Where has the time gone?!? 1 year since transfer

One year ago today I met Joshua David for the first time! He was only 5 days old and decided to nestle in for 8 months! The embryo adoption journey has been quite a roller coaster, and even though I didn't enjoy the valleys, it was all worth it for our precious and amazing son! 

Here He is at 5 days! Not sure which one, but the other is his sibling in heaven.

There aren't many days that go buy that I don't think about our 5 other babies in heaven, but I hold on to the joy that I will get to meet them one day and Joshua David will be reunited with his siblings. 

Joshua is a super sweet, serious, and layed back baby! Thank the Lord! Because 6 has been quite the adjustment. I'm sure some of it has to do with the fact that he was born 5 weeks early in a tramatic way, but that is his birth story and it is still beautiful. This little boy has such a calling on his life that I haven't felt before and I can't wait to see how he grows! 

Here are some pictures and videos of this fearfully and wonderfully made son of God.

His First Giggles

 2 Weeks

2 Months

 4 Months

Home Sweet Home

We've been home for a couple weeks now. I'm so thankful that my husband was able to take off work for the first week. I was pretty much bedridden. The pain was quite rough. The second week my sister flew in with my nephew. Thankfully I was feeling more normal and able to move around better. She was a huge help and made us dinner every night and helped clean the house. With all the help with daily house work and such I had enough energy to do some fun stuff with her and my nephew. We did a short trip to the zoo, Ikea, Kaleidoscope, and even got a date with my husband, and some one on one time shopping with my sister.

This week has been my first week by myself getting back to a normal schedule. It has been interesting. With the excitement and adrenaline wearing off I have had a world of emotions. Having to work through the emotions of things not having gone expected and in a sense mourning the fact that I didn't get to labor and give birth to him. I know I may be a bit crazy, but I love that experience and it gives me a sense of accomplishment and a form of bonding. The fact that he was suddenly ripped out of my body is effecting more than I expected. I am still so thankful that everything went well and everyone was and is safe, and I feel that it was the Lord's timing, but I just have to work through my missed expectations. Of course this is all made harder by all the hormones trying to stabilize, my inability to function normally due to still healing from surgery, and the exhaustion that comes from simply having a newborn, let alone 5 other kids. One being a toddler having a hard time adjusting. I've started getting Joshua David on a schedule and that is helping me get a little more sleep.

I would love any prayers for dealing with the trauma, healing well, and the adjustment for the kids.

If you like to see some pictures click here to see Joshua David and my sister and nephew.

Hospital Stay

My time in the hospital felt like and eternity and a blur all at the same time. I will do my best to recall those few days!

After the c-section I had to go to recovery for 2 hours before I could go see my precious little man! It was a LONG wait! Finally my time was up and got wheeled in my bed up to the nicu. It was quite a bumpy ride and I was filled with so many emotions! I was so relieved when I got see him and learn that he didn't need ANY MEDICAL HELP AT ALL!!! He only had a few wires hooked up to him to monitor his oxygen, and heart rate. Everyone was amazed at how well he was doing for being so early! I was so happy to be able to hold and nurse him! He nursed like a champ! The nurses kept saying things like; "Don't be too excited, they often do really well at first and then fade." Or, "It could just be the honey moon phase." But I didn't accept any of that! I knew how strong my little man was and how awesome my God IS! I knew he wasn't going to need supplementing and had to fight for that a little.

The days were long. having to go back and forth between the nicu and my room a floor away. I got NO sleep for the first 36-48 hrs and then got a little the next night. Trying to time sleep, meds, eating, and getting to the nicu to nurse was hard and exhausting, not to mention emotional leaving my baby!

Even though the c-section itself was pretty cool, recovering from one has been horrendous. My body does natural labor and vaginal delivery like a pro, but I was not designed for c-sections! Trying to find medications that helped was hard, and even still am in a lot of pain. But, I will be okay and baby is perfect so that's all that really matters!

It was hard having to go back and forth when I knew he didn't have any problems. It was like torture! They had my hopes up to him coming to my room on Thursday, but the pediatrician wanted to watch him one more day to make sure he didn't have any breathing problems. It was killer to hear that, but I know they just want to make sure and better be safe than sorry. I could not wait till Friday to see the Pedi again and show her how amazing he is, and that he didn't have any problems. Thankfully she agreed and he got to come down to my room with me Friday night! I was thrilled! To be together constantly and not have to go back and forth was amazing!

