Jenna meets her new family

Over the last few days we've had lots of introductions...we have such great family...

Jenna meeting her Grandma Lorrie

Great Aunt Val

Great Aunt Janice and Cousin Ashley

Cousin Tyree

and not pictured Maile Madsen and Matt Madsen

New Moon

I took a tiny little break from parenthood and went to the midnight premier of New Moon (go Team Edward) with Angie Gove and her family. Tradition is tradition, right? It was a great time but I was so excited to get back to Jenna.

First photo shoot

We drove straight from the hospital to Casey's mother's home where we are going to spend the next few days. Upon our arrival we attempted our first photo shoot. It didn't go great. Lorrie had a bit of a rough time getting the camera close enough to see us, but not so close it cut off heads. And Jenna grew tired of the camera pretty quickly...but I am training her early!

A birthmother's love

I don't know if I will ever be able to adequately articulate my awe struck appreciation for what Courtney has allowed Casey and I to have...a family. I thought I would share one of my favorite photos from this experience. It is very dear to me, as is Courtney. Here she is saying good-bye to her daughter...

YEAH, We're parents! Now get us out of here...

We got a call late last night from Christina and Kristy telling us that they found out from the nurses that Courtney would be getting released from the hospital the next morning. Courtney's doctor would be coming early to discharge her and the pediatrician would be coming around eight to clear Jenna. Courtney asked if she could have a little time with Jenna before she signed. So it was back to a waiting game. Only time would tell...not much sleeping going on last night!

The next morning while we were waiting to hear from Christina and Kristy as to whether or not Courtney signed we went to the grocery store to find a little something to eat. As we were leaving the store I went to check the time on my phone and realized that I had received a text five minutes earlier but never felt the phone vibrate...it was from Christina and read, "Congratulations you're parents." There aren't words to describe the flood of emotions. I am sure they are similar to biological parents, but slightly tweaked. Having only found out about this potential parenthood six weeks ago we have had a lot less prep time. Plus I had to keep my hopes and expectations in check because there was just as much a chance of Courtney changing her mind, so there was a great deal of shock that this has finally happened...10 years, 8 artificial insemination's, 1 in-vitro fertilization, and 1 failed adoption. Christina called and told us we could come over to the hospital. Courtney didn't want to see us and wanted to leave the hospital before we did but wanted us to bring the dress Jenna was going home so she could change her clothes and keep the ones Jenna was currently wearing. So we headed over. Courtney's Grandpa happened to be volunteering that day and greeted us as we walked in. What do you say? How do you ever express your gratitude for his granddaughter's and his sacrifice? It's still a bit overwhelming for me. While Courtney was changing Jenna we signed the paperwork on our end. After that we were free to go. It was a bit anti-climatic, we were expecting some instruction of some sort from the hospital, but they were like here you go, good luck! They gave us a bunch of formula samples and diapers, made sure the car seat was installed correctly, and sent us on our way. At that point, we were so relieved it was all we could do not to speed out of that town! WE ARE PARENTS!!!

Uh oh...

While getting ready this morning, Casey and I finally decided on Jenna Rose. I said to Casey that I think she was a Jenna to which he replied, "I was ten seconds away from saying the same thing." Not two minutes later I got a text from Wendy Dallimore that said, "I know it's not any of my business, but I think she is a Jenna Rose." So Casey and I shook hands on it, and we have a name.

We finally got a call around 10 am that it was alright to go back over to the hospital. Jenna (yeah!) was in the nursery again after having spent the night with Courtney. This time Casey and I took her out of the nursery and down the hall to our hospital room. The two social workers, Kristy and Christina, waiting in the family room and Casey and I finally got some alone time with the baby. We each took turns holding her and taking pictures. (The one of Case pretending to be terrified may be one of my all time favorites) We only got about 20 minutes again when Kristy brought some of Courtney's friends in. They wanted to hold her. It turns out that one of the had just had a baby six weeks ago and the other was due in the next couple weeks and they are both choosing to parent. Then we find out that FIVE of her friends are going to be or already had babies within 6 weeks of Courtney and they are all raising them. If she actually pulls the trigger on this adoption she will be the strongest woman alive! After the friends left Christina came in and told us Courtney wanted Jenna back in her room.

So, off we went. Courtney was watching GMC? Is that the country version of MTV? Anyway, in the ten minutes we were in with her she never took her eyes off the screen. I think the reality of this is really starting to hit her. We told her we had decided on Jenna Rose and she kind of seemed less than enthusiastic and told us that was her "ex-best friends" name, Jenna. Adoptions have fallen apart over less. So now we had to figure out if by sticking to our guns on the name, was this fragile thing going to implode? After about 10 minutes of awkward small talk, Courtney's aunt showed up and we went back to our hospital room to give them some privacy. We waited around for an hour until Courtney told Kristy that we should just leave the hospital and come back again tonight. She was feeling pressure knowing we were just down the hall.

