Finally Home

I know it's been awhile since I posted anything and I honestly thought I would have more time since we have been home, but that really hasn't been. We came home on Saturday, July 17th. On the way home, we stopped in Memphis, Texas to visit my grandparents and they were so crazy about Britten. Britten loved Mere and was so happy when Mere had her. After visiting we headed home and finally got to Lubbock and it was so nice being home. We didn't get into bed until 1:30. Jason and I paid for it on Sunday! When we got in bed that night, I thought wow I can sleep all night finally. Then it was like ummmm no you can't. WE are really PARENTS now. Like Jason and I told some of our friends, it felt like we were just baby sitting and then it hit Saturday night. We would not trade it for anything in the world because GOD blessed us with the best birthmom ever and the most beautiful and precious baby girl! We love with you both more than ever!

Friday on July 16th, "C" wanted to see Britten before we came back to Texas so we met her at the agency and spent about 3 hours. I can't descibe this....there are no words other than "C" you are an amazing woman and you will forever be a part of our family! I gave "C" a cross necklace from James Avery as a token gift and I have one that I wear everyday. The cross represents God's love for "C", Britten, God's faithfulness to us through this adoption journey and for us to always be reminded of each other. There is not a day that I do not thank GOD for "C" and Britten! Without GOD, our faith, trust, grace and obedience through this Jason and I would not have Britten. Thank you GOD for blessings us more than we could ever imagine. There is no journey like adoption and I would do it all over again!

Britten has been fighting thrush since we were in Oklahoma and we had to have her mouth painted twice while we were there, started medicine on Monday and it never would get better. She was not a happy little girl. We visited our pediatrician here on Wednesday and we started new medicine and praying this takes care of it. Not being able to make your precious little one happy made of feel like total failures and then Satan starts getting the best of you. She has not been sleeping well at night so Jason and I are dragging but we know GOD will not give us more than we can handle!

Thanks for all your love, support, prayers, calls, food and gifts. I will get better with blogging and keeping you updated.

Blessings,

Kara

Poor Precious Britten

Yesterday we notice that Britten was getting some thrush in her mouth so we called the pedi and they told us they wanted her system to fight it off. Mommy did not like this answer. As the evening went on she got very fussy so I called the pedi and she told us to bring her in on Thursday and they would swab her mouth with the purple dye and she should have comfort within 12-24 hours. In the meantime, give her Tylenol so needless to say last night was not a good night at all. She has not been this fussy ever so I knew we had to get a handle on it. It sucks and makes mommy and daddy feel awful and feel like it is our fault. I DO NOT like her being uncomfortable! Please GOD take this away from her now!

Wednesday, July 14

Britten is 1 week old today. She had a very special visitor, Chassidy. Chassidy brought mommy and daddy some awesome salads from Charleston's and we really enjoyed spending time with her. Thanks Chass for the bag of goodies! We have already read I Love you more than Rainbows! We really appreciate all your love, support, prayers, and numerous hours on the phone during our journey. We love you and can't wait to spend more time with you and your sweet family.

Thank you "C" for giving us the most precious gift ever. We will never ever forget this day! You are an angel sent to us from GOD and we love you with all our hearts!!

Tuesday, July 13th

Today we had an appointment with the pediatrician at 10:00 and found out that Britten is a really healthy baby. She now weighs 7 lbs. and 1 oz. We did have to go have some blood work done to check her jaundice levels and received a call that her levels were normal. Today was a very stressful day for little Miss, Mommy and Daddy. She was a trooper though and slept most of the day! She is still eating well and every 2-3 hours around 2-4 ozs. She loves having books read to her and loves cuddling. We love you and can't wait to be home! Please keep "C" in your prayers as she goes to court tomorrow and I can't even imagine all the emotions she is feeling. "C" we love you and thank GOD for putting us in each other lives. Britten is an amazing gift from GOD!!

A Few More From The Shoot!

New Pics...First Photo Shoot!

Here's some pics taken from our friend, Kelly. Britten did great at posing! We had to take a bottle break...and then a poop break, but she was a trooper for it!

