Our New Home...A Residence Inn

Well, after thinking that we wouldn't be discharged until Tuesday, we got the boot yesterday afternoon! Sadie was doing so well and the doctor gave her a monitor to go home on "just in case" to monitor her breathing and heart rate. We feel very blessed to finally have her with us! We got into the car with her little tiny body bundled up in a BIG car seat and made the trek to Lexington, KY to a Residence Inn. We stopped along the way at a rest area to feed her in the car and I teared up over the relief of not having to scrub-in at the hospital to feed her anymore. It was truly a treat!

Jeff making our last breakfast at the Hospitality House.

Our first night at the hotel was pretty uneventful. It was our first night of late-night feedings and of listening to all of her grunts and noises as she sleeps : ) The monitor went off a bazillion times it seems like and they were all false alarms. Not sure that we will keep this wonderful contraption. The doctor told us she really didn't need it, but gave it to us as a security blanket for us. I think we will only use it in the car on the way home, when that day finally comes.

Here are a few pictures from the past week or so...

 Sadie in her new open-air crib.  Done with her incubator!
 Jeff and I went to visit with Janie and Michael and their family last Friday night.  Many of our friends contributed money to help buy the boys Christmas presents and a giftcard to Lowes for some of their home needs.  They were so appreciative!  The left picture is me and Janie and the other picture is of their boys, Isaiah and Jayden. 

  Daddy and Sadie.  She sure does love her daddy!

Sadie's Discharge

Well, we thought we were going to be discharged today.  Jeff and I got the whole car packed up, said our goodbyes at the Hospitality House and headed over to the hospital to pick up our baby girl.  We had to meet with an adoption agency worker at 9:30 and then Sadie was ready to go!  In fact, the doctor had been there in the middle of the night and had already officially discharged Sadie.  They were literally just waiting on us to take her whenever we were ready.  So, Jeff was feeding her one last time while we waited on Ashley, the adoption agency worker from Kentucky.  Because Janie is a KY resident, a KY agency also needed to be involved with the case.  Ashley was just stopping in to make sure that Sadie was alive and kicking and that (as she said) we weren't "serial killers"!  After Jeff fed Sadie, I was holding her waiting on Ashley and she had what they call a "brady".  A brady is technically bradycardia where the preemie just forgets to breath sometimes and their heart rate goes down.  It is very normal for preemies and Sadie has always self-corrected when she does it.  However, she had a couple of them somewhat close together, so we decided that we better call the doctor.  In the meantime, Ashley showed up and checked everything out with us.  I think she was literally there for 5 minutes.  We got the doctor on the phone and decided that we should keep her in the NICU for another day to make sure she is ok.  We also decided to get a monitor for her to go home with that keeps up with her heart rate and lets us know if she bradys at home.  I will feel much better about that.  

So, I think that the plan is now to be discharged either Monday or Tuesday.  The doctor said we can stay as long as we want.  It is really better for us to stay here at the Hospitality House because it is free and it keeps our hotel costs down.  Ashley went to meet with Janie and Michael after seeing us and got them to sign everything, so the adoption process will get started this weekend and we should hopefully get officially approved by ICPC soon!  What a huge relief!  Ashley was so sweet.  I only met this woman for 5 minutes this morning, but she told me that after she left Janie's house today, she called her husband and cried on the phone with him.  She said she was so grateful that sweet Sadie was being adopted by us and going to a good home.  She was so happy for us.  She went above and beyond getting to Sadie's birthparents this morning too.  They were all supposed to meet at a library in town at 11:30 and Janie and Michael didn't show up.  She waited an hour and finally called me.  I called Janie, who had just gotten home.  She felt bad that she didn't call Ashley, but she doesn't have long-distance and Ashley's number is long-distance.  Janie and Michael had been in town looking for car insurance and got tied up.  They definitely live in the "here and now" and don't really think much about appointments.  It is a totally different culture.  Anyway, Ashley then had to go and pick Janie up at her house which is not easy to find!  Then they had to go a couple of "hollers" over to get Michael, who was cutting down wood for the wood-burning stove that heats their house.  She then had to take them someplace to sign all of the papers and then drive back to Louisville 3 hours away.  I can't tell you how grateful I was for her perseverance!    The crazy thing is that something similar occurred when the attorney, Wave, drove 2 hours to meet with Michael to sign the relinquishment papers last Tuesday.  Wave was supposed to meet Michael at a gas station in town.  Well, Michael didn't show up.  So, Wave calls the house and Michael's mother tells him that he forgot that he had a drug class to go to for his parole.  His mother tries to tell him where the class is, which was difficult.  Wave then asks her what car he is in so that he could find him and she says, "A red KIA with the back windshield blown out".  So, Wave tries to follow directions to this class when he literally sees the red KIA going the opposite direction on the highway.  He makes a U-turn quickly and catches up with him.  Michael signals for him to follow him, which he did.  They arrive at the class and Michael tells Wave that it should only be 15 minutes.  So, Wave sits tight.  AN HOUR LATER, Michael comes out of the class!  They finally all get to sit down and Michael signs all of the papers.  It is all so crazy, even I don't totally believe it.  They all keep telling me that this is not atypical for birthparents, but it is just such a different world than what we are used to!  

