Four Week Update

Vera came home four weeks ago.  She is now 15 weeks old (about 3 ½ months). 

Everyone is adjusting pretty well.  The first few days, you could tell that she would wake up thinking, “where am I?”  And we had to learn what to do to comfort her, which involved a lot of trial and error.  After about a week, though, she seemed to settle in and feel comfortable with us and in her new home.  She’s doing well bonding to us; she is content in the arms of others, but looks around for us and watches us to make sure she knows where we are. 

We had our first pediatrician appointment a week after she came home, and she is very healthy and was 11.5 pounds.  We go back again next week for a check-up. 

We have had lots of visitors, which was a blast!  Grandma and Grandad Olie came to visit the first weekend Vera was home.  Grandma and Grandpa Shannon came the next weekend, and then my best friend, Kate, and her husband came down the next weekend.  Over the next week, she will also get to meet her Aunt Ashley and Uncle Jon and cousins JJ and Ethan, her Great Grandma Audrey, and her Uncle Collin!

Vera and I also enjoyed two baby showers hosted by my church and my colleagues.  We left both with a full car and even fuller hearts.  Speaking of colleagues, yesterday was my last day of work after 11 years at Washington Christian Academy.  The past two months, I have been working part-time and mostly from home, which has served as a good transition for me.  Yesterday, I went in to work for the last time to finish up a few things and turn in my keys.  I was so blessed by my mom staying home with me as a kid, and am glad that I can do the same for Vera.  We are nervous about finances, as they will be tight, but feel blessed to be able to give it a try for as long as we can make it work!

The legal situation is ongoing, but there has been progress!  We now have a date by when we will know for sure whether or not Vera will be able to remain with us.  On July 27^th, we should know something for sure.  Vera’s adoption is still classified as “high risk,” but if all goes well, it will switch to “no risk” on the 27^th. 

Several people have asked how we are handling it all.  To be perfectly honest, we don’t think about it much.  We know that it is hanging out there, but we have chosen to focus on Vera and love her as our own through this time.  It would be devastating to lose her, but we don’t feel it would be healthy – for us or for her – to dwell on that possibility.

So, keep praying for the legal situation over the next few weeks.  We’ll keep you posted!