Levi Douglas Bradley: First official Mother's Day

Our Adoption Story

Levi was born on April 21, 2007 in Chinautla, Guatemala, a small town known for pottery. He weighed 6.7 pounds and was 19.7 inches long. He was in private foster care in Guatemala City where he lived for 10 1/2 months with his foster mom, her son and daughter and Isaac, his foster brother. Throughout our difficult adoption journey, Isaac's mom, Nancy and I became very good friends. God placed our boys together and had the perfect plan in place long before we ever realized it. When I was undecided on an adoption agency, I joined an online forum where Nancy provided me with information about her agency and recommended them to us. We decided to sign with the same agency and I emailed Nancy back to let her know. Over a few months we emailed back and forth to learn we were both from TN and lived only 30 minutes apart... we thought wow, it's a small world. Little did we know a few months later we'd both get referrals, earlier than we expected, of 2 beautiful Guatemalan angels. When they turned 2 months old our agency called and decided it was time to tell us that they were in the same foster home together and had been since they were 1 day old. We were amazed they were together. Even more so, God amazed us once again when we learned shortly after that they were born on the same day and were from the same town... no longer a coincidence that was for sure. We were being told by the foster mom how attached they were and acted like brothers. But, Nancy and I got the chance in January '08 to go to visit them and see it for ourselves. It was an amazing time of bonding with our boys that we will never forget. After that trip it seemed when one of us would reach a roadblock in the crazy process of international adoption the other would be delayed with something else. We stayed right together until the very day we picked them both up. We had our US Embassy appts the same day and we flew home through Atlanta on the same flight on March 11, 2008 when they both entered the US as citizens! It was an awesome time for us in the Atlanta Airport when we rec'd the congrats they were official! We've made friends for life with Nancy, Eric, and with Isaac's extended families. We look forward to many years of watching them both grow up so close together. Over the past year, as we went through battle after battle to bring our boys home, Nancy and I both would never think of one without the other in our endless prayers to keep them safe, happy and healthy until they could be home with their forever families. We're finally parents and it's what we've both waited for, for so many years.. our families are finally complete!!!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

First official Mother's Day

Well, today marks my first official Mother's Day and of course it's not going to turn out quite like I pictured it with Steve in the hospital. I thought I would be going to church with my husband and we would spend the day together as a family for my 1st. Steve is disappointed he couldn't be the one to take me to church on my first MD. But, he can't help it, he didn't choose to be in ICU sick. I was planning to skip church all together since he couldn't be with me but, he insisted that I take Levi and us go on to church together today. I promised him I would go since he was begging. I just didn't want to go without him. I plan to have myself or Becky record the service whichever one of us doesn't have Levi keeping him occupied. Steve is wanting to watch the church service at the hospital sometime in the afternoon. My dad wants to take me and my mom to eat after church so, I guess that is my plans for the special day. Although, it won't be near as special as I pictured it would be, I am still very thankful that Levi is home with us now and that in itself makes for a happy day. He is such a joy to us all!
With all that is going on in Guatemala and for some of the adoptive mothers who are still waiting my heart goes out to them today too. I know what it was like for us last year as we waited for Levi not knowing when he'd be home with us. They have it even worse now for the pending cases, they are facing more trouble and delays everyday. For them today will weigh heavy on their hearts and minds not knowing when and if they will bring home their babies.
As for Nancy she is so excited to be sharing her special day with Isaac and like myself just the proud new mom with one cute Guatemalan boy! I got to see him yesterday for just a minute and he is just the cutest thing! He is cuter every time I see him and just the sweetest thing!
Until next time... Tracy (aka Levi's mom)