Britten

We love her so much and she is a blessing from GOD! We can't wait to get home....to TEXAS! She is an awesome baby and is so good! We couldn't have asked for anything better! God is faithful and His plans are always BEST!

Here's a few pics from the last 2 days!

Reading a book.

Taking a bath, and not liking it!

Gettin fed!

Taking a nap!

Pretty pictures!

Beautiful Day!

We just got a call from our adoption specialist and we will be meeting "C" and baby girl at the agency this afternoon. We have been praying for this day for a long time knowing it is going to be one of the hardest days ever but on the other hand the most precious day ever. We are about to be Mommy and Daddy. WOW!! Please keep all of us in your prayers. We will post more later tonight. Love and Blessings!

WOW....What a day!

Today has been a day of shock, excitement, roller coaster emotions, and everything else. Mom "C" gave birth to a little precious beautiful girl and yes I said girl. Not a boy like we thought! We are still excited and can't wait to meet and hold her. GOD is in control and all we can ask right now.....PRAY and PRAY!!! LOVE to all!!!! I will post more tomorrow when I have my thoughts in order.

Update!

At 11:21 today (Wednesday) just got a text and said "C" was at a 7 and getting ready for the epideral. GOD is moving and please keep praying!!

Update on Adoption

At 10:19 this morning (Wednesday) I received a call from our adoption specialist and she said that "C" had just called and her water broke. "C" had to move hospitals because the one we thought she would have baby in treated her badly so she went to a different one. Our adoption specialist is headed to the hospital to be with her so please keep praying for all of us. I will keep you posted as soon as we hear! PRAY, PRAY, and PRAY some more! Love and Blessings to all! Yes, GOD is moving!!!!

Update On The Past 3 Days

So here's a recap of the last few days...Not much to say other than lot's of waiting and patience!

Sunday - July 4th
We drove up from Lubbock and left our little Chocolate daughter, Maggie. She looked so sad and we could tell she sensed something was up. She had been acting wierd ever since we got the call on Thursday.

We arrived in OKC late that evening after stopping off in Amarillo to see our newest addition to the family, Aaron, Jason's sister's brand new boy. I couldn't believe his red hair!

Monday - July 5th
We slept in a little and missed the complimentary breakfast at the hotel. Our hotel is really nice. They have a full kitchen, living area, a great bed, and a little office area. Everything we need!

We got up and decided to run a few errands and get our bearings in the city. We checked on another suite hotel that was closer to some nicer stores, but it was too much hassle to move, so we decided to stay put.

We understood that birth mom was to be induced at the hospital at 10am. We found out from our adoption specialist around 5pm that evening that it was a misunderstanding and she was going in around 10pm. So we had the rest of the evening and night to hopefully find something out.

Tuesday - July 6th
We didn't sleep in so late today. We were anticipating a call maybe during the night or early in the morning and nothing happened. We hung around until lunch and heated up some leftovers and decided to go run some more errands. We needed some camcorder tapes and a new mouse for the laptop.

We decided to burn some time to allow the room to get cleaned so we went to the bombing memorial downtown and Bass Pro Shops. It's a good thing I'm not an avid hunter or fisherman! You can do some damage in that place! I do love to camp, hike and mounaineer, but I never have time to do that stuff, so the gear is a little unnecessary.


As the afternoon went by, we still hadn't heard anything. We were told again by our adoption specialist, later in the evening, that she hadn't talked to birth mom.

Needless to say this makes both of us very nervous and anxious. All I can think about is patience and faith. We have to cling to that! We also have to cling to the fact that no matter what, we need to be putting God first! This entire process is the result of His ultimate plan and He has infinite patience and wisdom...beyond all our understanding!

We need your prayers right now. The waiting is tough, but manageable. We just need to stay reminded that God is in control and that whatever the outcome of this is, He gets the glory! We pray for birth mom's strength through the next hours and days. We have no idea what she's been through or going through. She could be in labor at this very moment. We pray everything is going okay and that baby is healthy and ready to come into this world!

