Annie's Dedication

We've been looking forward to this weekend for a long time! Annie made her official debut at church as she was dedicated along with little Ian Bishop. Our family looked on with pride as we promised to raise her in the Faith and commit ourselves to providing a loving, nurturing home for her to grown and thrive.

Josiah was on his best behavior (although at one point he saw Grandma and Grampop and got really excited!) and Annie did her best to hold it together. I'm sure it was frightening for her under all those lights and with all those people; given the circumstances, she did great!

They had a reception for the families after the service, and I got a great shot of Annie and Ian, the other little boy being dedicated that night . . .

Pony Rides

Both Amy and I were off work today, so we headed to the local zoo. We had a coupon for a free pony ride, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see my little man on a pony! We could tell he liked it even though he had his serious face on the whole time. At one point, he even reached out to stroke the pony's mane. It was the cutest thing ever!

Ironically, waiting in the pony line was another little brown boy with white parents. They struck up a conversation seeing that we had adoption in common. Their little boy was from Ethiopia and they had a challenging time with the court systems and flying back and forth. What surprised me, however, was the assumptions being made. She asked us if we get "looks" from people and launched into a tyrade about how she can't believe how people are still fighting the civil war in 2009 and she's disgusted by the bigotry and racism in society. She went so far as to say that she's glad the civil war wasn't today because she's "be out murdering people." How do we always find these people???

I wanted to point out to the woman that the entire conversation was racist, but instead just grinned and nodded and gave Amy that wide-eyed look that says "get me outta here!" They seemed like nice enough people, but we didn't adopt so that we could join the NAACP or speak out during Black History Month. I want Josiah to embrace his heritage without getting tangled up in all the reverse-racism "lookin' for a fight" nonsense.

Other than the pony rides, Josiah seemed to favor the buffalos and the prairie dogs but still got the most satisfaction tugging on an artifical tree in the reptile house. I guess he's just an easy guy to please!

First Fruits

Annica had her first taste of "real food" today in the form of pomegranite applesauce. She was admittedly more messy than Josiah's first bites of Motts, but to each his own. She's right on schedule, so we're praising God that there were no developmental delays with the premature birth. Our little "miracle baby" continues to amaze and inspire us every day!

When It All comes Down...

I really want to sound off on the John & Kate divorce announcement, but I'm not going to go there. I think how easily that could happen to any one of us and what that would do to our precious families . . .

When you get married and start having kids, you can see your whole life ahead of you. No one plans to see that dream crumble in brokenness and heartache. I couldn't imagine just "visiting" Josiah or "catching up" with Annie. I count on waking J up every morning and seeing that big smile. I carry him into Annie's room where she smiles and giggles at him as they get changed and ready for the day. As mundane as that may be, I need that every day.

Amy and I have been married for over 12 years now. We've sat down with a Christian counsellor on more than one occasion to help us sort our feelings and communication issues that we just weren't equipped or willing to deal with. But we always come back to the table. If I were in John & Kate's shoes, I'd cancel the show immediately and get with somebody that can help sort out all those feelings of anger and resentment. Especially for the sake of those kids!

I guess that's my point; when it all comes down, even when the walls feel like their closing in all around you, it's not hopeless. But you have to be willing to come back to the table. Be honest with yourself and with each other and talk, I mean really talk, about what you both want out of life and what's standing in the way. Seek out a friend or counsellor if need be, but keep talking.

Years from now, we're going to see the Gosselin kids on some "E! True Hollywood Story" episode and their going to point to today as the day that shaped them, for better or for worse.

Happy Father's Day

Amy made this great wall hanging with Josiah and Annica's handprints and surprised me with it for Father's day. I was a little suspicious when I saw that Annie's hand was blue the other day . . .

Welcome Home, Little Ty!

Ben & Rebekah, probably our oldest "blogger budies" finally began a new chapter in their adoption story. They were present with the birthmom in the hospital when little Ty was born, and the photo above brilliantly depicts the overflow of their hearts. Click on the photo to check out their blog and get the details.

As a couple that watched your journed from the beginning, we are so happy for you and so proud of how you've managed to deal gracefully with the "bumps along the road." We love you guys!

Thank God for Health Insurance!

So today we finally received Annie's hospital bill. Curious what a high-risk pregnancy costs? Well, after her helicopter ride to city hospital, a half dozen neo-natologists present at her birth and her month-long stay in the NICU, plus all the drugs and round-the clock attention she needed, the bill came to $306,457.20

(and we were only responsible for a $350 co-pay. Who says the health care industry is broken?)

Rest for the Weary

I received the results from my sleep study today, and I have a feeling that things are going to change, for the better! According to the doctor, I have one of the most severe cases of sleep apena that he's ever seen. During the sleep study, I woke up 117 times per hour! As a result, I never entered "deep sleep;" I never get any true rest. This comes as no surpise to me, because I'm tired all the time! And the constant waking is really taking a toll on my body.

The good news is that it's treatable! The doctor showed me that on the second night (the night that I wore the CPAP mask) once they found the correct presure, all the lines fell into place on the graph. I didn't wake up, I had appropiate oxygen levels, and I generally felt like I had a great night's sleep! They ordered the equipment for me today and I should be speeping better by the end of the week.

Date Night!