Another blessing was that nursing has gone so well!! He has latched great and my milk came in super fast! I feel that is one way God helped me to not have to supplement with him! The nurses were even shocked at how much I was able to pump after feeding him!

Then came the battle to get home! When you have a preemie, they have to pass a car seat test. They have to be able to sit in a car seat for an hour with out their heart rate dropping. They did the first test in the middle of the night Friday. They came back and said he failed. They said he made it most of the way so it might have been a fluke, so they were going to test again in a little while. I told my friends to pray and one of my friends had a similar experience 2 months ago and brought me the car seat she had to bring her preemie home in. I was so thankful! They tested him again, and again he failed! I was devastated! Worrying what they were going to want to do if he couldn't pass and go home with me! Amazingly, some one saw my post on a moms group forum I'm on. She doesn't even know me, but offered for me to borrow their special flat bed like car seat for preemies. I was blown away by her generosity! I was still so nervous! This was our last hope! They took him back to test and came back with good news this time! WE GET TO GO HOME TOGETHER!!! I was so happy!!

It was interesting how being in a hospital full of nurses and doctors none of them had heard about embryo adoption. They were all so curious of our story and were amazed at it all! I should have had it recorded to just push play when each new nurse or doctor asked! So many of them couldn't wait to tell someone they knew about it! I love how the Lord is using us to spread a way to give life to those who can't speak for themselves!

One of the biggest blessings though is all the help we got from good friends! We could not have made it through with out them! Being that we have 5 kids at home we constantly needed someone to be with them as I was not in shape to be alone at the hospital. Physically or emotionally. I'm blown away by their generosity. From watching kids, to bringing me car seats, and spending time with me, and all those that prayed for us through it all! It is a miracle and a birth story we will never forget!

We joke that he wanted to come into the world the way he went into my womb. Surgically!
Here is a picture of us right before the transfer and then right before and after the c-section. If you look close you can even see Paul is wearing the same clothes!!!

Before the embryo's where put in my womb. 02/28/2014

Joshua David's BIRTHday! 10/15/2014

Every LIFE is important no matter how small!! An embryo is not just a cluster of cells, but a human!

HE IS PROOF!

This whole journey has been AMAZiNG!! To be able to give life to the unwanted from the very beginning is so hard to put into words how magical it is! There is nothing like it! Truly miraculous! If you would like to give to help us with our amazing journey of embryo adoption there are several ways!!

1. Simply donate using the link on the right. We still have quite a bit to pay off from the whole process.

2. You can sign up to bring us a meal or gift card to help with meals as we adjust to a new baby (#6) and recovering from a c-section.  Click Here for meal registry. 

3. We have a baby registry at Target of a few things we still need. Click Here for baby registry.

Will update how we are doing since we've been home soon!

He is Here!!! WARNING graphic part one of our journey of Joshua David's birth.

*There are probably tons of typos and might not make total sense since I haven't slept in almost 48 hrs, but here is a rough draft of his birth.....

