Sadie is Home

Tuesday morning,  January 27th,  we got a phone call from Jackie.  She explained that she was having contractions the previous night so she went to the hospital thinking she was going to deliver the baby that night.  Her doctor explained that her contractions weren't strong enough and sent her home.  But the doctor predicted that Jackie would deliver the baby within three days.  Throughout the day we got text messages from Jackie updating us on how she was progressing.  Laster that night around 9:00 p.m. she told us she was at the hospital and they were going to keep her overnight. She was 3 cm dilated and contractions were coming consistently but not five minutes apart.

AJ and I had two round trip tickets to Chicago but the tickets were scheduled for the next day at 10:00 in the morning.  So unfortunately we were not able to get on the last flight to Chicago Tuesday night.  However, we were blessed to be able to get on the earlier flight Wednesday morning together.   Sadie was born at 9:46 a.m. Central time.  She weighed 7 lbs 10 oz, and was 20 inches long.  

AJ and I arrived at the hospital just four hours after Sadie was born.  Jackie (the birth mother) was excited to see us.  She took pictures of our reactions as we met our daughter.  It was love at first sight!  AJ and I invited everyone in the room to sing "Happy Birthday" and "Families Can Be Together Forever" to Sadie.  It was a very sweet and tearful moment.  Jackie let AJ and I stay in the hospital room with her and the baby for the two days they were in the hospital.  We were especially grateful that we were able to stay at the hospital with the baby.  It was a perfect opportunity for AJ and I to bond with her.  We also got to bond with Jackie and her sweet daughter Arianna.  When the baby and Jackie were discharged from the hospital.  It was another humbling, joyful, tearful experience.  Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.  Words cannot explain it but we will always remember that day.

We are so blessed...we came home with a beautiful daughter, and left Chicago with an extended family.  This whole adoption experience has tested and strengthened our faith, refreshed our friendship and love in our marriage, humbled us,  shown us the power of prayer, and we have seen and felt the love our Father in Heaven and Savior has for us.  AJ and I had to wait a long time to become parents, but the wait has been worth every hour, day, and year.  Sadie is a perfect addition to our family, she is exactly what we have been praying for!