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.