One week old

Here's something that is hard to believe. Isaac is one week old. Bri, can you believe that it was a week ago today that you delivered him, we drove ten hours, and he entered the world? Quite hard to believe. In fact, I am not sure I really do believe it.

Yesterday my dear friend from church and care group, Adrienne, stopped over to visit. She took a few pictures from her time with us that she later sent to me. Here they are. She tried to get Scrubs and Isaac in a photo together but neither of them would cooperate.



Today is an exciting day for Isaac as, if all goes according to plan, he will be circumcised today! Actually, we aren't sure how excited he is by the prospect of this procedure so we have attempted to only whisper our intentions so not to scare him. JB got him into the computer system yesterday so hopefully they can get the procedure done. There is only a small window in which they can do this before they will have to put him out for the procedure so we definitely wanted to get it done today if possible. The lawyer sent us everything they could to prove he is our son. Apparently it was enough, and he is now an official military child. Prior to this paperwork, the only thing I had was his footprints from the hospital. Doctor G. laughed when I handed the piece of paper to her. That was probably not enough to prove parenthood.

Life in our household is wonderful. Last night Isaac went nearly five hours between feedings! My dear mother took a three hour nap yesterday, waking up at almost 5:00pm. So when I told her to head to bed for the evening, and I'd be with Isaac, she looked at me like I was crazy. She was completely wired and ready to have a party. So I left Isaac with her and got a few hours of sleep before returning to spend more time with him. The first few nights he was home, he seemed to have his days and nights mixed up. But this seems to slowly be evening out.

We continue to be asked how we are feeling. Our friend Ronnie called and said, "So take me through your emotions ..." Wow! What a question. Honestly, I'm not sure that I can possibly put our emotions onto "paper". Things are starting to feel a bit more real, but we continue to think that this is a dream we will soon wake up from. I have often heard the expression that you need to pinch yourself. I really feel that way! How can he be our's? How can he live at our house? How can he not be going home soon? Is it really possible?

We also feel like every moment is an incredible gift. I am not sure if every mother feels this way, but I surely do. We do not know if we will ever parent a newborn child again. We do not know if we will ever change those itty bitty diapers again. Isaac currently has three onesies that fit him and that we are washing every day. (Thanks Cali Tara!) Everything else is way too big. He's so tiny (except his feet -- they are huge!) We don't know that we will ever have this privilege again. It therefore causes everything you do to be looked at in an amazing light -- treasuring every little moment you get to spend with him with incredible appreciation.

I am also still dealing with the fact that I have left one world and entered another. During the last few days, I have had the opportunity to speak with some of my friends from my infertility circle. I have trouble finding the same words of encouragement for them when Isaac is here. My heart will always be with the barren. How can I continue to minister, encourage, and love these women when I now don't wake up to a quiet house? I am not sure. Many people had warned me of this "transition to the other side." I am making it slowly. Even though I am technically still infertile, I still feel childless as well. I am not sure when or if that will completely change.

I continue to be amazed that after so many years of waiting, our house is more than just two people and their mischievous dog. But it is. And I love it.