Thursday, March 14, 2013

And that makes 7....

Some know, but many don't... We started the adoption process knowing that our family was not complete and knowing that we could not pursue a larger family the "traditional" way.

About 4 1/2 years ago, I became pregnant with our 2nd child. It was difficult from the beginning, and we thought we lost him when I was just 6-7 weeks along. With an ultrasound there was no sight of a baby at all, and they claimed that it was just an empty sac. After many prayers and further blood tests and another ultrasound, against all odds, 3 days later, suddenly there he was! At 27 weeks pregnant I began having preterm labor and was put on bedrest to hopefully keep our baby boy in there until 36 wees. Just 4 weeks later, at 31 weeks, my water broke and he was born 9 weeks early.




The doctors weren't exactly sure why, but after a year or so and further testing, ultrasounds of ovaries/uterus, bloodwork and whatnot, they decided that it would be fairly impossible for me to get pregnant again and that it was a blessing that we had 2 children. It was hard to accept because we had planned on having maybe 3 or 4, but we decided to trust His plan, knowing we'd pursue adoption someday and in the meantime continue trying to have another... We trusted Jeremiah 29:11

 "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Two years later, after moving to Florida, God confirmed to us (through a dream) that we should start the adoption process. We began that and obviously, here we are today with 2 HUGE blessings that were added to our family, giving us 4 of the greatest children in the world! 


After bringing the boys home, we knew our family was still not finished. Michael was ready to go back a month later and adopt 4 more! ;) Unfortunately our bank account had not quite gotten caught up from all the expenses and so we'd have to wait at least a year or two to build our savings back up... Along with that, we could not have anymore kids until we got a bigger vehicle as our minivan is filled to the max with carseats. They say a minivan fits 7, but when all of your kids are in big giant carseats (because despite having a 4 year old and two 6 year olds, this momma is a car nazi and my kids will be in full carseats with 5 point harnesses for as long as possible!), there is NO room for 7... So along with having to pay off adoption debt, start our savings back up again, AND having to buy a roomier vehicle, there was no way we could grow our family for awhile...

We celebrated the boys being home for 6 months at the end of February. I could not believe how fast time went and how they'd been home for half a year already. But yet, it seemed as if they'd been a part of our family forever! 

 Fast forward a week or so... God gave me another dream... This time I was pregnant... I woke up from the dream on Saturday morning laying in bed and began an argument in my head with God... Saying something like "Funny dream, God... It better not be true! God, we JUST added 2 more to our family 6 months ago... We would need another vehicle. We cannot afford that right now. We JUST paid off the adoption debt! And God!! We don't even HAVE any baby stuff anymore!! You told us we were to adopt, and we knew it wouldn't be infants so we have NOTHING for a newborn! This isn't funny, God...." I knew that it was just a dream, but God tends to speak to me through dreams and I had a feeling this was from Him. Instead of continuing to doubt and question it all, I decided to just get out of bed and dig out a pregnancy test that was stuffed under my bathroom sink that I'd had for awhile to use just to cast all my worries away. There was no way I'd be pregnant when the doctors had said I couldn't, and I'll spare you the details, but since we brought the boys home, we'd been extra "careful", just in case. So I knew it'd be downright impossible...

So, I took the test and sat there waiting for the results. One line. I breathed a sigh of relief, washed my hands and looked at it one more time. I gasped and burst into tears...

(Sorry it's super blurry!)


Not one line... 2...

Yes, folks, I cried... Partly out of fear of past pregnancies. Partly out of fear out of how we'd afford a new vehicle within 9 months (I'm NOT a fan of financing and prefer to pay in cash for ANYTHING). But mainly out of surprise. How? How could this be? After 4 years of not being able to get pregnant, we do after already adding 2 more to our family just 6 months prior... This was IMPOSSIBLE!!

But, like it says in Luke 1:37......

"For nothing is impossible with God.”


I went and found Michael doing his Bible study. I said "Honey, we need to talk..." And his immediate response was "You're pregnant?" And I frowned, not sure if he was kidding or being serious, and if he was being serious, how did he know?? (later he told me he just had a feeling, but was half joking) I handed him the test and said "What does that look like?" And he said I'd say it looks like we're having a baby!" I again began crying and telling him all my thoughts and he just sat and listened, then he scooped me up into his lap like I was one of the kids and said "Honey. Stop worrying. It will be okay. Be HAPPY! This is exciting! God is doing something GREAT! Like you always tell me, 'Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything'...." I knew he was right, but I was still doubtful. I thought well, maybe since it was a faint line, it wasn't true. Or MAYBE, it was an expired test since it was under my sink for so long. I ran to the bathroom and looked at the box. Nope... Expiration date of 2014... But surely, it had to be just some sort of fluke, right? Michael had to go to work and came home with a box with two more tests, knowing what the results would be, but knowing me well enough that he knew I needed to "just check again". I took one that day. Another faint line. Then took one the next morning. A full line... It was true... I was pregnant...

Now that the initial shock has worn off, I am very excited... Am I scared/nervous about how the pregnancy will be or how we'll afford everything? Of course!! But now I've realized just how true of a miracle it is that we actually ARE having this baby... And ya know, if God jumped through all these obstacles (well, I guess for Him, it was simple, but for US it seems hard) to make this baby, He's obviously going to provide and make a way for it all to happen and we're just going to be praying for a super healthy pregnancy and a full term baby. We found out yesterday that my official due date is November 17. We're praying that this baby at least stays put until November. Would you join us in praying for that?

Also, along with all of this, I have to tell you... A couple months ago, we had been looking at pictures of me being pregnant with Ilana and Aydan and of them as little babies because Mikiyas wanted to see. He's been begging for me to have another baby in my belly saying "You have Ilana in tummy. You have Aydan in tummy. You have me and Eyob in heart. Now you get baby in tummy again!" I'd explain to him that I we can't and that Mommy just can't have anymore babies in my tummy. Only in my heart (adoption). And he'd just respond with "I pray then. I pray for baby in you tummy." I'd laugh and say "Okay!" Who would've thought...

Isn't it truly funny, though, how God works?! He is working MIRACLES in our family and I am THANKFUL!!!

" Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Phil 4:6


How we told my mom and sister Sunday morning at church. It took them awhile to understand! ;) 




P.S If I ever have a dream about any of you, beware.... It MAY just be true! ;)