JJ, Sheyann, and Andy

Saturday, August 23, 2008

6 months

Happy 6 month birthday Andy-boy! Mommy cannot tell you how much joy, love, fun, smiles, insomnia, slobber, spit-up, giggles, worry, tears, and growth you've brought to our family. I couldn't have made a better baby myself! We love you SO SO much! Love, Daddy and Mommy

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Jumping Bean

This is what Andy is doing right now! I can't stop laughing! He is the most precious child ever!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Standing Solid...

Or crumpling horribly! Andy is now almost 6 months old and right on track developmentally; he has gradually been making his brains, muscles, and cuteness progress. So these big brains and even bigger belly of his have resulted in the intiation of solid foods... and teething. And what a time it has been!
Here's the run down:

Likes::
Squash
Pears
Sweet Potatoes

Tolerates:
Rice Cereal
Bananas

Hates:
Peas

We've yet to try beans and carrots, oatmeal, etc.

Andy's Story

So the background: My husband JJ and I wanted children fairly early after getting married, despite our very young age. Living in Rexburg, attending college, we were not strangers to the phrase “poor-as-church-mice newlyweds.” It didn’t matter, EVERYONE else was having children too, and we could manage just like them. However, it was not yet time. So, we moved to Twin Falls. I entered the Registered Nursing Program and the College of Southern Idaho. We still wanted children; I cannot describe how much we yearned for them. It was still not time. Despite many visits to fertility doctors, it still wasn’t time. Years past. Four to be exact, still no children. I finished the RN program; we bought a large house with many rooms for children. More fertility testing followed. It was not yet time. I watched as sisters, friends, cousins, neighbors, and the neighborhood dog all had babies. And the ache was often unbearable. Luckily, my sister having a baby was also a blessing. Tending and playing with my nephew Dillon, whom we now lived by, helped ease the hurting ache that yearned for my own children. I would hold Dillon and pretend he was own baby. I’d think of what we’d play and how I would teach him (everything from gospel principles to school science projects). Many nights I would pray and cry and plead, and we fasted, and we went to the temple, and I didn’t understand. It was STILL NOT TIME. We decided to adopt a baby after seeing a video of my many adopted cousins while at my aunt’s house, about a week before Christmas. Yet another trial began, since many of the adoption agencies have age limits or long waiting lists. Through the spirit, my husband and I both felt very strongly that we needed to hurry with the adoption process. It was urgent and a month had already past! Then suddenly, it was too late. I don’t know when Heavenly Father decided it was finally time, that I was finally worthy for children or whatever, but the blessings and the strength it has added to my testimony has definitely been worth the waiting, the hurting, the yearning, the pain, and the tears.

So now, the main event: Sheesh. How do I begin to tell about a miracle? Especially one I cannot yet fathom, even after four months! Our little muppet-legs was born February 23, 2008 at 10:30 pm. At that exact time, the hospital plays an excerpt from Braham's Lullaby over the speakers in the hospital. I was working in that very hospital on the fourth floor, heard the jingle, and thought, "Another one, I wish they wouldn't play that overhead, sometimes it hurts too much!" I made a sarcastic remark to a co-worker friend to relieve the ache. Then, that was it, no more thoughts; I carried on with the rest of my shift. After the shift, JJ picked me up and drove me back to our home. He was walking out the door to church as I was stepping in the shower when my cell phone rang. It was a hospital number, but not from my floor. Almost ignoring it, convinced it was someone asking me to pick up an extra shift, I finally conceded, thinking how odd to have been called from that particular number.

I answered the phone to hear my Uncle Tim, a very nervous Uncle Tim. He stated that he was in the hospital and that he "needed to ask me something weird." (At this point, I was sure that it was either going to be about a family member's death or a really icky personal health question). Instead, he asked if we were trying to get pregnant or adopt a baby. I answered, "Yes!!!" He then proceeded to tell me about a situation with a woman in his ward and how she was at the hospital and needed to give her baby to somebody, a special somebody. After cautioning us to be careful and listen to the spirit, he asked if we were interested. Of course we were interested, so I threw my clothes on, half-hastily explained parts to JJ, and in 2 minutes we were out the door back on our way to the hospital. We left our house that morning without knowing what gender, race, or age the baby was, or even if we could adopt him. I shook all the way to the hospital and I'm sure my heart rate was well over 120 beats per minute the whole way to the hospital too!

With my speeding heart rate, I proceeded to call our parents. Since I was the one calling people while JJ drove (much safer that way), I called my parents first. When my father answered the phone, he was already choked up. Not expecting that reaction, it kind of terrified me! As I said, “Dad, JJ and I are driving back to EIRMC, there is a really good chance we’re getting a baby today,” my father’s husky voice answered, “Shine, we already know, Mom and Jared are waiting for me in the car, we’re on our way up to be with you.” I asked my father how he already knew. He proceeded to tell me that early (earlier, it was already early) that morning, Uncle Tim had called and requested my cell phone number. When Dad asked Tim what was wrong, Uncle Tim simply replied that it is nothing bad, I just need to talk to Sheyann (me). My father is incredibly perceptive! He then asked, “Tim, is this what I think it may be about and that is why you cannot tell me?” Tim answered yes. End of the conversation. By the power of the spirit, my father was allowed the privilege of knowing what needed to be done to help his daughter that Sunday morning. He handed the phone to Mom, who was also crying, like a good mother. Also like a good mother, she asked if I had taken anything with me for the baby. I could kick myself for not thinking about any of that! I didn’t even have SOCKS ON! Mom convinced me to let them pick up a few of the necessities that were most important: a car seat, a blanket, formula, diapers, and wet-wipes. When they arrived at the hospital, the back of their suburban was completely filled with everything we didn’t have for a baby.

