Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Settling Down
A glimpse into our new life.
"What are you looking at?"
A new adventure for Sue
Nap Time
My attempt to grade mid-terms
"What are you looking at?"
A new adventure for Sue
Nap Time
My attempt to grade mid-terms
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Home at last
After about 10.5 hours, Ella/Mommy/&Daddy made it back to Omaha. We have spent lots of time with Ella the last 11 days, but this morning was great. Waking up in our own bed and then hanging out with OUR DAUGHTER!!!!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
A day out
We have spent a lot of time in the hotel room so we decided to get out and go to the Grand Rapids Children's Museum.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Only a sample
Since meeting Ella 2.5 weeks ago we have taken 214, I promise we aren't posting ALL of them
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Is this a vacation?
Because Sue and I have awesome jobs/supervisors, for the last 8 days all we have had to worry about is Ella. People keep asking if we have enough sick hours. That hasn't been an issue with Cooper Village or Grace. They both just told us to go and not come back until we had our daughter. I have had some great co-workers willingly taking my classes over until after spring break. Okay, so I get up in the morning and do a little work (make and e-mail lessons), but I am usually done by 9:00. Which, by the way, is an hour before Ella gets up. She sleeps from 10-10. Yes, we will be changing that once we return to Omaha.
We have now had Ella for 48 hours and loved every second of it. It does feel like a vacation. Get up, play with Ella, have family "meals", play with Ella, wait for her to wake up from a nap, eat, play, go to bed. FUN, FUN, FUN. Yesterday was really fun/funny to watch her interact with Sue. Ella wanted to play with moma while mom was trying to get ready. Finally after 1.5 hours Sue was ready. I promise it does not normally take Sue that long, although it might now :) Today I took her on a walk so mommy could get ready faster. We had a good conversaton, but nothing to deep. Tomorrow I may talk about the six day creation or trickle-down economics. Any votes?
We have now had Ella for 48 hours and loved every second of it. It does feel like a vacation. Get up, play with Ella, have family "meals", play with Ella, wait for her to wake up from a nap, eat, play, go to bed. FUN, FUN, FUN. Yesterday was really fun/funny to watch her interact with Sue. Ella wanted to play with moma while mom was trying to get ready. Finally after 1.5 hours Sue was ready. I promise it does not normally take Sue that long, although it might now :) Today I took her on a walk so mommy could get ready faster. We had a good conversaton, but nothing to deep. Tomorrow I may talk about the six day creation or trickle-down economics. Any votes?
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Hoods
Nov. 1993 - Sue and I begin dating
July 1996 - Sue and I get married
March 2010 - Our family grows by 1
Didn't get much sleep on Wednesday night. Too excited about the events of the upcoming day (Thursday). Yes the adoption was made official the day before, but on Thursday it would feel official. She would be in our care. We picked her up at her host mom's house about noon and the journey had begun.
Let me just stop there and say Kathy (host mom) and the rest of her family have been very gracious. They have allowed these complete strangers into their home multiple times and for long stretches of time. They have been great about allowing us to have alone time with Ella and Kathy has been great helping us learn Ella's schedule. THANKS!!
After picking Ella up, we didn't have any grand plans. We just wanted to be together. We ate lunch and then came back to our temporary home at the Residence Inn. One concern was nap time. How would she adjust to sleeping in a new space. With some familiar blankets and her good friend the stuffed hippo. She fell asleep after a little crying.
In the evening we took her to the mall. 1)we needed to eat 2)we thought she would enjoy the play area 3)Sue wanted to see if Ella enjoyed shopping as much as she did.
Well all three were accomplished and Sue was happy with the results of #3 (I was not).
As I said yesterday, Sue and I were stuck in limbo with El Salvador for over 2 years. During that time we always felt nobody at our old agency cared about us (EX. the mother's day card they sent Sue last year). LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO our good friends, the McClintocks, put us in contact with a lady (and her agency) that was looking for a home for Ella. In the first 8 days of trying to adopt Ella, Karen Nissly (new adoption agent) called us more than our old agency did in 3.5 years!!! In the last 7 weeks a ton of hurdles have come up with Ella's adoption. Karen never flinched and just kept fighting (for Ella and the Hoods). Sue and I kept remarking, "this is what it feels like to have an advocate". THANKS KAREN!!! (and Graceful Adoptions).
I know, long post but now its over.
July 1996 - Sue and I get married
March 2010 - Our family grows by 1
Didn't get much sleep on Wednesday night. Too excited about the events of the upcoming day (Thursday). Yes the adoption was made official the day before, but on Thursday it would feel official. She would be in our care. We picked her up at her host mom's house about noon and the journey had begun.
