Children are a Gift from God; They are His reward. Psalm 127:3
Friday, June 29, 2007
It's A Boy, Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We got home from Harrisburg, PA on Wednesday afternoon to find our mailbox full and inside a manila envelope from the Department of Immigration and Naturalization Services with our notice of approval to adopt outside the United States. I was so excited. I think everyone heard me. I rushed to the UPS Store to fax it to Carol. She confirmed it was what we thought and within a few minutes we had an email wanting to know if this child was the one for us. We said yes and here he is folks. Our son!!!!! His given name is Edgar Enrique Rivera and upon completion of the whole process in Guatemala and US we plan on renaming him John Clayton Aldridge. He was born on February 14, 2007. We have no medical until the age of 8 days when he weighed 8lbs 4 oz and 20.9 inches long. At 1 month 8 days he weighed 10lbs and 22 inches long. At 2 mos 8 days he was 11lbs 8 oz and 24.4 inches long. At 3 mos 7 day he was 13lbs 4 oz and 25.2 inches long. Now on the day we got referral at 4 months and 5 days he is 14lbs 4oz and 26.8 inches.
This is facts I know but the feelings that hit us when we saw his picture cannot be put in words. I have never known something this good. For the first time in my life I was in tears from being so happy. Matt and I are thrilled. We have a healthy baby boy who we will be bringing home sometime in the next 6-9 months. During that time alot of things will have to happen and they are just beginning. We will be waiting and praying for our son, his birthmom as she has to see him. hold him and then make the decision and voice it not once but 4 times throughout these coming months. The first step is a DNA match and that should happen hopefully in the next two to four weeks. However, even before that Matt and I are going to see our baby. We will be flying to Guatemala on July 8th and come back home on the 12th.
We are both so excited and at the same time want the wait to be over soon. We know it will be in God's time and for that we are waiting and preparing for the day we do bring our son home. Please be praying as this journey continues. It is a journey of ups and downs and twists and turns but one we undertake willingly to bring our son home.
This is facts I know but the feelings that hit us when we saw his picture cannot be put in words. I have never known something this good. For the first time in my life I was in tears from being so happy. Matt and I are thrilled. We have a healthy baby boy who we will be bringing home sometime in the next 6-9 months. During that time alot of things will have to happen and they are just beginning. We will be waiting and praying for our son, his birthmom as she has to see him. hold him and then make the decision and voice it not once but 4 times throughout these coming months. The first step is a DNA match and that should happen hopefully in the next two to four weeks. However, even before that Matt and I are going to see our baby. We will be flying to Guatemala on July 8th and come back home on the 12th.
We are both so excited and at the same time want the wait to be over soon. We know it will be in God's time and for that we are waiting and preparing for the day we do bring our son home. Please be praying as this journey continues. It is a journey of ups and downs and twists and turns but one we undertake willingly to bring our son home.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Frustrated and Hurt
What a week!!! Last week surely was. This week has just been added to that and the waiting is really wearing. I called INS last Wednesday. I just wanted a status report not to be questioned on everything. I dont even remember what I said much. I just remember getting really emotional and being told not to contact them they will me. It could be a week or a month.
We have been working so hard to get to the point where we could provide stability along with love for a child and now to have everything we have done questioned. Every where I turn, "dont you work?" No. "Why not" I want to be a stay at home mom and we decided to go ahead and make the adjustment so that would be one less transition to make when a baby came home. You tell that to some people and they look at me like I must be out of work cause I can't work. I'm too fat. I can do anything anyone else can. What does it matter that I have started the long process of losing weight. They cant tell it so they judge me. Can you believe I was even told during this process I shouldnt be given the chance to be a parent by someone I thought a friend. That fat people are too lazy. Doctors tell me the same thing. Your to fat to have a baby. I am in better health than people smaller than me and they can have kids and be told it is fine go ahead I'll even help you.
I have heard all this and still we work, pray, and strive to be approved. I meet a social worker who approves us for the home study and now, this, INS has a problem with everything.
OK, I am finished venting about the wait. I am ok. Stress released and now the wait begins with a deep breath and praying and begging God for the approval from INS to come. We will appeal if not, but prayers will be answered one way or another. For those of you reading this,please pray.
We have been working so hard to get to the point where we could provide stability along with love for a child and now to have everything we have done questioned. Every where I turn, "dont you work?" No. "Why not" I want to be a stay at home mom and we decided to go ahead and make the adjustment so that would be one less transition to make when a baby came home. You tell that to some people and they look at me like I must be out of work cause I can't work. I'm too fat. I can do anything anyone else can. What does it matter that I have started the long process of losing weight. They cant tell it so they judge me. Can you believe I was even told during this process I shouldnt be given the chance to be a parent by someone I thought a friend. That fat people are too lazy. Doctors tell me the same thing. Your to fat to have a baby. I am in better health than people smaller than me and they can have kids and be told it is fine go ahead I'll even help you.
I have heard all this and still we work, pray, and strive to be approved. I meet a social worker who approves us for the home study and now, this, INS has a problem with everything.
OK, I am finished venting about the wait. I am ok. Stress released and now the wait begins with a deep breath and praying and begging God for the approval from INS to come. We will appeal if not, but prayers will be answered one way or another. For those of you reading this,please pray.
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