Anthony

We're bringing him home tomorrow!

The only catch is that we're taking him home as a legal risk.  The case workers have decided that it's best for J to not sign surrenders tomorrow.  She needs more time to understand what it means.  She has some learning delays and it takes her time to understand and process information.  The case workers have a legal duty to ensure that birthmoms fully understand and agree to the terms of the surrender.  J simply needs her caseworker and her mom to go over the surrender with her step by step so that she can sign it legally.

We are not worried.  We feel very confident that this adoption will happen.  We've spent 5 days now pretty much glued to J's hospital room (per her request) and we know there is no way that she can or should take a baby home.  And her mother is 100% behind the adoption plan.  Her mother is the one who cares for J. 

As I sat in the room today, J and her mother, D, talked about how important this adoption was to them.  They told me how happy they were that Anthony would be raised in a two parent home.  They expressed how much it meant to them that he would grow up with parents who would teach him morals and values.  They know that with this adoption that they are giving him the opportunity to be the person they want him to be.

That doesn't make it any less hard.  I can see it on their faces.  This is the hardest thing they've ever done.  And it is going to be emotional.  And yet, I think, in the end that they are happy.  I told J today that it takes a strong woman to do what she is doing.  I told her that I admire her willingness to do what is best for Anthony, even if it means pain for her. 

I am thrilled to be bringing my son home.  We have had a LONG week.  It has been HARD.  I don't think I could even express in words what we've gone through this week.  I don't think someone could make some of this stuff up if they tried.  We've dealt with a lot and we've slept very little.  I won't be able to accurately describe this experience to someone, it is extremely unique and ver hard to express.

But in the end, it's about a little boy.  And doing what is best for him.  And Jeremy and I would gladly do it all again for this little boy.  He is absolutely one of the most perfect babies, right alongside his wonderful big sister.

And speaking of his big sister, Anna has been fantastic through all of this.  As hard as it's been to be away from her for so much time, she has been such a trooper.  She's been an angel for everyone who has watched her.  And she's been thrilled to see us when we come home or bring her to the hospital.  And she has been wonderful around Anthony.  She doesn't seem to be jealous (yet) but more just curious.  She wants to be in the arms of whoever is holding him because she wants to see and touch him too.  She's going to have some adjusting, but I think it's going to go better than we expected.  Today when he cried, she became very upset.  I know she was trying to tell us to make him stop.  It was sweet to see.  And after he stopped, she came up to him and patted him.  She's going to be such a cute big sister.

I'm glad I've had the chance to write some of this down.  Someday soon I'll look back and be able to remember this experience so clearly because I've documented (at least what I can).

Happy Easter to all!  And a Happy Easter to us, with our little Easter Bunny!