Routines Be Damned

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Last night Max crept out of a bed almost an hour after we put him to bed. It's that time of year, the final-term-of-school time of year, where "nasty ideas" in the style of my mischievous Grandpa Max start cropping up with the tulips. Husby saw Max coming down the stairs and got one of those "nasty ideas." He called Max to him and whispered in his ear, "You want to go with me and Mommy to the donut store and get a treat?"

Of course he said yes so we sneaked to the car, had him duck down in the backseat with something to cover him up in case Noah was looking out the window wondering why Max got to go somewhere with us, and made our escape. As soon as we were around the corner Max buckled up an we figured we were home free! Until 2 minutes later Noah buzzed our phone with a Facetime call and we saw him pouting in the kitchen wondering where we had gone. He was only slightly mollified when I told him we'd bring him back two raspberry filled.

And that's how last night's bedtime routine became a donut party.

It pretty much sums up my attitude, so changed from the beginning of the year when I'd wake up precisely at 6:30 am to make my littles a hot breakfast and read to them for 30 minutes, followed by one-on-one help with their homework for an hour all before school. Like I can muster that level of motivation and commitment anymore! Now it's, "How long can I push snooze for?", toast for the 20th time in a row for breakfast, Noah's filling his bed with crumbs because he refuses to get out of bed for breakfast, and I'm reevaluating how important homework is to me.

Summer is coming and, as far as I'm concerned, I'm already living there.

My New Niece Lucy!

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How do you sum up 17 years of waiting, wanting, empty arms, full hearts, miracles, seemingly endless paperwork, infertility treatments, a surprising pregnancy, adoption trips to far away places, and one family's wish to complete their family? Her name is Lucy.

Before last Thursday my wonderful sister (in law) Chelsea and brother (in law) Seth had three amazing children who each had their own miraculous journey into our family.

Their first, Carlos, came to us from Guatemala through a indescribably heart-wrenching 2 year battle with their government. We fell instantly in love with him when he was just a few months old and  Chel and Seth were matched to him. We saw his picture and knew he belonged in our family. At 27 months old he finally walked off the airplane with his new mom and dad and into our lives for good - right where he belonged. 

(Left: Carlos with his Mommy and Daddy)

(Above: Noah, Grandpa Parker, and Luke)

Next came Luke, who is one day older than my sweet Noah, and they have been great buddies ever since. Luke is a miracle all his own with mommy's freckles and daddy's looks because by amazing happenstance he grew inside his mother's body instead of somewhere far away. It was so much fun for Chelsea and I to have babies at the same time and watch them grow up as cousins and friends.

After more years of wondering, waiting, prayers, and divine inspiration Chelsea and Seth found our precious niece Naomi waiting for them in Hong Kong. She filled our hearts to bursting and still there is not a second of being around her or thinking about her that I'm not a happier or better person for loving her. Our family would be incomplete without her guileless soul, charismatic personality, and stubborn antics.

More time went by and we all wondered if someone else was coming but their lives were busy, Naomi needed major heart surgery, and it just didn't seem like the right time. Then God gave them an incredible, beautiful surprise.

A year ago Chelsea and Seth had completed a lot of adoption paperwork and classes not really knowing what direction God was sending them. They completed their home study, took all the classes to be certified for the Foster Care system, and even sent an application to a small adoption agency in NYC with the thought that they might be matched to a baby or child through that agency who had Down Syndrome like Naomi. Most of all they waited, took care of the pressing needs their children had, and their adoption plans went on the back burner. But God was working for them.

Two weeks ago, after having just moved into a new house that needed a lot of work, they got a surprise call from that little adoption agency in NYC telling them about a little baby girl they were trying to find a family for. She did not have Down Syndrome and so was not what Chelsea and Seth had been expecting but after seeing her picture they knew she was theirs. They made arrangements to fly to NYC and bring her home but only told their children and parents. The night of Halloween we got the best trick and treat ever by hearing that we had a new niece. Not even knowing that they were still working on their adoption, it was a huge surprise.

The next day we got to meet her and as I held her in my arms for the first time I felt the same overwhelming feeling that I have for all of my nieces and nephews - that they belong in our family and that I adore them. I'm so grateful to have little Lucy in my life.

Like all domestic adoptions they have to wait 6 months to finalize her adoption and until then they can't share any pictures of her in public forums, which means I can't either. Boo. She is so beautiful. Instead I'll just tell you that she has bright, piercing, dark little eyes that look at you with the greatest innocence. She loves to be held tight and cuddled. She's tiny, having been born at 33 weeks and being just 2 months old. She's got a beautiful face and very dark brown straight hair. We don't know her complete ethnicity but she is half Russian and looks a bit like she might also be of Middle Eastern or Indian decent. It's a fun mystery. Most of all we love her with our whole hearts and are so glad for this newest addition to our family.

Welcome home Lucy!

Carlos, a friend, Luke, and Naomi meeting Lucy for the first time.

It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day, It's a New Life

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“Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Breeze driftin’ on by
You know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good
I’m feeling good”
— Feeling Good, by Michael Buble

Noah often needs some positive reinforcement to get out of bed in the morning and I usually have to get creative about it. This morning I reached for our bluetooth speaker and my iPhone and put on one of our songs: Feeling Good by Michael Buble.

The first time I heard this song Noah was a week old and Linda and toddler Kimmie had come to visit and had brought us a present: this song. I remember holding Noah close in my arms, the smell of his baby softness enough to almost burst my heart with joy while we sat together in our rocking chair in his nursery. Linda explained that she had been listening to this song all week and how it made her cry because it reminded her of us. As the music played Kimmie and Linda danced around the room in the playful way of mothers and toddlers and Linda was right - it was the perfect song for Noah and me.

Together we had a new life together, a life completely different from the ones we would have led without each other. It was a new dawn, a new day, a new life.

This morning I played that song in the morning darkness to wake Noah up. He cracked his eyes open a peep and aked me to tickle him awake. Then he jumped from the top bunk into my waiting arms and I held him close again while we spun and danced and I remembered.

It has been a good life and sometime it still feels so new.