Since we were still a family of 4 we headed down to Florida for Christmas vacation. Our plan was to be there December 18 - January 2. We had already spent a week of going to the beach, celebrating Christmas, and eating ice cream everyday. We even took the boys to Legoland where we opened and closed the amusement park. The thought was while we're a family of 4 we better make the most of it. Tuesday, December 27, the day after we lived it up at Legoland I received a call from our adoption agency. As everyone should while on vacation I was binge watching BRAVO The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the kids were playing with Christmas toys, and big J was riding the golf cart drinking a beer looking for gators at the lake. Our agency explained there was a unique adoption opportunity and wanted to know if we were interested in being presented to the birth mom. There was a perfectly healthy little bundle of boy born November 30. He was born at 32 weeks so he was a preemie in the NICU. I ran to the lake, flagged down big J and we decided there was no reason to not be presented. I called the agency back and she let me know she would let us know. The day continued on in silence so we went about our vacation bliss.
At 11:00am on December 28 while I sun tanned and a read a book, the boys splashed in the pool, and big J reset the iPad (long story) my phone rang again. I picked it up and it was the agency. She said congratulations you've been picked! My immediate response was laughter! She continued to let me know that our birth mom was on her way to sign papers. Holy cow! I let her know we were 16 hours away on vacation in Florida. YIKES!!!! It was greatly suggested that we start to pack up to come home. So as everyone should, we went back to our place to get changed and take the kids to ice cream to let them know the news. While at the mobile home the agency called and we were able to face time and meet our birth mom. The boys were told of the great news and jumped for joy! It was a special moment that we all got to share together.
As we traveled to the ice cream parlor we made millions of calls and texts. Spoke further with our attorney and started to plan our departure for home. That night we cleaned up the place and packed the car to hit the road in the morning.
Thursday morning we woke up at 6:00am loaded in the car and made the long haul home. It took us about 16 hours to get home. We then woke up Friday morning to travel the hour and a half to IU Bloomington to meet our nugget in the NICU. We got to spend about 2 hours there and then we headed to Ft.Wayne to meet our birth mom for dinner. It was a wonderful time and such a blessing to meet her face to face. At about 9:30pm we wrapped up dinner and then headed back home. We woke up New Year's Eve drove back to IU Bloomington to spend the day with our number 5. That night we stayed with some friends and then went back to the hospital in the morning. Sunday afternoon we drove all the way home. Celebrated with family and watched the winning Packer game. Monday morning I drove back to IU Bloomington and stayed until Wednesday. Then big J headed down to IU Bloomington and stayed until our nugget was released home on Friday afternoon.
So that's the quick condensed version so I could get everyone up to speed! We are adjusting and loving every minute!
