Mia Janae is Home!!

Soooooo here is what happened..................we got chosen by a birthmother on Thursday, June 11th (Monda's b-day) and were told she would be induced on Monday. At 9:30 am on Saturday, June 13th, Cindy got the call that Mia had ALREADY been born at 7:30 that morning. Cindy was FREAKING OUT!!!!! She called Jenny Mann and said, "HELP." Jenny came over and helped Cindy break down the yard sale she was having, washing the stroller, watering plants, etc. Another great friend (Kimberly) came and picked up the dog for a vet appt and she took her home with her while we were gone. Cindy's Mom also had Emma that morning for gymnastics when Cindy got the call!! So, much to her surprise, Emma was staying with her THAT night!! Cindy's other great friend Jenni George helped make some necessary calls. Cindy rushed around all day packing, tieing loose ends, ect. The agency didn't want us to head down until we heard from them again.

Well, we couldn't wait any longer. We finally hopped in the car at 3pm just so we would be closer to Colorado Springs when we finally go the call it was ok to come. And of course we DID get that call on our way down!!

It was quite the experience walking into that hospital. Once we FINALLY found the nursery they just let us right in. It was so weird because there were about 4 babies in there. Which one were we going to be led to? We had NO idea!! All we knew was the baby would be caucasion, african america and asian. Do we look for a light baby or a dark baby with a fro, hehehehhe!!!!

They led us to Mia and we picked her up into our arms and were in love. Ok so we were in shock too but heck, wouldn't you be???? In case you didn't know, we hadn't even met the birthmother.

We got to stay in the hospital with Mia in a really nice suite, the only suite there as a matter of fact!! It was great!

Mia's birthmother wants a closed adoption, which we totally respect, but is so different from Emmas situation. Anyways, Mia's birthmother DID end up wanting to meet us. We had a short, nice visit with her and her family just before she (the birthmother) was discharged. We got some pictures which will be so great to have for Mia. We are very thankful to have met her and her family.

Once Mia was ready to be discharged, the agency hadn't received our certification number yet. that's just a state technicallity that they have no control over. Since all of this happened SO fast there just wasn't much time for the paperwork to go through. The hospital let us stay an extra day so Mia didn't have to go to cradle care on Sunday night.

Monday hit and Mia had to be discharged. So, we go the news that she had to go to cradle care. Cradle care is kinda like staying with a foster family. We were pretty upset about it but also knew that it was just something that had to be done. It didn't mean there was something wrong or anything like that. It was just hard cause we had some AWESOME bonding time with her at the hospital and just seemed weird to have her go somewhere else. I am sure all you parents can relate to that.

Emma was staying with Grandma and papa while we were at the hospital in Colo Springs so we decided to have Brian go get her and let her meet Mia at the agency before going to cradle care and then going up to the mountains with us.

It was SOOO sweet to see Emma meet Mia!! She just loved her to death!! She only got to spend about 20 minutes with her, then Mia had to go. BUT we headed up to Bailey, Colorado too!

Mia stayed in cradle care for one night, which was Monday, June 15th. We followed her up there and stayed in a hotel. It was actually a good time to connect with Emma again as she had been staying with Grandma and Papa while we were at the hospital. The next morning, we went to the cradle care home and spent a few hours with Mia and the family. The are REALLY nice people!! At first is was hard to see her go stay with another family but we think this family was a blessing. They are very loving people and do this on a volunteer basis. They have to purchase all their own supplies to take care of the babies. We enjoyed getting to know them a bit while we visited with Mia.

After our morning visit, we took Emma to lunch at a cute place called, "Coney Island." We had a fun time there and played at a playground. Then, guess what? We GOT THE CALL that our certification number was in and we needed to go to the agency in Denver to sign papers and TAKE HER HOME!!! So, the sweet cradle care family loaded her up in thier car (we weren't allowed to take her in our car YET) and we all headed down together to sign the papers!!

We arrived home around 6pm on Tuesday, June 17th. What an awesome day!!

