Friday, October 31, 2014

Halloween 2014

This year we were a little behind for Halloween, but for the best reason possible.  Even though we didn't have time to carve our pumpkin and Col and I didn't dress up, we got to enjoy our first holiday as a family of three!


pumpkin shirt for pediatrician appointment


our little pumpkin


Happy Halloween!

Sunday, October 26, 2014

the story of Little L : part 2

Thursday morning while we were getting ready, I received a call from the agency.  All too familiar with the pain of last year's morning-of call, I made Col answer it because I just couldn't.  Thankfully, it was just a call to adjust our arrival time to the agency by a half an hour.  Phew!  We finished our errands and headed out, when I got another call.  I answered and told our family advocate that she was killing us with all her calls!  She agreed but said that she made sure to make her voice upbeat, because these were thankfully happy calls!  She wanted us to know that Ephraim's birth mom had signed the paperwork, so we were on track to continue there.  It was nice to know that we didn't have to wonder on our drive there, but we couldn't believe that this was finally really happening!

Once at the agency, we signed the placement paperwork and then followed another social worker to the hospital where he was.  We blindly went in, up the elevator and through the doors to the NICU.  Then into the room he was in, where she led us to the back left corner, to peer in and see our beautiful, tiny bundle!  I immediately began crying because it was just so amazing to see this precious babe who was now our son!  She took a few pictures, introduced us to some of the hospital staff who got us set up at the Ronald McDonald House, and soon left.  We learned more about why he was there and even had to sign a consent form for a procedure for him that evening.  Talk about being rushed into parenthood!  It was a blur of an evening but so amazing to finally hold our son, this baby who we and many others have prayed for!



Ephraim was on antibiotics for pneumonia, however his labs came back clear that he never had the infection nor any others.  But because the course had been started, he had to finish it out for the full seven days.  Also, he had low blood sugar and was first receiving glucose in an IV to supplement his regular feedings.  When that wasn't enough to get his numbers up, he was given a PIC line which more directly delivered the glucose.  Over a few days, they were able to quickly decreased the amount of glucose that he was given and then he was off the line.  It was wonderful to watch his numbers get better so quickly, and he spent the second week at the hospital completely off any glucose.  His numbers were monitored every three hours, and they wanted him to maintain a certain level for 24 hours.  While he did well, he would often have one borderline low number each 24 hour period, usually around 3a.  So we waited and waited for his body to regulate.  The doctors and nurses were not concerned as this is a common issue that they see, especially in smaller babies.  He was deemed full-term, but born at 5 lbs. 7 oz.  They reassured us that his body would regulate on its own, it just took time.


We invited our parents and Colin's sister and brother-in-law to come up on Friday to meet him, and that was a fun day.  We enjoyed the weekend, with visits from our parents again.


Colin had to leave on Monday and come back to work.  I was fortunate to have my mom stay with me for a couple of nights and days, my mother-in-law come up for an evening, and my dad sit with me on Friday.  It was rough, draining, and exhausting to be in the hospital for those 11 days.  I constantly reminded myself that I had much to be grateful for as Ephraim was doing well, and the preemies who we shared rooms with would be there for months, not weeks.  But it was a new experience and overwhelming as we waited for him to regulate.  It was hard being there every day, usually from 9a to 9p, while Col was back in Rochester.  We missed each other, him wanting to be in Buffalo and me wanting to be home, missing my bed, bathroom, house, and dog.  We just wanted Ephraim to come home but knew we couldn't rush the process and wanted him healthy most of all.  There were a few moments while there that were the most overwhelming for me, as the emotions of our super fast placement and the days in the NICU wore on me.


We were blessed by being able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House, which was overall amazing.  We couldn't say enough about it, and it was especially great once Colin left because they offered a shuttle to and from the hospital so I didn't have to worry about not having a car there.  Meals were made every day and the fully-stocked kitchen was always open.  It was a comfortable, safe, and very minimally priced place to stay, which was greatly appreciated.  That first night when we checked in, I looked around at the families eating dinner and was speechless at how, in 24 hours, everything had changed.  I was a MOM and a NICU mom.  Crazy how life happens, isn't it?


