We're Having A Baby

A couple days ago we got the call.

Our social worker called to tell us that there was a newborn baby girl in the hospital who will probably need a forever home.

Almost two years ago, we had started the process of becoming foster parents with the hope that we would get a call just like this someday. Over the past year that we've been licensed, we've had a handful of placements, here and there, and we've enjoyed being able to love on those kids, while also knowing that they wouldn't be staying with us permanently. 

But here we are, about to embark on a journey that might be different. Nothing is ever for certain with foster care, so we're not letting ourselves feel totally confident in her outcome, but we it won't stop us for praying for it.

Luke and I went to the hospital to meet her the day that we got the call, and it was pretty much love at first sight. She looks almost exactly like our daughter did when she was born, which is crazy.

She's been in the NICU, but she's been making incredible progress and we get to take her home TODAY!

It has felt so surreal to basically be told "You're about to have a baby! Except you don't have 9 months to prepare, you have like... 2 days!"

So we've just been over here, SCRAMBLING.

We need diapers! And a carseat! And clothes! And a swing! And a carrier! 

I was on the phone with a friend yesterday, who is giving me a bunch of her old baby stuff and she goes "Do you need bottles?"

I HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT BOTTLES! How will she eat if we don't have bottles?!

It's been 4 years since our youngest was born, which is apparently long enough to forget EVERYTHING. We are basically going back to being total rookies with a brand new baby.

Our kids are so excited though, we took a ton of pictures and videos each time we visited her in the hospital and Vienna has watched them over and over again since then.
She was so excited to pick out a present for the baby.

God has been so good and faithful to give us such peace and show us amazing love through this. I have felt that so deeply with all of the support and enthusiasm we've even gotten from the friends and family we've been able to share it with, even though it's been such a whirlwind and haven't had the time to tell a lot of people. Our friends have been texting and calling and dropping baby items off, and the love and excitement for our family has been overwhelming.

So, all of that to say, please be praying for us!

Pray for Baby Girl, her physical and neurological health and development. That God would protect her through this whole thing, and that the legal system would fight for her and not fail her.

Pray for our kids, as their world is about to be a little rocked with a new baby around. That we would be able to make sure they all are getting lots of quality time with us in middle of all the transition, and that would feel loved and valued.

Pray for us! Pray that we would be continually relying on God's strength to do this well, and not our own, because our own strength isn't good enough. And pray that we would trust in Him and His plan, no matter what lies ahead on this roller coaster.

God is good, all the time.