The money thing

The toughest part of adoption is the money aspect. In the midst of all of the planning, excitement, and joy of deciding to take the journey and ultimately being blessed with new life in our hearts and families, many of us struggle with how we will pay for it. 

Our journey has been, and continues to be a walk in faith. This entire process has exponentially strengthened my ability to "let go and let God".  When we made the decision to adopt, when we got the call about Taj, and as we continue to seek ways to pay for our adoption, God has moved in mighty ways. 

I am doing very well living in the moment, enjoying my new bundle of joy and the changing dynamics of my family. Still I know the "money issue" is there. So many of you have generously contributed to our adoption fund. There is no such thing as a "small" donation. I am forever grateful. One day soon I pray that I will be in a position to do for others, maybe some of you, what has been done for us.

Today, I received a $500 donation from someone who only knows of me through a mutual friend. Wow!! Once again, I was brought to tears. The kindness of strangers and the power of God, moves me beyond adequate words of thanks. I look at my little Taj, and T and J and I think of what they are learning from this experience. They will be better for it. We all already are. Thank you just doesn't do it. What can I say? Hugs and blessings to you all.

My superstar babies

I sure you can imagine how busy I am, but I still hope to post every other day or so. Things are wonderful. I am so enjoying my 3 superstars. Watching my 1st 2 with Taj is sweet beyond measure and melts my heart. T has been really busy with mid-terms, but takes baby-holding breaks. J cannot get enough of Taj. He cried yesterday when he had to leave him to go to school:(. 

Taj had his first dr. appoinment, and it went great. Our doctor, Dr Denise Punger, took pictures of us, and posted about our adoptive breastfeeding on her blog Permission to Mother. He is doing great. In fact, we are at it all of the time. He is on a breastfed baby feeding schedule, and we have both adjusted well. 

Also, I have to tell you guys about our wonderful adoption professionals. I love these women. If you are led to adopt and are looking for the right people to work with, I highly recommend that you reach out to them first. On every level that I can think of, they are truly impressive. Stacia Hammond is the agency director/owner of ASCS, Inc. and the lawyer we are using is Leenetta Grizzard, Esq.  (she is the lawyer who Stacia works with for adoptions as well). Again, I cannot say enough good things about them. I will tell you about our experience with them when I have a little more time.

I have lots to say, but Taj calls. I hope you enjoy the pics of my superstar babies. Check the smile on big brother J.:)

A wonderful day

I had a wonderful day. Taj is an angel baby. My dear sweet friend Courtney came over to visit. She is the first person that made me realize we could actually make this adoption happen. It was so sweet to see her with him. She also takes really beautiful photographs, and did a little photo shoot as a gift to us. The pictures are beautiful. Here is one of my favorites. If you don't know, I am referring to Wife to the Rockstar. I love you, sweetie. I am going to miss you soooo much. 

FYI, her youngest was with her today, and he is a joy, and absolutely gorgeous. He is so much the little man!! His pics are beautiful, but nothing but  face to face can do him justice. My mom and I are in love!!!

This is short, but Taj is up and antsy. I am loving every minute!:)

We are home!!!

Hey fam! Just a brief update. We are home!! Birthmom signed TPR yesterday afternoon and he was released this evening. We had a joyously sweet meeting and reunion with T and J a couple of hours ago. They got to stay up a little late to love on their new baby brother. Taj met Grandma (maternal) too. My heart feels whole again! I took some pics that I hope to upload tomorrow. 

On another note, Taj and I attempted to breastfeed tonight for the very first time. I am using a Lactaid supplementer until I finish the protocol in a little over a week, so I had to learn that. I am thrilled and proud to say it was a huge success!!! I just knew he would be a natural. I will keep you updated. He has a good latch and I know once my milk comes in, it will be even better. He seemed to hate the artificial nipples we used in the hospital. He always made a disgusted face, but there was none of that at the breast. I am so happy and excited. 

I have lots to say, but I am beat. I'd better get a little sleep before he is up again.

It is so good to be home.:) Blessings.

He is here!!!

You are my blog family, so without further ado.....Introducing Taj Jair (a Biblical name meaning "my light" [pronounced Jye-eere]) Posey!! Weighing in at 7 lbs 6 ozs., he entered the world at 3:40pm

Praise God!! Our baby boy made his amazing entrance into the world, and I am once again in awe of what God can do. I have to say, the feeling is NO different. We are in love!!! He is just perfect!

