Only 3 more days!

D-Day is so close now.  I'm not quite sure that what is about to grace us has sunken in yet.  All weekend we will be busy preparing for Makenna's arrival, but yet it still doesn't seem real.  It's been 13 years since we've had a child in our lives and I know for myself that until we started down this road, of adoption, I didn't know what I was missing.  There are probably going to be many bitter-sweet moments in our future, but I have faith that with the love of our sweet baby girl EVERYTHING will be worth it.  Now, if we can just make it through this weekend...............

6 more days!

Things are rapidly coming together.  "K" had her last appointment yesterday and all is well.  She and our caseworker met with the hospital social worker and finalized the adoption plan.  Joel and I are now a little more comfortable with what to expect next Monday.  Our b/m has expressed her feelings and we will respect them.  I don't think that she is asking for anything that we can't handle.  Well, Joel might be having a little more trouble than myself, but I'll just have to keep reminding him that until "K" is able to sign that piece of paper before the judge that baby is legally still her's and we will have to accommodate her.  I don't think that is asking a lot considering what she is giving us.

We still don't know if we will have our own room, but we plan on being at the hospital and hour before surgery and hope that by the time Makenna is born they will have found us a place of our own.  If all goes as planned "K" has asked to spend a little time with the baby by herself and then periodic visits with us and Makenna.  It sounds as if she intends on us being the "primary care givers" in the hospital and expects us and the baby to be released before she is.  That may or may not happen depeding on if the hospital pediatrician feels that Makenna is ready to be medically discharged.

Joel and I would love to have visitors come by, but unfortunately this is going to be a sensitive situation.  Our b/m kind of has to be handled with "kid gloves" so we don't want to do anything to upset her.  We hope that everyone will understand that as much as we would love for you to come visit us and share in our excitement, we will have to play things by ear.  Depending on how things go, we might feel more comfortable having visitors the 2nd day.  Joel and I plan on communicating with everyone to let them know when/if they can come see sweet Makenna, but until then you can be certain that you will receive plenty of pictures, probably via text message and of course facebook!  :)

7 Days & Counting!

Well, we've almost made it!  In exactly 7 days, our sweet Makenna Michelle Hendrix will be joining our family.  I am so incredibly thankful to our b/m for this wonderful gift.  Her sacrifice is monumental and Joel and I just feel so blessed that she chose us to provide a loving home and family to her baby.  Already having a child of my own, I can't imagine the emotional toll that this must take on a woman, to give her flesh and blood, to others, to raise and care for.  I know the loss of a child and my heart aches for her.  I can foresee a very emotional day, next Monday.  I pray that God watches over our b/m and continues to give her strength, peace, and comfort during this time.

"K" has her final doctor appointment today and I believe she and our caseworker will be meeting with the hospital social worker to finalize the adoption plan.  I hope to have more details to report after I speak with our caseworker this evening.

2 weeks

We are SO close now.  So close that I think my excitement is making it hard for me to sleep.  So many things are going through my mind.  We still don't have a "formal" plan for the hospital, but it's coming together.  This Friday I am having my second baby shower, at work.  That should be fun.  There really isn't a lot more to share.  We're just waiting.  Our b/m doesn't have another doctor appointment until the 17th.  That should be the last one before the BIG day.

3 weeks, 4 days

Our b/m had another doctor appointment yesterday.  Everything is still going well and we were happy to hear that she is supposed to start thinking about the "adoption plan", when at the hospital.  Our caseworker told b/m that Joel and I are very anxious in knowing at what point we would be able to join her at the hospital on the day of delivery.  We're supposed to meet for lunch after her appointment next week, so hopefully we'll know more then.

3 weeks, 6 days

I feel so touched by the recent generosity of a former high school classmate and his wife, Will and Lindsey Amos.  When they found out we were adopting, they reached out to us and offered us a very sweet gift.  Will asked his aunt, who makes christening gowns and heirloom baby clothes, to make an outfit for Makenna.  She used our pink and brown color scheme to make a very sweet little outfit and a blanket to match.

Joel and I are so grateful for all the kindness and support everyone has shown us.  We feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives and can't wait to share all of that with Makenna.  

4 weeks, 5 days

Today our b/m had a doctor appointment.  Our caseworker was trying to arrange for us to meet for lunch before the appointment.  That didn't work out, but that's ok because something much more special happened.  I was invited to the doctor appointment to hear the baby's heartbeat!  Hearing that sweet baby's heartbeat was like music to my ears.  I felt like I was actually a part of the pregnancy.  It was so nice of our b/m to let me be a part of that.  Makenna's heartbeat was nice and strong, 142 beats per minute.  We're now on the downhill slide.  The frequency of the doctor appointments have moved to weekly.  Hopefully our caseworker will find out, soon, what we can expect on the day of delivery.