I also called JJ’s parents, who had the reaction I was expecting: disbelief! A week earlier, we’d been in Utah visiting them and reported the adoption process was more difficult and taking longer than we expected. At that time, they’d sent a hand-me-down crib home with us. I was baby-hungry, so I set it up, never realizing that a week later we’d be using that crib for our baby.

After the longest car ride I’ve ever had, we arrived at the hospital. Once there, we met a beautiful, blonde haired woman; her son was laying on her bed by her legs. He had red, squishy skin and dark brown hair. He was breath taking! I was so tired and so nervous that I couldn't even cry! From there, Uncle Tim made some calls to an attorney to figure out what the next step needed to be. After counseling with our new attorney, we did the hardest thing we've ever had to do. We left the hospital. For many reasons, the smallest being that social services would get involved and take our baby to a random foster home until we could arrange otherwise, the birthmother had to walk out of the hospital with her child. From there, the law gave us many ways to proceed with our private adoption.

Our lawyer left church early to create a durable power of attorney that would allow us to take the baby home, that very day. So we met with the birthmother after she was discharged, Uncle Tim, and the attorney to sign papers. It was then that I held Andy for the first time; I had been too scared (unsure if I was supposed to or not) in the hospital. How do I explain the rush of emotion that I felt? Exhaustion, joy, awe, gratitude, a love more powerful than any I've ever felt for both Andy and his birthmother, peace and elation at the same time. The spiritual witness I felt as I held Andy was overwhelming. I knew that I was making the right choice to adopt this child, now my child.

After the legalities were arranged, the birthmother held Andy for the last time. I wish I could have taken a picture; my mind will never forget that image though. Her eyes filled with tears as I watched her breathe him in. The love on her face evident; never have I seen anything more beautiful beyond description. I cannot write the love and gratitude I feel for her. Not a day will pass that I won't think of her or remember that as I look at our baby boy.

My family was all at our home when we arrived; everything we didn't have for a baby now present and accounted for. Car seat, diapers, formula, bottles, mylicon, bassinet, diaper bags, blankets, burp rags, clothes, wet wipes, stroller. Not to mention my sisters were there, and had food for everyone. Before I knew it, my Father had all of his children around him, and was telling them about the miracles that had occurred, as told to him by Uncle Tim or as witnessed.

He told how the birthmother had lived in another state, but had been prompted twice to move to Idaho Falls, “where her baby's parents lived.” How she moved two weeks before the birth so she'd be near us, before we even knew it. How she'd spoke with a "transient Bishop" but requested information about her now home ward Bishop, my Uncle. Dad explained how Uncle Tim had given her a blessing the night she went into labor, specifically calling the baby a "him" and telling the birthmother about the "goodly LDS parents that would teach the child the gospel and love him." How Uncle Tim had felt inspired, thinking of our names, and not knowing why... before he knew the the situation fully. Dad told everyone how Sunday morning Uncle Tim was called to go back to the hospital, the birthmother needed him. How when he heard the full situation from the birthmother, he suggested another couple to be the parents, but it didn't work out; our names kept coming to his mind. Uncle Tim then suggested our names, and the birthmother replied, "Okay.” Mom told everyone how Uncle Tim had called Mom and Dad to get my phone number and without telling Dad exactly what was going on, Dad had Mom and Jed packed up in the car on the way to go meet his new grandson at the hospital before Tim could even call me. My wonderful, perceptive Dad knew immediately. He also retailed how there just happened to be a lawyer that knew exactly what to do, and was willing to do so on a Sunday so we could take the baby home.

I can't even count the miracles that have happened, the blessings that have been poured upon us. I cannot fathom why we are so special to receive all of this! Our dream has come true and we are loving every minute of it! Just ask Bebe Lauri and Grammy Bair, who call ALL THE TIME, Aunt Amber and cousin Dillon that can’t get enough of him (for a long time, Dillon’s vocabulary consisted of Da-da, Ma-ma, and Aaaaah [Andy]). Or ask my husband, who cannot stop laughing when Andy makes silly faces, squeals, rolls over, stands, or any other new and exciting development. Ask me how happy I am that even now, as I type, I cannot stop crying with love, gratitude, and endless joy! How could I not know that all this was given to me by my Heavenly Father? I’ve felt his witness throughout the entire process. Miracles happen through the power of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

6 months

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Jumping Bean

Monday, August 18, 2008

Standing Solid...

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