Amy was working today, so I had wake up duty for both kids. It was clear that they were going to need food before my shower (and I don't function before my morning shower...) so I gave priority to the one screaming the loudest and got Annie a bottle. She usually takes about 10 minites to polish off a 6-oz bottle, so I was watching a little TV when I see Josiah standing on the dining room table! Apparently he had learned to pull a hair away from the table, climb up on the chair and crawl onto the table! I quickly put the baby down and rescued Josiah from what would have turend into an ER visit. I guess nothing is safe anymore now that he can climb. I've already secrured the bookcases and CD racks with brackets into the wall, but I;m sure he'll still find a way to get himself into trouble!

When they both went down for naps, I called MAy to see if she wanted to do a picnic or a date night without the kids, she needed to get out, so I dropped Annie & Josiah off with my folks who live about 20 minutes away and drove back home to change into panthst that Josiah hadn't civered in spaghetti sauce.

We drove to Skipack Village (for you fre PA folks) to a place called Justin's Carriagehouse. It's one of Amy's favorites! We ordered all of our favorites without havig to watch for little fingers. And it was bice to have an adult concversation; you'd be surprised how many of these fall by the waysid. They're important! Communication is the only tool that we have in keeping marriages together.

Amy commneted that we've beeen out of high school now for 20 years; we were together all throught high school, so she feels like she's known me her whole life. Now we look at these beautiful kids and onder what the next phase is going to be like.

Bottom line, ladies and gents: schedule date nights with your wife/husband once a month or at least everyt other month. Get dressed up and go to your favorite resteraunt. Wait in line if you have to. Skip dessert and gtet ice cream or water ice at a local stand and just enoy the night withot kids. Just enjoy each other.

NICU Visit

Annie had a follow-up opthamology appointment today at Temple University Hospital, where she was delivered, and after our appointment we headed up to the labor and delivery floor to visit our fiends in the NICU. I began by going to the Level-2 "well baby" nursery where Annie was eventually moved after she had gained enough weight and was able to drink two ounces at a time. We saw one of the pediatric attendings there and one of our favorite nurses. Everyone remembered us right away because I was always taking pictures, and true to form the camera came out during the visit.

After we caught up, the attending physician that had worked on Annie's case asked me if I wanted to go next door to the Level-3 NICU. He led me though a familiar series of doors and we were once again surrounded by the beeps and blips of the monitoring equipment and the eerie breating sounds of ventilators breathing for the little ones whose lungs were still forming. It was crazy to be back. To think we spent all of December in this room, including Christmas, watching over our precious Annie as she was growing.

All of the nurses from the Level-3 nursery immideately recogized me and crowded around to see the baby. They all asked how she was doing and how Amy was adjusting. You have no idea how helpful tese women were in our hour of need. we had no way of knowing that Annie woudl turn out this well. the doctors had serious concerns about her health and were talking surgeries and all sorts of drama. But these nurses held out hand through it all and re-assured us that it was going to be OK. If we've seen Jesus in anyone in our lives, it woudl be those nurses who poured out their lovce and compassion for some scared, emotionally drained new parents that all we could do was sit in the rocking chair, holding Annie and cry.

But she progressed and defied all the odds. A miracle baby through and through. They couldn't believe her size and weight from when they saw her in her isolette. I can vividly remember when she was swimming in a Pamper's "preemie" diaper. She wqas just so tiny.

But the kidkeys cleared up, and the little brain bleed, and her lungs, and her eyes are OK and she's reacting and responding like a little 6-month old now, so she's even hitter her developmental markers. We just can't thank God enough! Any time we think something is impossib;le or insurmountable, we just look at Annie!

Josiah

Still Alive

Wow! Seriously, folks there's just no excuse for my absence. I know that "life happens" and there doesn't seem to be time, but I really think of this blog as a chronicle of our journey and jope to one day present it in book form to the kids, and they'll be confused by gapingholed in the timeline.

'Nuff said. I have been busy during my writing haitus. My doctor reccommended that I undergo a sleep study for what he suspects is sleep apnea. If you've never slept with about 60 wires protrubing from every limb, let me tell you . . . it's a real treat! I did this for two nights and tried a CPAP machine on night #2. I did sleep much better and wake up feeling refreshed, so I'm sure there's something to it. I'd love to have my evergy back . . .

Josiah is at that "testing" stage. I say "Josiah, NO." and he smiles and does it anyway. Most of the time it's safety related (like standing up in his crib) so I have to be tough for his sake. But some of the other time, it's just because he doesn't understand. Like when he forcibly offers Annie his sippy cup. He's so kind and sweet, but he doesn't understand that he's hurting his little sister when he's a little too rough. In those cases, I have to act quickly for Annie's sake without discouraging Josiah from showing affection to his sister. That's a tough one.

J Man is officially talking! It's not much, but he knows "Mama" from "Dada" and says "juice" and various other tidbits You can tell that he can't wait to carry on a conversation. Annica is really expressive as well. She loves to laugh and play and is working hard at standing up. She's a little shy and tends to wring her hands and tug at her clothes, which is sweet, but she'd determined to try things and observe everything. We have her final eye appt. tomorrow at the hospital where she was born, and I may go back and visit the NICU and say hellow to all the friendly nurses that cared for her 6 months ago. More to follow on that end.