February 29, 2008

Little Snowflakes

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Yesterday, my dear friend Laura gave birth to two of the most beautiful little snowflakes. Her sons Carter and Connor, are sweet and soft and smell like baby powder and all the good things that babies smell like. They coo and cuddle, and nuzzle. They bury their little noses in your shoulder and tuck their tiny feet and hands underneath their bodies. They are absolutely precious and with her permission, I am sharing their story and photos above. As you will see, Uncle AB and Auntie CB made a visit both days and got lots of good pics (some borrowed courtesy of Eric and Laura). We make an appearance toward the end of the show.

In this unique world of adoption I sometimes get so focused on our process that I forget how many different ways there are to adopt. When Laura and I met, she had a five month old daughter (who I have often bragged about on here, and who shares my own Keira's name). As time went by, and we started our Chinese adoption - Laura and Eric made mention that they too were looking into adoption for their second child. After lots of research Laura found Snowflake Adoption.

Unlike any other form of adoption I had heard of, Snowflake is the adoption of fertilized embryos. Along the lines of life beginning at conception, many couples after going through in-vitro fertilization have several fertilized embryos remaining. Typically they are frozen and in many cases never implanted. Snowflake Adoption is unique because it allows families with remaining frozen embryos to adopt out those little "snowflakes" to families wiling to give life to those children. You are still required to do a mound of paperwork, and a homestudy, and are matched accordingly with a family. Both families in this process must approve of the other and there are both open and closed adoptions.

In this case, Laura adopted several embryos from a family and successfully implanted on her first try. The boys stayed strong and above you have the amazing story of a family whose lives have been changed by the beauty of adoption in one of its most unique forms.

Mother and babies are healthy and happy - the boys were over six pounds each and Laura carried to 37 and a 1/2 weeks (you go girl!). I just stand in awe of the miracle of these little boys...Laura is in many ways both their bio mom and their birth mom. It's her blood that helped develop their little bodies, and certainly she carried them for nine months. And yet, they also have genetic parents who entrusted them to Laura and Eric to raise and to love.

What a miracle and what an amazing blessing!

Hugs,
cb

February 25, 2008

I Don't Have, Fretting, and Blessings

Well, I think it goes without saying that we are still reeling from Friday's news. See the post below if you're out of the loop. (take a tissue).

Amidst all the happiness and joy and amazement (and more joy) - there is still the referral acceptance that needs to be sent, the final installment to the agency (cough!! thought we had several more months to come up with that) and so much more. How about the rest of our vaccinations? Yellow Fever anyone? How about flying to Africa? So much for cheap...kiss it goodbye.

I was all set to do the Three Words challenge floating around, and wham! How about getting your referral six months early instead? Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, Happy Easter and Happy Sadie Hawkins! So after Friday when the dust settled, I put my head on the pillow and tried to sleep (HA! - Nice try!) and thus started the actual "Three Words" challenge.....it went like this....

I don't have a painted or put together in any way, shape, or form nursery for him
I don't have a changing table
I don't have boy clothes (well, ok - a couple things - but all in 12 months and up!)
I don't have bottles (seriously...how did I miss that? I guess I thought Keira would probably not be on bottles anymore and it never really crossed my mind)
I don't have infant toys (again - all for an older 12 months and up baby)
I don't have a carseat ($@(*&$(*#&$)
I don't have a pack n'pl@y
I don't have a stroller (no idea what I was thinking)

(Shall I keep going???? Seen enough????)

Right now, our needs outweigh our capacity to keep track of them. We started a spreadsheet on Sunday (don't laugh) and tried very valiantly to list what we "thought" we needed. Seriously though - how am I supposed to know what I need when I've never done this before? On the other hand, I've spent quite a bit of time caring for or being around children - so I do at least know the basics. I just wish I could close my eyes and it's (snap) done! Where is M@ry Poppins when I need her? Spoon full of Sug@r anyone??

In trying to make this list, we got to a point, ten minutes in, where we literally had to shut the laptop and step away. It was overwhelming. As THRILLED and HAPPY as we are to have our referral and to see our sons face (and OMG are we thrilled) - I can't emphasize enough how unprepared we are feeling. On the bright side, we do have about three months to pull ourselves together, get done what needs doing, and cross off the items on our list. And I, like my Mother, feel that it will all work out and come together just fine and dandy. Trying not to sweat the small stuff right now...but still need to get busy and make the most of this three months.

Technically, we still have three major steps to complete before travel which are referral acceptance, Court Date and approval, and then travel schedule and arrangements. This will take about/around/roughly three months. We are still planning on travel between May and June.

We had a great call with our agency tonight and got lots of info about travel, etc. We will get monthly updates - but our first one won't be until the end of March. Meanwhile, we got another very stern warning not to share his info, pictures, or details on the internet or any other forums for that matter. Scary! So I have to be very careful what I talk about on this blog - much as that kills me - in regards to Quint. It's seriously painful not to get to show you his sweet little face! I promise to make up for it just as soon as I can get him in my arms. PROMISE!

Blessings to Share:
  • Time-frame moved significantly up means less chance to have to delay KJ's process - can't tell you what a blessing that it. Still expecting her referral sometime next year - Jan-March.
  • Travel in June means AB will be home for the summer and I will not have to venture into this new land of parenting alone all day. I foresee lots of time at the pool this summer with our little man! Who knew?!?!?
  • He is beautiful and I have no doubts that it's inside and out
  • When we look at his picture, we smile and say "hi, son!"
  • People are calling us Mama and Daddy (smile)
  • The enormous amount of e-mails and comments on the blog that we got from all of you made us feel like our euphoria was contagious!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your kind words and well-wishes. It was a tremendous, tremendous blessing to us this weekend!
  • Getting to see a few of my lurkers come out to say "Hi!" I've been wonderin' about you!
  • The people from all over who have actually written to me to say "what can I do?" At this point, we're still in a daze - not even sure what we need to do. Just know there is a lot of it. But still, thank you thank you thank you!! You are precious friends!
  • Yesterday, AB called me in the kitchen and stood in front of the kitchen cabinet, doors open. He said "well, whaddya think? We move this here, that there, and this whole shelf becomes the baby's? For bottles, cups, plates, whatever..." I wanted to hug him for days over that one. I think I will.
-Cb

February 22, 2008

WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!!!!!!