More later.  And I have more pictures!  We also went to Janie's and Michael's house last night to bring some pictures and Christmas gifts.  They were very appreciative and Janie looked GREAT.  I will post pictures from that visit as well.  Love to all!!

Spa Day

My hubby is the most wonderful man in the world.  He is sending me to Lexington today to go shopping at the big mall and to get a spa treatment.  I am getting 20 minutes of hydro-therapy and a massage and facial!  Woo Hoo!  I wish I could take Sadie with me, but getting out of Ashland, KY for a day will do me a world of good!  

On another note, Sadie is doing GREAT!  She gained over 2 oz yesterday and now weighs 3lbs 13.1oz!  We are so very proud of her.  

He signed!!!

Hey Everybody, Thank you for your prayers and support through this whole process. Michael signed the papers and Sadie is now our full responsibility!!! The attorney just called us and the first thing he said (and I heard-Jeff) was "Congratulations". There is even a divine story behind the signing...unbelievable....we'll tell you about that later.....We are parents!!!!!

A few Pictures...

For some reason the blogger wasn't adding my pictures last night, so I am attempting again! This first shot is Grandpapa feeding Sadie her bottle. My dad came up by train to Ashland to meet my mom so that they could ride back to Georgia together. My mom has been a HUGE help. Not only was she there for me when I was crying hysterically after Michael wouldn't sign in jail, but she also brought meals from home for us and made cupcakes for all of Sadie's nurses and workers at the Hospitality House we are staying in. She is amazing.

Here is Sadie after her first tub bath. We thought we could get some pictures during the bath, but that proved more difficult than we thought! We were too busy trying to keep her calm. She sure is cute all wrapped up in this towel though!

After we bathed Sadie and read her her bedtime book that Wendy and Eric Blissett sent us, she went right back to sleep. We left the hospital to go back home and immediately were hit with a snow shower! Across from the hospital is Central Park and it is already decked out with Christmas lights, so we took this shot (below right) in front of the entrance. Sadie's first snow! Too bad she is in her incubator and can't see it! Here is Sadie in her Incubator Home (below left).

If all goes well today with the signing, we will still be up in KY for several weeks as the adoption paperwork can't be completed until Sadie is out of the hospital. Once the paperwork gets completed, it will take 5-10 business days for ICPC to push everything through the system so that we can cross state lines with her. That will be a GLORIOUS day!

Michael is Signing Tomorrow!

Yes.  All of our prayers are being answered!  And we are SO grateful for your prayers!  Jeff just got off of the phone with Michael and he told him that the attorney was driving back to Paintsville tomorrow to meet him at 2:30pm so that he can sign the papers.  I can hardly believe it!  We both thought that it would take forever to arrange a time with the attorney or that we would have to take Michael ourselves to Lexington to meet the attorney, if he was willing to sign.  We are so grateful that we don't have to be involved with this one!  