Thanks so much for all your thoughts, prayers, texts, emails, and calls! Sorry we haven't been able to share anything exciting just yet, but we know God will reveal his plan to us soon enough! Just be patient with us!

God Bless,

Kara and Jason

In the City

Jason and I made it to the city and settled in to our "home." I talked to our adoption specialist on our way here and she told me that our special friend, birth mom "C", will be going in around 10:00 on Monday morning. Now you know how times can be pushed around so please just be in prayer around this time. Yes, reality finally struck us tonight and we realize within a few hours we could be parents to a precious little boy! We are very excited and can't wait, but yes we are nervous and I have been on an emotional roller coaster since we pulled out of the driveway in Lubbock! Thanks for all of your love, support, and prayers. We can't wait to introduce him to all of you!

Blessings,
Kara
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. 1 Samuel 1:27

Pray, Pray, and Pray some more.....
Birth mom to have God's ultimate comfort and us as well
For a delivery that is safe, short and no complications
For the Lord to give us an overwhelming heart full of compassion for "C" and baby boy
Peace about her decision
Nervousness of all of us
Strength
Health

Emotions!

So this morning I think reality has hit. I did not sleep last night at all.....really didn't! Our nieces, Holly and Hannah, spent the night so the three of us in one bed...that means I get a little corner and it is fine because we had plans for them to stay the night even before all of this happend yesterday. My emotions are way crazy right now, crying with tears of joy and just thanking God for answering so many prayers and looking back over the past 4 years of thinking we would never get here. THANKS BE TO GOD! YOU"RE an AMAZING FATHER! Please keep the prayers coming. Each and everyone of you have a special place in our heart and I know we don't tell you enough but.........WE LOVE YOU!!! I feel like I am rmbling on but I just had to post something. I really can't wait to post lots more.

GOD IS AWESOME!!!

Have you ever had a day when everything you saw, everything you did, everything you said, everything you heard...had God all over it?!?!

Well, that was our yesterday! We got a call early yesterday from our adoption agency telling us we had been chosen as adoptive parents to an unborn child...a baby BOY! We were just approved and activated last week, so the speed of this process is crazy-overwhelming!

As soon as we hung up with our adoption specialist, I opened the Bible just to see what God would speak to me. I was nervous, shaking, stomach tumbling...and He turned the page to Colossians 1 and I looked right at verses 3-5.

It's the beginning of Paul's letter to the church in Colosse and this is what he had to tell them in his intro:

3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.

Man! God really knows how to use His Word to speak when you're willing to listen!!!

Our birth mom is due to deliver on Monday, July 5th, but she could be early at a moment's notice, so we have to be ready to pack up and go. Since this is really very early in the adoption process for us, we really don't have much ready, including the nursery! But we know God has planned this with His perfect timing and we will trust and wait on Him though it all! He has planned this moment in our lives from the get go.

If you look at the timing of everything, you can see how God listens to our petitions and sets things into motion. If this birth mom was due on June 16, then she should have gotten pregnant in September of last year. We decided to hang up the fertility treatments in August and made the decision to adopt around the same time...I mean really decided and started praying for God's guidance and direction on the whole decision. A couple months later, we were directed towards Deaconess and 8 months later, here we are.

So God had the perfect woman and the perfect child planned just for this moment. He didn't reveal it until the last minute and left us on the brink of doubt so many times, but it just made us trust Him that much more!

Another God-filled moment in all of this was how our birth mom chose us. She already had some names picked out for her baby boy before meeting with the agency. When she saw our profile, she broke down and knew it was meant to be us. The name she chose was Carson, or Kara and Jason put together. How stinkin' cool is that!!!

Yesterday was one of those days that will be burned into our memories forever! We have a lot ahead of us, but God has been equipping us and preparing us for this for a long time! Definitely worth the wait!!!

God bless you all who have prayed for us and with us during this process! This process was birthed out of a prayerful decision and we aren't stopping now! Those precious prayers are what Kara and I treasure the most! Keep em comin!!!

Love and Blessings,

Jason and Kara