Carli Elizabeth Laws
click for a video of her time in Arizona
Monday, January 25, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Carli Comes Home!
Last night was our first night with Carli. She did very well. She woke us up every few hours to eat, right on schedule. Amazing that babies can tell time...almost to the minute! Both Joe and I were exhausted after not sleeping much and then having to get up early to get ready for our flight. We had to leave the hotel about 5:30 in order to get to Phoenix, turn in the car, and get to the airport for our flight.
We had no trouble with Carli boarding. We were worried because we had no birth certificate, but they didn't even ask for one. They only asked how old she was. We were lucky in that the flight was not full so we were able to take her carseat on board with us. (Thanks Margaret for the idea.) We waited until we were taking off to give her the bottle to help her ears with the air pressure. After that it was burping and changing. She then slept all the way to Nashville. Joe and I were the ones nervous. I have never had panic attacks flying before, but this time I had one. I guess I was worried that something would happen with Carli. We sat on the plane in Nashville for about 30 minutes before it was boarded again and we took off for Raleigh. It took less than an hour to get back to good old NC! Daddy, Cheryl and Austin were waiting for us when we arrived. It sure was good to see them all.
When we got home, Grandma and PaPa were waiting for us. Balloons had been tied to the mailbox and were inside. Everyone couldn't wait to get their hands on Carli. Later the rest of the Laws family came by for a visit and brought dinner. The Heath's also popped in. It was good to be home with our little girl and her big brother!!!
We had no trouble with Carli boarding. We were worried because we had no birth certificate, but they didn't even ask for one. They only asked how old she was. We were lucky in that the flight was not full so we were able to take her carseat on board with us. (Thanks Margaret for the idea.) We waited until we were taking off to give her the bottle to help her ears with the air pressure. After that it was burping and changing. She then slept all the way to Nashville. Joe and I were the ones nervous. I have never had panic attacks flying before, but this time I had one. I guess I was worried that something would happen with Carli. We sat on the plane in Nashville for about 30 minutes before it was boarded again and we took off for Raleigh. It took less than an hour to get back to good old NC! Daddy, Cheryl and Austin were waiting for us when we arrived. It sure was good to see them all.
When we got home, Grandma and PaPa were waiting for us. Balloons had been tied to the mailbox and were inside. Everyone couldn't wait to get their hands on Carli. Later the rest of the Laws family came by for a visit and brought dinner. The Heath's also popped in. It was good to be home with our little girl and her big brother!!!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Carli Elizabeth Is Born!!!
January 8th began with a delay for school due to the weather. I was on pins and needles since it was the due date for Carli. Before leaving to school, I posted "Guess the real waiting now begins. Wonder how long it will take little Carli to decide she wants to leave the womb and make her entrance!!??? I am so excited I could scream!!!!!!" Apparently not that long...
At 8:30, Misty called to tell me that she was in labor and on her way to the hospital. I was in shock!!! I called Joe to tell him that he needed to come home. I went to the office to tell Brenda that I needed to go home. I was able to get on the intercom to tell everyone that I was leaving later that day for Arizona because Carli was on her way!
When I got home, I quickly began to call the hotel, airline, and car rentals to get our reservations done. Joe got home and we finished packing our bags. We left home for a 2:30 flight. Misty called just after 11:30 to tell us that Carli had arrived, safe and healthy! She was born at 9:32 am (AZ time), weighed 6 pounds 3 ounces, and was 18.5 inches long. After a LONG flight in a packed airplane, we arrived in AZ about 6pm. We finally made it to the hospital about 7:30 and met our little girl. She was beautiful! Pictures were taken and sent to Austin and other family/friends. We spoke to the doctor briefly. So far, Carli showed no signs of withdrawal from the Methadone. Maybe we would be lucky! 
Saturday...We were not so lucky. When arrived at the hospital Saturday morning, we went first to the nursery to see Carli. We were asked to wait for the doctor. Carli had begun the withdrawal process. She had been moved to the NICU for a little quiet. This can help with withdrawing babies. In the NICU, Carli was hooked up to many wires to monitor her heartrate and breathing. She looked so tiny and helpless. It was hard for Joe and me to see her like this. We were not even allowed to touch her at first.
Saturday...We were not so lucky. When arrived at the hospital Saturday morning, we went first to the nursery to see Carli. We were asked to wait for the doctor. Carli had begun the withdrawal process. She had been moved to the NICU for a little quiet. This can help with withdrawing babies. In the NICU, Carli was hooked up to many wires to monitor her heartrate and breathing. She looked so tiny and helpless. It was hard for Joe and me to see her like this. We were not even allowed to touch her at first.After some evaluating, they moved her into her own little private room. This was to be even quieter and darker for her. Our new nurse, Debi, came in to give us some info about Methadone withdrawals. She has been a NICU nurse for many years and had seen lots of babies withdraw. One of the things we were told was that it would probably take Carli 6-8 weeks to withdraw. I cried when she left the room! Eight weeks away from our friends and family???!!! How could we afford this? Plus Joe only had 4 weeks of vacation/FMLA time. We petitioned our friends and family for prayers. At this time, Carli is very fussy and has some jittering problems. This is normal according to Debi.
Sunday: Carli is having trouble drinking milk from a bottle. Doctor inserted a feeding tube. Joe and I left the room for this! Dr. Mousser told us that Carli would have an easier time weaning if we held her as much as possible. This is not a problem for either of us!! They started her on Morphine last night which will ease her suffering during the weaning process. They will decrease the dosage every other day or so.Tuesday: Carli did WONDERFUL yesterday!!! She drank 3 bottles and finished the one this morning at 8 quickly. Doctor is impressed and said that the feeding tube can come out!!! If she continues to do well, they will begin to wean her off the Methadone Thursday!
