Thursday, April 24, 2008

SO Official!

It has been a while, so this is a long post filled with lots of goodies - make sure to scroll to the very end:)

Well, it has been a big week in our home. Our re-adoption and finalization hearing took place on Wednesday. Just one day before our reunion two weeks ago, we received a phone call from the attorney's office advising that they had an opening April 23 and would we like it? I needed no time to respond - YES!!

Emily had an in-service from school that day (perfect) and my dad would just be between business trips (perfect)and Rob was just starting a job at my parents' home, so no heavy explaining to the customers why he'd be taking a day off (perfect).

Tuesday, Hannah seemed a bit out of sorts and as the day progressed, her little cheeks flushed more and more. Uh oh. By 1:00, she was raging quite the fever and not feeling well. "Noooo, not the day before the hearing", my mind screamed, but that wasn't going to make her better or relieve my angst. I made an appointment with a favorite nurse practitioner at the pediatrician's office. Hannah loves her, we call her Dr. Barbara. As we waited, in the waiting room, Hannah saw her emerge from one of the exam rooms, clapped her hands and yelled out "Bawbwa! Hi Bawbwa!"

Dr. Barbara confirmed a double ear infection. Poor baby. She also said depending on what kind of night we had, she felt it would be okay to keep our appointment. Yea, Dr. Barbara! Hannah slept pretty well Tuesday night (one wake-up for meds but she was downright pleasant) and so the hearing was a go!

We had our twelve month post placement in the hallway with our social worker and then waited for the judge to call us in. Emily was so excited I thought she was going to explode!
Waiting...
Waiting...



The courtroom was incredibly NOT Law and Order, a dark little room with a long table and no windows. The judge and bailiff sat at the very front and called our attorney in first, for questioning, to which our social worker said, "Oh my, that has never happened before." GREAT! We would learn later, the judge was uncertain how to pronounce Hannah's Chinese name and wanted to be sure he did not offend our family - I thought that was really cool. Then came the total awesomeness of this experience. We got settled, and they advised we would need to be sworn in, to which Emily stood up and placed her little hand on the Bible, as well. (They would be asking her no questions) but these incredible people went right along having her swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and asking each of us to give our name and any spellings...Rob and I both give our information and then they look at Em, "Oh, umm Emily, E-M-I-L-Y and I can spell my last name too." And she did.

The attorney and judge spoke about the father/daughter relationship and the mother/daughter relationship and advised us that we cannot change our minds, she is "now as though born to us" . Yup, okee dokee, uh huh, sure thing, been that way since we saw her sweet face - we were elated. Em was incredibly disappointed the judge had no gavel to conclude, but was soothed by the prospect of taking a picture with him and was awed by his height.

Yes, I know my eyes are closed, but it was the best of the bunch!


This event was, in all reality, a formality. A formality, that I will remember all the days of my life. This day, I remember a whole other family who loved Hannah and gave us the blessing of raising her and loving her. And remarkably, she loves us right back, that excites me to no end! Hannah did beautifully, even feeling punky and certainly not herself, she was a trooper.

End of the story???? NOOOO, in fact this part is for all the families waiting. I stayed with Hannah and my mom, while Rob and Emily and the other grandparents walked the distance to go get the cars. On their way, Emily spotted a grouping of dandilions and could not resist the urge to get one. And can you imagine what was on the botoom of the lovely flower she picked????
Look closely...

A sweet little ladybug reminding us of all the babies in China - I used to tell Emily that everytime we spotted a ladybug, Hannah was thinking of us in China - Emily set the cutie-pie free so that others families would know their babies were thinking of them


See? I knew it was the perfect day! (More pictures and fun to come, stay tuned:)

18 comments:

Kelley said...

Those are all wonderful pictures, and a great story! I love the little ladybug! That's perfect!

Poor Hannah having a double ear infection! That's no fun...

Stefanie said...

Yeah for readoption day!! I LOVE making it officially official.. as if it wasn't already!! Glad that Hannah was feeling better, double ear infection ~ yuck!!
And a ladybug sighting? What could that mean? Looking forward to hearing more :)

mommy24treasures said...