Jeff talked with Michael for about 1/2 hour and had a great conversation with him.  He is in need of a job in order to stay out of jail.  So, Jeff is doing a little bit of research online for him to see if he can find something in Paintsville.  There will be an extra challenge in that he obviously has been convicted of a felony.  Please pray that God provides a steady job for him.  We would be so grateful.  He would really like to work and provide for his family.  He told Jeff (when we met him in jail last week) that he accepted Christ while he was there.  We pray that his heart was sincere and that God begins His transforming work in and through this family.  

We are still planning on going back to their home at some point before leaving Kentucky to see what other house items we can take care of for them and to bring by a few gifts.  My mom got them a Walmart giftcard (very handy!) and I am buying two cross necklaces - one for Janie which I will give when I see her and one for Sadie which I will give her when she is able to understand the significance of her birthmom having an identical one.  I think Janie will really like that!  

I tried to post some more pictures, but for some reason the blogger is moving slowly tonight.  We will try again tomorrow!!  Be praying for the "close".  We love you all!

Michael is Out of Jail

Yes.  Michael got out of jail at 3pm today, but we still don't know much about where he stands.  I spoke with Janie tonight, but she hasn't gotten a chance yet to talk with him about it all.  It has been a big day with seeing the kids and having Michael's mother over (who doesn't know about the pregnancy and subsequent adoption).  I think they will not get a chance to talk until they go to sleep tonight.  Keep praying!  Tomorrow we should know something.  My mom and I watched 2 parts of the "Why Worry" series today from church which greatly helped our state of mind. 

In the meantime, Sadie has been gaining weight steadily and how weighs 3lbs 8oz!  We are so proud of her.  She also took a bottle for every feeding today!  That was a huge accomplishment.  

More tomorrow... 

Kangaroo Care

One of the things that research has proven is that Kangaroo Care is really good for preemies.  Kangaroo Care is a way of holding a preterm infant so that there is skin-to-skin contact between the infant and the person holding it.  The baby, wearing only a diaper, is held against the parent's bare chest.  It is labeled kangaroo care because this method is similar to how a kangaroo is carried by its mother.  Researchers have found that the close physical contact with the parent can help to stabilize the preterm infant's heartbeat, temperature, and breathing.  They have also found that preterm infants who experience kangaroo care have longer periods of sleep, gain more weight, decrease their crying, and have longer periods of alertness, and earlier hospital discharge.  We are all for all of that!!  So, after hearing about this kind of care, I asked the nurses about it and told them I wanted to try it.  Tonight was our second session and Sadie sure did love it.  Mom and I both thought she was extremely peaceful.  Her head rests on my chest so that she can also hear my heartbeat, which soothes her.  I think I love it as much as she does!

A Few Pictures of Bathtime

Here are some cute pictures of bathtime and getting all dressed up with nowhere to go but the incubator!  Her t-shirt says "This is my little black dress".  

Our Day at Janie and Michael's House

It is so hard to remember and journal through all of the events from only a week.  So much has happened.  It is pretty crazy!  The reason we ended up going to Janie's house last week was because she was still in ICU and her father had her boys.  She was highly concerned about the fact that her dad had the kids and kept saying that he wouldn't know how to care for them.  She asked us several times to go and get the kids and keep them after realizing that she was having such bad complications from the pregnancy. We originally told her we would.  Now, I have to tell you that I was scared to death to get her kids because I haven't parented anyone and having 2 toddlers who haven't been very disciplined in a hospital was going to be a major challenge.  Plus dealing with Janie and Sadie in critical condition.  God pulled through for us though and we were offered the Hospitality House for free and they don't allow kids to stay.  When the nurses heard what I was going to do - getting her kids - they convinced me that I was already overburdened with Sadie and needed to focus on her.  So, I spoke with Janie's dad to make sure that he was ok keeping the boys and he assured me that he was.  Janie started doing better by the time I let her know that we couldn't keep them and she sounded ok with it.  But, she wanted for me to pick her mother-in-law up to take her to the house to watch the kids until she could return.  She felt much better having her there as her dad had never changed a diaper nor given them a bath.  She also asked us to look at the plumbing in the kitchen because it had stopped up and she knew that her mother-in-law would not be able to wash dishes.  