Friday 1/15: Carli is one week only today! She is doing great! She is almost back to her birth weight. They started the weaning process today. Joe and I go to the hospital at 7:30 in the morning to be there for the 8am feeding. We stay with Carli all day and leave after she eats at 5. Except when we go to lunch, one of us is holding her all the time. Hopefully it will help with the weaning process.
Tuesday 1/19: Boy I wish I had my cloth diaps! She has a bad case of diaper rash!! But then she poops and pees ALL the time. We change her before her bottle and then she goes again during her feeding. About an hour later, she goes again! I hope I have enough diaps at home. Right now, she is laying on her side, butt bare, with oxygen blowing onto it. Hopefully this will help it to dry up. Doctor dropped her meds from 80% to 70%. Hopefully she will do well and they can drop it again soon. I am getting very homesick right now and just want to go home!!!!
Friday 1/22: Carli is 2 weeks old today!! Carli should be weaned to 30% today. If all goes well, they will stop giving it to her on Sunday. The we should be discharged next week if she doesn't set back!!! HOME later next week!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday 1/24: Carli is still at 30%. We had hoped they would take her off the morphine today, but the nurses didn't give her good scores yesterday. One took points because she woke up early and wanted to eat. She is doing a little better today. Hopefully they will drop her off tomorrow and we will be on our way home later this week!
Tuesday 1/26: Carli is completely weaned!!! If all goes well these next few days, we will be released Wednesday. Joe and I made our flight reservations for Thursday morning. Keep your fingers crossed. Today we took Carli for her first stroller ride around the NICU.
Wednesday, 1/27: Carli is discharged!!!! This afternoon, the paperwork was signed and Carli was released from the hospital. Debi was working and got us all ready to go. It was really hard to leave the hospital. These wonderful nurses have become our family here in AZ. We couldn't have made it mentally if it were not for them. Shannon, Bev, Marci, Jill and Debi came by our room often to talk about things. We looked forward to the days they worked and when they didn't, the days were long!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
How Our Family Grew
Our journey began in late 2007 when Joe and I found out we could not get pregnant. We were unsure as to whether we wanted to adopt. After meeting with good friends over dinner (thank you Chris, Summer, & Sophie) all of our questions and concerns were answered. We decided to follow in their footsteps and began the adoption process for Vietnam.
Getting all the work done was not easy!!! We had to have fingerprints done (many times), a homestudy completed, fill out a ton of paperwork before our packet was sent to Vietnam. The the waiting began. God had other plans though. Vietnam closed their doors in September of 2008 and no families were matched with babies anymore. We had to start all over.
After much research, Joe and I found Adoption Network Law Center based in California. We really liked the caseworker that talked with us, so we started the paperwork all over again! I think the hardest part here was getting pictures. Each had to be in a different outfit and show us in various activities. We spent one afternoon walking the dog, playing basketball, going to the park...whatever we could think of that looked fun. In January of 2009, all of our paperwork was finished and our website went live. We drove ourselves crazy for weeks checking daily to see how many potential mothers had looked at our profile.
December 2009 On the 10th, Mary (from ANLC) called to ask permission to give our profile to a birthmother who did not match our profile. After hearing about her and the situation, Joe and decided to give our consent. Mary then gave us more details. The BM was addicted to Methadone and was due in early January. She did know the sex of the baby...a GIRL. This sent Joe and I over the moon since this is what we really wanted. More waiting began! That was probably the longest weekend of our marriage if not our lives! On Wednesday, Mary called back to say that the BM had chosen us. The little girl was due on January 8th, but Methadone mothers have a tendancy to deliver early. After calling everyone we knew and posting the news on Facebook, we tried to sleep that night. On Thursday (our 5th anniversary) we were able to talk to the BM on the phone. A sonogram picture was sent to us. We frantically began to get everything done so when the birth started, we were able to leave town. We decided to name her Carli Elizabeth. The closer it got to January, the harder it was to sleep. My students were told, and I got lesson plans ready to go.
Getting all the work done was not easy!!! We had to have fingerprints done (many times), a homestudy completed, fill out a ton of paperwork before our packet was sent to Vietnam. The the waiting began. God had other plans though. Vietnam closed their doors in September of 2008 and no families were matched with babies anymore. We had to start all over.
After much research, Joe and I found Adoption Network Law Center based in California. We really liked the caseworker that talked with us, so we started the paperwork all over again! I think the hardest part here was getting pictures. Each had to be in a different outfit and show us in various activities. We spent one afternoon walking the dog, playing basketball, going to the park...whatever we could think of that looked fun. In January of 2009, all of our paperwork was finished and our website went live. We drove ourselves crazy for weeks checking daily to see how many potential mothers had looked at our profile.
December 2009 On the 10th, Mary (from ANLC) called to ask permission to give our profile to a birthmother who did not match our profile. After hearing about her and the situation, Joe and decided to give our consent. Mary then gave us more details. The BM was addicted to Methadone and was due in early January. She did know the sex of the baby...a GIRL. This sent Joe and I over the moon since this is what we really wanted. More waiting began! That was probably the longest weekend of our marriage if not our lives! On Wednesday, Mary called back to say that the BM had chosen us. The little girl was due on January 8th, but Methadone mothers have a tendancy to deliver early. After calling everyone we knew and posting the news on Facebook, we tried to sleep that night. On Thursday (our 5th anniversary) we were able to talk to the BM on the phone. A sonogram picture was sent to us. We frantically began to get everything done so when the birth started, we were able to leave town. We decided to name her Carli Elizabeth. The closer it got to January, the harder it was to sleep. My students were told, and I got lesson plans ready to go.
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