Closet systems

I suppose now is the time to add some organization to Maddie's closet. Its just one of those reach in's that go the entire length of one wall and has one shelf and one hanging bar. I am trying to get something inexpensive but not 'cheap'. I looked at the IKEA PAX system of closets and can put one together for around $1000 or I can go with the Lowe's Home Options storage solutions. The Options one looks a bit more sturdy and adjustable and might be a little cheaper since it has a couple of starter kits, at $250 a pop, that I can put in the closet then fill in the middle. Either way its looking like around a grand. Then the next question...can I put this in myself or do I have my handyman do it. Its more $$ but less headache. I have one week more off work.. the time has flown by.

6 lbs 4 oz!

M had her first appointment with her new pediatrician today. Dr G was awesome she was totally open to my questions and understanding when I said that I didnt really have any medical history (yet). B-mom was adopted from the foster care system in TX so she doesn't really have anything and B-dad told the agency he would work on the history but so far we haven't gotten anything. I told her so far things are wonderful. M's little 'outie' bellybutton is a bit herniated but doc said that it wasn't anything to be concerned about. She has gained a ton (well not really 'a ton') but is now 6 pounds 4 oz. Woo hoo! Thats up from her discharge weight of 4 lbs 15 oz. I expected her back to her birthweight (5lb 2oz) and am glad she is doing 'amazingly' according to the doctor. I told her about the situation and about M's exposure during the beginning couple of months. We have our next appt in two months. Our job til then is tummy time and keep eating.

Whew

I think the last two days have been just crazy for lil'bit. She is getting used to the dogs. Max whines when she cries and follows me everywhere, well not just me follows whomever has the baby. He keeps trying to lick her head (gross) and has tasted her bottle, which irritates mommy when she is trying to feed the baby and mid feed we have to start a new one. arrgh. Luka is doing well all things considering. She is a bit protective of me so this is a big adjustment for her. She doesnt have my attention whenever she wants it so we watch her closely, Max is letting her know to stay away from the baby.

Lil'bit had a bath today in her bathtub. She didnt like it any more than she did when we had the bath in the hotel sink. Baths are still a bit of a challenge for me, she has so many creases and folds ---lol--and let me tell you, if you dont know already, Desitin is stubborn to clean off. Works great for a little rash but h-a-r-d to get off.

We're Home!

After I called ICPC we got them what they needed and POOF 3 hours later we were on the road. I wish I would have called on Tuesday! Anyway there was some communication gaps (go figure) and no follow up (there's no exuse for that one) AZ and NY are the only two states that require the adoptive family to be state 'certified' to adopt. That was one of the miscommunicaton points. So I talked to ICPC, ICF and got what they needed to send in. Then sent in the bill from the TX agency all to the ICPC guy and 5 minutes later.... I am not kidding.... literally 5 minutes later he called me and said that I was good to go and that he had emailed the TX ICPC guy. Although AZ said I could leave, I couldnt since TX didnt give me the go ahead. So, I called the agency and told them that AZ had called me. They called TX and an hour and a half later.. poof I get the call that we have been waiting for. Yay we can leave. We had started packing the car when I got the call from AZ so we just had one more trip (it took THREE) and load up M and hit the road.

We stopped in Tucson to see friends and eat dinner then back on the road. Here are some pics of the night.

So we are home, the dogs are freaking out, they really have no idea what this little noisemaker is, and are very whiny, I think M is a little scared of the noise. I am going to keep a close eye on them and try to limit the contact for a little bit and let her get used to the new noises. The hotel was quiet (with the exception of the TV) so there are alot of new things for her to get used to. They are so excited that we are home after such a long trip.

I wanna go home

We are STILL in Texas. Last news was the the State of AZ has the paperwork and they emailed what was missing on Monday so what the heck is taking so long. OK there is my vent.

Shopping yesterday was fun and took longer than we thought so M had to eat on the run. She did well, after she threw up all over me, and smiled lol. I am learning how to pack the diaperbag. We had all the basics.. formula, diapers, wipes, changes of clothes.. well we found that we forgot an extra t-shirt so she had to go without. She didnt seem to notice. I got a new Coach diaper bag and some very cute stuff at the Carter's outlet. The stroller won out in the transport baby category.. I am still trying to figure that one out.

Things are going well. M is hanging in there with the travel bed. We are trying to keep her on a schedule. Doing better with the every 3 hours she is a good eater, up to 2 oz and occasionally 2 1/2 oz.

Jeez I hope we get the call tomorrow. :)

More Pics

So here are some more pics. We are going to venture out of the hotel today.. there are some outlets near by so we are taking a little exursion. Hmm the Moby or the stroller.. not sure which one.. Probably the Moby since the stroller is packed behind Maddies other bag (she has two) and the cooler. Funny how when I travel for work I can pack a week's worth of everything I need in one carry on suitcase but when you add a Nana and a baby you have a Murano full of stuff. Its all good though.!

In El Paso- halfway home

Well we've moved a little closer to home while we wait for ICPC to clear. M was a traveling champ. We stopped about every 2 hours to let her get out of the carseat and have some food and change her but all in all she did really well, she slept most of the time and seemed to like being outside the brief times we were out. We are in yet another hotel room but this one isnt a suite like the other. Mom says that I spoiled her last week with the kitchen and bedroom.. but hey I am out of Hilton points and have to fork out the dough for the rest of this trip. We did find a place with a fridge and microwave so at least the food we bought in San Antonio wont go bad.