So, that was how our hour trip to Paintsville began.  The intention was to go to the jail to meet Michael and to let him know that Janie had given birth, to pick up Michael's mom to take her to the house to watch the kids, and to take care of a few household items.  So, we made the hour drive in the morning after seeing sweet Sadie.  We met Michael and instantly liked him.  He was very friendly and seemed receptive to us.  We left him and went to pick up Jean, the mother-in-law, to take her on a few errands (pick up prescription at drugstore and to go through the Wendy's for 10, yes TEN, Jr. Cheesburgers for the family to eat) and then over to Janie's house.  

Once we got to Janie's, Jeff (super rockstar handyman) assessed the situation and figured out what we needed to purchase at Lowe's.  We decided to also replace the front porch light that continuously flickered on and off and to add a deadbolt onto the front door.  Janie had mentioned those items over our various phone conversations.  So, we made a trip to Lowe's and then Jeff got to work.  I should let him blog about the kitchen sink plumbing repair because he said it was the most disgusting thing he has ever done.  The leak was so bad that it had rotted out the entire subflooring in the cabinet.  And of course, you could see pacifiers and other items down in the rotted out area.  The leak was caused by what looked like cereal jammed in the pipes and so when Jeff opened it up, the smell was horrific.  It was a rancid milk smell and I could see Jeff about gag a few times.  But, my hero totally fixed them up with new plumbing that now is clog and leak-free!  Janie's boys helped out along the way.  

The boys, Jayden (7), Payton (2) and Isaiah(3), are absolutely beautiful kids (pictures above: Isaiah left, Payton right).  But, they are definitely not disciplined much and don't have a lot of structure.  We learned that the oldest, Jayden, puts himself to sleep around 2am after watching TV.  While there, Payton got into a box of nails and the mother-in-law wasn't paying a bit of attention.  He also stuck his hand in the fire that heats the house.  The front porch doesn't have a guard rail and has a 6 foot drop on one side yet Payton is not watched when he walks out there.  It was all very disheartening to us.  

The house is also in bad shape in various ways.  Mentioned above, the sub-flooring was rotted out under the kitchen sink.  You can literally see dirt when you open up the doors.  The linoleum floor is really shot and needs to be replaced.  A couple of windows are boarded up and need replacing and a guard rail most definitely needs to be added to the porch!  Jeff and I would like to go up in the Spring to see about taking care of some of these needs.  We are also in contact with a ministry called Christian Appalachian Project that serves families in need in this region.  The director, Harold, is WONDERFUL and wants to have Jeff and I over for dinner.  He has adopted 5 children and has 3 of his own.  I am hoping that they can also help this family.

Several people have asked me about helping out our family for Christmas and I am SO appreciative!  We plan on getting some presents for the boys, a Walmart giftcard for Janie and Michael, and hopefully also help them in purchasing a car (they will get some money after the adoption to go towards this purchase) so that they can work and go back to school.  Janie has some college education in elementary education and would like to finish her degree, but doesn't have the money.  She can get financial aid, but needs a quarter of school paid for in order to get her grades back up.  She always had good grades until the kids came along.  Once her grades are back up, financial aid will kick back in and pay for the rest.  

Jeff is busy at the new house moving in.  Thanks again to all who chipped in last night to help him move out.  We have amazing friends and feel very blessed.  My dad is coming this weekend and will drive back to the new house on Monday to help unpack boxes.  Jeff should be coming back to KY on Monday.  I am praying he can get here because I think that is when all of the adoption will go one way or another.  Michael gets out on Sunday.  

