News!

I got a text today from M (our birthmom), and the C-section is scheduled for October 26th! 10 days after I turn 30! We are so excited! It is really an answer to pray, too, because our family will only have to take 2 days off of work, and at the end of the week. M goes in at 5:30 that morning so we will have a baby girl well before noon on the 26th! 8 weeks left

Also, be praying for some friends, Jeremy and Becky, as their birthmom is set to be induced this Sunday. Pray for peace in everyone's hearts during this situation for them.

Crunch time

Well, time is ticking and it is getting closer to our $6,000 deadline. We have exactly 9 weeks left to finish saving for it. Our goal has been to save enough for AFTER that payment as well. We will be working off one income for quite a few weeks so we are just trusting the Lord for that. Today we found out we have to pay $1500 to get the air conditioner in the Suburban fixed. Are you kidding me?! That's not helping! Brian tried hard to fix it himself but he ran into quite a few kinks that just didn't allow it. I guess Satan is working overtime to discourage us. I must say there are many times that it works. Brian and I just have to remind each other that God has provided in the past and will continue to do so.

Our birthmom has another appointment tomorrow at 1pm. Last time she had only gained 2 lbs so that was good. We are praying that everything continues to be normal and healthy. I am not sure if she will be able to set her C section date or not. More to come on that one.
Keep praying......the time is near!

My first ultrasound

Our birthmother invited me to go with her to her last ultrasound appointment today. It worked out perfectly since we just got back from our trip to the West Coast, and I didn't have any school obligations. I was so excited! I was hoping this trip would give us some good conversation today, and it did. She is very easy to talk to, and has a most pleasant personality. I was also hoping that today would be the day it all felt "real." Not so much. Don't get me wrong! It was amazing to see that little one rolling around on the screen, watching the nurse point out all her parts (yes, it is STILL a girl!). However, I didn't get that 'wow' moment I was hoping for. I know it will come. Just not today. She came out of the appointment with a clean bill of health, and is weighing in at approx. 2lbs and some change! Still growing and developing. Birthmom is healthy too. The Lord is good! I didn't get to hear the heartbeat today but I did see it beating! These machines are amazing. Our wonderful birthmom sent me a text about a week ago with the recording of her heartbeat from the last visit. She told me she would try to send me an updated one soon. Again, she is so incredible.
For now, she is settling on a C-section. This will help with our timing and planning as well. This means only I will get to be in the operating room with her, and she wants me to be the first to hold her. Isn't she unbelievably selfless?

So, I leave you with some pictures (yes, I got to keep them!). As the nurse handed the pictures to our birthmom, she shook her head "no" and told her to give them to me. "She's the mom," she stated.

P.S. For those of you like me who have a hard time reading these things. One of them shows both of her arms in the air (we say she's already praising God!) in a sideways "L." The others are profile views.

Photographer

A fellow coworker told me about a friend of hers who has a heart for adoption, and is using her photography business to serve adoptive families. She will come to your house or airport or wherever you are when you first bring the baby to show family. She will capture all the candid moments we want to remember forever without us having to remember to take pictures. Brian and I, and our families will get to enjoy the moment, and remember forever now! She will also take an adoptive family photo for free within the first year of the adoption! All of her normal sessions still serve the adoption ministry by giving half of her proceeds to an adoption ministry. Really cool!
Beth, don't worry! We are still booked with you for the more formal pictures we will use to frame and send out to show her off!