A New Year..365 days of adventure.. just waiting

 It's a new year and I wonder what it will bring.. I don't know if there are any life changing events awaiting us.. but I do know who is in charge of the year.. and anything God sends I know he will walk with us..ev even carry us if necessary..
    Life has been good in 2018, quite stressful at times, but still good. Colter is 5 months and such a happy little boy, sitting very well and now learning to roll over.. he had his first haircut at 4 months old and is needing another..Dexter is in 6 the grade and both dad and mom depend on him a lot..he really enjoys most jobs that involves driving tractor.. hopefully this year won't be as busy and he can have more time to ride horse.. Morgan had a great year, she's in 4th grade and does well in school, her health has been great no hospital stays and keeping a stable weight.. Audra started preschool in December.. she's our big little girl..she can help very much, when she likes 😉 Morgan's hand-me-downs don't fit her at all, so every little bit it seems I'm needing to sew her another set of dresses.. Audra is a little momma and loves to play with her baby brother..Quintana has had a tough year.. she was in the hospital in April and that gave her a boost, but she's really struggling with gaining weight..her intestines seem to just not work very well ,we were very concerned that she didn't gain any weight over the summer,in October I started giving her blended food via g-tube, and in 1 month she gained 3# , so while it takes a lot of effort she can gain, she also has some moments when not being the baby kinda bothers her 😉 but she loves her baby brother.. Quinn started the year 2019 with a low grade fever.. she has been struggling with a cough the last week, today I she smells like a walking pizza, I rubbed her with garlic/oragano oil,it might not help but it won't hurt and it makes me feel like I'm doing something.. I also hooked her up for continuous water via g-tube

Officially Ours

  Today Colter became officially Ours.. we are so happy and blessed..

Sister Melissa and family joined us for the formal adoption, it really means a lot to have them with us for such a special moment.

We adopted- in doing that we made a serious commitment to a child..we love all our children, never before did we affirm before a judge to care for them, but we are committed to caring for all our children with the same commitment..it makes me think how many children arrive and are never taken as a serious commitment..

Now we can go home and get on with raising a family,in addition to all the things that go with farming

Welcome Colter

 Our wait is over..

God is so good.. when mom went into labor his heart rate started dropping and bang she was rushed away for an emergency C-section,we were very scared to put it honestly, we saw his heart rate down to the 50's and weren't sure if he would be ok.

After he was born I was allowed in the nursery until we could take him to our room which wasn't long, after we were in our own private room I did skin to skin, he was very hungry, and has been since it seems 😊. The birth dad came to our room to see him soon after we were settled. Later in the afternoon the nurse took him to the birth mom's room and they held him a few minutes. The birth dad visited us several times throughout the day and it was special to get to know him.

Now we are out of the hospital we were released about 2:30, before we left we took Colter to visit the birth parents again, the dad came out to the van when we took Colter out.

We praise God for our baby boy, we want to be the parents he needs, we love him so much.

Still waiting..

     And still waiting... yesterday was the due date and it seems we were waiting forever, but I know that every agonizing sleepless moment will be worth it, when we meet our son.
     While waiting in Arkansas we had the opportunity to see our birth mom, we had lunch together and we went along for several doctor visits,it is so special to get to know her on a more personal basis, so someday we can tell our son the sweet, unselfish, mother who gave birth to him.. and her friend who was with her during this journey, we are so thankful for her, I never realized how much we would love our birth mom and her friend, they will always be very special to us.

Waiting

Waiting, waiting and waiting.. that's our story these days..

In the meantime Monday we finally got the hay made that was cut a week ago and then it rained on it several times, I spent several hours out in the field raking,it was such a nice day and I enjoyed the diversion from my day to day duties. While dad and mom were in the field Dexter mowed the lawn and Morgan and Audra worked on the laundry.

And now the cherries are ripe the children picked and pitted about 5 quarts yesterday and today I need to see if I can somehow get the nice ripe ones at the top, like being put up in the skid steer bucket 😰

Falling in love..

 I don't plan on posting every other day, but I'm so excited.. yesterday we had a great meeting, visit and lunch with our birth mom, she's a very sweet,shy lady.. she expressed her desire to give us a most precious gift, her baby boy. She is so selfless in putting her baby's needs ahead of her own. The highlight of the visit was an ultrasound we got to be present.. I've had these thoughts on, what if he doesn't seem like mine? When will he feel like my son? I know that's crazy, nothing to worry about but.. maybe it's hormones 🤔... and the only reason I expose my unnecessary fears is so others can be comforted if they have those fears.. anyway what I want to say.. The moment we saw our baby boy on the ultrasound, the tears started to fall, and the bond began, he's our baby boy forever, whatever the outcome of his adoption,if it fails 😭 he's forever in our hearts..We need the prayers of all our friends known and unknown.. that God which passeth understanding will give us, our birth mom, and all involved, peace,courage and strength..

Arkansas bound!!

It's been a busy week.. Denver and Dexter got done with hay at midnight.. and at 7:15 this morning we were Arkansas bound.

 

We had a great trip so far, had a bit of a delay before we got to Kansas City.. we are looking forward to meeting our birth mom tomorrow,also very nervous, I brought her bread, granola and half moon pies.

Adoption is special:: imagine a child waiting for a package, every day she watches for the mail every day her tears fall as she is once again disappointed, around her others receive packages, some 2 at a time..she feels so forgotten and wonders why she is passed by.. one day her package finally arrives it is so extra special.. I know when I finally hold my baby in my arms I'll cry tears of joy, our baby will be so special..