Friday, August 20, 2010

What to pack when you pick up your bundle of joy...

I will have several posts on this one topic...my first post is from a previous client...Emily Doss. She graciously volunteered to write our first post on this subject!! Thank you, Emily!


The Adoption Packing List I Wish I Had

I am a planner. But sometimes in the adoption world we get a phone call that changes our lives and either there is no time to plan or the plans quickly fly out the window. Luckily I married an amazing man who is pretty laid back and after 10 years of marriage it is finally rubbing off on me.

So although I wish I had been able to plan, we got THE PHONE CALL while visiting family out of state and headed straight to the hospital to meet our son....with nothing but a car seat!

If there had been time to plan here's what would have been nice to have...in other words here's what we picked up at the store as we expanded our family in the lovely hotel room nearly 800 miles from home.

For the parents:
Comfy clothes
Cute clothes (for all the photo opts)
Toiletries
Snacks, Drinks and Microwave Dinners
Plastic cutlery (nothing like getting carryout back to the room with nothing to eat it with.)
Quarters and Laundry Supplies
Camera
Video Camera
Computer
POWER CORDS (there will be tons of people to call and pictures to take! Don’t forget your power cords to your cell, camera, and all other electronic devices.)


For the baby:
Car seat
Diaper Bag- We found that a backpack worked well for us.
Bottles
Formula- The hospital usually sends you "home" with some samples to get you started...we found the liquid pre-mixed kind was most convenient for this clueless first time mom, looking back I would probably get some bottled water and powder formula.
Bottle brush and dish washing soap
Munchkin makes some really great to have reusable microwave sterilizer bags.
Diapers
Wipes
Lotion
Alcohol wipes (or whatever you choose to use for umbilical cord care.)
Sponge bath supplies
*For boys only- supplies to care for circumcision- (our doctor recommended Vaseline and gauze pads...they gave us some samples at the hospital then we knew exactly what to pick up from the store.)
Blankets and or swaddlers
Clothes (Can I get an a-men...finally all these cute clothes we've been staring at can go to good use!)
Pack and Play- ours was fabulous because it had a bassinet as well as a changing table. It was everything we needed in our lovely hotel room.
Stroller- For when you are sick of the hotel room and in dire need of an outing.
Canvas Crates/Baskets- definitely an extra and not really needed, but it helped me stay organized in our small space.

Note on hotels- It made things much easier for us that our hotel had on site laundry capabilities and had a fridge and microwave in the room.

Staying in a hotel room with your sweet new child is such an amazing time. You get to celebrate the end of an adoption journey and the beginning of a miracle of a new life. I hope you are able to enjoy your time and be a little more prepared than I was. And don't stress, there is probably a store right around the corner for all those things you forgot you needed. :)

by: Emily Doss

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Helpful Blog Posts coming soon...

Over the next few weeks, we will be posting blogs that will help adoptive parents on their adoption journeys. We will blog about travel tips, things to take and not to take, expectations of the adoption journey!! We would love for you to become a follower, so that way you can keep up with all of the different helpful blogs coming soon!! Have a blessed day!!


Friday, August 6, 2010

Updates...

Thank you all so much for the prayer requests!! M and D's prayers have been answered, everything is working out beautifully with their potential match. The match still has not been officially accepted, as they are waiting on a few more tests to be run! Please continue to pray for the health of this baby girl and for M and D as they continue to move forward very excitedly. They have waited for a baby for many years, so they are thrilled to finally be able to hold their baby girl!! As soon as she gets stronger and they get some tube free pics, I will make sure to post them for you! In the meantime, please continue to pray for this sweet baby, baby J!! Thank you so much!!

Also, please continue to pray for the 6 siblings that were placed in foster care earlier in the week, the details of this situation are very heart-breaking, and these children need our prayers. I do not want to post specifics as it is a very sad situation, but know that God is already working mightily, they are in the same foster home for now, and will be moving to a near-by state where they will be split between 2 relatives that live very close to one another. Pray for healing for each one of these children!!!

Also, please continue to pray for each of our clients that is presenting currently!

Also, pray for B and C. Their BM is due Aug. 27th, but is having contractions and is already dilating. Pray for a safe delivery for the BM and healthy baby boy!!! More updates to come as soon as I have them!!!

Thanks for all the prayers!! God is so good!!


Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Prayers....

I just wanted to post a few prayer requests:

1. Please pray one of our clients, M and D...they have a potential match with a baby that was born 8 weeks early. Please pray for the health of this baby, for each doctor and nurse that will be caring for this baby and also for M and D as they continue to make decisions about moving forward with this potential match!!

2. Please pray for C and B as they prepare for their baby boy, pray for their BM as she continues to carry this baby! Pray that the BM is steadfast in her adoption plan.

3. Pray for a sibling group of six that has been placed in foster care in another state, their parents passed away over the weekend, and they are now being placed with different family members. Please pray that the Lord would reveal Himself to each of these children, pray for the families that are taking these children on, pray for healing for each party involved in this tragedy!

Thank you for your prayers! I appreciate them so much, and constantly get emails from clients, prospective client and just blog readers reminding me they are praying for our adoptive families, their BM' s, etc. Thank you!!


Congrats...

Just wanted to post a quick congrats to C and B!!! Their precious baby boy is due on August 27th!! Can't wait to see pics of their newest addition!!! Please keep C and B in your prayers as they prepare for their new little one, please also keep their BM in your prayers as she continues to carry this sweet baby! What an amazing gift she is giving to C and B! I cannot imagine, but I am so thankful for each BM that has chosen the gift of life for their children, and also to bless another family with such an incredible gift! Please pray that she is steadfast in her adoption plan, and also that the Lord would grant her a peace during this time. Adoption is the adoptive parents greatest joy, but it is also the BM's greatest loss! Please keep both parties in your prayers! Thanks so much!!