Joshua David decided to make an entrance into our arms a little earlier than planned! Wednesday October 15th at around noon I started having a pain in my back on the left side middle. It was a pain I have never felt before and made me kind of nauseous. I kept going about my day for 30 minutes and the pain got worse. I texted my husband and he told me to call my doctor and that he was going to come right home. You see, my husband knows me so well and if I was concerned enough to mention it to him, than something was definitely not right. The pain increased fast and by the time I called the nurse I was hyperventilating. At first she told me to come into the office to be assessed, then a few minutes later after talking to the doctor called back and said to go straight to labor and delivery. Thankfully we have wonderful friends were willing to stop what they are doing and come help quickly. My friend go to me before my husband was able to, so I jumped in her car and another friend stayed at the house with Izzy. Paul got the kids out of school and dropped them off at the house and headed to the hospital to meet us there. When I got there I was still in a good deal of pain and not breathing well. They had me slow my breathing and pee and put monitors on me to watch baby and contractions. Shortly after the pain actually subsided. They were thinking a kidney stone or something alone those lines, which was what my initial thought was too since the pain was specifically located. They continued to monitor me and took some labs and checked my cervix. At that point I was only at 1cm which was no big deal. They said they were going to monitor me a bit longer and see what happens. After being checked the contractions picked up big time. I went to the restroom and laid back down and a few minutes later felt a trickle. I thought that it might be just the gel from being checked because it was a small amount, then a few minutes later felt a big gush. They check and it was blood! At that point I got nervous, but baby still looks fantastic so they checked me and I was at a 3. They kept watching me and I kept having blood leak. They checked me again about an hour or so later was still 3. Since my bleeding wasn't slowing down and I wasn't in active labor, they decided it would be best to get him out via c-section. At that point I had all sorts of feelings! knowing I was going to get to see my son, but not sure is state, and getting a c-section for the first time, all scary! They explained everything to us and wheeled me away. I got into the OR and they gave me a spinal, then Paul was able to join me and got me all set up. Once they started and I didn't feel any pain I relaxed and actually got gitty! This was cool! I was awake and yet knew I was cut wide open! I was so intrigued and told Paul to take pictures and told the doctors to talk loud enough so I could hear. All the docs and nurses were women and I think they really got a hoot out of my energy. When it came time to pull him out they lowered the drape for me to see and Paul recorded it and is linked below :) He came out crying and they said he was looking great! I got to see him for a minute and then Paul went up with him to the NICU while I went to recovery. My time is quite limited so I will post more tomorrow if I can to fill you in more on how we are doing.

30 Weeks

I feel kind of like a walking oxymoron! I have pretty much every miserable pregnancy symptom in the book. Including, but not limited to: nausea (came back for my 3rd trimester), restless legs, insomnia, acid re-flux(and I mean acid literally coming up my throat), carpal tunnel, irritable bowels, and hemorrhoids. Yet....I'm so happy to be pregnant, and I mean I feel like my heart could burst with joy! It's so weird to feel so physically rough and yet be so happy at the same time!

I never imagined this journey would be as amazing as it has! Yes, there have been hard and sorrowful times, but feeling this life (that never stops moving by the way) growing in side of me is just outstanding! To think I am pregnant with an adopted child is crazy! But I am, and it's adoption on a whole other level! He is going to be amazing and I can't wait to see what this sweet boy looks like! He was destined to be our son and I only hope I can be the mother that he needs! I love that I get to take care of him from the tiniest of beginnings!

Here's a little flipogram of our journey so far!

Busy Doc Appt!

Yesterday I had an ob appointment that included the oh so fun glucose test, sonogram to check my placenta, dTap shot, and regular ob check up! I'm just glad I could do it all in one appt! I took Emma Grace along with me this time to see the baby. She enjoyed it, but sadly I didn't get the sonographer I wanted so no fun 3D pictures :( My placenta did move up so that is great, but also means no more ultrasounds for me unless something pops up that they need to check. 

He is also already head down, which I figured! The other day I noticed that my belly looked like it dropped already and then Paul even said something about it later that day! I also have had two scares of preterm labor. Thankfully I was able to get the contractions to calm down both times with prayer, water, bathes, and such. This boy needs to cook for at least 10 more weeks! Please pray that he does! My ob isn't too concerned since I've had 4 others with no preterm births, but because he is not "my" genetic material things could go different. So now I'm on a 2 week schedule to see the doctor!

 The oh so fun glucose test! The drink it's self doesn't taste too bad, but I sure do get dizzy! I was very thankful I brought a spoonful of peanut butter to eat after they drew my blood! It definitely helped!

 I also got my admission packet for the hospital! Getting Real!!

22.5 Weeks Update

Last week I had a doctor appointment with an ultrasound to see his sweet face and finish getting all the info they needed that he stopped them from seeing last time due to having his hands by his face the whole time. Also, to check if my placenta moved. It was low, but not a previa. Joshua David looks great! He cooperated well, and everything looks great. My placenta has not moved yet, so I get another sonogram next month! Love getting to see him so much!

 Here is a pic of how much my belly has grown! Almost 24 weeks!

 Several people have asked if I have a registry started and I just started one the other day at Target! Just click this LINK and type in my name Rebekah Hoover!

Also, we still need about 3k to cover the actual embryo transfer! We had to put it on credit to be able to make this life happen! We wouldn't do it any different, but sure would appreciate any support! Adopting in any form is not cheap, but so worth it! Life is precious and the Lord has called us to love with orphans! There are two easy links on the side of the blog where you can give! Thank for all your support and prayers!