Well, I told you things were about to get AMAZING. Okay, I'm gonna have to take you on rewind button to understand just how amazing this story is.
The year 2010 was a CrAzY one for us. Not only we were trying for another baby but Mike was also in his last semester at FSCJ AND we were living with my MIL as she was recovering from major surgery. The deep meaning behind our adoption story really has SO much to do with my MIL, Elsie. She had been battling cancer off and on since 2003. In 2009 her cancer came back after remission and the cancer transformed from colon cancer to bone cancer. The cancer had decided to attack her hip bone and pelvic region. Surgery was scheduled for March 2010 in hopes to remove all the cancer from her hip bone and aim to give her a hip replacement. Mom Elsie did great through her surgery ( although she did NOT get a hip replacement ) and rehab and Mike and I decided to move in with her since she would need around the clock care to fully recover. She was healing beautifully and was beginning to walk without her walker even. After a week or so of beginning to regain small independence, Mom fell and broke her pelvis. Her healing stopped at this point !
She was in severe pain and got an infection from being bedridden. Mom spent many weeks in the hospital and then rehab. Mike and I had remained at Mom's house to keep things ready for her to come home once again. She was told that her ability to walk again ( even with her walker ) was very slim. Mom remained bound to her wheelchair the rest of her days on earth :(
In October 2010, Mike took Mom to one of her check ups and they received the news that Mom's cancer was BACK. Doctors thought they had gotten the entire tumor in March but whether it was all removed or not, the cancer had returned......and so quickly. Mom discussed her options about treatment yet was also told that this was the kind of cancer that would continue to return. Mom prayed and felt peace that God wanted her to enjoy her family for whatever time she had left. That was a very hard time to see Mom remain in such extreme pain, to be wheelchair bound and to begin showing the signs of her cancer returning.
We look back and realize just how fast Mom's situation was deteriorating !! By Thanksgiving the cancer had created a sore on her hip. There was talk about amputation of her leg/thigh in hopes of removing the cancer. Turned out, Mom was not a candidate for amputation because of her immune system. Mom made the decision for Hospice to begin in home care for her.
By January, Mom was unable to dress herself, use the bathroom without assistance and was spending her days in uncontrolled/SEVERE pain. The "sore" on her hip was getting larger by the days and had become infected.
February 2011, Mom was admitted to in hospital, Hospice care. Mike and I were losing Mom. Mom remained a sweet spirited lady for the 2 1/2 weeks she was in the Morris Center. On a Saturday evening ( February 19th ) Mom was forever HEALED from the grip of cancer. She went Home to her Loving, Gracious FATHER .
Now, during all this Mike and I were insanely still trying to have another baby. We decided in December 2010 that God was laying on our hearts the gift of adoption. After much prayer, we contacted an agency to pursue adoption. I was also seeking medical advice on why I was unable to conceive. When the New Year came, I met with my OB only to be told that I was pre diabetic. WOW !!! I was scared into changing my eating habits and fast. I had seen how precious life is through our experience with Mom and I was too young to be having health issues. Now, I am NOT one who can easily lose weight or stick with a weight loss plan. God gave me an overwhelming strength and in 2 months, He allowed me to lose 20 lbs reversing my diagnosis of being pre diabetic. Good news on my health !!
When Mom died, she left Mike and I with a gift. One we did not know was coming nor we would have ever believed it. I wonder did she receive a peace from God as she arranged this gift to us ? I can see her smiling and being so happy for us through her loving gift. Words will never express our gratitude for her being sensitive to the Spirit's leading through what she left for us !
Okay, you have a background now on how extreme our lives had been and now you can understand all the significance in our adoption story.
Mike and I had made plans months before Mom's health began failing, that we would spend spring break in Tennessee with my parents. We would stay for one week. The kids and I were going to remain in Tennessee and visit with my family longer and Mike would return to Jacksonville. He was planning on spending lots of one on one time with his Mom while we were away. Well, when mom died I didn't feel at peace with being away from Mike so close to our loss. I was coming back to Jacksonville also after our week in Tennessee. I needed to be with my husband. The day we would return to Jacksonville was so hard for me. I cried and wanted to remain with my parents but knew that my first priority was to my husband !! I secretly was hoping he would tell me he didn't need me and that I could stay with my parents longer.....that didn't happen and I am so thankful now that he never said those words to me. For the week we had planned for me and the kids to remain in Tennessee, was a life changing week for our family !! That life changing moment came through a simple email.
" Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails " Proverbs 19:21
I am going to hold you in suspense another day and begin on just how our lives were about to change tomorrow.
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