So, off we went. Casey and I went to the grocery store for comfort food and then back to hotel. When we showed back up at the hospital at the given time, Courtney was in rough shape. She didn't want to see us, didn't want us to see Jenna, still didn't want to talk about the adoption. Kristy spent about an hour with her and her Grandma trying to get her to remember why she had decided on an adoption plan in the first place. Courtney had decided that even though we had reached the 24 hour mark, she didn't want to sign until she was released from the hospital, which is tomorrow morning. She and Kristy came up with a loose plan for signing the relinquishment papers in the morning and then she sent us all packing. My nerves were beyond frazzled. Having already survived one failed adoption attempt a year prior, this was beginning to feel all to familiar. Christina, Kristy, and Casey were all trying to tell me it was all going to work out and everything would be fine, but I was rapidly loosing hope.

So, off we went. This time Casey and I headed to Vernal since there is ONE restaurant in Roosevelt. Again we went for the comfort food. So there we sat in Cafe Rio discussing whether we needed to pick a different name because of a teenage spat, what we could have done differently, and what fabulous place we were going to go to if this thing goes south. Here's to hoping the other three are right...

Bath time

We left our camera with the nurses at the hospital so they could take pictures of the little one's bath.

"Our" little girl is here...hopefully we get to keep her...

I got a call this morning around eleven from Kristy Barlow at Children's Aid Society, the adoption agency we are working with, telling me that Courtney was in labor. She had a doctors appointment this morning and they sent her right over to the hospital. Gratefully, I had just finished filling up the the tank and washing the car so that was two less things we had to take care of before we could leave. I called Casey and he finished up some stuff at work and then headed home where I was just finishing packing and we hit the road to head to Roosevelt. It felt like the longest drive of my life! We finally got there around 730 pm and got a call again from Kristy as we were pulling into the hotel telling us that Courtney had had the baby at 7:32 pm. She weighed 6 lbs 8 oz and is 19 in. Kristy told us to check in and wait for the all-clear call to head over to the hospital. We were able to go over and meet the little one about an hour later. The nurses were so great! After that tour the trip before I was extremely nervous about how we were going to be treated. But they were very welcoming. Courtney had give permission for me to have a wrist band allowing me to go into the nursery at any time and take her out. And they gave Casey a security card to get us into the labor and delivery section. They also gave us our own hospital room for us to hang in, or take the baby to for one on one time, or spend the night in if we so chose to. We were greeted by Courtney's grandparents and uncle upon our arrival at the hospital. They had taken the babe into the nursery to check her vitals while the doctor was still in with Courtney. The nurses invited us into the nursery to see her. The very first thing Casey and I noticed were how long her toes and legs were. We were trying to guess how tall she would be and what sports she might play. We were able to be in there with her while they gave her the HepB vaccine. There was a great nurse in the nursery that let us use his stethoscope to listen to her heart beat with. We got about 20 minutes with her and then we were told that Courtney wanted her back in her room. We joined Courtney along with her mom for a little while. We gave Courtney a really nummy (yeah, it's a word) robe to wear in the hospital. After a little bit though it got uncomfortable so we let them have their space and headed back to the hotel. She did tell us she was hoping we would name the baby Courtney Rose...not so sure about that one. Courtney told Kristy that she would let her know when it was OK for us to head back over in the morning. Courtney cannot sign the relinquishment papers until at least 24 hours after the baby was born and I don't think she has decided what she wants to do as far as when she wants to sign, or how the hand off is going to work. Let the limbo and waiting begin...

Cooper Allen Quarders

We had a new nephew born today to Chris and Sara Quarders. He is the spitting image of his father and we are so excited to have him finally here! Unfortunately I didn't get to go to his birth because Courtney is due this week and I don't want to be stuck in California if she goes into labor...

Halloween

I headed to San Diego for Halloween this year. It was so much fun. Chris was the Scarecrow, Sara the Tin Man (her little...well not so little...pregnant belly looked fabulous in the costume her MiL made her), and Chloe the Cowardly Lion. It was adorable. Kylie made the most darling Cinderella (I got in a little trouble with her mom for putting make-up on, but I couldn't resist!) And Jose Bo Began was Michael Jackson. The best looking MJ ever. Chloe was so darling, watching closely everything Kylie did so she could learn how to Trick or Treat...must have the candy. It was a great time having my Dad and Holly and my Mom and Bob there to enjoy the entertainment! By the way, in case you are wondering...Yes, those are orange pants my Dad is wearing.