Let me just stop there and say Kathy (host mom) and the rest of her family have been very gracious. They have allowed these complete strangers into their home multiple times and for long stretches of time. They have been great about allowing us to have alone time with Ella and Kathy has been great helping us learn Ella's schedule. THANKS!!
After picking Ella up, we didn't have any grand plans. We just wanted to be together. We ate lunch and then came back to our temporary home at the Residence Inn. One concern was nap time. How would she adjust to sleeping in a new space. With some familiar blankets and her good friend the stuffed hippo. She fell asleep after a little crying.
In the evening we took her to the mall. 1)we needed to eat 2)we thought she would enjoy the play area 3)Sue wanted to see if Ella enjoyed shopping as much as she did.
Well all three were accomplished and Sue was happy with the results of #3 (I was not).
As I said yesterday, Sue and I were stuck in limbo with El Salvador for over 2 years. During that time we always felt nobody at our old agency cared about us (EX. the mother's day card they sent Sue last year). LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO our good friends, the McClintocks, put us in contact with a lady (and her agency) that was looking for a home for Ella. In the first 8 days of trying to adopt Ella, Karen Nissly (new adoption agent) called us more than our old agency did in 3.5 years!!! In the last 7 weeks a ton of hurdles have come up with Ella's adoption. Karen never flinched and just kept fighting (for Ella and the Hoods). Sue and I kept remarking, "this is what it feels like to have an advocate". THANKS KAREN!!! (and Graceful Adoptions).
I know, long post but now its over.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
BIG DAY!!
This is it, today Ella comes to live with Sue and I. How weird/wonderful is that? I sit here typing this and it is weird to think about. This time tomorrow I will have to work on school work downstairs, because Ella will be sleeping in this room. Last night Sue and I bought diapers and registered for a toddler shower (can't really call Ella a baby). Later on today we will be driving around with a little girl in our back seat and we won't be babysitting. She is ours!!!
People keep asking things like is it kind of surreal or can we believe it. I don't think we have had time to think about either of those things. If you don't know the whole story Sue and I would love to tell you sometime. But two months ago Ella wasn't on our radar screen. We were still in no man's land with El Salvador and wondering what we should do. Today we are parents!!!
No pictures today, but I promise we will have some later with today's activities!!
God is Good - All the Time!!!
People keep asking things like is it kind of surreal or can we believe it. I don't think we have had time to think about either of those things. If you don't know the whole story Sue and I would love to tell you sometime. But two months ago Ella wasn't on our radar screen. We were still in no man's land with El Salvador and wondering what we should do. Today we are parents!!!
No pictures today, but I promise we will have some later with today's activities!!
God is Good - All the Time!!!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
It's Official!!!!!!!
According to the state of Michigan, Ella Rae Hood has parents named Jon and Susan Hood!!!!!!! We continue to thank you for your prayers in this journey and need them as we begin this journey called parenthood.
Lunch Guest
Our routine here in Michingan is the same everyday, with new variables everyday. Is that even possible? Twice a day we spend 2.5 to 3 hours with Ella. Either playing with dolls, reading books, putting puzzles together, etc. But we also take another step in transitioning her into our lives.
Yesterday, she spent the early part of the day in our hotel room. She just hung out and ate her lunch with us. She also played with new toys that family and friends sent with us.
In the evening we went over to her host family's house. Before bed we gave her a bath.
Sue and I would love to be inside her head right now. What does she think about all this? Does she wonder why this couple just appeared in her life? Why do we just focus on her when we come over?
Only one picture today:)
Yesterday, she spent the early part of the day in our hotel room. She just hung out and ate her lunch with us. She also played with new toys that family and friends sent with us.
In the evening we went over to her host family's house. Before bed we gave her a bath.
Sue and I would love to be inside her head right now. What does she think about all this? Does she wonder why this couple just appeared in her life? Why do we just focus on her when we come over?
Only one picture today:)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Any day now!!!
Yesterday started with a trip to Adoption Associates to sign more papers. Our official request was then sent to a judge and we are now waiting for him to say Ella is under the care of Jon and Susan Hood.
We spent more time with her yesterday. Her host mom is having us help out with more and more of the day-to-day routine. Yesterday we helped put her down for her nap and at bedtime.
Today she is coming over to our hotel room to see where she will be staying soon.
Here are the daily Ella pics.
We spent more time with her yesterday. Her host mom is having us help out with more and more of the day-to-day routine. Yesterday we helped put her down for her nap and at bedtime.
Today she is coming over to our hotel room to see where she will be staying soon.
Here are the daily Ella pics.
Monday, March 1, 2010
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