MY BIRTHDAY

This is going to be a short post, because I am super tired! I had a great birthday today! Me, Danny, Brennan and Ivey went to Dauphin Island. Danny's uncle rented a house there. It was a relaxing day and we had some great food! We also had a little b-day cake, which the kids enjoyed more than I did! LOL Brennan and I also made a special trip to Walmart. We got Ivey a few gifts to open on her birthday. She will be 5 on June 10th! Danny will be home by then, but I will most likely still be in Ga. Danny and Brennan will get a cake for her and she will open the gifts. I will plan a party for her later this summer. I am going to be so sad to not be with her on her b-day!
I talked to "T" tonight and she was washing clothes and getting things ready for her friends who will be taking care of the children. She is excited that the day is almost here. She asked us to come over to her house on Tuesday night if we get into Atlanta early enough. We plan on getting there before 5pm, so we are going to see her and the kids on Tuesday afternoon. I told her we would bring dinner over. We are all excited that we get to meet in a relaxed atmosphere, instead of the morning of the c-section. We will also get to see the kids and play with them, which should be lots of fun. We have a few toys for them to open and I think they will really like what Brennan and Ivey picked out for them! Tomorrow I am going to clean the house and make sure I have everything packed! I can't believe we leave in 2 days! I am excited and a little nervous too. My best friend Jennifer came over tonight. She gave me some wonderful adoption books, and a journal. She also gave Brennan, Ivey and Mylah a gift. She is too sweet and generous! I love her very much! Jen gave Brennan a journal. She told her to write in her journal each day that Danny and I are gone. Brennan is very excited about her special journal. Right when Jen left Brennan took off. I found her laying on the floor in Mylah's room. She was already writing in her journal. She was describing the room to Mylah. She was also telling her how long we have waited for her and how much she can't wait to see her! She is the sweetest child! :) I am going to miss Brennan and Ivey soooooo much when I am gone.
***Okay, so this ended up being a not so short post afterall! ~Amber

DOCTOR'S APPT.

I talked to "T" again today. She had just gotten out of the doctor's office. Last week he told her he was scheduling the c-section for June 2nd, but there has been a change of plans. When the nurse called to book the section, the hospital told her they already have too many inductions and c-sections scheduled on that day. The nurse had to schedule it for June 3rd instead. "T" is 1 cm. dilated now, and has been contracting more. She and I are both very worried that she will go into labor before the 3rd. She has not carried a baby this long before. Also, with this being the 4th baby, I can't imagine how she will make it another 8 days! All we can do is pray that she does. If not, we will miss the delivery and she will have to go through the surgery alone. She is really scared about having to be at the hospital by herself. I don't blame her one bit! She goes back to the doctor on Monday just to do some paperwork and have some blood drawn. The doctor said he will not check her again on Monday though.
PEACE~ AMBER

GETTING CLOSER!

I talked to "T" today. She is doing fine. She sounded upbeat and said she is ready for us to get there and for the baby to be born. She asked if I was okay and asked if we were ready! I told her we are ready and that I am fine...just nervous! She is so strong and even shows support for me, when it is her who is facing such a difficult life decision. She really amazes me!
We are going to leave on Monday...June 1st for Atlanta. On the morning of June 2nd we are picking "T" up at her apartment and all going to the hospital together. She wants it this way, and she wants us to see where she lives. I know I will be sooo nervous on the way to her apartment. I guess we will meet her kids then too, if they are awake. We will find out Tues. what time the c-section is scheduled for. I can't believe we are going to see our sweet baby's face in just a little over a week! I keep unpacking and repacking the baby's suitcase! What is wrong with me?! Then I end up just re-packing the same stuff! I guess I am just verifying that I have everything I need for the week or two that we'll be in Georgia. I will probably forget all sorts of things for myself, but Mylah should be set!
~AMBER

BIRTHMOM TRIBUTE

PLEASE PAUSE THE SONG CURRENTLY PLAYING BEFORE STARTING THE VIDEO. TO PAUSE THE SONG...GO TO THE PLAYLIST AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THE SCREEN!

