Itty Bitty Alexis, Her Story and Ours

About three years ago we began to discuss adopting a baby girl to complete our family. We started the procedures and road the roller coaster of emotions that goes with adoption.

 Last year we had a potential match and thought we would be bringing a baby girl home . This situation was frustrating, painful and a very emotionally draining experience.

 Over the course of the next weeks and months we have had small possibilities rise and fade on the horizon. Of course, as always there were plenty of high dollar adoptions that we weren't even able to consider.

Another year passed, and then this spring we frequently discussed adoption and prayed a good deal about it. In the end we decided that when our paperwork expired in July we wouldn't renew it.  We decided it was time to move on.
 If we were really supposed to adopt, God would have to arrange it in His own way.  The money that had been set aside for adoption we used for expanding our farm, fencing in the property, and to fund several other projects.  We honestly thought it just wasn't meant to be and so moved on with life.

God obviously had other plans in mind for us, which we knew nothing about until last Thursday, Oct 7 at 4:45 PM.
  We were traveling towards Greenville to pick up some Craigslist garage doors to finish yet another farm project when our cell phone rang.
It was Carrie from Special Link. She told us that there was a baby girl that had been born the day before to a 13yr old and needed a family that was ready for immediate placement.  Would we accept and come immediately.

We explained that our home study was not current, and that we would need a few minutes to get around minds around this before we were ready to answer either way.  She assured us that they were fine with using the old paperwork and could start proceedings with this and simply follow them with an update.

Relinquishment papers had not been signed but were scheduled for the morning.  Knowing how often things fall through before consent is signed we said yes, knowing that it might mean nothing at all and yet somehow sensing otherwise in our hearts.

I didn't sleep well that night and all the next morning I felt more anxious than I can ever remember feeling in my life. My mouth was dry, my stomach tied in knots, and I jumped each time the phone rang.

At 12:30, Friday, (October 8) the paralegal called and said that relinquishment papers had been signed and would we please come  yet today to spend time with the baby.
 Last minute babysitting arrangements were made for all the boys and by late afternoon we were making the two hour drive.

As the miles sped past we wrestled with the suddenness of it all and tried to wrap our minds around what was taking place. We were thrilled, still logistics loomed over us like a grey cloud.

When we held Alexis for the first time, 27 hours after the first call, any doubts that might have remained in our mind evaporated.  We fell completely in love with her, and knew instantly that all would be well.

 The following days seemed to drag on forever as we waited for her release from the hospital. The weekend made the paperwork issues take a good deal longer.  I wrote a blog on some of that that some how didn't get posted and ended up in a saved draft that I discovered today. (Strange, probably you all didn't need to hear my whining and complaining)

Yes this has all happened very suddenly and has caught us a bit unready.

We feel this God arranged this in his own unique way.  He is also quite able to provide all the means for the needs ahead.
 For those that asked,  the donations button on the side was placed there for those of you who expressed an interest in helping with the costs involved in this adoption.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to message/or comment.

Most importantly we do ask for your prayers, and want to say a special thank you to all of you who have given so freely in many different ways.
Thank you for sharing your time by babysitting for our boys,  bringing us a hot meal,  sharing baby clothes, and even delivering a tote full of diapers, wipes, and baby clothes to our door step to greet us on our return. Your generosity has been touching and the warmth of your love felt deeply.

 It is alll greatly appreciated, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!!

Alexis - 1 week old

 She has regained her birth weight plus 2oz and now weighs 6lbs.