Sleepy Mama is Back

Well, after going private months ago and only blogging a handful of times--we are back to public and I'm back to blogging-when I can keep my eyes open :)  SO MUCH has happened since my last entry.

1. Justin accepted a job on August 24th in Illinois
2. We welcomed our second daughter, Ainsley Caroline, into our family on August 25th.
3. We moved from Cleveland to about an hour south of Chicago on October 10th.
4. Jatin turned 3 on November 13th.

After moving we learned that we'd have to REDO our homestudy in Illinois, not just update it like we thought.  Thankfully, this process has gone pretty quickly.  Our homestudy has been written and is now being reviewed.  We have our fingerprinting appointment set for immigration.  Jatin's passport hasn't arrived at BAT yet.  Hopefully our paperwork and his passport are all ready at the same time.  We are now thinking February or March before we travel.  What a roller coaster!

Thanksgiving Day- 2012

 Picture of Ainsley at 11 weeks

WE PASSED!!!!

Just got off the phone with Lisa from JOH.  I can hardly believe it--WE PASSED COURT!!!!  This is unbelievably fast!  Lisa estimates our travel timeline between November and January now.  Things are going to get super crazy around here...but we know our God has everything in His control.  He won't leave us alone for a minute.  What a wonderful, wonderful surprise!  I can't wait until Justin comes home so we can celebrate as a family!  Maybe Olive Garden?  That's where we go when we are celebrating!  We officially have a son!  My eyes are welling with tears.  I just want to go get him-like NOW.  First things first.  His little brother or sister has to arrive first (due date is the last day of this month!)  What an August this is turning out to be and it's only the 1st :)

Justin and I have been enjoying every minute with Emerson before the new baby arrives.  We've spent a lot of time going to the children's museum, library, pool, and splash park. 

 Daddy and Em at the water table

Emerson LOVES the baby area at the children's museum :)

Mama last week @ 30 weeks...this baby will be here soon!

Jatin Update:  We've been given an estimated timeline from JOH regarding when we can hope to bring Jatin home.  Lisa is thinking it'll be another 9 months or so, which we put us traveling in March of next year. 

  Jatin will be 3 years 4 months old, Emerson will be just 2,  and the baby will be 7 months old.  The biggest question right now is whether or not to bring the little ones.  I know, most of you probably think we are crazy for even considering taking them.  However, we practice "attachment parenting" and so the thought of being without 2 of our kids for any length of time kills us.  Obviously, we'll need 2 extra adults to travel with us if they come--advocating for each of them while we can focus most of our attention on Jatin.  We've thought about the pros and cons of bonding, travel, kids getting sick, sleepless nights...and still don't know.  I'd be open to your thoughts if you have any.  Until we go, we'll be praying about the right thing to do for our whole family.  

WAHOO!!!!!!!

We received an email from Heather at JOH today saying that Bal Asha received our NOC!!  Justin and I are sitting here in disbelief!  Awesome, awesome, disbelief.  We were hoping for NOC in the fall.  Anyone that knows from experience what we can possibly expect from here on as far as a time frame- please let us know!  Hopfully we'll be welcoming two kiddos home this year :) God is so amazing!  Thank you for continued prayers for our son and our family!

The Latest

Here are some pictures to give you an idea of what's been going on around here during the last couple of weeks.

 Mama @ 28 weeks

 Emerson is back to herself after her surgery

 She's doing just fine :)

 Last night @ the park...who wants to sit still and eat dinner?

29 weeks

Our family...just waiting on two more :) 

Please let me know you're there :)

Since going private, it's hard to tell who is able to access our blog.  I'd like to see if everyone I've added is able to follow our journey.  Please leave a comment below, just telling me that you've made it :)

Emerson Update and Article 5!!

Emerson's surgery went very well today, PRAISE GOD!  As we waited in pre-op, she was playing doctor with her baby and letting us know when she saw a nurse or a doctor wearing a hat or a mask :)  She was in surgery for 1.5 hours and recovery for almost 2.  So happy to have our little girl home.  She is in some pain and groggy, but overall is doing wonderfully.  We are thankful for friends and family who have been praying!

 

Emerson really was a trooper today.  We are so proud of her!

Speaking of our kids (always!) we recieved our Article 5 letter from the US Embassy today!  One step closer to Jatin.  So thankful for all God continues to do in our lives. 

Please Pray for Emmy

Emerson has surgery tomorrow morning at 8:45.  Please pray that everything goes well.  I haven't said much about this because I guess I have been avoiding thinking about it too much.  Today we played with a doctor kit and read books about going to the hospital.  We looked for doctors and nurses in the books wearing masks and hats.  She kept putting her hand over her mouth (like I did with a little cloth) and wanting me to turn to the page that showed the staff wearing a mask--she did the same  thing with the hats.  It's so hard preparing a 14 month old for something like this--or her mama and dada for that matter. 