Mia is doing wonderful!! And I HAVE to mention that Emma Marie is a WONDERFUL big sister!! She has her own diaper bag and gets the supplies we need when changing her diaper. She holds Mia, sings to her and just LOVES her to death. It is SOOO special!!

Emma is excited to show off her baby sister tomorrow morning at church.

Pray for Certification Number

Emma FINALLY met Mia today!!

Today was a big day! We have been waiting to get certification from the state (paperwork stuff) to go through so we could take Mia home. Well since this was all SOOO fast the certification isn't ready so we were not able to take her home today. She had to go into cradle care tonight. Cradle care is basically like a temporary home until we can take her home. So, Daddy went to get Emma Marie from Grandmas in Loveland so she could finally meet Mia at the agency. That was SOOOO sweet!! She is SO excited. Then, the cradle care couple took Mia with them to thier home in Bailey, Colorado. We could not stand the fact of being far away from here so we are now at a hotel up in Bailey. We will get to visit her often tomorrow. We hope and pray that the certification will go through tomorrow, but it may be Wednesday. Please pray it goes quick. It is hard to not have her with us right now. We miss her so much!

Mia Janae Siebert

Introducing Mia Janae Siebert

June 13th, 2009

7:29am
6lbs 2oz

18 1/2 inches long

We were expecting to go to Colorado Springs on Monday for the induction so we were spending the weekend getting ready!! Here is what happened:

9:30-Cindy received call that Mia had ALREADY been born!! We were asked to hang tight until social workers called us from hospital.

3:OO- we decided to get in the car and start heading down

3:30ish-Social worker FINALLY called back to give us the OK to come see Mia.........well we were already on our way for cryin out loud!!!

6:15ish-We met SWEET Mia!!! She is absolutely beautiful!!

We are staying in a room here at the hospital.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing in our JOY!!

WE GOT THE CALL!!!!!!!

We are SO THRILLED to announce that Emma Marie will FINALLY be a big sister!!! Our baby girl we be born in just a FEW DAYS! Praise God!

A few details:

Tuesday, June 9th -We got a call from Agency informing us a birthmother would be looking at our profile the next day (along with other familes.)

Wednesday, June 10th-birthmother looked at our profile

Thursday, June 11th -We got one call around noon with questions and info saying she was HIGHLY considering us.......THEN at 1:36 pm we got THE CALL!! They said, "well are you ready for a baby girl?"


Baby Mia will be born in Colorado Springs, we will head down there on Monday, June 15th. We'll keep everyone posted by facebook and this blog.

Prayer requests:

health of baby (so far everything seems just fine)
safe delivery
birthmother being at peace/her emotions during this HEART WRENCHING time
The birthmother wants this to be a closed adoption, meaning no contact with baby. PLEASE pray for God's leading in how to handle this since we have an amazing relationship with Emma's b-mom. And please pray for her healing/mourning process.
for Emma Marie-she won't be coming to the hostpital with us, but WILL get to come visit. ;) That God will help prepare her heart for SHARING a mommmy and daddy. She is SOOOO excited!

We'll post pics hopefully Tuesday or so!!!!!


THanks for your prayers!!

Brian, Cindy, Emma Marie and Baby Mia!!!

Preschool Christmas Program

Emma in Dance class this December

Parents Night Out/Moms Day Out

Babysitting

Parents Night Out AND Moms Day Out schedule is ready. For those of you that don't know, we are fundraising to help pay fees for our upcoming adoption. We actually have lots of fees due now since we switched to domestic recently. We are offering structured babysitting so you can get out and go on a date with your sweetie, get some CHRISTMAS shopping done, or just to offer a fun activity/playdate for your child!! This activity is limited to people we already know such as friends, Summitiew church members, Faith Mops group, or a friend of your child if accompanying your child.

Here are the dates. Sign up ASAP! Thanks so much for your support!

Suggested Donation for all dates- $15 per child and $10 for siblings. This time includes 3 hours of structured babysitting and dinner or lunch. Have a Christmas party one of these evenings and need more time out? Just arrange that ahead of time with us and donate a few extra bucks!! Space is limited to 10 children.

