A few days before our engagement
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Thirteen Years!
It's hard to believe, but today marks thirteen years since Mark and I started dating. It also is the ninth anniversary of our engagement. That one is harder to believe! Here are a few pictures from the early days. We were so young back then!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Family Updates and Prayer Requests
As most of you probably know, it's been an intense week for us. On Christmas day, Mark's grandmother in Iowa passed away after being sick for quite a while. Hospice had been called in, so while it was not unexpected, it was still a bit of a shock. Mark flew out for the funeral the next day.
On Saturday, our baby girl, Michelle Monae was born. My mom and I spent the day at the hospital with her birthmother waiting for her to be born. We stayed around long enough afterwards for her to be transfered from the NICU to the regular nursery and then made the long trek home.I spent a good bit of time Sunday and Monday in the hospital with Michelle and her birthmother.
On Monday, the birthmother and I signed paperwork, and I brought her home. If was very difficult to walk out of the hospital room with Michelle, leaving the bithmother there with empty arms. Mark arrived home a few hours after we got back to my parents' house (where Steven and I were staying while Mark was gone). Unfortunately, Mark came home sick, and I had felt something coming on that morning.
Yesterday (Tuesday), Mark and I went up to the adoption agency for him to sign the paperwork. On the way there, we decided to rename our baby Michelle Monae (instead of Abigail Monae). (That's another story, but we chose to do that in honor of her birthmother). Later in the day Mark's family stopped by for a few hours on their way home from the funeral, and his mother stayed here with the intention of going home on Sunday with Lauren's fiance.
Around 5:30 this morning, we received the call that Mark's grandfather in Canada passed away. This was completely unexpected, and with it coming so soon after Mark's grandmother, it has been a hard day for his entire family. Mark's mom is flying home this evening (she doesn't have her passport with her to fly straight to Nova Scotia), and Mark is flying out for the funeral later this week. At this point, it looks like I'll be staying here with the babies. Michelle isn't allowed to leave the state, so taking her out of the country is definitely out of the question. The funeral day hasn't been set, but once it is, we'll know more.
We appreciate your prayers as we are working through all these different adjustments (while sick no less!). I'll be sure to keep you updated.
Rebekah
**Check out the pictures posted below!**
On Saturday, our baby girl, Michelle Monae was born. My mom and I spent the day at the hospital with her birthmother waiting for her to be born. We stayed around long enough afterwards for her to be transfered from the NICU to the regular nursery and then made the long trek home.I spent a good bit of time Sunday and Monday in the hospital with Michelle and her birthmother.
On Monday, the birthmother and I signed paperwork, and I brought her home. If was very difficult to walk out of the hospital room with Michelle, leaving the bithmother there with empty arms. Mark arrived home a few hours after we got back to my parents' house (where Steven and I were staying while Mark was gone). Unfortunately, Mark came home sick, and I had felt something coming on that morning.
Yesterday (Tuesday), Mark and I went up to the adoption agency for him to sign the paperwork. On the way there, we decided to rename our baby Michelle Monae (instead of Abigail Monae). (That's another story, but we chose to do that in honor of her birthmother). Later in the day Mark's family stopped by for a few hours on their way home from the funeral, and his mother stayed here with the intention of going home on Sunday with Lauren's fiance.
Around 5:30 this morning, we received the call that Mark's grandfather in Canada passed away. This was completely unexpected, and with it coming so soon after Mark's grandmother, it has been a hard day for his entire family. Mark's mom is flying home this evening (she doesn't have her passport with her to fly straight to Nova Scotia), and Mark is flying out for the funeral later this week. At this point, it looks like I'll be staying here with the babies. Michelle isn't allowed to leave the state, so taking her out of the country is definitely out of the question. The funeral day hasn't been set, but once it is, we'll know more.
We appreciate your prayers as we are working through all these different adjustments (while sick no less!). I'll be sure to keep you updated.
Rebekah
**Check out the pictures posted below!**
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
We're All Home
It's nice to all be at home tonight, but unfortunately, Mark came home sick. He pretty much crashed on the couch after dinner and just now went to bed. Abigail and I are following him in a few minutes. Steven isn't too sure about Abigail, but he did eventually get close enough to her to poke her :)
It helped when Mark came home because he could focus more on Steven. (Even though he was getting tons of attention from my family!) There's just no one quite like Daddy.