I don't even know how to type this.....

I'm freaking out....

Today we got a call...

THE call...

You know...the kind that comes with lots of information and pictures...

OMG
OMG
OMG

Ya'll - we are PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And we are FREAKING OUT!!!!!

Let's run down the day in short (or long) detail. I know you wanna know...so why hold out on you!

First off - normal day - nothing unusual. Dossier went to Ethiopia two weeks ago this coming Monday. We had a standard conference call scheduled for Monday with the agency. We assumed we would hear something at that time about where our dossier was - of course we expected it was still in translation - as was told to us originally.

I was out and about with my boss and the cell phone rang. It was AB.

Christie: "Hello?"

AB: "Where have you been?!?!?!? OMG!!! I've been trying to reach you!?!?!?!"

Christie "Why??? What happened? Who died?!?!?" (seriously...it went through my mind...)

AB: "WE HAVE A SON!!!! WE HAVE A SON!!!! OMG!!!! WE HAVE A SON!!!!"

Christie: "What? .........(silence.....) Huh? Say what now? Slow down. What did you just say?

AB: "WE HAVE A SON!!!! WE HAVE A SON!!!! OMG!!!! WE HAVE A SON!!!!"

Christie: "What??? What are you telling me? (increased panic and shock - adrenaline rushing through every single fiber of my being) What are you telling me? STOP! What the heck are you saying to me?????"

AB: "Stay put - I'm on my way to you".

I moved zombie-like back to the car (my boss consoling me and holding my hand) and somehow we made it back to her house - where Anton was already waiting for me. We just looked at each other and shook our head and just stood in shock. I mean, what can you say. It's only been two weeks, folks. Look at my last post for crying out loud. I am used to waiting. It sucks, but my China process has conditioned me for it and I've learned to expect the worst case scenario. Sad but true. We honestly expected our referral in September or thereabouts. Needless to say, we did call our agency and did get all the information we needed as well as a picture of our baby boy.

Because of rules surrounding adoption through Ethiopia, we cannot - sadly - share his amazing, gorgeous picture with you or the details of his report. And oh, how I wish we could. You will have to take my word for it when I tell you that he is PERFECT and we are BLESSED! And no worries - as soon as he's home (which we're told will be between April and June - OMG!) we will be posting a MESS of pictures of him for you all see and enjoy! Trust me - this little man is precious! One look and we were utterly hook line and sinker over him.

So there you have it. Go figure - thank you Lord - you must have known that my poor tired childless heart couldn't take another long wait! So not to leave you without any action - here are the pictures our friends took while we were on our call today with the agency and seeing our son's face for the very first time. It was AMAZING!


This is us trying desperately to just get the freaking e-mail open and up.
It took forever - felt like it anyway...

And here we are getting our first look at Quint - he is just gorgeous...I don't know how else to tell you - I mean, it's not exaggerating - this kid is gorgeous! All we could do was freak out.

Still can't freaking believe it as we stare at his face and find out the details about him. It's so surreal - I mean - surreal does not cover it. There are no words...
Not only are we in shock - but we are amazed that we should be so lucky! Oh my, I just got weepy trying to type this...

I don't know what else to say - and I've probably gone on too much - but what the heck! It's my referral day and WHO KNEW!!!!

WHAT JUST HAPPENED, MY FRIENDS!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Sweet Addictions

Can't even say enough drippingly good things about my favorites...but Lost...oh my - some people say you're either a Sawyer girl or a Jack girl. I'm a Kate - equal opportunity gal...sees the high level of potential in both. Ya feel me? I freaking love the twists and turns in this show. I will seriously be grieved when it's all over. Sob!


Oh my good lawd in heaven - I don't know if these parents are for real or not - (horror!) but I literally guzzle popcorn and soda down like I'm watchin a bad slasher movie when this is on. The parents on S.N. have got to display some of the worst parenting I have ever seen in my life. Then I tell AB "oh just wait - God is gonna get us sooooo good for laughing at these poor saps. And we've got two coming!". Uh-huh...just you wait 'enry iggins'....just you wait!


Ok, call me crazy but from Season - whatever 1 or 2 - I've been a fan of Survivor. And I can't stop watching - even thought it basically the same dang thing over and over again. Take a group of people who are all different. Throw in some radical ones to really toss the salad. Strand them on an island with nothing but their stupid bikinis and "buffs". Watch as they unravel and eat disgusting things and try to win money. I know. At least I admitted at the header that I'm addicted. Have mercy on my poor reality tv junkie addicted boob-tube-ness.

Oh, and sorry, but I love Jonathan P. He totally cracks me up and his sense of humor and witty refrains are right up my alley. I hope he wins. Or whatever.
O.M.G. Can I just say...LOVE THIS SHOW! And if you haven't seen it - good night peeps - get on the bandwagon. It's called Moonlight - Friday nights. LOVVVVE IT. Vampires meets CSI - and it's insanely well done. Blondie on the right is the only freaking human left in this little triangle and she's in love with the hunky bunky in the front - that would be the main character, Mick. Oh and he's like 90 years old. And a blood-sucker - but a good one. Do no harm type. Only kill the baddies. That sort of thing. Sooooo good. Check it out!


Peace out peepalicious'