Thankfully, we were able to hold him whenever we wanted, change and feed him every time we were there, and some nurses even began including us in other aspects of his care since we were there so much.  We took his temperature every time they did vitals, and I got to give him a sponge bath one evening.  The nurses and doctors were amazing, and we got to know a few of them who worked multiple days during our time there.  I sometimes felt like I was a tech in the room, joking with them, getting used to all the monitors, beeps, etc.  I became proficient at changing and moving him with all of his wires attached.  And it was comforting for me as a new mom to always know what his oxygen levels were.  

On Friday, they said that we would probably be discharged on Saturday but that they were sending me home with a glucometer to check his blood sugar ourselves every three hours.  I was taught how to use it, and felt comfortable as I had seen it done a million times already.  Colin came back up that evening after work, and we were reunited again.  


We were happily discharged on Saturday late afternoon and finally arrived home as a family of three!



Everything changed for us in 24 hours.  God is SO good and faithful!

Thursday, October 16, 2014

the story of Little L : part 1

It was a typical Wednesday (as they always are).  At 4p, I got a call from our adoption agency, and as I ran into the nearest closet at work to take the call (any extra offices and the conference room were being used), our family advocate told me that they had a last minute profiling opportunity where the baby had been born the day before.  They needed to know by 4:45p that day if we would like to move forward and be profiled.  I began my stalker-calling of Colin, who was working with gym full of kindergarten through second graders, so I had to repeatedly call and text in order for him to 1) feel his phone go off and 2) realize that there was an immediate need.  I ran through the details of the case with him, and we both quickly agreed that we were fine with moving forward.  I called our agency back, did a little quick research, and finished up my workday.  As I began my drive home, I felt like this call was different for some reason.  Why I wasn't sure, because I had become very good at just thinking that it would be another "no."  However, I started to pray non-stop about it.  At 5:15, I received a call from our agency again.  Having no time to hook up my blue-tooth, I answered after a quick debate and decided that I did not want to miss this call.  Asked if I was driving, I was instructed to pull over.  I still wasn't really feeling anything either way, just a calm as I found a parking lot and put the car in park.  Our family advocate then said, "I'm calling because I wanted to tell you that you have been chosen!"  I was in complete shock, I believe I asked, "Really?!," and began to cry.  She proceeded to go through the details and information that she needed that night and what we needed for the next day.  Still in shock, I finished my drive home, jumping in my seat, praising God out loud, and crying the whole way.

Once home, I could not wait to tell Colin.  Since he gets out of work at 6p, I knew I had until about 6:30 to try and wait patiently.  Running around the house like a chicken with my head cut off, I tried to figure out how I wanted to tell him.  I settled for making a sign and pulling out the Adoption STAR shirt we had from our first match.  Then I waited.  And waited.  At 6:45, he called and said he was just leaving now, the latest he's ever gotten out (go figure on this day of all days!).  He said I was probably texting him so much because dinner had been ready for a while (to which I replied, "Um, sure...").  I told him to hurry home and then decided I might as well make dinner since he was on his way.

When he walked through the door I couldn't contain my excitement, and told him that before he did anything else, he had to read this sign.  He seemed a little confused but quickly caught on, and I told him we had been chosen!


We tried to eat dinner, and then decided that while we knew all too well how quickly things could change at this point, we wanted to tell our parents and siblings.  So we used Mendon to tell our news.  The picture below was texted to our families, and both moms responded first asking for clarification.  Both on the phone at the same time, we told them that we were getting a puppy.  My mom resignedly said that was what she thought and went on and on about it before I interrupted her and said that was not true and that we had been chosen by a birthmom and were meting the baby the next day!  Colin's family was all in the car together, and he heard an audible collective sigh at the "puppy" news.  To which he also explained we were kidding and gave them the news.  The sweetest moment was when he heard our 5 year old niece get out of the car at the end of the call and say, "I can't wait to meet their new puppy!"  She hadn't caught on to the change in the conversation, but we knew she would be even more excited about a new cousin.


