Crazy Couple of Days

We've had a crazy couple of days here living without power. A wild thunderstorm-almost-tornado came through on Sunday afternoon and knocked out our power until Tuesday. Being a California girl I am usually enthralled by thunderstorms. I am always amazed at the power of nature and I love to watch the strong winds blow the rain sideways.

However, Sunday's storm was different and I was pretty scared. We have a lot of huge trees in our backyard and I am always afraid that they will come crashing through our house. Usually we lose a couple of large branches during each storm and they end up on the roof or in the backyard. It's so nerve-wracking to hear them crashing down! After seeing that the wind was whirling things in a circular motion I grabbed Tommy, started praying the Rosary and stayed in the safest part of the house. My husband thought I was over-reacting, but I couldn't help it!

Large branches in our backyard:

Huge branch on our neighbors car:


So of course we lost power - we ALWAYS lose power during storms! Again, this is something else that I didn't grow up with. This happened around 3:45pm and we were supposed to have youth group that night. I decided to drive to church to see if the power was on there.

As I was driving it seriously looked like a tornado had gone through! There was large branches - even entire trees - down everywhere. And of course many of the traffic lights were out. It turns out that church did have power, so I emailed the teens saying that youth group was on.

It was a mess trying to pick up food and drinks for that night. Traffic lights were out everywhere and most stores had also lost power. A lot of the teens said their houses were dark too. It was nice to be inside the air-conditioned room for a couple of hours!

When we came home the power was still out and the house felt pretty hot. We decided that it would be best if all three of us slept downstairs in the coolest part of the house. My hubby pulled out all our camping gear (air-mattress, lantern, head-lamp, etc.) and we "camped" downstairs.

I was pretty nervous about Tommy. I know that babies can't regulate their body temperatures at this age, so I wasn't sure if I should swaddle him because I didn't want him to get too hot. I tried to put him to sleep in just his onesie, but it wasn't working. He probably picked up on all my nervous energy and he was wide awake.

Eventually around mid-night I swaddled him and he fell right to sleep. By that time it had cooled down a bit. We had opened all the windows and thankfully the heat/humidity had dropped considerably. It was 105 the day before! Ugh!

"Camping" downstairs:

Heating up water for coffee and oatmeal on the front porch:


We spent Monday hoping and praying the power would come on, but it didn't. I went out to get some food and it was such a mess driving around. Most stores and restaurants didn't have power. Only the ones with generators were open - and the lines were out the door! I was reminded that our carefully organized society quickly breaks down during natural disasters.

We were scheduled to attend our post-placement adoption class that night. I called to make sure that they had power and that the class was still on. We figured that we may as well attend since otherwise we would be sitting home in the dark!

It was nice to meet the other adoptive families and hear about their experience. For the most part, the social worker led us in discussions about general parenting and specific issues surrounding adoption. We have two more visits left with our homestudy social worker and we should be on track to finalize by late November!

We came home from the meeting to a dark neighborhood and a dark house. But thankfully the power returned on Tuesday. I had to clean out our stinky fridge, but at least our freezer kept most things completely frozen! We just barely made the 48-hour cut-off.

Before the crazy storm came through on Sunday, we had a fabulous weekend. Our dear friends M, J and our precious Godson Charlie came down from New York for the weekend. It was so wonderful to see them and introduce Tommy! We wish they lived closer, but thankfully we have each made trips to visit the other. We are so lucky to have such good friends in our lives!

Charlie and Tommy

A Mother's Love

Yesterday's first reading was the from the beginning of Jeremiah:

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you."

This beautiful passage reminds us that God loved us even before we were born. He knew our names and He knew the plans for our future. It is overwhelming to think about the kind of love that the Lord has for us. He is our Father and our Creator.

This passage takes on a new and deeper meaning now that Tommy is in my life, especially because he is my son through adoption. It reminds me that God had a plan all along. This child was meant to be ours. The Lord knew Tommy long before he was born and knew that he would be our child. I always believed and hoped and trusted that the Lord had a plan (hence the name of my blog!) but it wasn't always easy.

