FIVE DAYS!!!

That's right!  FIVE DAYS!  They moved her c-section up to the 18th!!!  Baby girl is coming THIS FRIDAY!  Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne's feast day!  


This was such an extraordinary answer to prayer.  I'll explain in a minute.


About three years ago my Mom and I were driving together and talking about adoption.  I told her the only negative I perceived about adoption was that I wouldn't be able to nurse my adopted babies.  "Actually you  might!" my Mom told me, and proceeded to tell me about what she had heard at La Lache League years ago.  I was shocked and intrigued.  


But then we were hoping to adopt twins and I decided it wasn't worth making life more complicated.
Then Isaiah and we only had a few hours' notice.
Then Caeden Michael and I was scared the adoption wouldn't happen.. 
Then Abigail and I was terrified the adoption wouldn't happen.  


And now this baby comes along.  I'm feeling more secure than ever- both in the expectant parents' commitment to adoption and my ability to handle it if they chose to parent.  I'm concerned that I might be biting off more than I can chew since Abigail and a newborn will already be a lot!  But after talking to wonderful bloggers who have done it, the local LLL leader and much prayer, I've decided to try.  


My main goal is the bonding experience.  Any milk I produce will be a total bonus.  It completely astounds me that producing milk is even possible!  I bought a Mede.la supplemental nursing system (SNS) which allows the baby to receive formula while breastfeeding.  The breast stimulation, along with some medicine, might induce lactation.  Dr. Jack Newman has made a science of how to induce lactation in adoptive moms including a flow chart!  I loved this method because it ruled out pumping, which I had already decided against.  Too much stress!  


The hospital where she's delivering does not have a lactation consultant.  I started really stressing this week thinking that if we bring her home on Thanksgiving, no lactation consultant will be available until Monday (28) and I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING!!!  I was growing in anxiety about establishing a bad latch or being totally overwhelmed when I realized what was happening and prayed about it.  I asked Him to iron out these details and open the door for help for me.  THAT NIGHT the expectant Mom told me they had moved the date to the 18th!  Now she'll come home either Sunday or Monday and I'll have a few days to meet with a LC!  Isn't that amazing!!!  Thank you, Lord!


So I'm going to give it a try and I'll let you know how it goes!  I'm fascinated by the possibility!!






In other news, I created letters to spell baby's name and hung them in the girls' room!  (How fun to say the "girls' room"!  And nope, you don't get the see the letters yet!)  I listened to all your GREAT advice last week and set up a diaper station in the living room.  I also decided to move Abigail's carseat behind the driver's seat and baby's behind the passengers'.  This way Abigail can craw in through the passenger side and climb into her seat safely while I buckle in baby.  (Thanks, Maria!) We've been practicing Abigail crawling in (which she loves) and also walking more in and out of stores while holding my hand.  She's had lots of opportunities since we have so many errands to run all of the sudden!!!


Because we might have a new baby in our family in FIVE DAYS!!!!!!!!!


SOOOOOOOOO excited!!!  


Love,