1 Samuel 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him
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!!!
My bonding time cut short!
Well, today is it! My bonding time has been cut short and it's unfortunately time for me to return to work and it's all too soon. I feel like I haven't had any time to bond with Levi at times and then at others I feel like we've done well to bond as much as we have. I feel like he's always been with us and he's just a perfect fit for our family. I am returning to work tomorrow and although I am away from him everyday to see and take care of Steve while he's still in the hospital I could still come home back and forth whenever I wanted and now I am back to work on a set schedule again and back to reality. I hope he will not forget me and not want anything to do with me after he's with my mom for 13 hours a day for the next 2 before I am off for a few. The ONLY good thing about working 12 hr shifts is that I only have a 3 day work week and not a Monday through Friday schedule. Going back to Monday through Friday would kill me. Hoping today we can fit in some one on one with him and we can do something together just me and him. I have decided on at least one day off a week I would like to do something special with him and not just sit around the house. Hopefully his daddy will be home with us soon and we can get back on a normal schedule and bond again as a family. Until then... we press on and make this schedule work for at least a few more weeks. Steve has now been in the hospital for 2 months and counting. We miss him being home with us and can't wait until he's back! Pray that I can make it a 12 hour shift tomorrow and get in a few good hours with Levi before I start all over on Tuesday. I'll be worn out my first few days back as I have not been used to being on my feet for 12 since I was doing home health before. I know it'll be nice being back once I am there but, leaving Levi will never get easier I don't think. I could easily be content being a stay at home mom! I love nursing but, I love being Levi's mom even more. Blessings...Levi's mommy
1 comment:
Good luck Tracy. It is hard to leave your baby at home. Enjoy the time you get to spend with him
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