Many of my dear friends and bloggers are still struggling on this path of waiting. It's so easy to despair and to lose hope. It is a long road filled with pain and suffering. It feels like it will never end.

And yet, I can honestly say that it is so truly and completely worth it. (I realize that it's hard to hear this when you're still waiting.) My heart is full of so much joy that I feel like it might burst. Every day tears well up in my eyes when I look at Tommy. I never knew a love like this before.

This is why infertility is so painful. We know that there is nothing on earth like being a mother (or father) and every fiber in our being aches for it. The love that a mother has for her child is unlike any other love that exists.

This passages from Isaiah 49:15 reminds us that the love a mother has for her child is close to the love the Lord has for us:

"Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for her child? Even should she forget, I will never forget you."

Just when I think it's not possible to love Tommy any more, my love for him grows deeper. I truly could not love him anymore if I had physically carried and delivered him. I remember hearing adoptive mothers say this and I wasn't sure if I would feel the same way - but it is true. He is my son and I am his mother.

Tommy is the sweetest baby. Every morning he wakes up and gives me the biggest smile! Nothing compares to that feeling. I love how innocent he is and how he depends on me for everything. I love looking into his eyes when I'm feeding him and changing his dirty diapers. Every bone in his body and every inch of his skin is so precious to me. I love his little pouty lips when he starts to cry.

I love pushing him in his stroller and having strangers ooh and aah over him. My heart gushes with pride when I get to show him off to friends and family. This is what I have longed for. I love his face when he has a huge yawn. I love rocking him to sleep in my arms and listening to him giggle in his sleep. I love his baby snoring.

I love that he recognizes my voice and my face. I love that I understand him - I know when he is hungry or tired and I know how to comfort him.

I can't wait to teach him how to crawl and walk and talk and sing and dance and everything else there is to know. I can't wait to see the kind of person he will grow up to become.

I am so in love with this little face.

Family, Friends, Babies, Road Trip

We've seen a lot of friends and family lately. It's been wonderful! Many people are now seeing Tommy for the second and third time. We are so blessed to have these amazing people in our lives.

My husband's Uncle K and Aunt M were in town and spent a night with us. It was so fun to watch them spoil Tommy!


Our friend K came over for dinner last week.

It's been fun to get together with my friend T and her little baby Lucas - he is just one month younger than Tommy.

We had brunch this morning with our dear friends and all their kiddos.

Yesterday we took Tommy on his first road trip to Richmond. Despite crazy traffic issues each way, he was such a good baby. You might recognize the faces of these beautiful blogger ladies, babies and husbands. I love these women and am so blessed to have them in my life!

Moms and babies

Grace in my Heart and little Ethan

Dads and babies

Tommy and Clara holding hands

Our attempt to capture all the babies...

It's a Small World

I've had a lot of "what a small world!" moments recently. Have I mentioned that three in-real-life friends have found my blog?? It's so crazy! Unfortunately the reason they found my blog is because they too are dealing with infertility. But I'm so glad to connect and re-connect with them. I caught up with my friend J yesterday on the phone. Please keep her in your prayers as she and her husband begin the journey of adoption.

Another small world moment happened this past weekend. Here is the back story... when we were in Rome this spring we met an American priest - Fr. C - who was living in Rome. A mutual friend of ours put us in touch. I emailed with him before the trip and we talked about possibly getting together. We really weren't sure what our week in Rome was going to be like.

It ended up that Fr. C got us tickets to the Papal Chrism Mass when we needed them! We met him in front of St. Peter's that morning, he gave us the tickets and after chatting for a bit he went in through the special priest entrance. (All priests can concelebrate this one Mass with the Holy Father.)

We attempted to meet up again that week but it didn't work out. I had told Fr. C about our pilgrimage to Lourdes and about our desire for children. He suggested that we visit this special statue of Our Lady of Childbirth inside St. Augstine's Church. Many Italians and pilgrims pray there when they are trying to have children. The walls around the statue are filled with bibs and other baby items from people who return to give thanksgiving to Our Lady after they have a baby.

