Regarding Life Matters: The Addition of Christian

Originally posted May 6, 2011

This has been an even wilder ride than we expected when we left. Here’s the timeline:

Got the call from the agency while at work at Hannah’s Dream at 12:01 pm.
Headed home to start planning and packing at 12:45 pm.
Packed, wrote blogs, made phone calls, etc until 6:30 pm.
Ran errands to tie up loose ends in Kansas City.
Officially on the road at 7:30 pm.
Crossed into Florida at 2:06 pm the next day.
Checked into a hotel at 4:30 pm.
Arrived at the adoption agency at 5:30 pm.
Held Christian for the first time at 6:45 pm.

(All this with 1 hour of sleep for Paul and three for me.)

Originally we were told we would get him on Friday. When we crossed into Florida and called the adoption agency as they had requested they told us we could either get him that night wait until Saturday. Uhhhh – no brainer!

Despite being sleep-deprived we were SO ready and I was not a little nervous. We had no idea how he would react to us, but as soon as they got him out of the car, he reached over and practically launched himself into Jessica’s arms. What followed was about an hour of hugs, cuddles, play, pictures, and sharing of information from the foster family to us. The foster family was amazing. They loved him and cared for him. They bought him things and blessed us with them. They even bought some new outfits to bless us with. (He’s a size 3T, by the way…at 18 months!)

After about an hour, it was time to load up and head out…a family of FIVE! He chattered and smiled as we went through the drive through at Arby’s for a little dinner and headed back to the hotel. After we ate it was time to get ready for bed. We cuddled and snuggled until he fell asleep. It didn’t take long after such a big day. The foster mom said she rocked him to sleep each night. I didn’t have a rocking chair so we rocked back and forth on the bed. He slept like a dream…all night and through tons of noise as we re-packed to make room for his things.

Today we are busy discovering who he is as we head to Daytona Beach to stay at a condo offered to us by the sister of a close friend. He fussed a bit and then fell right asleep in the car.

You know, it is so strange to say “my son” or “our son”. Having girls those are words don’t come naturally to my lips. I can’t say just “the girls” when I’m talking about my children. I have to say “the kids.” I’m a mother of three. Wow!

I know there are many changes coming when we get home…baby-proofing, figuring out a schedule with a toddler, and more. I am filled with more joy than I could imagine so it is all worth it!