This morning I had a really good time with the Lord while rocking in a chair next to Sadie's incubator.  He put Matthew 26:39 on my heart... "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will."  I prayed that prayer that Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane as it relates to this situation.  I definitely desire to come home with Sadie in my arms, but I think I have come to a place of surrender and trust that God has the very best in store for me.  I can trust that if this adoption does not go through, He knows best.  I get some sense that there is much more at stake than just my desire to become a mom.  Ultimately, I desire what my Heavenly Father desires and if it isn't for me to be a mom to Sadie, then I can endure with His grace.  I have to tell you that coming to this point of surrender is the most peaceful place to be.  It has offered me so much strength.  I know this strength is only by His grace.  I am grateful for this situation in teaching me, once again, the power of His strength in my weakness.  

My First Bottle

Sadie has started eating from a bottle!  They gave her her first bottle the day before yesterday.  She was only allowed to drink from the bottle once a day because it wears her out.  So the first day she drank 10ccs, yesterday she drank 15ccs and this morning she finished the whole thing!  The doctor has now said that she can drink from a bottle more than once a day as long as she is awake and alert.  She is a trouper! 

Continuing on with the Story...

Thank you SO very much for all of your prayers and encouragement to me the past couple of days.  And for all of the friends who have helped pack up our house and get us moved.  It is simply amazing how many of you are involved.  Friends have always told me that in crisis it is so humbling to see the outpour of people surround you in your time of need.  I now know firsthand.  I literally cry through emails and voicemails from friends.  Thank you just doesn't seem enough.  Especially when I don't even have the energy to express my gratitude back to each call or email.  The way that I feel is really quite amazing in that on one hand I feel totally broken and weak and on the other hand God somehow gives me strength through His Word and your encouragement.  I feel like you are lifting my arms like in the story with Moses..."So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.  As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.  When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it.  Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady till sunset.  So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword." (Ex 17:10-13)  You all are my Aaron and Hur keeping me from losing the battle of hopelessness and despair!

Right now we are in a waiting phase.  Jeff and I both felt very unified in our desire to serve Michael and this family even if we don't get anything in return.  Yesterday the Lord gave me strength through Philippians 2:5-11 and Mark 10:43-45.  Both talk about Jesus taking on the position of a servant.  "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." (Mark 10:43-44).  As much as I desire to be a mother, my purpose and calling in all of this is much greater.  We are called to be servants and to put others first.  I am called to love and serve Michael and this family regardless of his actions towards me.  Jeff and I both agree that Michael has not had many people in his life who have really been there for him.  His father has never even met his other 3 children.  Janie tells us that trust does not come easy for him.  Our prayer is that we can love him with the love of Christ.  We know that Christ's love transforms lives!

While we wait this week, Janie continues to improve.  I talk with her everyday and literally love her more and more each time we talk.  She is so concerned for me and my emotions with all of the drama unfolding.  Last night we had a few laughs together over various parts of this story.  She told me that the nurses in her hospital keep telling her that this story is what movies are made of.  I get the same thing on this end.  So, we joked about writing a movie for Lifetime and making millions when all of this is over.  We haven't figured out the title just yet, but give us time.  : )  She still feels certain that she can talk Michael into signing the papers.  And on another note, the social worker told us yesterday that if he didn't sign, then a case would be opened because Janie has already relinquished her rights.  Opening up a case would mean that a social worker would be out at their house and in all of their business really quick.  Michael is not going to want that because he is very fearful of losing his other 3 boys at home.  The social worker is going to talk with Janie about all of this and be available for Michael to talk to as well.  

Well, I thought I'd be able to catch you all up on our time spent with Janie's family at her house, but this blog has taken me too long to write.  But when I do, I will include some pictures of the visit as well.  Jeff repaired some plumbing and electrical work and added a dead bolt lock on their front door.  Her boys wanted to "help".  It was really cute.  However, the house was definitely in bad shape.  We would like to do a lot more on another visit.  

Thanks so much again for all you are doing for us!  

