He is Ours!!

Well it's official.  He is ours!!  Our birthmom signed consent today and although we have to wait for the ICPC (Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children) paperwork to be completed, we are officially parents to this perfect little "rock star" (we are calling him our little rock star, because his arrival has been long-awaited and there are hundreds of people dying to meet him!).  We are hoping to have paperwork completed by Wed. or Thurs. & hopefully go home on Thurs. or Fri.  I would LOVE to be able to attend church on Sunday - I have missed it so much!!

"I asked the LORD to give me this boy, and he has granted my request" 1 Samuel 1:27 (NLT)

I would just like to say thank you.  To my mom who has been a rock of support (even if she probably cried more than I did today!! haha).  And to Justin's mom who was also able to be here until last week - she was our comedic relief and also a great support system.  To our families at home, holding down the fort!  Justin's brother Jared & his fiancee Brittany - y'all have done way beyond what we ever imagined we would ask for you to do in house- and dog-sitting for an entire month!  We know that with Abby's issues, that was no easy task!  To my brother Brooks & his wife Lauren - thanks for letting me call & vent (Lauren) and for letting us see Ellisyn about once a week or so by Skype - she was the highlight of our week every week!  To my best friend in the world Melissa - you have been my prayer warrior!  Thank you for sharing in my sorrows, my tears, & my joy - never apologize for crying when we talk - it shows your love for us & our little family.  I love you so much!  To Justin's dad & his wife Libby - we know you wanted to be here but it just wasn't possible - we felt your love & support even across the country and can't wait for Mr. Danny to hold his first grandbaby!  And to my daddy - I know it's not been easy living in that house without mama for a whole month (or maybe it has been nice to be bachelor?!  I don't know?!  haha).  But seriously, thank you for being you, for you & Brooks wanting to come up here and kick some butt when the birthfather wanted to give us grief.  You've always wanted to protect me, and I love you for it.  And lastly, to Bethany Perry - you are my surprise friend, my angel of encouragement, and I feel that God has joined our hearts together in a way that will never be broken.  You are an amazing person, with your clear-headed and sound advice, your generosity, your kindness, your ecstatic emails/texts/facebook messages all hours of the night, and your incredible ability to speak peace, a sense of calm, and use your God-given gift of encouragement.  You'll never know how much you helped us through this difficult month.

OK, so enough of the acceptance-speech-thank-you's! :)  some of you have expressed concern since my post yesterday about the birthfather & his family - no worries!  We are safe, as safe as can be I guess.  He has not tried to contact us or find us to our knowledge.  And we have no fear (only a sense of being alert) because we truly feel God has his angels encamped around us.

Tomorrow we take Zane to be circumcised - they wouldn't do it in the hospital!!  How sad :(  I don't want him to hurt!  Any suggestions or advice?

Also, he is beginning to wake up hungry every 2 hours or so... up until 48 hrs ago, he was on a perfect 3 to 4 hour feeding schedule eating about 2 oz each feeding, but last night he woke up after an hour and a half and was already hungry.  So we fed him again, and planned to increase his intake a little with the next feeding.  He did take about 2.5 oz with the next feeding, but now is waking up every 2 hours hungry.  NOW, I read Babywise but unfortunately do not have the book with me, so you babywise mamas out there... jog my memory... this sounds like a "snacking" pattern to me!  What do you think?  How can I get him back on a 3-4 hr schedule??  Does he need more food?  Less??? :) Oh the joys of motherhood!

Lastly, I want to make sure you all understand something... I want to minimize US and maximize our Lord.  We want to hide behind the cross.  We don't want to be recognized or praised for our "strength"... honestly, I told Justin earlier that it was like we were lying there limp and exhausted and God was holding us up in HIS strength.  It just looked like our strength.  And many have commented on how our faith is so amazing or strong... again, it's not us!  God made us sit here in OKC until we finally gave in and began to trust Him with our WHOLE hearts.  It was only then that God could begin to stretch us and mold us, and grow our faith!

I cannot WAIT to blog about all that God has done in our hearts, and in the hearts of many of you. Please, if you have stories of how this journey has impacted or changed your life, send that to us!  We don't have to mention your name, but would love to give an account to what God has done, is doing, and will do through our struggles and joy!

Thanks for following us!
Love,