Christmas 2011

Hey everyone! Well, another Christmas season has come and gone! Soon 2011 will be over and we will be rushing in the New Year! We had a great Christmas, very busy, but really great! We did things a little different this year and it worked out really well! Christmas Day is usually a mad dash to make sure we see everyone all on the same day but it usually ends up with everyone tired, cranky, late night driving, and not enough time with our families! Plus, this year Jeff had to work, so that complicated things even more. So on Christmas Day he went to work, I went to Mom's for our traditional Christmas morning breakfast, and this was the year Amber was with her Mom for Christmas morning. After breakfast, Mom, Kevin and I exchanged gifts, then off to the nursing home to see Grandma. Then back to Mom's for lunch with Aunt Vicky and Aunt Valerie, then around 4 I was off to travel the hour & half to my in laws for the night. We usually don't stay the night, but we were SO HAPPY we did! It gave us all plenty of time to eat dinner, open presents, watch TV, play board games, it was great! The next morning we had breakfast and headed back home with the in laws in tow to see what Santa had left for Amber in Jacksonville! It was so much fun!!! I have lots of pictures to post....sometime.....

Caleb even received a few gifts this year. He had a stocking at our house and at my Mom's house, with little lovies and toys. Aunt Valerie gave him a sweet set of bibs, and my great Aunt Carol gave him the softest blanket. AND my brother and his fiance Laura gave him a brown cushy blanket that has a lion on it and they had his initials embroidered in one of the corners. So sweet!! I know he is going to LOVE IT!

Our sweet D. went to visit her family out of state but we were still able to text and talk on the phone over the weekend. We all prayed this visit would go well, and I truly believe our prayers were heard. She had a nice visit and is back home safe and sound.

I can't believe we get to meet them in ten days!!! SERIOUSLY!!??!!?? We are so excited!! I am not really nervous at all, but really really excited!! haha I am a little nervous about the plane ride though. I have only flown one time and that was over 5 years ago, and I was really sick with a sinus infection and double ear infection at the time and it was NOT PLEASANT! So bad that we seriously contemplated renting a car and driving back from NY. (Remember that trip Shannon?) But since I have a cold now, I am really praying that it will be gone by the time we board that plane! You can tell I'm nervous about flying because I think I have been to United Airways and TSA websites daily making sure I don't miss anything. I have looked at our flights and car rentals several times also, I am just afraid something will happen and we will miss this trip. We can't miss this trip! I can't wait to hug D!!! I just adore her so much, like an old friend. I can't wait to visit! I'm also looking forward to being the house guest to a special friend! (Hi Briana!)

Oh and we finally made it to the 3rd trimester!! Yippee!!! D. is doing well and feeling good and has already had braxton hix contractions. Eek, I am so nervous about delivery day! I know it's not possible for me to take her pain, but I truly wish I could! I hope it is physical as easy a labor as possible. That's a dumb statement, I know. Anywho......

This is all so wonderful and we feel so very blessed to be on this journey. On Christmas I really took time to reflect that after all this time, this will be our very last Christmas without Baby Clayton. I have no idea what I did in life to deserve such goodness, kindness, blessing, gift.

Caleb is not the only thing growing......

Hi! Thanks for reading!! Thing are going great here! I know I have said it before, but things are going so much better than I ever could have dreamed of! Love how God does that!!! As the title implies,Caleb is not the only thing growing around here. Our relationship with D. is blossoming every day. We now not only email daily, but text as well. And today we talked on the phone for nearly 35 minutes. And it was EASY!!! It was so easy and comfortable! We talked about work (we both work at credit unions), we talked about Christmas shopping (we both love to shop), we talked about Caleb (we both love him), it was just EASY and FUN! She texted me after we talked and said I had the most calming voice and she could talk to me for hours! I feel the same way! Her and I have so much in common, even little things, it is really interesting!

Little Caleb will be 25 weeks tomorrow and as of last Monday was measuring a week ahead of schedule which puts his due date at March 21st. D's bday is March 22nd so that's the date we are pulling for! Her doctor (who is very supportive of the adoption) has said she would induce at 39w if she had started dilating on her own. We don't care when, just as long as they are both healthy!

In just a few weeks we will actually get to meet! We are beyond excited! The plane tix have been purchased, the rental car has been reserved. We will be staying with some new friends who also adopted just a few short months ago! I am so very thankful for them and so excited to spend the weekend in their home!! What a blessing! (Hi Brianna :) )

We still have not heard any additional info on the birthfather, as far as we know he has not made contact again with the agency. We continue to bathe this in prayer and would appreciate if you would also.

So lots of people ask me what our relationship is like with D....... It is beautiful. It is compassionate. It is selfless. It is fun. It is sharing.

I thought I would copy just a few pieces of some of her emails. I hope you can hear her heart and know...like we know....that we will have a son in a little over three months.

"Please don't ever hold back your excitement about Caleb! To be honest, it helps me to hear that and it brings such joy and peace to my heart! There is no pressure whatsoever! Seriously! I hope this doesn't sound heartless but I KNOW in my KNOWER that God is calling You and Jeff to raise this sweet and precious life. And for me to back out or change my mind would be in disobedience to the Lord and I am DONE with not being obedient! :o) Like I have said before, I will never have to worry about Caleb. I will think about him daily and pray for him but I know that he is where he is supposed to be. And that is with you, Jeff,, and Amber. I love you and your family so much and am SO THANKFUL that there is so much excitement and love for him already! It is very healing for me to know that and see that! I am getting chocked up in typing this. Wish I could just hug your neck!"

 

"I get emotional thinking about handing Caleb to you but not in a sad way..just a rejoicing emotion.. more of a thought that WE MADE IT! Haha. To be this blessing for you and Jeff and Amber is quite a blessing for me as well! I am learning and growing through all of this! I bet y’all are too! How could you not? I appreciate y’all being so easy going about Caleb’s birthday. It really is just a sigh of relief! But I too want to help make that day special for you guys in every way I can. This is YOUR big day too! You’re getting to meet your son, love on him, and all of those wonderful things! I am so thrilled for you Karen! I really am! This isn’t just about me..I recognize that"

"We really liked the video you sent! Caleb was moving a lot when it was playing! I thought that was too sweet! That was very sweet of them and how wonderful it is to have a church family that is so loving and supportive! That is just like our church! Great song too! Do you still have t-shirts left over? If so, I would love to buy one from you! I think it would be neat to have and that way, I can be that support down here in Texas! :o) "

 

" I love your home! It's so pretty! I think it's awesome that y'all are in your forever home! How cool! Gotta love all that land! Caleb is going to have so much fun!! When I was looking at profiles I wasn't looking at the home or income but really trying to figure out the personalities and wanting to see if God was in the picture. Well based off the first picture that I saw and after reading your letter, I knew y'all were the ones.  The main thing for me is that one, y'all love the Lord and two, that y'all will love this baby no matter what I don't have doubts about any of those things!! God knew all along who he had for you...I never would have thought it would have been me though! Haha But I am truly honored"

 

So, do you now know why I love her so much? :) Looking forward to meeting her in person in just a few short weeks, rubbing on that beautiful belly, hearing his heartbeat at the doc's office, visiting new friends, and spending some time with my honey!

 

Please continue to pray for D. and her family, healthy pregnancy, restoring of relationships, healing, forgiveness, the social workers, travel safeties, whew - maybe just pray for everything!!

 

Love ya'll, Karen & Jeff