with our last name: Norah Jane Parrish.
Here she is!!!
Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself; how I praise you! Psalm 63:3 NLT
"Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I had appointed you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5).
"There are several things here that are wonderful and awe-inspiring as we reflect on what this verse says about the omniscience of God. God tells Jeremiah that He "knew" him before he was formed within the womb. He already knew Jeremiah's strengths and weaknesses. He already knew that Jeremiah would possess what God wanted to use during this particularly trying time of Israel's history. And before Jeremiah was born, God had already set him aside for a special task which He would give him years later as a young adult."
from: http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-jeremiah-1-5-10.htm
It is so amazing to think about the fact that God already knows "Norah". He already knows what her strengths and weaknesses will be, and He has already given her what she needs to possess in order to serve Him the way He wants her to be able to. How awesome is that?? She is already set apart for great things...
We're thinking about naming her Norah Jane (but don't hold us to that). Norah means 'light', and Jane means 'Jehovah has been gracious', so we LOVE the meaning of it, and it flows well with our last name: Norah Jane Parrish.
Here she is!!!
Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself; how I praise you! Psalm 63:3 NLT
"Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I had appointed you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5).
"There are several things here that are wonderful and awe-inspiring as we reflect on what this verse says about the omniscience of God. God tells Jeremiah that He "knew" him before he was formed within the womb. He already knew Jeremiah's strengths and weaknesses. He already knew that Jeremiah would possess what God wanted to use during this particularly trying time of Israel's history. And before Jeremiah was born, God had already set him aside for a special task which He would give him years later as a young adult."
from: http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-jeremiah-1-5-10.htm
It is so amazing to think about the fact that God already knows "Norah". He already knows what her strengths and weaknesses will be, and He has already given her what she needs to possess in order to serve Him the way He wants her to be able to. How awesome is that?? She is already set apart for great things...
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Our future baby girl may arrive 7/18!
Yesterday (Tuesday, 4/14) the birth mother had a doctor's appointment, and everything checked out very well! The baby weighs 2lbs right now (see the personalized pregnancy ticker at the top of the blog for more interesting facts!) and is very healthy! The doctor said the birth mom is a little more than 26 weeks along and is due about July 28th, and they will be scheduling a c-section 10 days before that (around July 18th), so 7/18 might be when we get to see our baby girl for the first time :) That date is actually pretty ironic, because my mom had c-sections with all three of us, and all 3 were on the 18th of a month- the tradition may continue!!!
Because of the Easter holiday weekend I had this past Monday off, so I took the opportunity to register at Babies 'R Us, Target, and for bedding at JCPenney. All those baby necessities and gadgets are pretty overwhelming!- and that was even with having done a lot of research on consumer reports, in books, and collecting advice from friends who are already moms. Who knows which swing will best lull my baby to sleep (forward-to-back? side-to-side? both?), or which jogging stroller will allow me to keep running when baby arrives? Not me! But I made the most 'educated' guesses I could :)
Because of the Easter holiday weekend I had this past Monday off, so I took the opportunity to register at Babies 'R Us, Target, and for bedding at JCPenney. All those baby necessities and gadgets are pretty overwhelming!- and that was even with having done a lot of research on consumer reports, in books, and collecting advice from friends who are already moms. Who knows which swing will best lull my baby to sleep (forward-to-back? side-to-side? both?), or which jogging stroller will allow me to keep running when baby arrives? Not me! But I made the most 'educated' guesses I could :)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
We Are Matched!!
Wow, GOD IS SO FAITHFUL!!!!!!! We got the news this morning that a birth mother CHOSE US!!!!!!! She is due with a precious baby girl at the beginning of July!! It is impossible to express how ecstatic we are!!!
“I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.” Psalm 63:4
We knew that our profile had been shown to one birth mother twice (3/19 and 3/26), but we thought maybe she had chosen someone else because we hadn’t heard anything, so I emailed the social worker this morning, and she emailed back (and then we spoke on the phone) and she said that the woman had just chosen us!!!
It is amazing to think back now on the initial despair when I was told as a teenager that I would never have children, but even then, I felt as though God was whispering to me that He had a different plan for me, and now it is coming to fruition…
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears." Psalm 18:2-6
She does not want to meet with us until much closer to the due date (maybe only right before). The description of her that we have is that she is 5’4” and 130lbs with brown hair and hazel eyes. There is so much to be thankful for: she has not been doing any scary drugs/alcohol during the pregnancy, there is no known history of mental illness in her or the birth father’s family, and both she and the birth father are being counseled through the agency and both are certain that they want to give the baby up for adoption! This is a HUGE PRAISE, because to have all three of the afore-mentioned situations is pretty rare!!!
Please pray for health for our developing baby over the next 3 months, for patience, preparation, and wisdom for us, and for the emotional and physical well-being of the birth mother and father.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Thank you for all of the prayers that have already been lifted up for us- we are eternally grateful, and we know God had this baby girl chosen for us all along!!!!
“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100
“I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.” Psalm 63:4
We knew that our profile had been shown to one birth mother twice (3/19 and 3/26), but we thought maybe she had chosen someone else because we hadn’t heard anything, so I emailed the social worker this morning, and she emailed back (and then we spoke on the phone) and she said that the woman had just chosen us!!!
It is amazing to think back now on the initial despair when I was told as a teenager that I would never have children, but even then, I felt as though God was whispering to me that He had a different plan for me, and now it is coming to fruition…
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears." Psalm 18:2-6
She does not want to meet with us until much closer to the due date (maybe only right before). The description of her that we have is that she is 5’4” and 130lbs with brown hair and hazel eyes. There is so much to be thankful for: she has not been doing any scary drugs/alcohol during the pregnancy, there is no known history of mental illness in her or the birth father’s family, and both she and the birth father are being counseled through the agency and both are certain that they want to give the baby up for adoption! This is a HUGE PRAISE, because to have all three of the afore-mentioned situations is pretty rare!!!
Please pray for health for our developing baby over the next 3 months, for patience, preparation, and wisdom for us, and for the emotional and physical well-being of the birth mother and father.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Thank you for all of the prayers that have already been lifted up for us- we are eternally grateful, and we know God had this baby girl chosen for us all along!!!!
“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100
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