Bri stops by for a visit!

My mom, me, Bri, and Bri's mom Joan

After a wonderfully active night, my parents' house has been a whirlwind of visitors today, the first of which this morning was Bri and her mom Joan. We didn't think Isaac would see Bri again before we left so we were amazingly blessed when Bri called to say she'd like to come by. Bri brought a stuffed giraffe for Isaac and a Mother's Day card for me. She shared in our excitement that Isaac was able to make his debut before Mother's Day. Just in time!

We reflected back on Bri's labor during our visit this morning. She has given me permission to share anything on the blog that we want to. From the first start of discomfort around 11:00 in the morning while she and Joan were at Brookstone in the Galleria mall, until delivery at 8:20pm EST, the entire "ordeal" didn't even break the ten hour mark. I know we had been praying for a fast delivery and fast he was! Unfortunately, there were some issues with her epidural that meant it needed to be redone. However, by the time they tried to redo it, she had advanced too far and Isaac was determined it was time to show up! Due to the absence of much medication, Bri said that the labor was "traumatic but fast" -- so fast that his head was not even cone-shaped at all when he finally emerged into the world -- and so fast that we weren't even in Orlando yet! When we saw her a few hours after delivery, she looked great, had gotten some McDonalds, and was greatly relieved it was all behind her.

The thing I remember most about the visit this morning was Bri saying, "I am just so filled with happiness." Many of you have asked me how Bri is doing, and I think I can summarize appropriately when I say she is doing great. She feels at total peace with her decision and knows that Isaac will always know how much he is loved by her choice to let him grow up with us. She is also comforted with the knowledge that she can watch Isaac grow up with so many people who love us and him. She said she truly does not feel any sadness. I think the blog will be a great tool that she can use to follow his life. She can check in as often or little as she wants and catch up on a week, a month, or a year. She's also very glad Isaac will have a dog. She had one growing up and thinks its quite important! We agree.

Some people may wonder how I feel about Bri holding and being with Isaac. I feel great! We feel great! We know that Bri being involved in his life and these early pictures will be an amazing blessing to Isaac when he is older -- that he can see the love that surrounded his birth and understand that Bri's decision was based solely on love for this little boy. We continue to look at this with the perspective that this is not our child or Bri's or Chris' child. This is God's child. We get to help him grow up but when you keep the outlook that no one "owns" this child, it really changes everything. He is God's son.

We are planning to leave on Sunday morning -- tomorrow -- bright and early. JB has been working on all the things we have to pack into the van for our departure. Jodi has informed us that Scrubs is doing well, successfully retrieving dirty clothes from the laundry basket with the hopes that Jodi will give chase! We have started calling Isaac's socks "Srubby snacks" knowing they will be a huge delight to our little puppy who waits anxiously for us to return with his girlfriend Jodi by his side! (He LOVES her!) We are so blessed to have him so well taken care of while we are gone.

And we are so blessed by everyone who is loving and praying for all of us. Honestly, this is one of the first times in my life that I feel prayed for. I am so relaxed and at total peace. I am not anxious or nervous or worried at all. I feel so calm. I know this is prayers from everyone following our story.

More to come . . .