We called our employers and explained that we wouldn't be in the next day, then made lists of what we needed to get done.  I can't remember what time we climbed into bed, but I do know that I didn't sleep well.  I woke at some point in the early morning hours with major anxiety that once again we would find ourselves so close and things would change.  However, we spent the morning hours getting ready, installing the car seat, and packing overnight bags for our next adventure!

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

17th puzzle update!

Our puzzle is complete!  I am so excited to frame it and constantly look at all the wonderful people in our lives who already love Little L so much!  We are truly appreciative of every single one of your and your generous donations for this fundraiser.  Someday, when Little L is in our arms, we will show him or her over and over all the names of everyone who helped bring him or her home!
  
Special thanks to:
Lyndy
Carol, Rob & Joey
Valerie

Dad & basketball

Dad got to play on a basketball team for a fundraiser benefit against the Harlem Wizards (a step below the Harlem Globetrotters).  It was a fun night out with the fam seeing dad play for a bit :)




Sunday, October 12, 2014

October is Pregnancy, Infant, and Child Loss Awareness Month

I posted this on Facebook recently, but feel that it is important and wanted to also write about it here.

Throughout our infertility/adoption journey, we have been fortunate to meet so many amazing people and become connected to a network of people through infertility and/or adoption, as well as those who have suffered miscarriages.  I feel as though infertility and miscarriages/infant death are still subjects that many keep to themselves, even though support and efforts are gaining ground.  However, I've also found that the biggest way to love and support is to be open with your own story so that you may bless another who is suffering through it. Ever since we went "public" with our journey, I've heard from so many people who have shared their own stories with me and thanked me for being open with ours.  Colin and I have also had the privilege of being a part of a loss photography project, which I hope to share with you all soon!  It's amazing how honesty in pain can open you up to so many new experiences and relationships.

Lastly, I am also a daughter to parents who lost a child at the age of 8 (when I was five) and a friend to many who have felt the loss of their babies in utero. October is Pregnancy, Infant, and Child Loss Awareness Month, and I'm sharing this in honor of those whose stories I know and those who are suffering in silence.  Please visit the link below for ways to help those who have experienced Pregnancy, Infant, and Child Loss.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Brown's Berry Patch

Yearly Brown's Berry Patch trip!  I snapped a quick pic of my oldest niece and I on the hayride!


Saturday, October 4, 2014

Baltimore

We drove down with Colin's parents to Baltimore on Friday for Colin's cousin's wedding.  Despite a few hiccups (such as, the hotel's fire alarm was going off right when we got there to check in - no worries, we got ready in time!), the wedding was absolutely beautiful with gorgeous details and an amazing venue.
 
10.3.14
Jenny & AJ
 





The next morning, the four of us walked around the harbor a little
before meeting Nells' cousin for lunch.  It was a fun, quick overnight!
 

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

progression of cars

My very first car, Stan the '91 Nissan Stanza
2004 - July 2009
(Went back to Gowanda with my parents until 
he was donated for scrap metal to raise money for missions.)


The first car I bought myself, Ellie the '08 Hyundai Elantra
July 2009 - March 2011 
(Sadly she met her quick demise after a 
blizzard-related accident a month before our wedding.)


The first car we bought together, Sookie the '08 Suzuki Sx4
June 2011 - present
(Still in the fam :))


Colin's first car, Mallory the '01 Chevy Malibu
Summer 2005 - September 2014
(The time has come when she requires repairs that cost more than her worth.  
However, she did get us a few hundred dollars as a trade-in for parts!)


And announcing the newest car member, Travis or Trixie 
(name still to be determined) the '09 Chevy Traverse!
September 2014 - a long, long time (hopefully!)