Overflowing

My head and my heart are overflowing right now with so many things that I want to express, yet mere words seem inadequate.

Phrases that circle through my mind all day are...
I am blessed.
God is so gracious.
SO worth the wait.

I am blessed. 
I have been so overwhelmed by the love and support that we have received. I had no idea how many people have been praying for this sweet boy. We have the most amazing friends  and family. What a blessing it has been for me to realize just how many people really love Ben. We have been loved on and ministered to in ways that I couldn't even dream.

God is so gracious. 
Adoption was not my plan. As someone very wise once told me, "It was not my plan A or to be completely honest, not even my plan B." BUT GOD is gracious enough to change my heart. My plan C was always his plan A. Always. I just couldn't see that. He is gracious enough to be patient and wait for me. Gracious enough not to give me what I thought I wanted because He was holding out for something so much better. When I hold my sweet Ben, I cannot imagine being a mom any other way.

SO worth the wait. 
This little boy is the perfect child that God intended for us all along. He is not a consolation prize and certainly not second best. I love him more than I could ever dream and know without a doubt that he is the greatest thing that I could have ever hoped for. If it meant walking our long and painful journey 1000 more times, I would do it in a heartbeat to get to Ben. He is worth every painful decision, every heartbreak, every tear...SO worth the wait.

I can't stop kissing this face

Ben's heart

We had our appointment with the cardiologist yesterday to find out more about Ben's heart issue.

They did an EKG first and then we met with the doctor. He was concerned with the EKG results, so he repeated the echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)which had been done last week in the NICU.

Basically, it showed some improvement in one of the issues that typically resolves on it's own. Another issue has not resolved, but is normal in 1/3 of adults and will not cause any complications.

The third problem has not improved. But it is not anything that needs intervention at this time. We will continue to monitor it and pray for improvement. If it gets worse, it is something that can be fixed surgically.

My arms are full

I am so sorry for the delay in blogging. I have started this post several times, but just get too caught up in my new man to proceed. 

We are home and Ben is doing fabulous. He is such a sweet boy and I am just smitten. It is hard for me to find the motivation to get anything done around here because even when he is sleeping, I just want to sit and stare at him. 

We came home on Sunday evening and celebrated Ben's welcome home with our family. It was a special night and it felt so surreal. It still does, to be quite honest. But every moment that he is in my arms, it becomes more and more clear to me that I AM A MOM!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday, we went to the pediatrician and everything looks great. We will still see the cardiologist on Friday to review the cardiac issues, but the pediatrician felt that they had already improved! 

Here are a few pictures from our first days together. I promise to post more soon. Once I care a little less about staring and more about getting something accomplished :)

Love at first sight:

Our first family photo:

This is when it hit me.... He is REALLY going home with us!

Blessed

I have never felt so blessed. Never. Ever.

I am sitting in the NICU right now watching my husband hold our son. My heart is overflowing.
Tonight, we get to stay at the hospital with Ben. He is doing well and as long as nothing changes with his health, he will get to come home with us tomorrow!!!

We will follow up with a pediatric cardiologist this week, but are hopeful that all of his cardiac issues are minor and will not need intervention.

I cannot wait to get this sweet boy home with us. You know there will be many pictures to follow soon!

Our New Beemer

Benjamin Matthew Woolley

born March 17th, 2011

6 lbs 10 oz

18 inches 

I couldn't be more thrilled to introduce you to our sweet little boy. We covet your prayers for him and his birthmother during this fragile time.

Ben has been to admitted to the NICU due to a heart condition. We do not yet know the extent of it, but are praying for God to completely heal him and allow him to come home with us as soon as possible. 

Here is a hint...

We are getting a new BMW this weekend!

BIG news

Great things are in the works for the Woolley family! You can expect some BIG news in the next few weeks!

Stay tuned....

Sarah

"Our" sweet baby girl was born on Sunday, March 6th. Her mother chose to keep the name that we had chosen for her, Sarah.
This step in the process has been a difficult one for me, but freeing at the same time. I feel like I can now fully grieve losing her. Her mother did not change her mind and she will not come home with us.
Please continue to pray for Sarah and her mother. We love both of them dearly and want the very best for them.

Blessings by Laura Story

Have you heard this song yet? I can't get enough of it!

We pray for blessings 
We pray for peace 

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep 

We pray for healing, for prosperity 

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering 

All the while, You hear each spoken need 

Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things 

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops 

What if Your healing comes through tears 

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near 

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise 

We pray for wisdom 

Your voice to hear 

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near 

We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love 

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough 

All the while, You hear each desperate plea 

As long as we have faith to believe 

When friends betray us 

When darkness seems to win 

We know that pain reminds this heart 

That this is not our home 

What if my greatest disappointments 

Or the aching of this life 

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy 

What if trials of this life 

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights 

Are your mercies in disguise

Thank you Lord for your blessings and your mercies, even when they hurt.