Miracles Happen When You Believe!
Before we got married we decided we wanted to start a family right away for two reasons: one-we got married a little bit older so we felt there was no reason to wait to start a family and two-we love children and we were excited to be parents! After two years of trying to have a baby and we weren't expecting, we weren't too concerned or worried. I was still in school working on a degree in Elementary Education so I focused my energies on this. When I graduated from college and we still weren't expecting, we decided it might be time to get some help. We pursued this course off and on for three years. We met some really nice doctors, but we still don't know why we can't conceive a baby. Throughout this time, I never felt like this was the correct path for us. I really wanted to look into adoption. Because from the time I was a child, I always wanted to adopt. I discussed adoption with Dave, and we decided to pray and fast to make sure this was the right decision for our family. We met with our Bishop and told him we were interested in learning more about LDS Family Services and learning about adoption through them. The Bishop wasn't sure what we needed to do, but he told us he would look into it for us. We were soon introduced to our case worker Sara.
There is SO MUCH to do when you want to adopt! We were so happy when the paper work was completed, fingerprinting completed, our on-line profile completed, paper profile completed, home study done, and adoption classes finished. Then the waiting began. We waited, and we waited for a contact from a single expectant parent. Then we waited some more, and a contact from a single expectant parent never came. This was a time of great trial and sorrow. Two scriptures have come to mean a great deal to us. The first one is found in Doctrine and Covenants section 98: verses 1 and 2, "Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks; Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament- the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted." We had faith in this scripture. The Lord had heard our prayers, the prayers of our family members, and the prayers of friends. The Lord knew how much we wanted to start a family. This scripture also told us to wait patiently; that our prayers would be granted. We just didn't know when our prayers would be answered or if it would happen in this life. The second scripture is found in Mosiah 3:19, "...become...as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." This scripture helped us realize as much as we wanted children if it didn't happen in this life we would be okay. We would have to rely on the Atonement to help us accept the will of the Father, but we would still have faith and testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel. Life would be hard, but we would need to learn how to fill the whole in our hearts with the gospel. After much prayer and thought, we decided to keep trying to adopt for the time being, and we would reevaluate this decision when we turned 40 years old.
There is SO MUCH to do when you want to adopt! We were so happy when the paper work was completed, fingerprinting completed, our on-line profile completed, paper profile completed, home study done, and adoption classes finished. Then the waiting began. We waited, and we waited for a contact from a single expectant parent. Then we waited some more, and a contact from a single expectant parent never came. This was a time of great trial and sorrow. Two scriptures have come to mean a great deal to us. The first one is found in Doctrine and Covenants section 98: verses 1 and 2, "Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks; Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament- the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted." We had faith in this scripture. The Lord had heard our prayers, the prayers of our family members, and the prayers of friends. The Lord knew how much we wanted to start a family. This scripture also told us to wait patiently; that our prayers would be granted. We just didn't know when our prayers would be answered or if it would happen in this life. The second scripture is found in Mosiah 3:19, "...become...as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." This scripture helped us realize as much as we wanted children if it didn't happen in this life we would be okay. We would have to rely on the Atonement to help us accept the will of the Father, but we would still have faith and testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel. Life would be hard, but we would need to learn how to fill the whole in our hearts with the gospel. After much prayer and thought, we decided to keep trying to adopt for the time being, and we would reevaluate this decision when we turned 40 years old.
Well, January 15, 2013 came around It was evening time, and I decided to check my email. In my inbox was the email we had been waiting for for almost three years. It was from a girl named Jessica. She wrote that she had seen our profile and liked it. She wanted to know a little more about us; she also wondered if we have a blog. We were so excited, but we were so nervous. We didn't know what to write about. We responded that night, and to our surprise and delight we heard back from Jessica. We corresponded through email for a couple of weeks. During this time we enjoyed getting to know more about Jessica and Alex, her significant other. We were thrilled when Jessica told us she and Alex wanted to meet us. We had the opportunity to have a face to face on February 7th. We met at LDS Family Services in Jessica and Alex's area. Jessica's case worker Amber and Jessica's sister Larissa were there as well. We were so nervous. Our face to face went really well. Dave and I really enjoyed getting to know Jessica, Alex, and Larissa. Each one of us had the chance to talk about our families, our hometowns, our family traditions, our likes, etc. As our face to face was winding down, Jessica told us she had a gift for us. We were stunned; we weren't expecting any gifts. She gave me a beautiful paper weight to use in my first grade classroom. Then she gave Dave and me a card. We opened the envelope inside was a baby card that said welcome baby. Inside the card were pictures from an ultra sound and the most precious note. Jessica and Alex had chosen us to raise their baby. The note also mentioned how the Lord had brought us altogether for a purpose. We feel this way too! Tears were shed as we realized our prayers and hopes were coming to pass through this most sacred and selfless act. Then Jessica showed us a music snow globe she would like the baby to have. It has special meaning to Jessica and her family because their mom helped them as children go to sleep by playing music before bedtime. She would like us to continue this tradition. What a cute and meaningful part of the babies bedtime routine this will be.