It was a beautiful statue. My husband and I lit a candle and prayed there for a bit. Of course I hoped and dreamed that we would have a reason to return with a baby bib. Little did I know that would become a reality! (I guess we'd better go back to Rome soon.)

Anyways, I'm giving you all this back story because Fr. C has returned to our diocese and has been assigned to the parish where I sing. It's such a small world. It was fun to see him last weekend after Mass and introduce Tommy. I continue to be in awe of our little miracle.

Telling this story reminds me that I never finished posting about our pilgrimage. I got through the Lourdes part, but not Rome. It was such an amazing and grace-filled trip! I'm going to try and finish posting those pictures/stories. I would like to have it on my blog for posterity.

It's hard to believe that Tommy is now 2 months old! At his doctor's appointment yesterday he got his shots. He was such a good baby and only cried briefly. He now weighs 12 pounds and is 23 inches long. He's getting so big!

Bloggers Are Amazing!

I continue to be overwhelmed by the amazing blogger friends I have made. Over the past couple of years you have given me love, support, encouragement and true friendship. I NEVER would have dreamed this would happen (or be possible) when I started blogging. We have developed a true community and I honestly would be a different person without you all in my life.

I am so glad that we are doing prayer buddies again! The power of prayer is incredible and I love that we are united in this way. Since I am still figuring out my new routine and schedule with Tommy - this round of prayer buddies has helped me get my regular prayer life back on track.

Yesterday I started a novena to Our Lady of Lourdes for my prayer buddy from this book:

I received this beautiful book from my Lent prayer buddy Ann at Building a Nest. I have been wanting to use it and this was the perfect excuse to take it off the shelf. Thank you Ann for your prayers and for this book!

As you know I have a very special devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. I noticed that her final apparition was on July 16th - so I decided to start the novena yesterday so that it would end on the 16th. I pray that Our Lady would intercede for my prayer buddy and her special intentions.

I received these adorable bibs in the mail today from Jenny at All Things!!

How cute are they??? Jenny's gift also included a holy hour and that she and her husband offered up for our family. Thank you Jenny!

Seriously, could you ladies be more wonderful? I continue be amazed at your friendship, humbled my your prayers and grateful to have you in my life.

Video

I debated whether or not to post this video of Tommy because my voice sounds so ridiculous. ;) Please turn down your volume if you play it!

He has been trying to suck his thumb, but he ends up sucking his entire fist. I was trying to get that on video but instead he started smiling and cooing at me. It just melts my heart when he does that!

Tommy is such a sweet, sweet boy. He continues to be such an easy baby for us. He has a sweet disposition and is very even-keeled. I am so in love with this little man!

[It was taking blogger forever to upload... so I put it on YouTube instead. It must be a pretty large file, so you might need to give it a few seconds to get ahead.]

Photo Shoot

Here are a few of the pictures from our Tommy photo shoot last week. I can't thank my sweet friend enough for taking these pictures!

Happy 4th of July!!

Happy Feast Day (again!) and Children's Holy Hour

Today is the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle. Another feast day to celebrate our little Tommy! (St. Thomas Aquinas is sometime in late January, so that will be another one.)
I like this icon because it has the famous words of St. Thomas written on it. I have noticed that a lot of priests say these words quietly during the consecration when they elevate the host. Although he is called St. Thomas the Doubter, he did recognize Christ and believe in Him. Tommy has given us so many reasons to believe in our Lord!

Yesterday I went to a Children's Holy Hour with my dear friend L and her son. I'm very sad that they are moving next month - I will really miss them. :(

The holy hour was so sweet. It was held in a small convent chapel and one of the mom's lead the prayers. We did a lot of singing and the children who were old enough to speak were encouraged to offer their prayers aloud and they even helped lead the Rosary.

I couldn't help but get a little emotional during this time of adoration. I still can't believe that I am a mother. Tommy has been such a good baby and he sweetly sat in my lap as I sang and prayed with the other moms. There were little kids squirming around (including the family with 6 kids!), but it didn't matter. We were all bringing our children before the Lord. It was great to meet these other moms and hopefully I can make it each month.