Monday we had to meet with Jo's attorney and sign all paperwork to prepare to leave the state. It was a little sad. I knew it was the day Jo, would be faced with the very real issue of Vivi leaving with us. Although we playfully joked in the Attorney's office with each other. I was so sad for Jo.
After it was over Jo and I hugged and cried.
I think she is an amazing Angel! Thank you for trusting me with your child.
Then off to find chicken stars for JJ. Eric introduced me to Hardy's. Carl's Jr. of Omaha. Link to the Carl's Hardees Restaurants. We drove forever and they didn't even have stars! So we ended up back at the hotel with noodles for JJ.
Went to Vivi gave her the good news... we would be bring her home soon!!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Christmas Day!!
We had a blessed Day!
Spent the day in our hotel... I caught a bit of JJ's cold and just felt like sleeping.
We called and talked to the boys in Cali and JJ played with all his presents!
We made it to the hospital at least once to see Vivi.
Spent the day in our hotel... I caught a bit of JJ's cold and just felt like sleeping.
We called and talked to the boys in Cali and JJ played with all his presents!
We made it to the hospital at least once to see Vivi.
Christmas Eve!
Christmas Eve brought more then the usual gifts. Jo was released from the hospital. We learned that morning that we would meet Jo's parents. I was so nervous... again... will they approve us? Will they be OK with us and their grand baby? Again, I need you God! I need to reassure this amazing family that we were going to take the BEST care we could of their granddaughter.
This was an emotional day, but it was special. I felt I was in the right place.
Again, I wanted to just hug and hold all those involved and thank them uncontrollably for this gift they were giving us.
Jo was our plan B, and we were hers. God you are amazing! Thank you for putting us in each others lives! I will treasure this always!
We helped Jo get home, and get somethings for stay with Lori and Don. She was so sweet and although in pain... she hobbled into Walmart with us.
After that we headed to church to see our new favorite pastor. It was an amazing service, we both broke down and cried. We were so thankful for all that was happening, we wished we were with our boys, we wish we had family with us... but we had each other and JJ. The pastor Mark Chitwood at Stonebridge Christian met us there before the service with a gift for JJ and Vivi!! Another blessing!
We made sure we were back in our room on xmas eve. Eric went to the hospital and visited Vivi, while I took care of JJ. We set out cookies and milk and settled in for the night.
Have I mentioned the weather?? Cold! Lower 40's in the afternoon and low 20's in the night. Everyone there seemed to think the weather was wonderful. We were freezing. We had to warm up the car every time we went someplace. We wore layers and gloves and hats. JJ refused to wear his winter jacket but loved his snow hat and gloves. Don, also gave JJ hand warmers which he loved.
The next day would be Christmas.... getting closer to bringing Vivi home from the hosptial!
This was an emotional day, but it was special. I felt I was in the right place.
Again, I wanted to just hug and hold all those involved and thank them uncontrollably for this gift they were giving us.
Jo was our plan B, and we were hers. God you are amazing! Thank you for putting us in each others lives! I will treasure this always!
We helped Jo get home, and get somethings for stay with Lori and Don. She was so sweet and although in pain... she hobbled into Walmart with us.
After that we headed to church to see our new favorite pastor. It was an amazing service, we both broke down and cried. We were so thankful for all that was happening, we wished we were with our boys, we wish we had family with us... but we had each other and JJ. The pastor Mark Chitwood at Stonebridge Christian met us there before the service with a gift for JJ and Vivi!! Another blessing!
We made sure we were back in our room on xmas eve. Eric went to the hospital and visited Vivi, while I took care of JJ. We set out cookies and milk and settled in for the night.
Have I mentioned the weather?? Cold! Lower 40's in the afternoon and low 20's in the night. Everyone there seemed to think the weather was wonderful. We were freezing. We had to warm up the car every time we went someplace. We wore layers and gloves and hats. JJ refused to wear his winter jacket but loved his snow hat and gloves. Don, also gave JJ hand warmers which he loved.
The next day would be Christmas.... getting closer to bringing Vivi home from the hosptial!
Building a family!
So, we arrive in Omaha on Monday night. We decorate our room and prepare for Christmas! We meet Jo! We meet Vivi!
Life is wonderful, let'd go home!
Not quite. God had plans for us. I knew he would because I had asked him for "an entire situation"! He had been preparing my heart for several months and now was the time!
