October 3, 2009

Welcoming Nora to our Family

Yesterday was incredibly hard but also incredibly beautiful. K and J were so strong and amazing and I'm so grateful that they are likely to be in our lives. They were so gracious with allowing our family to visit and really enjoyed meeting our families. I think it made them feel even more comfortable with their decision as they saw how happy the grandparents were to meet their new grandchild.

We held a ceremony at approximately 1 pm to recognize Nora's transition to our family. It was incredibly beautiful. A candle with three wicks was lit (illicitly in the hospital) to symbolize Nora and each of our families coming together. Two poems were read and then each of us went around the room expressing our wishes for Nora. Both sets of grandparents were present as well as K and J and K's mother. The only one in the room not sobbing was Nora. She just slept so peacefully. K and J then passed Nora to us. Somehow we all found strength and the ceremony was so beautiful and bittersweet.

We were hoping, because we like K and J, that they might continue to be a part of our lives. K's mom asked if they could attend the baptism and we were happy she asked. I had thought about including them since we are all Catholic and this thread has been very important to them. So, I'm happy they will have a chance to see Nora again for her baptism in December.

By the time the ceremony ended, I was completely exhausted - emotionally, physically and mentally. We wanted to give K and J their time so we didn't really have much time with Nora at the hospital. The time we did have with her we always had a lot of people in the room observing so I was so ready to get home and figure out through trial and error how to be a mom without an audience.

Our first night with Nora was a little trying. She and I were both crying at 1 in the morning. She's an amazing baby and so pleasant and after 4 hours of sleep late this morning - I'm loving every minute of it. We've even mastered the sling and took a little walk through the neighborhood. I'm so happy to have Nora home for good!

13 comments:

  1. Congratulations! Here's to your wonderful new family and all that comes with it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. So wonderful!! I will love seeing photos of her trying out all her baby gear!

    ReplyDelete
  3. So happy for you! I can imagine that the last few days have brought a wide variety of emotions...but it sounds up like you ended up on happy. Glad that you will be able to stay in touch with the birthfamily and have them be a part of Nora's baptism.

    ReplyDelete
  4. *Tears* Moments you will never forget. As long as the situation remains healthy, I hope you will all stay in touch. Hard as it is, it's an important link for your daughter. :o)

    *Hugs!!!*

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations, Jen! Your life will never be the same (in a good way, of course).

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations!!! I'm crying reading about your ceremony- how incredibly emotional and what an amazing symbol of adoption...the passing from one family to another. Enjoy all these fabulous sleepless nights. I love the name Nora, by the way...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Soooo excited that you finally have your little girl at home! :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations! :D The ceremony sounds just beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jen and Joel,

    I am SO happy for you - what a journey this has been! I wish you all the happiness in the world - you will be the best possible parents and Nora is a very lucky child! Lovely, as hard as it was for you all, for her to be so surrounded by love.

    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, what a beautiful and amazing ceremony...I cried just reading your description and can't even imagine what it was like for you.

    Congratulations again on your new little miracle! Motherhood is the scariest, but most rewarding job in the world!!

    Hugs,

    Melba

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congratulations! I love the description of the ceremony, but I also had to chuckle at "I was so ready to get home and figure out through trial and error how to be a mom without an audience." I look forward to following that part.

    ReplyDelete
  12. It sounds wonderful and beautiful and like everything you wanted it to be. Congratulations on your daughter! I can't wait to read more about you becoming a mom - I think that's the scariest part of the whole thing :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm sorry I'm so behind....congratulations!!!! You and your husband look so happy. I'm so happy for you both. I have more catching up to do....

    ReplyDelete