Oh I know it feels so good for you to complete this step! Big WOW on the ladybug! Wasn't that amazing???
I am glad you posted the pic anyway, eyes closed or not.
Its so hard sometimes to get a pic of everyone perfect!
Big Congrats!
Love
Connie

MacMui Mom said...

Tears in my eyes and joy in my heart for you. What a HUGE blessing to be an official family. May God contiue to keep you safe in His arms!!!

Love, Lisa

Lori said...

Oh what a happy post~ CONGRATULATIONS!!
Sweet story about the little ladybug~ can you please send her over my way?! :)

redmaryjanes said...

I am glad to hear that everything went well and that is behind you. The dandelion which to me symbolizes childhood, since I have received so many from my children and the lady bug together is very special.

sheryl said...

Oh what a sweet and joyful day! And the ladybug was the perfect ending to a perfect day. Isn't it amazing how those little ladybugs always know when to show up. I am going to be posting about a very special ladybug this week.

Hope Hannah's ears are all better too!

Hugs,
Sheryl

Kate said...

Heather,

What a speical day that must have been! I hope Hannah is feeling better! I don't thinnk big sis could be any cuter...her expressions just say it all!!

What a fabulous blogging Mama you are...always at the ready with you camera to capture those little surprises that we so often miss!! Nice!

Congratulations to your (totally official even without a gavel) forever family!! Lovely to read about!

Denise C said...

Oh Heather! This post just gave me "Jesus Bumps"....(That's what we call chill bumps caused by GOD!)
OH what an absolutely perfect Forever Family day! And...I am just speechless about the little Ladybug under the Dandelion flower! What a priceless little treasure God put there just for you!
So precious!
Thank you for sharing every single moment...I felt like I was right there in the room too! Sweet Little Emily taking those vows so seriously...and promising to love her little sister forever! Oh what a sweet day! Miss Hannah is so very blessed to have been given such a wonderful Forever Family...and you all are deeply blessed!
Hugs and Love to you sweet friend!!!
Love,
Denise

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your re-adoption day! It's a great feeling to have it all "official." Hannah is just too pretty for words and I hope she's feeling better from the ear infection.

2China4Ayla said...

What a perfect day....beautiful end...beautiful family!!!

prechrswife said...

What a good day! We are so behind on doing all of our readoption stuff, especially since we are mostly doing it to get the state certificate of foreign birth. I know you are glad to get all of that behind you.

I hope sweet Hannah is feeling better!

Anonymous said...

Heather,

Too perect! A ladybug for a ladybug~! Congrats on your day. This post made me cry, and it was the whole ladybug thing at the end and your recalling those who wait! How my heart goes out to those who wait now in the long season of holding on!! Leave it to you with your tender heart to remember others on your special day!

Love,
**Meredith~

The Byrd's Nest said...

What a perfect day! Glad she was feeling better for the official ceremony.

Angie said...

What a great day! I am sorry to hear that Hannah wasn't feeling well and I hope that she is better now.
Emily saying the little vows warmed my heart so. What precious children you have!
How special to find a ladybug at the end of your day...perfect!
Congratulations on everything being final and official!!! I know that must be a wonderful feeling!

DiJo said...

I am just catching up. Congratulations on being official! The Ladybug sighting truly was the perfect ending to your perfect day!
Hugs,
Diana

3 Peanuts said...

Heather,

I am bawling my eyes out over here! This is my favorite post you have ever written. I can just feel the love and joy in each and every single word. Congratulations on this very important day. I think for us Mommies who were not there in CHina.. this is a very special day. Sdaly, I have no idea when I will get to experience it since we STILL have not had our last home visit. Our SW is not scheduling it because she is so busy!

Anyway---I am SO happy for you all. LOVE the little ladybug story:)

Love,
Kim

Leslie said...

Congratulations!! What a special day in all of your lives!I love the lady bug story, we still think of the babies as well whenever we see one! Or red threads laying around on the carpet! I guess it will always be that way won't it?
I love how Emily was included in the ceremony!

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