So, I can't remember much of December 22 and 23rd, spent time with Vivi. Eric and I would switch going to feed her, playing with JJ and seeing Jo. Taking pictures. Jo and I went into to see Vivi. I was so excited to capture that moment. One day I will share that picture with Vivi, and the story.
There were many moments of keeping emotions in check. I wanted to hug these people and cry and thank them and show my extreme excitement but I also had to keep my calm and remember that my joy was also their pain and loss. I knew I wanted to assure them all, that this was not the END. I wanted to create a beginning. I wanted to get to know them, and be a part of their family and welcome them into ours. It was so easy because Jo was so sweet and her sister Lori and Don were welcoming to us. There was adoption paperwork and issues that were getting worked out, all the while we were in the hospital. Things needed to be signed, people told.... and it was getting hard on Jo.
I took so many pictures, I was printing them at Walgreen's and creating little albums for them all. Eric and I were taking care of JJ, discovering new places to eat, getting back to our hotel to still ready ourselves for Christmas.
Life is wonderful, let'd go home!
Not quite. God had plans for us. I knew he would because I had asked him for "an entire situation"! He had been preparing my heart for several months and now was the time!
So, I can't remember much of December 22 and 23rd, spent time with Vivi. Eric and I would switch going to feed her, playing with JJ and seeing Jo. Taking pictures. Jo and I went into to see Vivi. I was so excited to capture that moment. One day I will share that picture with Vivi, and the story.
There were many moments of keeping emotions in check. I wanted to hug these people and cry and thank them and show my extreme excitement but I also had to keep my calm and remember that my joy was also their pain and loss. I knew I wanted to assure them all, that this was not the END. I wanted to create a beginning. I wanted to get to know them, and be a part of their family and welcome them into ours. It was so easy because Jo was so sweet and her sister Lori and Don were welcoming to us. There was adoption paperwork and issues that were getting worked out, all the while we were in the hospital. Things needed to be signed, people told.... and it was getting hard on Jo.
I took so many pictures, I was printing them at Walgreen's and creating little albums for them all. Eric and I were taking care of JJ, discovering new places to eat, getting back to our hotel to still ready ourselves for Christmas.
Seeing Vivi for the first time!
I practically ran to see Jo. She was alert. She had been to see Vivi and wanted to let us know we could go see her. I wanted to check my heart and give Jo all my attention. Again, Vivi was in good care and I didn't want Jo to ever feel it was all about the baby. God was again, checking my heart. Keeping me focused on the real reason I took the adoption route... Be a blessing to Jo, and all those that come with our baby.
I can't remember in detail the first time I saw Vivi. I know she had an IV, I just remember watching Eric with her. He was amazed... it was another blessing I got to witness.
JJ was being entertained by the nursing staff, while we were allowed about 30 minutes of Vivi time!
It was real, Jo was still letting us adopt her baby... and now we were in looking at our daughter. Our gift from an angel.
No words can describe it!
I can't remember in detail the first time I saw Vivi. I know she had an IV, I just remember watching Eric with her. He was amazed... it was another blessing I got to witness.
JJ was being entertained by the nursing staff, while we were allowed about 30 minutes of Vivi time!
It was real, Jo was still letting us adopt her baby... and now we were in looking at our daughter. Our gift from an angel.
No words can describe it!
We are having a BABY!!!
Eric and I met Jo.. while she was in Labor!! My first thought was... I hope I look OK... I hope she likes us... I hope I can remain calm and loving and not make this about me. I was excited to meet Vivi and be a mom but I was also just about to come face to face with the mother of our little girl. How was this possible! As I am walking towards her room, I am worried about how I looked, if she will think we are too old? If we showered... how should I act...
I walked in, I saw Randi. And it was like my sister was there in that bed. I immediately was at peace, I just wanted to hug her and let her know we cared about HER.
JJ snuggled into a chair and Eric and I began to get to know Lori, her sister and Jo. In the midst of labor....we had to leave a few times, and she needed to sleep, Lori had to run home and I was on duty to keep her company. Pastor Mark came to the hospital and sat with us, he played with JJ for a little while. I could not believe he came to sit with us. He told us how he and his wife adopted their 2 boys.
This blog post could not be as long.... as the day was... Vivi was born at 8pm after many hours of labor and finally had to be a Cesarean section. It was a long and very anxious day!!