We need serious prayer

Hey Everyone,

We have had a setback today.  Michael (husband and possible birthfather) would not sign the papers needed for the adoption in jail.  I was with both him and the attorney and he told the attorney that he thought he would go through with it, but that he didn't want to sign everything in jail.  We really aren't sure what will happen.  He isn't getting out of jail until this Sunday, so I have about another week before I will know what will actually happen.  I would really appreciate prayers for God to protect my heart and mind through this incredible trial that He has let me face.  Two things that I am hearing from God:  1) Do you trust me, Tracey?  2) Will you give even when you aren't receiving anything in return?  In other words, will I continue to remain committed to caring for Janie, Sadie, and her family even if I don't get to bring Sadie home?  

I would so appreciate your prayers.  My mom and I have committed to staying up here with Sadie until we know what will happen.  She hasn't chosen this and she knows our voices and smells and we feel it best to not abandon her just to protect our hearts.  She is doing really well and continues to improve.  Janie (birthmom) is upset about Michael's decision and wants me to stay.  She feels that she can convince Michael of this adoption plan once he gets out of jail.  However, we just really don't know what will happen in the end.  

Jeff and I are so appreciative that we are not in this alone.   Thanks for your prayers.  

Long Overdo Update

Hi friends,

Thanks so much for being patient with us and praying for our situation.  For those of you who are new to our circumstances, we received a call from our birthmom last Wednesday afternoon and she said to me, "How soon can you get here?  They want to do an emergency C-Section"  Of course, I panicked and quickly started packing whatever I could find to throw into a suitcase!  Jeff came home and we took off for KY!  Along the way, Janie delivered a baby girl and we immediately called her Sadie Grace Scholen.  We finally arrived at 10:45pm and met Janie and Sadie for the first time.  Sadie was on a CPAP machine to keep her lungs from collapsing, but the doctors said that she was doing really well.  

I won't lie and tell you that I slept well that night.  I actually don't think I slept a wink.  I had so much swirling around in my brain.  Will Sadie be ok?  Will the adoption plan still go through now that it is in KY instead of Utah?  How will her husband respond?  How will we afford all of the hotel and food expenses?  I kept hearing God tell me, "Tracey, rest in Me and I will carry you."  I felt like He was trying to teach me how to rely on Him and how to ask Him to meet my needs specifically without me "helping" Him.  I had a huge sense that He wanted to care for me to a point that I absolutely knew it was coming from Him.  So, when we got out of bed in the morning, Jeff and I got on our knees by the hotel bed and began to pray.  I prayed specifically for 4 things: 1)  That God would provide a place for us to stay that wouldn't deplete our bank account 2) That we would have confidence moving forward with the adoption since it was now in KY instead of Utah.  KY adoption laws are horrible and birthparents can't sign for 3 days and then they have 20 days to change their minds.  Utah law allows them to sign in 24 hours and the papers are irrevocable on the spot.  3) That Sadie would get off of the CPAP machine quickly and 4) that we would have the strength to get through the day on no sleep.

After praying the nurses called and told us that Janie was not doing well and that she had moved to the ICU.  When we arrived, they told us that she was diagnosed with DIC and that in most cases it didn't turn out well.  We couldn't believe it.  So, we solicited as many prayers as possible.  Mostly from you all!  But inside, I could barely take the thought in.  It was devasting.  In the meantime, God answered my first prayer when the caseworker tells us about a place for families of loved ones in ICU or NICU to stay for free.   I cannot even begin to tell you how much of a blessing it has been to stay at this house.  It is wonderful!!!  And free!!  We have 2 full-size kitchens, free laundry, free internet and lots of donated food.  The bathroom is perfect for my mom who would be visiting with me when Jeff left (she is in a wheelchair).  We think God was just starting to showing off.  : )

Before we actually saw the house, God answered prayer #2 when our agency director called me to let me know that they had retained an attorney and that they got permission from the ICPC for a tri-state adoption.  Under this type of adoption, the birthparents could still be under the Utah law.  And since our agency is in Utah and the adoption would still be finalized in Utah, we could push the adoption through Utah law still.  GREAT news!  So, with Janie's dire condition they also got permission for the social worker to serve her the papers instead of the attorney who was unavailable.  All of the papers were signed at 4pm and Janie had relinquished her rights!  We could hardly believe it.  Later the agency told us that it was literally divine intervention that they got all of the permissions that they did.  It was only due to Janie's condition.  The wild thing was that Janie began improving throughout the day and was then re-diagnosed with HELLP syndrome, not DIC (which in the medical field is nicknamed Death is Coming due to its prognosis).  We were so relieved!!  

