We Have A Girl!

BUT.... not from China! It all started with a phone call on a Sunday evening, April 20th! A phone call we never expected in a million years! When I looked at the caller ID, I saw that it was a mom from Connor's school. I thought this mom was calling to ask me if I could help with a classroom party...perhaps! HA! Well, after a few minutes of small talk, she got right to the reason of her call. She had told me of a family at her church who has daughter that is pregnant, ready to deliver at any day and giving her baby up for adoption. She asked...."are you interested in a baby girl?" Wow!! That was all I could say at the time. Of course every part of me wanted to say yes immediately, but I thought it would probably be a good idea to run this by Erik. Now let me just add by saying that we were not at all thinking about or considering domestic adoption since we are in the process with China. So, after talking and praying about it that night, we decided to move ahead with this. We knew we had to take it one step at a time and not jump ahead because we knew things could change at any moment.

The first step of course was to talk to the birth mom. I finally spoke with her on the phone that Thursday! We made arrangements to meet the next evening at Starbucks. We were all nervous going into this and really had no idea what to expect. We had no idea where we stood in her (birth mom) mind. So, I asked her if she was going to pursue other families as well. Her reply....."No. I really like you guys!" At that moment I wanted to run through the parking lot doing cart-wheels....but I knew it was best I stayed calm (besides, I never was able to do a cart-wheel before in my life). So just like that.....we were it!

Next step.....babies arrival. Her due date...May 5th. The due date came.....and went. Every day I had my cell phone glued to me and at night I slept with it just inches from my face. Then on May 12th, the birth mom was admitted! She was delivering at the hospital where Erik works so since he was already there working, I came and hung out with him. By evening time we sat in the waiting room and watched time go by ever so slowly. Then at 2:00 AM it was time for me to go in her room. Carly was born at 2:21 AM. I was so honored that I was able to be there for her birth! Erik came in just minutes later. I was the first to hold Carly and Erik was the first to feed her! What a special time!

We took her home on Wednesday and have been loving on her ever since!

Every day I look at her and am in awe! I am so thankful for this precious gift from the Lord.

Now what does this mean for China? Well, we continue to wait. China has a policy that requires us to wait 12 months from placement of one child (which would be Carly) to placement of second child (Claire). Since the wait time for China is still at least a year (hard to believe), then nothing will change for us.

God is good!