Still a bit wild at night but she has been really good and I'm starting to figure out her queus.

So much for a 'schedule'

So we had a wonderful night (M up like clockwork every 3 hours--change, feed then back to bed) and I thought we were home free this was the mysterious 'schedule' the nurses were talking about at the hospital. Not so much.. she was up and down last night an ounce here, an ounce there and finally at 4 am 2 ounces and zonk. We got up bright an early and got ready to go to class. It was nice to get out into the world after being in the hotel and only leaving for a walk and to go to the store. M came with us to he Hospital for the Baby U classes and we got a new convertible carseat. The instructor suggested we leave M in the infant carrier/carseat for a few pounds but then we can move on to the convertible. Cool.

New theme

Well, I changed the theme again. Pink seems to be my favorite color these days. (I wonder why *grin*) I am sure at some point pink will go back to its original standing, green is my usual favorite, but for now-pink it is. Last night M woke up every 3 hours like clockwork and was eating just shy of 2 ounces. She eats so much better when I stay on schedule. Yesterday we had a litle run of an ounce about every 1 1/2 hour. I was having flashbacks from Monday (up at every whimper and noise) but I think I actually got some segmented sleep. Yay. She is eating good. She is now laying here on the hotel sofa with me in her little swaddler (my little burrito). We give her some stretchy time and she likes sucking on her fingers. She had her first mani yesterday, jeez those fingernails are tiny.. we used the emery board (good tip on doing while she sleeps) I couldnt bring myself to use the clipper. I was going to do her feet (Mommy loves a good mani pedi) but they were fine and must be a bit ticklish because everytime I touch them she pulls her feet away from me.

We are still in TX and have not heard anything from the Agency with regards to BM. We were hoping to meet her but only have today left, for the Agency to facilitate a meeting. She hasnt been in contact with the Agency at all. We left a gift for her at the agency and they will keep it for her til she can come get it. Mom and I were shopping on Mothers day and found a ring/necklace/earrings set of emeralds (May birthstone) that was just perfect, so we separated it. BM told the SW that she liked earrings so she will be getting the earrings, I am a ring person so I will keep the ring and M will have a beautiful new necklace to remember her BM and the bond we three will always have.

We are getting excited to go to CPR/Carseat class tomorrow and then heading home on Sunday. We are missing the dogs and home. We keep talking about what their reaction is going to be.

More pics

Well we are settling into a pseudo routine... she seems to have her days and nights mixed up. Is there any truth to the theory that if you are born at night you are a night owl.? It seems to be the case with M she was born at 11:32pm. Great advice from other mothers- Nap when she does! Anyway.. just waiting for ICPC.

My day today

Whew its been a long road. I know that everyone says that its worth it when its over (and it is) but jeez its a hard path to follow. Anyway, my new daughter was discharged and I took her out of the hospital today at 1:30 CST. I am over the moon and happy and tired and looking forward to getting to know this little, and I mean little, person. So with out further ado (if you havent looked already) here she is. She was born May 7, 2010 at 11:32pm. Weighing in at a whopping 5lbs 1.9oz (I told you little) and 18 inches. Her name is Madelyn Grace (Maddie) and Nana and I are in San Antonio TX, settling in with her. We will be here til ICPC clears. I have the opportunity to take an infant CPR class and safety seat class and I am taking that opportunity while we wait. Please forgive the silence, I wanted to keep it close til it was official.

I will post more pictures soon.

May 5 2010

On May 5, I had the opportunity to talk to baby's birthfather. He had some questions for me and expressed that this is a very hard decison but wanted to talk to me and get to know me a little bit. It was a great call, even though I was nervous talking to him and didnt know what to say. He told me his concerns and I was honest with him and spoke from my heart. By the end of the call he told me that birthmom had made the right choice in an adoptive mother and that although he considers 2 parent families ideal the most important parent is the mother. He assured me he would make his decision soon.

The next day I waited on pins and needles calling the agency a couple of times to see if they had talked to birthfather. They had, he told them he would make his decison Friday, and he wanted to talk to me again. I called him and he told me that he had made his decision but wanted to be the one to tell me that he had decided that he would sign the papers and allow me to raise the baby. WHEW I was scared, but also felt that he loves this baby enough to make sure that I was the right family for her.

Hmm.. alot going on

So theres been alot going on the past couple of months and it all seems to have come to a head. To get you up to speed, we need to back up a bit. In mid-February I signed up with Heart to Heart and towards the end of February signed up with a referral agency 'A bundle of Joy' after spotting a situation on their website that looked interesting to me. The situation? A birthmother in Texas due May 6 unknown gender, she was asking for couples from her agency but opened up her criteria when ABoJ got the situation. Around St Patricks day I got a call from A bundle of Joy telling me that the birthmother in TX had picked me!! I had a few weeks to get all the paperwork ready and started yet another paper flurry. Adoption Angels in San Antonio is my new agency and oh boy, frantic paper work, updated homestudy, FBI prints (again) all bring us up to now. The past 3 weeks have been a bit hectic. At first the agency couldnt find the BF then they were able to contact him and he told them he would sign.. Yay.. all things moving forward. He never did, he himmed and hawed kept saying 'I will sign Monday' all the while increasing my anxiety. Fast forward to Friday... he told the attorney that he didnt want to sign. I am freaking out now. And today is Sunday.. I talked to the attorney again today he said that the BF has changed his mind again and is now considering the adoption but wants to talk to BM first. I suppose we will see what the week ahead will show.