Adopted (photos included!)

It's done!

It was totally crazy at the court house. I believe 63 children were adopted today by about 30 or so families.  We got there about 30 minutes early just in case.  My parents, my husband's mom and step-dad, and my second parents Bruce and Rhonda came.

Miss M was pretty grouchy when we got there. Not sure what her deal was, or if she was just feeling a little overwhelmed.

The adoption itself was OK, we all sat at the big tables in front of the judge where I have seen bio dad and bio mom and attorneys etc. sit. I have never sat there before, so it was kind of weird.  We put all four of the kids in a row, which was kind of a bad idea because neither of us were in between them to keep them shushed! After about 5 minutes of our attorney asking us questions the kids were getting antsy, but nobody seemed to mind.  I started crying when they were asking me questions. I knew I wouldn't be able to make it through the day without tears!  Then it was over before we knew it, and it was official! The kids got teddy bears and we got some pictures with the judge.

Then we went on to have some family pictures taken, then they had people making balloon animals and food and face painting. Also a local company donated back packs for all the kids. All the kids got new shoes and the back packs were stuffed full of goodies, which was really awesome.  The super sad thing was that somehow in the shuffle Y's bag got lost, so he was pretty upset about that.  Hopefully it will turn up at the courthouse though and we'll get it eventually.

Then we went out to eat.  My introverted self was literally exhausted from the emotions of the day and plus just being around so many people. I was thankful that our family was there to help us round up the kids and keep track of coats and bags and all the stuff!

And finally we got home. I was planning to take a nap, but my husband and the C-monster left to a birthday party and D went to a friend's, and the other two are napping...so by being alone, suddenly I am feeling ok! Ha!

The kids have a Christmas program tonight with their pre-school, then tomorrow church and our photo shoot and the adoption party.  Then Monday I have an OB appointment but I am going to try to lay low other than that.  And just catch my breath a bit. Whew.

As for how I'm feeling, I feel partly relieved and partly it just doesn't seem real yet.  I think it will probably take some time to sink in. We are supposed to get new birth certificates for the kids, and we will have to go to the Social Security Office to get their names legally changed on their SS cards. Maybe it will feel real then!

I have a family picture that was taken over a year ago, but maybe I can post some after we get our photos done.  In the mean time I'll leave you with some other photos.

Our family, circa August 2011 or so (I did not know we were going to get our pictures taken that day!)


The little ones in their Husker outfits - C, Y, M

C and I with our robot hats on

D at his first Husker game

Miss M and Y hanging out in the chair

Comments

  1. mitzy wickershamDecember 1, 2012 at 3:16 PM

    Yay! Great photos.

    ReplyDelete
  2. learning to fosterDecember 1, 2012 at 4:53 PM

    I was tearing up today just thinking about your day. We watched the news thinking maybe we'd see you on the story about how many adoptions there were today.
    We were advised to change X's ss number if we adopt so that no family members can ever use it to get credit cards etc in his name and ruin his credit etc. I guess it happens a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Learning to ParentDecember 1, 2012 at 6:40 PM

      Yes we are hoping to be able to do that! Someone else claimed the kids on their taxes last year (!!!!) so their social security numbers are floating around out there. So yeah, we definitely hope to change them.

      Delete
  3. CarrieDecember 1, 2012 at 5:27 PM

    Congratulations! Been following your story from the beginning-so happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. mjmDecember 1, 2012 at 7:37 PM

    Oh, Congratulations!!! I, too, have been following your story from the beginning and am overjoyed for you and the children. What a beautiful family! God bless you all.

    ReplyDelete
  5. MamaFujanDecember 1, 2012 at 7:48 PM

    Beautiful family! :) Congrats to all of you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. MandyDecember 1, 2012 at 8:57 PM

    Congratulations! I love getting to see pictures of the kids. What a happy ending/beginning!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Laura: One Day At A TimeDecember 3, 2012 at 2:14 AM

    This is so wonderful to read and see!!! Makes my heart happy--which is a good thing because we have our first home study today and I am nervous!

    ReplyDelete
  8. rcbe1December 5, 2012 at 5:48 PM

    ADORABLE Children :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousDecember 7, 2012 at 2:14 PM

    I am so glad to see pictures of your beautiful family! Congratulations on officially becoming a mommy!

    Shanna (off BBC)

    ReplyDelete

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