Once Vivi was born, things seemed to be confusing... Jo wanted to see Vivi first. There was not much communication from the hospital to us. We were given a room for the night... and I thought it would be an hour or so and I would see her. I was having total mom freak out... I wanted to be in the NICU when she was there... I didn't want her to be alone. They would not let us see Jo. Around 10pm we made the decision to send JJ and Eric back the hotel. I stayed a the hospital in the room they gave us. It was a regular hospital room. I did not bring a blanket, so I was freezing. I was also NOT their patient and I was pretty much ignored for the entire night. I was so confused and tired and did not understand. I thought all of a sudden they didn't see me as the "other mom".
I had my ipad, so I put on Christmas music and prayed all night for Jo and Vivi. I prayed hard especially when I started to get scared.... maybe she would change her mind. Viv is all alone. I prayed hard and I knew this was a special time, and Vivi was in NICU, she had all the care she needed. There would be time to shower her with love when the time was right. I also was worried. Jo was also alone. She had been in labor all day and now was recovering from surgery. I was praying all day she would not have a Cesarean. I didn't want her to recover from surgery for weeks, a constant physical reminder of the adoption. But I eventually slept and when I woke up my amazing husband and JJ were there!!! He said, Jo is asking to see us! SO we can see Vivi!
I walked in, I saw Randi. And it was like my sister was there in that bed. I immediately was at peace, I just wanted to hug her and let her know we cared about HER.
JJ snuggled into a chair and Eric and I began to get to know Lori, her sister and Jo. In the midst of labor....we had to leave a few times, and she needed to sleep, Lori had to run home and I was on duty to keep her company. Pastor Mark came to the hospital and sat with us, he played with JJ for a little while. I could not believe he came to sit with us. He told us how he and his wife adopted their 2 boys.
This blog post could not be as long.... as the day was... Vivi was born at 8pm after many hours of labor and finally had to be a Cesarean section. It was a long and very anxious day!!
Once Vivi was born, things seemed to be confusing... Jo wanted to see Vivi first. There was not much communication from the hospital to us. We were given a room for the night... and I thought it would be an hour or so and I would see her. I was having total mom freak out... I wanted to be in the NICU when she was there... I didn't want her to be alone. They would not let us see Jo. Around 10pm we made the decision to send JJ and Eric back the hotel. I stayed a the hospital in the room they gave us. It was a regular hospital room. I did not bring a blanket, so I was freezing. I was also NOT their patient and I was pretty much ignored for the entire night. I was so confused and tired and did not understand. I thought all of a sudden they didn't see me as the "other mom".
I had my ipad, so I put on Christmas music and prayed all night for Jo and Vivi. I prayed hard especially when I started to get scared.... maybe she would change her mind. Viv is all alone. I prayed hard and I knew this was a special time, and Vivi was in NICU, she had all the care she needed. There would be time to shower her with love when the time was right. I also was worried. Jo was also alone. She had been in labor all day and now was recovering from surgery. I was praying all day she would not have a Cesarean. I didn't want her to recover from surgery for weeks, a constant physical reminder of the adoption. But I eventually slept and when I woke up my amazing husband and JJ were there!!! He said, Jo is asking to see us! SO we can see Vivi!
The Call... or should I say TEXTs
Here some funny text from Jo to Barbie and Eric who were sleeping... and were not aware Jo was at the hospital...
Jo: Baby is comin! I'm in room 10 in labor and delivery 4th floor.
Jo: Did you get any of my messages? If u want to b here for birth u should get here soon. Baby didnt wait for us to have steak! Haha <jo>
Mama Barbie and Eric awake 3 hours later!!!
Mama Barbie and Daddy Eric running around the hotel, waking JJ, grabbing our list to goto hospital... dressing, dressing JJ, thinking we are too late and Mama Barbie going crazy!!!
Mama Barbie: on our way!!!!!!!
Mama Barbie: Damn Phone!!!
Mama Jo: Ok. I might b asleep. My sister should be here.
Mama Barbie: Is she born??
Mama Barbie: R U ok?
Mama Jo: Not born yet but got an epidural so gonna try to rest. Got no sleep last night. My room is $4410. Told them u guys would be coming.
Mama Barbie: On our Way!
That was the start of a long day, Vivi was born 8pm via C-section after too many hours of labor for poor Mama Jo.
Aunt Lori and Uncle Don kept Mama Barbie and Daddy Eric entertained.
Pastor Mark Chitwood came and sat with us and played with JJ. And we prayed for our new family.
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