We invited Alex, Jessica, and Larissa to dinner. We were starving. They took us to a local Mexican place; it was very good. We continued to talk and to get to know one another. Finally, it was time to part, but it was so hard to say good-bye. Once Dave and I were in the car driving back to our home, we kept saying how easy it was to talk to and spend time with Alex, Jessica, and Larissa. We felt very comfortable with them as if we already knew them.
Over the next couple of weeks we communicated through text messages. I have never really been one to text so I had to learn some new skills. We anxiously looked forward to every text we received from Jessica. In one of her text messages she invited us to come to an ultra sound and to meet her parents and possibly one of her brothers. Of course we said yes. On March 1st we had the special experience of meeting Cheri and Eldon (Jessica's parents) and her brother Benjamin. We all watched the ultra sound and oohed and awed over the cutest baby boy ever. We were so happy to find that he and Jessica were healthy. When the time at the ultra sound was over, we met at a local diner. Dave and I shared a piece of pie while we visited with Alex, Jessica, Benjamin, Eldon, and Cheri. They are all such nice, down to earth people. They even had gifts for the baby- cowboy bodysuits and the funnest baby cowboy boots that Velcro. Also, Eldon and Larissa had made some homemade jelly which they gave to us. What kind and thoughtful people! We had a great visit and didn't want to part when it was time to leave. We continued to communicate with Jessica through the month of March through text message. Jessica loves to read and recommended I read the book The Hunger Games so I did. I loved the book. Now, I want to see the movie. I can't wait to finish reading the whole series.
Because the baby's due date was March 30th, I spent the month of March getting ready for a long term substitute and buying things we would need for the baby. My spring vacation began on March 22nd. I met with my long term substitute in my classroom for about 4 hours on this day to go over rules, procedures, expectations, and curriculum goals. Then I went back to my classroom on Saturday the 23rd to finish up a few things. I am very thankful the Lord helped me get my classroom ready for the month I will be taking off.
I had my whole week of spring vacation planned out to continue preparing for the coming of the baby. Then Sunday afternoon the 24th we got a text from Jessica saying she was having some contraction pains and that she would be going to the hospital a little later. Then we got a text around 7:30 in the evening saying that she was dilated between a 4 and a 5 and almost completely effaced so the hospital was going to keep her. Dave and I were so excited but a bit stressed because we had only half packed a bag just in case the baby came early. Jessica and I spoke on the phone, and I told her we would be leaving within the hour. Then Dave and I ran around the house trying to pack and get a few things in order. We had bought a car seat a few weeks prior, but we hadn't put it in the car yet. So we went over to our next door neighbors and asked them for help. They knew we were trying to adopt, but they didn't know we had been chosen yet. They were so excited for us and very helpful in getting the car seat into the car. We left our house around 9:00 pm, and we arrived at the hospital around 11:00pm.
We spent the night with Jessica, Alex, and her family in Jessica's hospital room. We visited, laughed, and cat napped a little (a few pictures to follow). Jessica was amazing during this time; she was so positive and upbeat during the whole labor. Even when she was the most tired and worn out she was so brave, and she never complained. The baby was turned "sunny side up" so it took some doing to get him to turn. Once the baby turned, she was able to start pushing. This was about 7:00 am Monday morning. Jessica was so amazing and so were her mom and sister Larissa. Her sister and mom were such a comfort to her during this time. At 7:59 am Wilson Bailey Emery Clark was born. He weighed 8lbs 5oz. He was 20.5 inches long. Wilson was born with dark hair and a lot of it.
