Sunday, August 29, 2010

First Two Weeks

It was Friday the 13th, our first day home. The drive home from West Valley to Logan was one of the hardest drives of my life. Lance and I both would just randomly burst out in tears just thinking about what just happened. Lances Mom had called us on the way home, he just had to say sorry I can't talk right now. It was still so fresh and so emotional. We definitely needed that hour and a half drive home to process what we had just done. As we went the rounds to each Grandparents home I did everything I could to keep myself together. It was not easy! I mean come on I was supposed to be happy! It was just to painful. We were still in a twilight zone and seemed as if we were just going through the motions.
Our caseworker had mentioned briefly about P.A.D. Postpartum Adoption Depression. When they mentioned it to me I thought oh OK I think I will be fine. Boy was I wrong. All I felt were sadness and guilt for taking this sweet baby from our Brittany. She had been through so much in her life and here I was taking something good, a little miracle from her, and watching her grieve was more then I could bare. It was hard to remember with those emotions going through you that this was supposed to happen. She chose to do this and give this child something more. A stable family. That's the last thing you have on your mind when your grieving for Brittany. Lance was so amazing in all this he stepped into the role of Father so easily and I could not of asked for him to do more or better. He could see how much I struggled and would send me away for a minute to either call someone or just have a moment by myself to let it all out.
One of my biggest pet-peeves is when you have people telling you, oat least you got to do it the easy way and don't have to go through the hormone and physical pain! I just want to scream when I hear that come out of peoples mouths. This process hurt so bad that I said to myself I can't do this again. It's to painful. I was serious about that too. I thought I'm OK with just having Mason, I don't want to put someone else or myself through these feelings again. I told Lance those thoughts and he thought I was crazy for thinking that, which yeah I was now that I can see clearly. How could I ever think that with this amazingly beautiful little man that would call me Mom. How could I never want another one. Though this experience was painfully hard I wouldn't trade it for anything and I'm excited to start the process again when the time is right.
Enough of my crazy roller coaster, now to the little man. He's amazing and wonderful! We couldn't ask for a better baby. He is so mellow and content with things. He loves being wrapped up in a little ball and being snuggled till he's about to pop! He also LOVES bath time! He is definitely a water baby, which Lance and I are excited about. We think it's a great excuse for Grandma and Grandpa to get a hot tub.
We went to his two week check up and he has gone from 6 pounds 5 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long to 7 pounds 4 ounces and 21 inches long. I think it's Laura's milk that's making this kid grow like he's on steroids! Thanks again for that Laura, he loves it! Also Squiggles may have some competition. This boy can squirm! He seems to somehow have some Dickey blood in him.
From the time we left the hospital he has been so alert and strong, I forget he's only 2 1/2 weeks old cause he seems so much more older in his development. He has been holding his neck and head up since before we left the hospital. One funny thing about his features is that he has the hugest big toe ever! With a grip like a boa constrictor! His hands are also very large. When my sister Courtney saw a picture of him for the first time she said, holy cow he has man hands! His hair when wet is curly and is starting to come in very pretty golden blonde. I can not control his mane. He even has a cute little rat-tail on the back.
Everywhere we go we have people commenting, wow he looks just like you guys! We find it quite funny and amusing. It will be fun to see how his looks change as he gets older.
And that's the first 2 weeks! So far we have survived as well as Baby Mason, Thank goodness! We have had so much help and support from friends and family.Wether it's my sister or sister inlaw coming over to watch him while I clean or nap or my mom staying up at all hours with me. My mom is the greatest and spent more then a week with us at night to help us get use to this little man and deal with the changes. Lance was working from 2 am to 4pm so I was the loan ranger. My mom saved me! Thanks Momma!
And so this crazy journey continues!

12 comments:

Kimberly said...

Thank you for sharing all of this, Dani! You have a beautiful way of sharing your feelings. We have been praying for you since way before Mason arrived, and we continue praying for your family as we know it must be quite an adjustment with many emotions in addition to having sweet Mason to take care of! He is beautiful, and you and Lance are already proving yourselves the great parents we knew you would be!

Kimberly said...

P.S. I LOVE your new family picture, and all the others on your friend's site! You are all gorgeous!

Britt said...

I have never realized how hard adoption must be, I have to admit that until I have started following you guys through the process I always thought of it as getting a baby for free. None of the 'hard stuff'. I didn't realize how wrong I was. As I was reading my scriptures last night I came across a quote written in my margin:
"That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly."
Congrats girl.

Cami said...

Adorable pictures! Who took them (self timer?!?)? The process of adjusting to a baby is hard enough by itself, and when you add things like PPD or PAD, it really rocks up that road. Hang in there, and document everything (I'm sure that won't be hard with two shutterbugs as parents). You're such a cute little family!

Jill said...

Great post! I especially love the family picture at the end. It makes me cry with happiness. You guys are settling into family life quite nicely.

Diana said...

Congrats! I can't imagine all the emotions that must have been and are involved with the adoption process; both sides are amazing in this case!!

The Bodily Family said...

Dani I look forward to reading your posts. You are such a strong person and you always make me think about things in a new way. What a beautiful family you guys have!! I love the pictures!! I can't wait to meet your cute little boy!!!

Amanda said...

I can't believe someone would say that to You! Tell me who thay are and I'll take care of them;) Ya, you didn't go through pregnancy but this is hard too! And you get the same result in the end... A baby that you love and would do anything for.
You guys are so strong to go through this, and so is your birth Mom! I am so excited for you guys. I'm glad to hear you are surviving the first few weeks. It is SO hard. literally nothing can prepare you for it, but to do it. No matter how many books you read it is completely different when you have your own little one taking over your life. But isn't it so great! Mom's are the best! My mom got me through when Zach was working graveyards too.. We really wanna come see you. I'll text you to figure out a day.. I don't want to call in case you or Mason is sleeping:)

Aneesa Bee said...

dani,
It is so neat to read all your posts about this wonderful miracle that is yours! I really, really enjoyed talking to you at the reunion and hearing about your journey. I'll have to bookmark your blog. Take care of that little sweet monkey!

Aneesa Bee said...

dani,
It is so neat to read all your posts about this wonderful miracle that is yours! I really, really enjoyed talking to you at the reunion and hearing about your journey. I'll have to bookmark your blog. Take care of that little sweet monkey!

The Newswander Family said...

I have been waiting to get the internet again so that I could see if Baby Mason was here! We are SO happy for you guys! You make an absolutely beautiful family! Thank you for your post & for sharing your feelings. Like Kimberly said, you have a beautiful way of sharing them! You always seem to bring tears to my eyes, good tears!!! We have been keeping your sweet family in our prayers. So many that have already left comments have said what I want to! But I just want to tell you congratulation & that we wish you the very best with your new family! He is absolutely beautiful, such an adorable handsome little man!!!

Jed and Kera said...

oh Dani, I can only imagine what this situation felt like. I have always thought it would be a very hard situation to go through, but you have helped some of us have our eyes opened. I just want to share this with you just to know you are not alone. I'm sure you remember just how baby hungry I was and how that's all I have ever wanted. I'm sure you can imagine how bad I felt when I had my little man and all I wanted and was depressed...majorly. It made me feel like such a terrible person. I should be singing praises every second of every day but instead I was struggling so badly inside. It only took 14 months to tell someone. And now with the help of medicine I am enjoying my life to the fullest. :O) Not saying you need medicine, but it is so good of you to talk about it. :O)