Tomorrow (Tuesday), we head up to the agency for Mark to sign the paperwork. Right now I have legal custody, so the paperwork lets him have legal custody too. Both birthparents signed the paperwork to terminate parental rights, but it'll take 3-6 weeks to work thorugh the court system. Until that is finalized, either of them can change their mind. We didn't experience the "legal risk" period with Steven because his birthmother went to court the same day. There's no real indication she's going to change her mind, but it's always a possibility. Please pray for her to have peace about her decision and for us during this time. We'll be able to relax a bit more once all that is taken care of.
I have pictures from today (even cuter in her own little clothes!), but it's incredibly late, and baby girl and I need to go to bed. (Well, she's contentedly sleeping on me, but I need to go to bed!) I'll get some up tomorrow.
It helped when Mark came home because he could focus more on Steven. (Even though he was getting tons of attention from my family!) There's just no one quite like Daddy.
Tomorrow (Tuesday), we head up to the agency for Mark to sign the paperwork. Right now I have legal custody, so the paperwork lets him have legal custody too. Both birthparents signed the paperwork to terminate parental rights, but it'll take 3-6 weeks to work thorugh the court system. Until that is finalized, either of them can change their mind. We didn't experience the "legal risk" period with Steven because his birthmother went to court the same day. There's no real indication she's going to change her mind, but it's always a possibility. Please pray for her to have peace about her decision and for us during this time. We'll be able to relax a bit more once all that is taken care of.
I have pictures from today (even cuter in her own little clothes!), but it's incredibly late, and baby girl and I need to go to bed. (Well, she's contentedly sleeping on me, but I need to go to bed!) I'll get some up tomorrow.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Coming Home!!
Yep, that's right. Abigail Monae is coming home today! And no, Mark isn't home from Iowa yet :( He'll meet his baby girl for the first time when we all pick him up from the airport. Crazy!!
I didn't expect her to be released today, so I'm in shock. I also have a ton of stuff to do in the next 45 minutes before leaving for the hospital. Thank you for your prayers for us (esp. the birthmother) today. It is such a comfort to know that people are lifting us up in prayer as our life is crazy and unpredictable today.
Of course, there'll be lots of pictures tonight :)
I didn't expect her to be released today, so I'm in shock. I also have a ton of stuff to do in the next 45 minutes before leaving for the hospital. Thank you for your prayers for us (esp. the birthmother) today. It is such a comfort to know that people are lifting us up in prayer as our life is crazy and unpredictable today.
Of course, there'll be lots of pictures tonight :)
Sunday, December 28, 2008
More Pictures!
I went back up to the hospital today and spent a bit more time with Abigail. I didn't really spend one-on-one time with Abigail, but I still spent some time with her. I was in the nursery with her while she was getting evaluated, and the nurse put a bow in her hair. I think she likes it :)
Right now it looks like we'll bring her home on Tuesday. Mark doesn't get home until late evening tomorrow, and he has to sign paperwork before she can come home. The social worker is going to the hospital Monday with papers for the birthmother to sign. I don't know if they're just preliminary papers, but it'll be nice to have them signed.
Right now it looks like we'll bring her home on Tuesday. Mark doesn't get home until late evening tomorrow, and he has to sign paperwork before she can come home. The social worker is going to the hospital Monday with papers for the birthmother to sign. I don't know if they're just preliminary papers, but it'll be nice to have them signed.
She's Here!
Abigail Monae (finally!) arrived at 5:59 p.m. on Saturday, December 27th! She weighed in at 6 lbs, 13 ozs, and is 19 1/2" long. I was not in the delivery room, but I did get to meet her in the NICU shortly after her birth.
When Abigail was born, she wasn't breathing quite right, so they took her to the NICU. She was only there for a few hours before being transferred to the regular nursery. Her nurse said it was shortest amount of time she's has a baby in the NICU.
I probably spent an hour with Abigail in the NICU between the two visiting times they had while we were there. I also spent time with her birthmother in the recovery room and in her regular room before we left. Please pray for her birthmother as she works through this process and recovers from the c-section.