We invited Alex, Jessica, and Larissa to dinner. We were starving. They took us to a local Mexican place; it was very good. We continued to talk and to get to know one another. Finally, it was time to part, but it was so hard to say good-bye. Once Dave and I were in the car driving back to our home, we kept saying how easy it was to talk to and spend time with Alex, Jessica, and Larissa. We felt very comfortable with them as if we already knew them.
Over the next couple of weeks we communicated through text messages. I have never really been one to text so I had to learn some new skills. We anxiously looked forward to every text we received from Jessica. In one of her text messages she invited us to come to an ultra sound and to meet her parents and possibly one of her brothers. Of course we said yes. On March 1st we had the special experience of meeting Cheri and Eldon (Jessica's parents) and her brother Benjamin. We all watched the ultra sound and oohed and awed over the cutest baby boy ever. We were so happy to find that he and Jessica were healthy. When the time at the ultra sound was over, we met at a local diner. Dave and I shared a piece of pie while we visited with Alex, Jessica, Benjamin, Eldon, and Cheri. They are all such nice, down to earth people. They even had gifts for the baby- cowboy bodysuits and the funnest baby cowboy boots that Velcro. Also, Eldon and Larissa had made some homemade jelly which they gave to us. What kind and thoughtful people! We had a great visit and didn't want to part when it was time to leave. We continued to communicate with Jessica through the month of March through text message. Jessica loves to read and recommended I read the book The Hunger Games so I did. I loved the book. Now, I want to see the movie. I can't wait to finish reading the whole series.
Because the baby's due date was March 30th, I spent the month of March getting ready for a long term substitute and buying things we would need for the baby. My spring vacation began on March 22nd. I met with my long term substitute in my classroom for about 4 hours on this day to go over rules, procedures, expectations, and curriculum goals. Then I went back to my classroom on Saturday the 23rd to finish up a few things. I am very thankful the Lord helped me get my classroom ready for the month I will be taking off.
I had my whole week of spring vacation planned out to continue preparing for the coming of the baby. Then Sunday afternoon the 24th we got a text from Jessica saying she was having some contraction pains and that she would be going to the hospital a little later. Then we got a text around 7:30 in the evening saying that she was dilated between a 4 and a 5 and almost completely effaced so the hospital was going to keep her. Dave and I were so excited but a bit stressed because we had only half packed a bag just in case the baby came early. Jessica and I spoke on the phone, and I told her we would be leaving within the hour. Then Dave and I ran around the house trying to pack and get a few things in order. We had bought a car seat a few weeks prior, but we hadn't put it in the car yet. So we went over to our next door neighbors and asked them for help. They knew we were trying to adopt, but they didn't know we had been chosen yet. They were so excited for us and very helpful in getting the car seat into the car. We left our house around 9:00 pm, and we arrived at the hospital around 11:00pm.
We spent the night with Jessica, Alex, and her family in Jessica's hospital room. We visited, laughed, and cat napped a little (a few pictures to follow). Jessica was amazing during this time; she was so positive and upbeat during the whole labor. Even when she was the most tired and worn out she was so brave, and she never complained. The baby was turned "sunny side up" so it took some doing to get him to turn. Once the baby turned, she was able to start pushing. This was about 7:00 am Monday morning. Jessica was so amazing and so were her mom and sister Larissa. Her sister and mom were such a comfort to her during this time. At 7:59 am Wilson Bailey Emery Clark was born. He weighed 8lbs 5oz. He was 20.5 inches long. Wilson was born with dark hair and a lot of it.
Introducing baby Wilson.
Jessica asked me to cut the cord. What an honor!
The nurse taking care of Wilson right after he was born.
Jessica loving baby Wilson.
Alex and me looking at how cute Wilson is.
Dave, Wilson, and me.
Dave holding Wilson.
Eldon, Jessica's dad, holding Wilson.
Cheri, Jessica's mom, holding Wilson.
Isn't Wilson the cutest baby!
Jessica and Wilson! What precious pictures.
Larissa holding Wilson.
After we all had a chance to hold and love Wilson, Jessica and Wilson were moved from the labor and delivery room to another room upstairs. Because I was blessed to have the other arm band, I was able to be in the nursery while the nurse checked out Wilson.
We got to watch one of the nurses give Wilson his first bath. He really didn't like it.
More posts to follow about placement and Wilson's first weeks at home.
