Preston David, My Angel in Heaven

October 18, 2003 should have been the best day of my life but ended up being the worst. Today is my first born son's 8th birthday in Heaven.  This year I have been surprisingly really emotional.  I just expected this to get easier and easier every year that goes by but this one has been really hard on me.  I think it's because I just don't feel whole right now.  My best friend in the world (my husband) has been away for the past 3 1/2 months and will be gone another 2 1/2 months and my son is half a world away in Korea.  I miss ALL of my boys.  The difference is that I know I will be with Dave and Liam soon and get to hold and kiss them.  My meeting with Preston will have to wait until the Lord calls me home.  As painful as it was to lose Preston, I wouldn't change having him for the world.  He brought Dave and I closer together.  I don't know where we would be if it wasn't for him.  I can still feel his soft cheeks, tiny feet, and precious little hands.  I miss my son but am comforted by the fact that he is being held by our Lord.

When I was pregnant with him I listened to Dixie Chicks "Godspeed" over and over again.  It would sing it to him while I held my belly.  I couldn't wait to sing it to him while he was looking at me.  The song has a whole new meaning now.  "Godspeed little man, sweet dreams little man, my love will fly to you each night on angels wings". 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqaBof47pmY

Photo shoot

My handsom boy is getting so big!

 Liam at 10 1/2 months old!

 Here he is at 11 1/2 months with some of his birthday goodies.  We sent him a birthday letter, truck, baby football, All the ways I love you book (recorded by Dave and I), fridge farm, a few teething toys, and a fun farm small electronic toy.  Lots of baby snacks like puffs and mum mums! 

This is my favorite picture of his pouty lips! 
So at 11 1/2 months old he is walking along furniture and has 6 teeth (4 on top and 2 on bottom).  He is 31 inches, tall boy!! And weighs 23.4 pounds! 
We are so blessed to have pictures of him every month.

"When do you get to bring him home?"

Is the million dollar question that no one seems to know the answer to.  There is a lot of paperwork involved in bringing him home and one big piece of the paperwork puzzle is the EP (emmigration/exit permit).  The ministry grants these and they have cut back on the number that they will be submitting and approving.   The great news is that just yesterday they FINALLY started submitting babies for these permits and today the last EP batch submitted (may 2011) were approved!!!  We still don't know what this means for us but it is movement which is fantastic!  We are prepared to have to wait until next year to bring him home but my heart hurts.  I miss my son!  I have never met him but I can't imagine life without him.  We just have to wait on the Lord to get us to our son, and I know he will.  I have strong faith in God that he will take care of Liam and take care of us while we wait for our family to be reunited.  So please say a prayer for us as we continue to wait.  Please ask God to prepare Liam for a difficult transition and prepare his Foster family's heart to say goodbye after raising him from baby to toddler.  It's going to be difficult but I am so ready to be his mommy and I know my husband is ready to hold his son.  2012 is going to be the best year yet for our family!

New picture!

So I have put this picture on everything but my blog.  I am horrible about remembering my blog.
Anyway, here is the lastest greatest picutre!! 

Isn't he beautiful?!!!  I just can't get over how handsom our son is. 

Here he is with all of his goodies and his beautiful foster mother.  I had to put sunglasses on her to keep her identity private. 
At his 10 month appointment (he was really 9 1/2 months) he weighed in at 22 pounds!!!  He is in the 75% for height and weight.  He has 2 teeth on the bottom! It says that he creeps, sits up well, perfers his foster mother, responds to his name, plays peek-a-boo and patty cake, says single syllables, and imitates speach sound!!  He has really grown just in the couple of months that we have been recieving updates on him. 

What we are doing while we wait for Liam

Dance Recital (she called it dance recycle hehe)

Myrtle Beach, SC.!

Looks like Snapple is waiting for a treat :)

Went to a rodeo!

Celebrated Independence day and watched some fireworks

 (our last day together before hubby left)

I can't wait to be able to do these things as a family of FIVE!!  Next year will be amazing :)

Surrounded by Love

God has surrounded our family with AMAZING people.  This process of adoption has been a really difficult one.  We've had emotional highs and lows.  I have gone to family and friends in tears because of disappointment and I have gone to them in celebration of a new step toward bringing our son home.  And now we are facing a new challenge of being away from my husband, my kids away from their daddy.  It has only been 6 days and we have 6 months to go.  But we are doing alright, we are getting through it because of the people we are surrounded by.  I am amazed by the true, genuine nature that some people have.  I have witnessed some truly selfless acts of kindness and am so overwhelmed by the love.

We recieved an annonymous note about a month ago with a donation towards our adoption.  I am still in awe of the selflessness and kindness that it took to give that gift to our family.  If you are reading this, thank you for this gift of helping us bring our son home. Big hugs to you and your family.  We will never forget it. 

Thank you to everyone who has been there for us emotionally.  Your kind and understanding words and prayers have gotten us this far!  Thank you all who have taken care of our family, fed us, watched our dogs, and babysat our kids (you know who you all are).  From the bottom of my heart, Thank you!!  Love and Blessings to you all.