MIRACLE!

Adelle's Social Worker in Ohio, Beth

Right after we signed paperwork for Adelle

Last Thursday, November 12th, we got to sign paperwork for Adelle! What a blessing. We were MORE than ready. To celebrate, we went out to a Mexican restaurant the family we were staying with recommended. They made us a really nice supper at their place to celebrate, as well. Our first night with her went very well; Adam and I took shifts with the feedings, and were both able to get at least 5 hours of sleep.

Last Friday, November 13th, we were given permission to come back to Minnesota. As of 4:00pm Thursday the 12th, the states still had paperwork they needed. Our social worker said she had never heard of things going that fast: less than 24 hours!  We started packing the car, right away, at about 1:30pm. We said goodbye to Adelle's foster family and the families that had hosted us. Then, we were on our way. Since it takes about a half hour to feed Adelle anyway, we decided to eat at a Waffle House one last time for supper. That was definitely a God thing, because not long after we got back on the road there was a bad accident on Interstate 70. There were 2 helicopters, 4 firetrucks, and 4 other emergency vehicles that responded. After waiting for almost a half hour, we used the median to turn around (like many other cars were doing), and found some back roads. Adelle started getting hungry, so we stopped at a Walgreen's to feed her. Another God thing: we left the store about 5 minutes before it closed. We stayed at a hotel from 1:30am-7am and slept and had breakfast. After getting gas, we were back on the road. We stopped at an oasis in Illinois for a break, around Eau Claire, WI. Then, we made it to the Twin Cities!

Saturday night, Adelle got to meet her Eme (sp?) and Papa and Aunt Heather and Uncle Brian. We had fun getting to talk and have supper together, and Aunt Heather even got to feed Adelle. :)  One of our friends from Rochester, Virginia, was up in the cities for the weekend, so she also came by before she headed back south. It was so much fun to get to see her, since we live so far away!

Sunday morning, Adelle got to meet one of her cousins, Avery. It was sooo precious.Avery wanted to take good care of "Baby Dell", and gave her her blanket when Adelle was crying, and helped feed Adelle. Avery was so gentle; she is going to be a great big sister!

Avery meets Adelle

Sunday afternoon, we went to Adam's parents. One of Adam's sisters and brother in law, Adam's brother, and Adam's grandparents were there! They had a beautiful sign and balloons for Adelle, and Adam's grandma had a care basket of fruit, bread, and cookies. Yum! It was so fun to get to spend some time with them and see them love on Adelle.  I can't find these pics, so will have to upload them later!   :)

 

Since coming home, we have been busy! We went to Alicia's school, and it was so fun for the staff and students to get to meet Adelle. It was great to see my (Alicia's) students again. We also got to see one of the new moms in the couple's Bible study we go to, Sarah. It was the first time I (Alicia) was able to meet her son, so that was exciting! He is only 3 weeks older than Adelle. We are having out Minnesota social worker, Emily, over tonight for the first visit. 

Week 5

Ready for another car ride!

So AWAKE!

Sleeping in her favorite position....I call it the "Touchdown!" "Praise Jesus!" pose

Staring at each other...the best past time ever!

Sleeping on daddy

Adelle has been more and more awake. Sometimes, she is awake for two and a half hours at a time now. She likes to look around (to the extent babies can) and see all the new places we go to. She likes to lay on the floor and have us talk to her, and is a very calm baby overall. She REALLY likes to be held. She does not like to be messed with in any way: diapering, changing, baths.... It's all about "status quo."   :)

Adelle's birthfather signed the paperwork he needed to for the court on Friday. Praise Jesus! We are so excited for her court date tomorrow. We will go to Adelle's adoption agency and sign for her the morning of November 12. Then, we will be with Adelle 24/7.

On Saturday, we moved to a new place. It is the house of the care pastor for the church that we have been attending here, C3. They  have a private apartment in their basement complete with a fridge, microwave, and full bath. There is a meal ministry at C3, and they brought us some meals. So far, we ate the Mexican Shephard's Pie. Amazing!  

We got to go out to eat with Adelle's foster family yesterday for lunch, which was fun. Their girls have a favorite place they like to go for their "gotcha days" (days when their adoptions were finalized), so we went there. It is called Bob Evan's. Very similar to a Perkins.

Last night, Adam and I played Phase 10 together, and we went on a walk in the afternoon. The weather here has been beautiful. It has been a blessing to see the sun, and get to be outside more than we might otherwise get to be this time of year. On Saturday, we went grocery shopping and to Kohl's. It is so weird to be new parents and have this much energy, but we are sure next week will be different!

The 4th Week

Diaper Change....lots of PINK! :)

Just waking up

Daddy's Little Girl

Trying to Sleep :)

Daddy is the BEST pillow

Adelle was experiencing vomiting and diahrrhea last week. Tuesday, we had a follow up doctor appointment to the other appointments she had last week. She is feeling better, and now weighs 7 pounds, 4 ounces. Her diaper rash that she had is getting better, and we are so thankful!

Sunday night, we had supper with Adelle's foster family. Tuesday night, we had supper with them and attended a prayer meeting at their house. We have been so blessed by them! The have provided physical resources as well as a listening ear. They have provided a good social outlet when we need it, as well.

The family that we (Adam and Alicia) are staying with has also been a blessing. We eat supper with them almost every night. They have let us use their washer and dryer for laundry, and been very open with their home. We are so glad to call them friends!

We have beeen going out to eat about once a day, and it has been interesting to see how different people react to Adelle. They usually want to know about her red hair, and since we don't have an abundance of pink onesies with us, we are using a pink blanket from someone in the church we have been going to here in Ohio to make sure eveyone knows she is a girl!

We had a meeting last night with Adelle's guardian ad litum, the person who represents her best interests before the court. She was a very nice lady and explained to us how things might go today, and the steps the lawyers have been working on to get cooperation from Adelle's bith father. She said she was recommending adoption to the court, so we were very happy for that.

Adelle's court date for termination of parental rights was today. They were not able to terminate rights, because the birth father has not signed the paper work that he needs to. This is a big prayer request. The new court date is set for November 10th. At that court date, we are praying that the signed papers are in hand OR that we have favor with the judge, and he says we have done enough to notify the birth father, and rights can be terminated.

Praises:

1. Excellent lawyers

2. Favor with Adelle's guardian

3. Adelle's foster family

4. The family Adam and Alicia are staying with

Prayer Requests:

1. For Birth Father to sign papers
2. For Adelle to get 100% healthy
3. For opportunities to be a blesssing to the people who are blessing us here in OH