His birthmother is a marvel!! She asked for me to be in the room (if I was comfortable with it). I never imagined I would have that opportunity. I only wanted what she wanted. She was a champ!! 4 pushes. I watched him be born. I cut the cord. I was with him from the moment he entered the world. I am overwhelmed. I made sure that K could see everything that was going on as they cleaned him up etc...she loves him. She never shed a tear in my presence. She s sure of her decision thus far. After he was all bathed and wrapped, I carried him to her and placed him on her arms. We left the room so that they could have some time. She will always be in my prayers. 

The nurse came to get us on the way to the nursery, so we could feed him. K insisted that Dale and I were given the only 2 wristbands that give access to the baby. I asked if she was sure, she said "absolutely". Wow!! Nothing could have possibly prepared me for all the emotion involved in this experience. 

As we fed him and held him and looked at him, it occurred to me that I would have to leave him in the hospital sometimes! Waterworks!!!! It helps to think of it as them taking him to the nursery for a while here and there as it happened with my other 2. I am hanging in there. I will be going back in about an hour.:)

Throughout all of this, I have been calling and texting as many of the people I promised the news of his birth. Family and friends are estactic. Many of you have been waiting and praying along with us. I have to thank Wife to the Rockstar for once again going the extra mile by posting our news of imminent birth and opening her home to my little J to keep him happy in my absence today. All of the comments and prayers and excitement mean the world. Thank you, God bless! We have to go feed our new son!:)

Coincidence?...I think not.:)

I hate to blog and run, which is why I have been missing in action for almost a week. I owe my blogger friends some pics, and I plan to get to that asap.

Yesterday. the possibility of something profound (at least to me) crossed my mind. I was finally able to fact find a few minutes ago, and now I want to share/document my findings.

Last year we attempted IVF. I thought it interesting that we have begun the adoption process within weeks of that journey a year later. As I thought about the dates, I started to think maybe it is closer to the date of beginning IVF than I realized. I thought "what if it was the same day?" No way!

Well thanks to last year's calendar and this blog, I have documented proof that we officially started the IVF procedure and our adoption process a year to the day apart!!! Oct. 29th. What are the chances?!

Maybe I am just being weird, but it feels significant to me. It feels like it is a good thing.

Just thought I'd share.:)

It's official!

I sent off my adoption application and fee this morning, first thing.

I have had that application filled out for months.:)

Dropping that packet in the mail brought up all kinds of feelings. I feel different already. I actually started thinking about nursery ideas. That is new. Pray that I don't make my husband crazy while I try to stay sane. Here we go!!!

Wow!

So, Last night I sat up in bed just before dozing off to write a post. I poured my heart out in detail regarding something that was on my heart. Then I tried to publish the post and my blankity blank internet provider lost connection and it was sent into cyberspace never to be heard from again. The same thing happened with my previous post, but it was short so I re-wrote that one.

Unfortunately, this post was pretty long and of the moment, so this time I will write the slightly abbreviated version.

My "Wow" title is in reference to how God works.

On Thursday night my hubby and I were discussing where we both stood on our plans for adoption. In short, he often struggles with stepping out on faith, especially when it comes to money matters. Since money is our main, if not only, road block to adoption, all of his misgivings stemmed from there. He said he would be fully on board once we have the money, until then he has one foot on and one off.

My argument is that if we are of one accord, and fully committed in our hearts and minds, God will provide. We can't be halfway believers and dreamers. We can't offer up halfway prayers, etc...(cuz you know I had much to say:)). Ultimately he saw my point, and assured me that he wants this to happen as much as I do.

On Friday, we received a donation of $2oo from our dear friends who would have liked to remain anonymous. This was completely out of the blue and literally brought me to tears. I won't embarrass them by gushing the way I tend to do when speaking of them, but I hope they know what a true blessing they have been in our lives ever since we met them almost a year and a half ago. To God be the glory and they would have it no other way. Still I thank you.

I am pretty certain that no one reading this sees the donation as a small thing, but there is a reason that I even mentioned the amount donated.

Due to financial circumstances, every penny we make has been going to catching up on bills and such, so even the application fee has been beyond our means. I have been praying to be able to make an official start to this adoption. The app fee is $250. Last week I checked my adoption fund account and discovered there was $54 in it from donations we received back in June/July when I started this blog( I hadn't realized). I knew we still had a way to go. My sweet friends don't know this, but their donation will allow us to make our first OFFICIAL step on our adoption journey!!!Praise God!

It is actually fitting, because they are the ones who re-awakened the desire to adopt in my heart and make me see it as a real, doable option for my family.

God is good all the time. I have read and heard time and time again about how many families had no idea how they would pay for their adoptions, but took that leap of faith. We took ours and now here we go!!