I won't get into specifics, but the surgery will be done around her tummy area.  Any prayers for her, us, and her surgeon would be so appreciated.

New pictures of Jatin!

I can't explain what getting these new pictures of our little boy means to us.  Each time we look at them (daily) we tear up.  He is so beautiful.  He really is and I can't wait to hold his little body in my arms.  He is our son and we love him so much already. 

Lisa told us the following about her visit to Bal Asha Trust:

1. The orphanage doesn't allow "outsiders" to go inside the residental part of BAT-just the office space.  So, that's where she met Jatin.  We had heard this about BAT and it makes me sad knowing that I likely won't see where our son slept, ate his meals, and played with his friends.  I was hoping we could spend time on his turf before taking him away.  I was counting on taking a bazillion pictures of caregivers, friends, the play area...everything.  This would give him a more complete idea of where (and with who) he spent his first 3.5 years of life.  I was hoping we could play with him where he's comfortable and get to know him a little bit to help him make the biggest transition of his life.  But, it is what it is.
2. She believes that the language Jatin will understand and speak is Marathi.  She said the director speaks Hindi, but most of the caregivers (hired locally) speak Marathi and they are the ones interacting the most with the children.
3. Right now in Mumbai there is a judge who is requiring only one trip to India.  She did say that that could change at any time. 
4. She said to still count on about a year before we can travel. 

Here is our sweet boy--Jatin Ryan Evoy!  We have given Jatin daddy's middle name :)

At the time of Lisa's visit (end of April or beginning of May) Jatin was 34.5" tall and weighed 28 pounds. 

GOING PRIVATE

We've decided to make our blog private.  If you are interested in following our family as we grow, please leave your email address (I believe it needs to be a gmail account) and I'll be sure to add you to our viewer list.  I know it's a little inconvienent, but protecting the kids' privacy is super important to us!  We'll plan on going private a week from today.

We got an UPDATE!!

We just got an email from Lisa and are on top of the moon!  It is unbelievable how much we love our little boy already :) We are going to talk to her on the phone today or tomorrow to hear all about her trip to India.  We got several new pictures and couldn't be any more grateful for getting an opportunity to see his precious little face!  In every one Jatin is covered in lollipop slobber, but seriously is the most adorable little guy we've ever seen!  I am just sooooo excited I care barely type!  I'd love to share a few pictures here, but we've decided that our blog needs to go private before sharing too many more family details, pictures...

Waiting on an Update

Lisa from JOH was in India recently and returned home Monday.  She was able to visit Jatin's orphanage while there so we are VERY ANXIOUSLY waiting on any updates that she might have.  What a blessing a new picture would be!  We have only seen 3 pictures of him thus far--one from about 4 months old, one when he was about 15 months, and one I found on BAT's facebook page from the first of the year.  Any insight as to how how he is would be such a huge blessing.  Please continue to pray that Jatin is well cared for during the time we all wait.  This adoption journey certainly is tough--some days harder than others. 

Outdoor Fun

Emerson LOVES being outside.  She has started grabbing her shoes and a hat when she wants to let us know it's time to head out :)  Here are some pictures from the last week or so of what we've been doing outside.

 Emmers loves the wagon Nana and Papaw got her for Christmas

 Dada and Uncle Brandon getting started on the new playset

 Opa and Emmy supervising the progress

 Helping Dada :)

 All done!!  This thing is AWESOME!  Emerson thanks Oma and Opa for her birthday present!  We're sure she'll be willing to share with her siblings next summer :)

Swinging is her favorite thing in the world

BIG BIG BIG NEWS!!

I have been terrible about updating our blog.  But that doesn't mean things haven't been happening...oh, yes-there have been things happening!!  This little cutie to the left?  She is holding the official REFERRAL PAPERWORK for her big brother!!!  YES, we have officially moved onto the next step in bringing Jatin home!  We are in the midst of filling out our I800 and will have it in the mail to JOH tomorrow :) 

On to the second bit of news...hold on for this one!  On the first of the year we found out we were pregnant again!  Surprised??  So were we!!  As we know so well, God is in control and thankfully we are still able to proceed with our adoption as well as welcome a new baby in August.  So, we are really expecting 2 kiddos--right this minute :)
Mama @ 20 weeks...half way there!

siA picture taken of Emerson last week.  Our little sunshine is 13 months old.  What joy she brings into our lives each day!  She is busy running around the house and getting into everything...she especially enjoys unraveling toilet paper and taking care of her baby dolls.  She'll be a great big (and little!) sister!!

Fun at the Park

Today is SO BEAUTIFUL outside! It's 59 degrees--and we live in NE Ohio :) I could get used to a winter like this! Emerson and I met Auntie Chandy and the little boy she nannies at the park. We had a great time! Emmy never gets tired of swinging! She is so much fun to be with.