Our Week

We're slowly getting into a routine, and I'm a tad more efficient at getting out of the house with both kids (still have a long ways to go though). We made it to Bible study on Tuesday (and pretty much on time!) and out to lunch on Thursday (nowhere near on time).

Steven's still having a hard time adjusting. This week he's sat on her when she was doing tummy time (he had been napping when we started), yanked a bottle out of her mouth, and insisted on sitting on my lap when I was feeding her. I know it'll get better soon. The poor boy just doesn't know what in the world is going on!

On Tuesday I took Michelle to the doctor (again--I LOVE how medicaid has no copays!) to have her belly button checked out. It was bulging/swollen and just didn't look right. It turns out that she has a herniated belly button, but it isn't as bad as some I've seen. The doctor is just having us watch it, and hopefully it'll close up on it's own. If not, they generally surgically correct it when they're 3 or 4 years old. Other than that, she's doing great. She had gained 15 ounces since her last appointment the week before. I don't think we have to worry about her gaining weight anymore!

Thursday was a really big day for us. Their birthmother went to court and officially relinquished her rights to Michelle. Steven, Michelle, and I then met up with afterwards for lunch and to play together in the play area at a local mall. It was the first time she had seen either of them since they were born, and after Steven's initial hesitation, he had fun playing with her and sitting on her lap. I got some great pictures of them together (and her with Michelle) that will mean so much to them when they get older.

After a few hours, we met up with Mark at Wendy's since he's only seen her twice ever. He then took the babies home when I took her home. I stayed at her house for about an hour playing with her kids and talking to her mom and aunt. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and her family, and it helps that they absolutely love me too. She told the social worker that I am her homegirl :)

At the mall, several people asked her about Steven and Michelle, assuming that they were her kids, and each time she said, "I'm not their mother! She is" (pointing to me). How cool is that?! The kids are going to call her Auntie E---. That was her idea, and I love it. We're already planning the next time we get together, and we're definitely going to her daughter's birthday party in March. I really wanted an open adoption (which it wasn't last year), so this is a huge answer to prayer!

Please continue to pray for her and her family. They still have no living room furniture except two plastic chairs and are really struggling financially. Even more, please pray that she will come to know Christ as a result of our interaction with her. How wonderful would it be for Steven to Michelle to have both their families in heaven with them!?