It was a very long day yesterday. Mom and I left for the hospital at 9:30 a.m. and didn't get home until after 11:00 p.m. I ended up just spending the night at my parents' house with Steven, and then I'm heading back up to the hospital later today (1 to 1 1/2 hour drive). Mark is still in Iowa with his family and will be coming home tomorrow afternoon/evening.
I've posted more pictures on Facebook, but I wanted to at least get a few posted up here before heading to church. I'm sure you'll agree that she is quite cute!
When Abigail was born, she wasn't breathing quite right, so they took her to the NICU. She was only there for a few hours before being transferred to the regular nursery. Her nurse said it was shortest amount of time she's has a baby in the NICU.
I probably spent an hour with Abigail in the NICU between the two visiting times they had while we were there. I also spent time with her birthmother in the recovery room and in her regular room before we left. Please pray for her birthmother as she works through this process and recovers from the c-section.
It was a very long day yesterday. Mom and I left for the hospital at 9:30 a.m. and didn't get home until after 11:00 p.m. I ended up just spending the night at my parents' house with Steven, and then I'm heading back up to the hospital later today (1 to 1 1/2 hour drive). Mark is still in Iowa with his family and will be coming home tomorrow afternoon/evening.
I've posted more pictures on Facebook, but I wanted to at least get a few posted up here before heading to church. I'm sure you'll agree that she is quite cute!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Updates
Mark's grandmother passed away just a few minutes into Christmas Day, and he is flying out to Iowa in a few hours. The funeral is on Monday, but it was $1,000 cheaper to leave today instead of tomorrow. He's coming back Monday afternoon after the funeral. Please pray for him and his family as they both grieve and celebrate his grandmother's life. We are so thankful that she was a Christian (as is most of our families) and that she is having the time of her life in heaven right now. She is running and even dancing (gasp!) in front of her Lord right now. What an amazing thought!
This morning we received THE call--from our birthmother herself saying that today was the day. We were surprised because there hasn't been any contact from her to either us or the social worker since last Saturday. We started getting ready before receiving another call saying that the doctor had an emergency and that tomorrow will be the day. It's disappointing because Mark won't be there (which we had already come to terms with), but it was a blessing at the same time. The roads this morning were horrible (new reports kept referring to them as a skating rink), and it would have been very dangerous to make the drive. Tomorrow, it's supposed to be a record high (60 degrees!!).
Thanks for your continued prayers. I will let you know as soon as anything happens (or doesn't happen) tomorrow!
This morning we received THE call--from our birthmother herself saying that today was the day. We were surprised because there hasn't been any contact from her to either us or the social worker since last Saturday. We started getting ready before receiving another call saying that the doctor had an emergency and that tomorrow will be the day. It's disappointing because Mark won't be there (which we had already come to terms with), but it was a blessing at the same time. The roads this morning were horrible (new reports kept referring to them as a skating rink), and it would have been very dangerous to make the drive. Tomorrow, it's supposed to be a record high (60 degrees!!).
Thanks for your continued prayers. I will let you know as soon as anything happens (or doesn't happen) tomorrow!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Please Pray
Mark's grandmother hasn't been doing well recently, and tonight we found out that she is not expected to live through the night. They're already working on funeral arrangements because Grandpa really would like Mark there. I won't be able to go because of Abigail (even if she's born and home in time, we can't leave the state with her until the paperwork is filed). This is going to be especially hard for Grandpa since he's been her caregiver for several years now.
Mark has never lost a grandparent, which makes this even harder. His family is going out in the morning, and Mark is looking at different flights. So far, the best arrangement seems to be leaving on Friday afternoon/evening and coming home on Sunday. (The funeral is tentatively planned for Saturday.) Please pray for his family and for us as we work through all the different emotions and logistics in this situation.
Mark has never lost a grandparent, which makes this even harder. His family is going out in the morning, and Mark is looking at different flights. So far, the best arrangement seems to be leaving on Friday afternoon/evening and coming home on Sunday. (The funeral is tentatively planned for Saturday.) Please pray for his family and for us as we work through all the different emotions and logistics in this situation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