After all of this good news, Jeff and I were finally able to get back to Sadie to see how she was doing.  Prayer #3 was answered when we scrubbed in and the nurse told us she had a surprise for us.  Sadie was off of the CPAP machine!  So, we could hold her now for the very first time!!  It was so wonderful.  That moment was captured with the round of photos first sent out.  

Prayer #4 was answered throughout the day as I never really felt exhausted until the end of the day when I got to my bed.  We both slept SO good that night!  I honestly don't know how I survived this day with no sleep!  

OK.  So, this was the beginning of our adventure up here.  I will blog some more tomorrow to catch everyone up on the rest of the events... going to the jail to meet Michael, going to Janie's house and meeting her boys and family, Janie's turn for the worse and transfer to Lexington, the adoption and where we stand right now.  Right now I have a little girl over in the NICU who needs her mama!  

love to you all!

Tracey

We are Parents!!

I will journal about the crazy adventure we are on probably tomorrow, but until then here are a few pictures of our baby girl, Sadie Grace Scholen!  She weighs 3lbs 6oz and is 16 1/2 inches long. She is doing great for a baby born at 32 weeks and we can tell already that she is a fighter!  She is the cutest little glow worm we have ever seen!!

Thanks for praying for us!

Jeff and Tracey

A Possible Trip to KY

Hey Everyone,

I really haven't had much time at all to post on the blog.  Things seem to be going a mile a minute around here.  Jeff and I have been in the final negotiations over repairs, etc... on our house and the one we are purchasing and we have been packing up our house one room at a time.  Plus, my wonderful, WONDERFUL friends threw a shower for me this past Saturday (picture included).  I was so appreciative and it was so much fun to celebrate this journey with friends and family.   

In the midst of it all, I spoke with Janie and it is looking more and more like I may be going up there at the end of this week to take her to see her doctor.  I tried for about an hour today to try to find someone to get her there, but I come up against a brick wall every time.  She lives in a very remote, poor section of the Appalachian Mountains.  There are no cab companies that service her area.  I tried to find an independent driver and a medical cab to take her, but neither ended up panning out.  I really feel at my wits end here.  All I can think about is that she is the mother of my future child and I need to do what I can to protect both of them.  After talking with her tonight, I just broke down in tears.  I feel so helpless at times with this situation and completely out of my league.  It made me realize, once again, how much I need God.  I am helpless, but He is definitely NOT.  

I haven't gone into detail about Janie's condition on this blog yet, so let me tell you what is happening.  Janie has 3 boys - 7, 3, and 18 months.  With 2 of her pregnancies she developed pre-eclampsia.  For those of you who don't know, pre-eclampsia can lead to eclampsia, which can be very dangerous for both mom and baby.  Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure.  The last time she went to the doctor, her blood pressure was elevated and they wanted to check it the next time she came in to make sure she was doing ok.  Well, Janie missed her next appointment and hasn't been to the doctor now in about a month.  And her symptoms seem to be getting worse.  The problem is that she has no way of getting to her doctor to get checked out and she needs to get into see the doctor!  So, short of me going up there to take her to the doctor, I really don't know what else to do.  Please be praying for a solution!  If I go, I will have to leave Thursday after work, drive for about 5 hours, spend the night, and then pick her up in the morning to take her to the doctor.  Then I would be driving 7 hours back home.  Not fun.  The good news is that I would meet Janie, her family, and see where she lives and how I can help.  It would also be nice to take her to the doctor and experience all of that with her.  I see a great benefit in doing all of that with her.  Please pray for wisdom for me and if you have any words of wisdom, I'd love to hear.  

Lastly, Janie sent me the last sonogram of the baby (picture up top).  It was so thoughtful!   And yes, from what Janie tells me, what you are seeing in the picture is the baby's foot!!