God Answered Me

Ever since Daon posted a rant against the fertility gods, I have been meaning to respond (however my three kids kept getting in the way.) I am finally getting a chance to post my response.

It wasn't so long ago that Daon's post would have been my own. After several years of trying for Baby #1, after seeing multiple doctors that gave us no answers, after being referred to a RE and going through two unsuccessful rounds of IUI, I was at my all time low. I was sad and I was angry and I made the same rant at God, "Why is this so hard for us? Why are you giving a baby to that 15 year old? Why did you 8 babies to Kate?"

However, you know 5 years down the line, God has blessed me with 3 little miracles which was His plan all along. I just needed to be patient (easy to say now!!) and listen to Him.

Well, Bryan and I have some good friends Rob and Erica. Rob and Erica are both fantastic people - sweet, funny, Christian. I (very famously or should I say infamously??) threw up at their wedding and they are still my friend!!! Rob and Erica have been trying for years to have a baby. This is a girl who has clearly said from the beginning that she wants a BIG family with at least six kids!! But Rob was married before and has a daughter but then decided to have a vasectomy. When he met Erica, they knew they wanted to have children together so he had a reversal. Doc gave them green light and told them to start "trying." Then two years ago, Erica got very sic and sadly during surgery, doc had to remove both her fallopian tubes. They will never be able to conceive naturally.

Last year, they saw the same RE we did. I had really good feelings about it. I was praying for them every night. In June, IVF #1 was unsuccessful. Erica joked that the baby feelings I was having was for myself and not for her. In December, IVF #2 was unsuccessful.

So in February (actually February 20th to be precise), Rob and Erica told everyone in our Sunday School class that they had submitted the first round of paperwork to start the adoption process. I was so excited for them but at the same time, a little sad because I know how long the adoption process can take. Literally, I left church and called my Mom and told her all about Rob and Erica and how much I was praying for them and questioning, "What can I do for them?"

So Monday, Feb 21st came. My phone rang and it was Erica. This is unusual because we usually talk through email. She is a NICU nurse and is always on a weird schedule. She says, "Ashley, there is a baby in the hospital. Her mother has already signed away her parental rights to the baby and has agreed to a private adoption. It is President's Day and I have already called several attorneys but their offices are closed. Do you know an attorney that can help us?"

THIS IS IT!!!! I had prayed to God, "How can I help them get a baby?" and God had dropped this opportunity in my lap. I was freaking out!!! The pressure was on. I had not been an attorney in 5 years. I never did family law. BUT out of my brain popped a name. I called Summer immediately because she exercised with this lawyer and she could get a hold of her on a holiday. Summer called the lawyer who referred us to her best friend that is an attorney that specializes in adoptions. I called Erica back and gave her the information and waited...and waited...and waited. I did not hear from her all day.

Finally, at 8:00 that night, I texted her to see how things were going. She said that the lawyer took their case and they were spending the night with the baby at the hospital AND THEY WERE GETTING TO TAKE THE BABY HOME THE NEXT DAY!!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT???

This is a pic of the happy family. Erica, Rob and Amelia Rose (after their grandmothers)

This is Hadleigh (on the right) with her new BFF!! They are 8 days apart.

Since then, they have also tracked down the birth father who has also signed away his parental rights. All that is left to do is file all the paperwork with the courts and Amelia is theirs forever!! Isn't that amazing??

Erica can't stop talking about the timing. If the IVF#1 in June had been successful, the baby would have been due in February. God had it planned all along. God is good!