This is a song/video that was recorded by a guy who was adopted. It is really sweet! Please watch...it only takes a couple of minutes.

C~SECTION DATE IS....

"T" SENT ME A TEXT MESSAGE AFTER HER DOCTOR'S APPT. SHE SAID THE C-SECTION WILL BE JUNE 2nd!!! SHE WAS EXHAUSTED AFTER TAKING THE BUS WITH ALL 3 CHILDREN TO THE DOCTOR. SHE WAS GOING TO NAP WITH THEM AND WILL CALL ME LATER. IF THERE ARE ANY NEW DETAILS I WILL UPDATE AGAIN ONCE I TALK TO HER.
PEACE~AMBER

BIRTHMOM INTERVIEW

Yesterday "T" was interviewed by the social worker that we hired in Georgia. This is called the birthmom interview. It is basically where the social worker talks to the expectant mom to be sure she truly wants to place her baby for adoption. They talk about the bmoms entire life story and what circumstances have led her to this tough decision. They also make sure no one has talked the expectant mom into an adoption plan. They want to be sure the bmom came to the decision of her own free will and that she is at peace with her plan.
I spoke with both "T" and the SW (social worker) after the interview. They both said it went well. "T" said she was a little embarrassed about some of the questions about her family history. She was raised in foster care and was later adopted. She doesn't know much about family health history, ect... I told her she should not be embarrassed at all. I talked to her about how my bio. dad left when I was three and that I have only seen him maybe 2 or 3 times since then, for less than an hour each time. I don't know much about his health or anyone else's on that side of the family. It's nothing to be ashamed of. These things are completely out of our control and nothing we chose for ourselves. Just something that we must live with and not dwell on.
The SW talked about how "T" literally has nothing but some walls around her. No furniture, no beds, nothing. I already knew this from talking to "T" and it makes me very sad. The SW has seen alot in her day, and it even broke her heart. She also talked about how strong of a woman "T" is and that she really wants to be able to provide for her 3 children. After the adoption is complete, the SW is going to get back in touch with "T". She has some things such as toys and clothes that her children no longer use. She wants to give these to them. The SW cannot do anything like this right now, because it can be viewed as coercion. The SW was really touched by "T" and the kids. She said the children are very well behaved and that "T" takes pride in being a good mother. I could already tell this by talking on the phone with her.
The next doctors appt. is tomorrow, so I will update when I hear news!
Blessings~Amber

DOCTOR VISIT

Sorry it took so long for me to post about the doctor's visit. I had a busy day yesterday! By the way, Ivey graduated from K-4 last night!!! They were sooo cute with their cap and gowns on. I talked to "T" for about an hour yesterday afternoon.The visit went well. She has still not dilated any, thank goodness! The doctor did not schedule the c-section. :( He said he will do it at her next visit. She goes back next Thursday. She is 36 weeks + 5 days today. The Dr. told her he will schedule the section for June 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. She could still go into labor on her own and need to have the c-section at that time. That is what happened with her last 2 pregnancies. The last baby delivered at 37 weeks and the one before delivered at 38 weeks. We are all hoping she will not go into labor though. If she can make it to the scheduled date then we will make it there for the delivery!! "T" said she is going to take it really easy so that she will not go into labor on her own. Let's hope that works! Each year will be very busy for our family at the end of May and early June. Here is what we will have to celebrate: My b-day is May 31st, Mylah's b-day still yet to be determined, Ivey's b-day is June 10 and our anniversary is June 14th!!! It will be very busy for those 2 weeks every year! :)
We discussed how "T" wants things to go in the hospital. She wishes for me to visit with her in her room during the day. She wants me to care for Mylah in her hospital room. She doesn't want Mylah to be stuck in the nursery all the time, and she knows there is nowhere for me and Danny to go with her to bond. "T" also said that she doesn't want to be all alone and would like my company. I'm sure we will shed lots of tears together, but I also think we will have fun getting to know one another better. She wants me and Danny to do all the bottle feeding, ect...but she wants us to be in her room mostly. I'm sure we will leave so "T" can take naps and rest, but it sounds like we will be spending a good deal of time together. I think it will be great! :)