One Extreme to the Other

Wow, what a week!!! 

It's been a crazy emotional roller coaster for our family this week, and that's not all bad. 

Tuesday my little man started kindergarten. 

Up until Dru came to us, me and B were together all day everyday. Watching him go to "big school" is bittersweet. 

At least he still let me hold his hand on the way in 

Wednesday was an event we have been waiting to celebrate for a long time. 

It was our adoption finalization day!!!!!

We had to wait a little longer than usual because Dru was given her birth fathers last name at birth, so an extra effort was made to get his approval. He proved difficult to get a hold of. 

But the day was perfect. 

Everytime the bailiff went to check the hall for visitors, more and more friends and family came in. It was amazing to feel the support of so many people. Our case worker, and now dear friend, Hope was there too, which was so special. 

This is most of my family. Imagine the crowd we would have had if Bill's family were all able to make the trip from out-of-state!

The actual proceedings were fast and we just had to answer some simple questions with a yes or no. Even that had me bawling. Especially when the question is something like "have you bonded and learned to love this child?"

Absolutely!!!!!

The dress Dru wore that day is one from her belly momma. How can anyone doubt the love she had for Dru when she gave us a suitcase full of clothes that wouldn't even fit her for months to come? 

We even went to lunch afterwards at the same Olive Garden where we first met her 8 months ago. It brought back all the feelings I had when Dru was placed in my arms and I KNEW she was meant to be mine. Adoption is such a miracle from beginning to end. 

There really is no end. She'll be our miracle for eternity. 

After such a special day we also got to enjoy our "normal". And by normal, I mean chasing Trey all over the place to watch him play ball. This night happened to be football. This weekend is full of baseball. 

After the highest of highs on Wednesday, all the worry and stress of biliary atresia came rushing down on us on Thursday. But it was a scheduled thing so it wasn't the worst thing ever. 

Dru had her belly tapped again and a picc line placed in her arm so she can receive IV nutrition now. 

They were able to take 600 cc off her belly again. 

The picc line increases her risk of infection, but it also means no more pokes when they need blood labs, and she is getting nutrition straight to her bloodstream, and our team can now ask for exception points for her PELD score. 

She came out of her procedure about an hour later and her blood sugar was so low that she slept most of the day. After juice and some TPN her blood sugar looks much better. 

Staying the night in the hospital is never fun, but I'm always grateful that Dru is so well taken care of. 

Happily, this morning all her electrolytes were close to normal and we are headed home. 

Home health comes to our house tonight to educate us on her picc line and TPN. Something new to learn

I am just beyond grateful that I get to be this girls mom. It's not how I imagined it all to be, but she's here and she's ours. We are just gonna keep on keeping on til her gift comes. 

And then there's gonna be a party!!!