Thursday is THE day!

Today at 6:47 AM I get a text message from Stephanie.  I recognized the message alert right away but wondered why she was sending me a text this early.  I wasn't even awake yet.  The last text I sent her was on Friday evening which asked her the question, "what is your favorite color?"  I asked her this because I was putting together a hospital bag and wanted to know what color PJ's I should get her.  So the first thought in my head this morning, was, "why is she telling me her favorite color now?"  In my foggy mind, I then had to figure out what day of the week it was.  For a moment, I thought it was Sunday, but then realized it was Monday and figured I'd better get up because I should have been awake 20 minutes ago to get ready for work.  So I checked my phone and saw that Stephanie wanted me to go with her to the doctor's appointment today.  I fumbled some text messages back and forth with her and we made our plans.

If I hadn't picked her up, she would have had to take three busses in the 100 degree heat to get to the doctor's office.  I couldn't bare the thought of that, especially since she said that she was just so uncomfortable and could hardly walk.  So I picked her up and we went to the doctor.  She wanted me to come back to the exam room with her.  The doctor examined her and said she was 2 cm dilated.  He also did a quick ultra sound and I saw Hunter's heart beat-  I actually saw the valves in his heart so clearly!  It was awesome.  Then he looked at some other things and took some measurements of body parts that I could not decipher.  He told us that the baby was 7 lbs :)  He then asked Stephanie if she wanted to be induced this week and before he could even finish his question, she said "YES!!"  We all started laughing because we all know how ready she is to have this baby.  So the doctor called the hospital while we were there and they scheduled her for 5:00 AM on Thursday 9/1/11.  We are going to pick her up at 4:20 AM to take her to the hospital.  Yes, you read that correctly---4:00 AM!  That means we will be waking up around 3ish.  That is, if we sleep that night ;)

After the doctor's appointment we went out to lunch and had Mexican food.  She was craving bean and cheese tacos, and we found a good little place to eat.  We had such a nice time at lunch and had a great conversation.  I am definitely sad that we will not be in contact the same way after Hunter is born.  We will still keep in touch through letters though.  I asked her if she had a hospital bag yet and she didn't so I decided to give her the one we put together.  She seemed to really like it and is going to use everything for the hospital.  Later this evening I called her and asked if there was anything else she needed for the hospital and she requested house slippers.  So tonight I was on a mission to find them.  Who knew Target had so many different types?  I got her a pair of pink fuzzy ones that I think she will like.

So now we are in the homestretch.  I am getting our bags together and snack bag for Stephanie.  We are going to bring some movies and fun things to do while we are with her before the delivery.  As Stephanie told me, "it will be a looooong day."

Please keep us all, especially Stephanie and Hunter, in your prayers on Thursday.  We are praying for a quick and peaceful delivery with no complications and as little of pain as possible for her.

The next blog post may not be until we get home with Hunter.  Hopefully she will be able to sign her relinquishment papers on Saturday and we will bring him home!!  Pray that he is born during the daytime, because she will literally sign 48 hours later unless it falls during the night time. 

39 weeks and counting

Well I can't even believe that this baby has not been born yet.  Noel and I were certain that Hunter would be here by now.  We just knew he'd be born around the middle of August.  I am beginning to wonder if this means that Hunter will be a procrastinator.  If so that is going to drive me crazy :)  I really cannot complain about him baking a little longer than we originally thought.  It is only a blessing that he has "stayed in" this long considering he was almost born 5 weeks ago.  So, really we are grateful, but just so excited about bringing this baby home. 

Stephanie goes to the doctor again on Monday, so I am praying that there is some progress.  Every time I talk/ text her she just says how uncomfortable she is.  She said that she would be walking, but it just hurts too much. 

We have really tried to keep in mind that our happiest day will be one of her hardest days.  I know she is ready to "get it over with:" but I can't even imagine the emotions she will be feeling.  I have been praying that the Lord prepares Steph for this in all ways possible.  We put together a hospital bag for her.  I got two sets of PJ's, super soft socks, a bath set, a throw blanket, and a carrying bag.  We just thought that after being so uncomfortable for so long, it might be nice to give her a few things to make her comfortable while she's in the hospital and afterwards.

Now I feel like I can really say (and mean it)... just a few more days :)

waiting vs. waiting

During this adoption process there has been A LOT of waiting.  I have recently discovered there are different types of waiting.  At first, we waited, and waited, and waited, and waited for "the" phone call to tell us that we were matched with a birth mom.  That was almost agonizing because you never knew when that would happen.  There was a goal with absolutely no end in sight.  Now we are waiting for "the" phone call again.  But this time it will be the call to tell us to go to the hospital because our birth mom is in labor.  It has already been two weeks since she went into early labor that the doctors had to stop.  We thought for sure Hunter would have been born by now.  As anxious as we are to have him here with us, these two weeks have been a blessing.  We know that by "staying in" he will be stronger and more developed at birth.  Also, I have been able to get so much done at work so I will not leave so many tasks for my co-workers to do.  I just can't help but compare these two times of waiting.  Before, I felt like it  was even hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  But now, I am so excited I feel that I just might burst.  I am constantly checking my cell phone, just to make sure I haven't missed any calls- even though it has been glued to my side the past two weeks.  I am having a hard time sleeping because I am so excited- I guess I should get use to the lack of sleep.   I never stopped to think about it before, but I guess it all depends on what you are waiting for and where you are in the journey.

Noel was telling some friends of ours the other day that I had the nursery all ready.  He said that I have organized it, then organized it again, and then again.  I cannot dispute those facts.  I supposed this is "nesting."  I am just filling my time with things around the house because I don't know what else to do.  Monday night, I decided to do a little dusting.  Two hours later I had sucked every speck of dust out of the game room- moved the furniture and everything.  Our vacuum was totally full!   I didn't realize we were such dusty people- yikes!  Just a warning for you all... beware of what lurks under your couch.

Stephanie's next doctor appointment is tomorrow.  I have heard that when you are that far along, a doctor's exam can make things progress.  Let's hope so!!!  I cannot wait to see this precious little face and hold sweet baby Hunter.

A Family in the making

We are just days away and I can't even believe it.  I've had this picture on my desk at work for a long time and I thought I would share.  I would look at this every day and know we had hope of a family.  I found this little cartoon baby and cut it out to place it on our picture.

Over the weekend my dear friends in San Antonio threw a baby shower.  It was such a blast.  I could not think of a better way to celebrate the our baby Hunter than with my closest friends.  Here are a few pictures.

Then if my friends weren't generous enough, my co-workers threw mew a baby shower on Monday.  Noel came to this one and we had such a great time opening all of Hunters gifts.  There was a lot of really cute things to "ohhhh" and "ahhhh" at. 

So needless to say, I have been at awe of the generosity I've have experienced over the last few days.  I have had a lot of fun filling up the nursery with all these wonderful gifts.

I sent a text message to Stephanie today to see how she is feeling.  She said that she is feeling good.  I let her know we are praying for her and baby.  Hopefully we will get to see that sweet little face of Hunter in just a few more days :)

Please continue to pray for Stephanie as she is about to face the reality of her decision to place the baby with us.  Pray that she stays confident in her decision and that the Lord gives her peace and comfort.