One of the evenings will be offered in Fort Collins, the others at our Loveland home. There is some Great shopping to be had in Loveland as well as awesome restaurants. See the link below for shopping and dining at the two different Centerra areas on both sides of I-25. Also, please note, we are North Loveland so it is not that far from Fort Collins at all.


http://www.centerracolorado.com/Centerra/Home/TabId/36/default.aspx

Polar Express PJ Party (FULL as of 12/4)
Friday, December 5th 6-9pm (@ our house)
Mac and Cheese Dinner
Free Play
Train Ride activity from Cindy's Let's Move Class
Watch Polar Express (bring your blankets, pillows or favorite animal to snuggle with during movie)

MOMS DAY OUT! Moms, this is your chance to get all that last minute shopping done, run some errands or enjoy some time to yourself! (Canceled due to no sign ups)
Monday, December 15th 10am-1pm (@our house)
PB&J Sandwiches for lunch
Free Play
Outside Play if weather permits
Music, games and stories
30 minute movie (Little Einsteins)

Christmas Party (4 spots left as of 12/14)
Friday, December 19th - 6-9pm @ Summitview Community , 1601 W. Drake Rd, Fort Collins
Pizza
Free Play
Gym Time
Christmas songs and stories
Short Christmas movie to end the night (Veggie Tales)

Email to sign up!

Hi!! I just did alot of blogging tonight. Scroll down to see an update on our adoption. Also, when you get to the bottom, click "older posts" for more posts from tonight. Thanks for visiting!

Elk Watching in LOVELAND

This is our welcoming committee to Loveland. YES! Elk in Loveland. They hung out in a field right by our house for a week. They might be back, who knows. We enjoyed visiting them often!

Two Males together!!

We're Back and CHANGE OF PLANS!

Hi everyone!! Ok so it has been a really long time since I have updated this. It has been a crazy summer. I can't believe I am saying that when it is already November.

Anyways, we do have an announcement. Through lots of thought and prayer, we have decided to pull our dossier out of China and pursue an adoption domestically in the states, an infant or toddler. We just announced this to our agency. We will work with the same social worker that we worked with for Emma's adoption. We will be updating our homestudy next week and turning in some paperwork and a scrapbook to begin the official wait.

The china process was just getting too hard to handle. The expected wait was another 3 or 4 years. We have already been waiting over 2 years. It is also very expensive to keep all paperwork current each year. Although we did grow to love the idea of a child from China (in fact Cindy and Emma even joined a playgroup with families with chinese children which have turned into WONDERFUL relationships) we are excited to be moving in a different direction.

We are confident God will still grant us the child HE has planned. Perhaps the wait for China was a stall for our future baby just like events that we feel were stalls before Emma was born.

It will probably take 1 or 2 months to get our paperwork in order, then we will again be officially waiting. With domestic adoption, there is no telling how long the wait will be since the birthmother chooses the adoptive parents.

PLEASE pray for:
1. Our continued patience and trust in God's timing in this process
2. Protection of the baby (possibly already conceived)
3. Protection of the birthmother and her decision to place her baby up for an adoption
4. Our fundraising efforts. We will be fundraising like crazy again with a garage sale this winter, parents night out babysitting, etc.

I need to figure out how to change the Title and web address for this blog. Mei Mei is little sister in Chinese, and well it doesn't make sense anymore, does it? Any suggestions?

Thanks so much for reading, praying and supporting us through everything! God Bless!

ANNOUNCEMENTS ON FUNDRAISING EVENTS WILL BE POSTED SOON!

PARENTS NIGHT OUT WILL START BACK IN NOVEMBER.

Happy Halloween

Emma just HAD to be Ariel for Halloween! Gotta love the hair!

We moved!! We also FINALLY closed on our home! The day we signed the papers, we went to Home Depot and got pink paint for Emma's Ballerina room. She had fun helping. Since then, we have painted most of the house (the main level, it's a ranch style.) We are in Loveland now. We are enjoying the new neighborhood. It is quiet and there are plenty of walking trails.

Pink Ballerina Room

Painting My Room PINK!

Preschool Field Trip To Pumpkin Patch