The Miracle of Caleb

I promised a longer story (when I say longer, I really mean LONGER) of how Caleb came to be part of our family so here it goes.

Like I said in our first blog, I was looking around at an adoption social site that I am a member of on Tuesday (Sept 22nd) and I saw a posting about a last minute situation. What first attracted me to it was that the agency specifically requested a family from Utah. Second, they said the baby was due soon (we had no idea how soon). The posting did state that the baby would have health problems so I was slightly hesitant, but responded to the posting anyways asking for a little more information.

I got a call from the agency that had posted the situation pretty quickly. I learned that the 1. baby was due within the week 2. there were cysts on the little boys kidney and 3. we'd have to fly to Baton Rouge, LA the next day. I took all this information in and told the agency guy I'd have to talk to my hubby. At that point, I had pretty much discounted the idea and written it off.

That same afternoon, Darren had his 6 month check up with his oncologist up at Huntsman. And to top that one off, it was exactly 1 year ago that day that we had gotten the original cancer diagnosis. So, Darren's mind wasn't exactly on our adoption plans that day. Thankfully, we got good news and the doctor said Darren looks great and that there is no sign of recurrence. Yippee!!

So after we got home from his appointment, I mentioned this last minute situation in Louisana. I played it off and said that we probably shouldn't do it . . . but Darren actually was open to it and we called the agency.

As soon as we got off the call with the agency, Darren had a voicemail from a paralegal in our ward who works for an adoption attorney. She always said she'd give us a call if their office ever got a notification of an available situation. The voicemail said that there office had been notified that afternoon of an available baby and to call her back. We freaked out - 2 babies in 1 day? I called her back and we got another push in this direction - it was the same situation we had been discussing.

The rest of that afternoon was full of discussions with the adoption agency, multiple prayers, a quick check of our checking account and tons of freaking out moments. By Tuesday night we had decided to move forward - we bought plane tickets for the next day and started packing.

As soon as we got to Baton Rouge on Wednesday night, we drove off to meet the birthmother, Renee, for dinner so she could meet us. I don't want to trivialize any part of this meeting, but some of the statements the birthmother made were so honestly sweet. She commented on Darren and I both having nice teeth, that we looked so professional (we were in jeans and t-shirts). . . she even went on to say that I looked like Darren's "trophy wife". Meeting her made Darren and I both so grateful for the homes we were raised in and for the lives we were leading. Dinner was easy and full of conversation and it made Darren and I feel confident that the adoption would happen.

Renee was induced the next morning, the 24th, at 3:30am. Almost 12 hours later, Caleb arrived in this world at 2:57 CST. Renee let me in the delivery room with her and once Caleb arrived, the doctor said to me "Mom, do you want to cut the cord"? It was amazing to be called Mom for the first time as I cut the cord and Caleb was swept off into the next room to be taken care of.

One of the first concerns was for Caleb's right kidney that had multiple cysts on it. A few short hours after being born, Caleb was swept off by the neo-natal specialist to have an ultrasound on his kidney. We learned that his right kidney does not function, but that the cysts are not progressive and will not spread. Basically, his right kidney won't work and it may just dissolve over the years. He was given a bill of good health.

We spent the next 48 hours at the hospital visiting Renee and Caleb (mostly Caleb :) ). And when they were both discharged on Saturday the 26th, Caleb was able to leave with us as Renee headed back to her own life. Then the waiting truly began. We had to wait another 24 hours for Renee to sign away her parental rights. It was a horrible 24 hours as we doubted and fretted while loving every minute we had Caleb with us. Late Sunday afternoon the lawyer showed up at our hotel room as Renee had signed and now we had to do our part. The rest is history.

We are finally home now and are adjusting to being home after 17 days in Louisiana waiting for clearance to leave the state and enter Utah. It wasn't a fun 17 days, but we wouldn't trade them for anything else. We love Caleb and he is definitely worth all the waiting, the heartache, and drama we had to go through to get here.