10 on 10 February 2018

I’m tired. The best kind of tired. We just adopted our second baby girl. Here is a little of her story: Ever since we adopted our first about three years ago, I knew we would adopt again. A couple weeks before Christmas, we contacted the attorney we went through last time and said we were thinking about adopting again. A few days later he sent an email “I hope you’re sitting down.” He wrote. “I already have a match for you. She’s due Jan. 25th.” They say with adoption that although the baby doesn’t grow in mom’s tummy, she grows in her heart… Yes. I had felt her growing in my heart for a while and knew she was coming soon, even before we contacted our attorney. We were ready and prayer confirmed to us she was the one.

The month before her arrival was a whirlwind of preparing. I had big time anxiety for a variety of reasons that I won’t go into much detail here except that it peaked when my family came down with a bad flu just before the baby was due. We had been so careful staying out of public places… I was scared I would get it too with my daughter coughing lots in my face, kissing her…Normally I’m the first to get sick in the fam so it was a miracle that I didn’t catch it. We got the call about 5am Jan. 28th that our baby girl had been born at 4:28 about 30 minutes away. I booked it to the hospital leaving the sickos behind.

The next few days were consumed with back and forth trips to the hospital (they didn’t let me stay the night, definitely NOT an adoption friendly hospital) and taking care of the baby in front of her birthmom (who doesn’t speak any English) and sometimes the translator and her other Marshallese friends. It was awkward to say the least but I felt a special bond with the birth mother in spite of the language/culture barrier and only having met once briefly. She is a strong, beautiful woman. I can’t imagine what she must feel. Tugged at my heartstrings when she handed me the baby and said “Here momma.” Even though she never showed any doubts about placing, as soon as she signed the relinquishment papers the second day, I felt like I could breathe easier and my snuggles with the baby grew more fervent as I knew she was then officially ours. Such a bright eyed little beauty. Our daughter!

None of my family or friends were able to visit me at the hospital for legal reasons. It was a lonely couple days. I might have broken down in the nursery the last night I had to leave her there all alone. I had just said goodbye to birthmom who was discharged (I wonder when we’ll see her again as she’s already moved out of state but we’ll definitely keep in touch) and I walked into the nursery where some couples surrounded their babies…I wanted my husband so badly right then.

Once discharged the following day, we drove to my inlaws’ home where we stayed four days while my husband and two year old were at home getting over the flu. We stopped and saw them a couple times and they peered at her through the car window… Even though it was so hard to be apart, we were blessed. My mother-in-law spoiled us and many friends and neighbors brought meals to the other two. We have the best friends and family and have really appreciated their love and support through all this.

We named our sweet baby girl, Spring. We’ve loved that name for a long time. It goes without saying, but we love her so much. I keep thinking of other little and big miracles that have happened the last few weeks before and after her arrival. I have no doubt that God really looks out for his little ones.

Up next in our blog circle is the wonderful Sarah Rypma.