Doctor’s Appointment, Meetings, an Ultrasound…and Waiting

Well, Sunday night was exciting for a short period when we heard the birth mom was having contractions 3 1/2 minutes apart. We were headed to go pick her up and bring her to the hospital when we got a call that the contractions had stopped, and she was just going to wait to see her doctor at her Monday morning appointment.

On one hand, we were disappointed, but on the other, we were thankful that our sweet girl was waiting to make her arrival when she was indeed good and ready!

It was so wonderful to see birth mom yesterday. We waited about an hour at the doctor and got to have some really good conversations while we waited. The birth grandma is so awesome. During the doctor’s appointment, she made sure I sat closest to the birth mom. She even left for a period and wanted me to just be there with her. She really is so kind. She is always sure to say that this is “our baby.” And at most times, saying this is “your baby.”

One of my favorite moments was walking into the doctor’s office and the birth mom introducing me to everyone as the “adoptive mom.” I know things like this may seem insignificant, but to us, it’s huge. With every label, every introduction, you either get more peace that this will actually happen, or more scared. And each time we are with birth mom, we get more peace.

We really didn’t find out much at the doctor’s appointment. They didn’t even check her since her contractions stopped. They will see her back next Monday pending nothing happens before then. They measured her belly which had grown, and I got to hear the strong heartbeat. That never gets old.

We then had to wait for the birth mom to get her labs done and a lady in the waiting room heard us talking about adoption and began to give her two cents. Let’s just say the things she was saying were less than positive. I felt the protective daddy bear rise up in Josh and he tried to shut that down as calmly as possible– I don’t understand people sometimes…but it ended up being okay.

While the birth mom was getting her blood taken, we had a God conversation with birth grandma. We were able to be really transparent about everything. The birth mom’s fears. Our fears. Contact after the baby is born.

As I’ve said before, we are now family with this birth family, and we hurt when these people hurt. I cannot imagine giving my child to someone else.

So, we sympathized with our birth grandma, calmed a lot of her fears and just loved on each other. It was a good day. We still have idea when this little girl is coming at this point, but it was a great day.

Tonight, we have a meeting with the birth mom, birth grandma and the mental health counselor that birth mom has been seeing. As a counselor myself, I cannot tell you how grateful I am that our attorney requires that his birth moms get counseling throughout all of this. He has been such a God send.

In tonight’s meeting, we are discussing the contact we will be having with the birth mom once our baby is born. We will also discuss in detail the hospital plan. Who will be in the room, cut the cord, etc… Of course we have discussed this informally, but this is when it is made more concrete.

Then tomorrow, the birth mom has an ultrasound that we will be able to go to. We are really looking forward to that. God has given us such favor and the birth mom is soaking up this unconditional love she is getting from us. But, the cool thing is, it isn’t from us. It is from God himself, which is why this story is one of so many “untypical” things with adoption.

The birth grandma kept saying yesterday, “This is just so God. Every part of it.”

I couldn’t agree more. Thank you for waiting on pins and needles with us!

We love you guys!

Aly