Let me take a second to clarify some details. Zachary was 6 months old when Isabella died. Lance's brother had his wreck about 2 weeks after Izzy. Isabella died in May of 2008. In August of 2008 our second adoption journey began.
Once we found out we could adopt from the foster care system (FOR FREE!) we were so excited! We were able to pick the age range (we only wanted our next child to be younger than Zachary sense he was our first born). We were also able to pick the gender. We both wanted a girl (though I think if Melyssa-our case worker- had called with a little boy we would not have turned him down) But I had all of the little girl things from when I was pregnant with Isabella.
Our first meeting was in August of 2008 just 3 short months after Isabella died. We thought the adoption process would take years and we were fine with that. Zachary was still very young. Our homestudy was complete in January of 2009 and we received our "adoption approval" letter in March of 2009. Throughout this entire process, we referred to our little girl as "Ladybug". She didn't have a name. We didn't know how old she would be or even what race she would be. Ladybug just seem to fit.
The afternoon my life changed:
It was a Wednesday afternoon (July 8th). I was tired and sleepy. Zachary was napping so I told Lance that I was going to lay down for a bit and I didn't want to talk to anyone. My mom ALWAYS calls and I told Lance the only person he was to wake me up for was Melyssa. (I think it is kinda funny that I said this). I was laying down....I hear the phone ring. I hear Lance walk up the hall. He opens the door and turns the light on.
me: Tell my mom I will call her later
Lance: It's Melyssa. They have a baby for us
me: (Sitting up so quickly I alsmot jumped out of bed) That's not funny Lance.
hello?
WOW! That quickly. In an afternoon when I least expected it I became a mommy again.
Melyssa explained that there was a baby girl that was born on the 4th of July. (LET FREEDOM RING!) she was reported healthy. Thats was it. That was all the information we got. She said we needed to be at the hospital now...as soon as we could.
Ever heard of the phrase "Running around like a chicken with its head cut off" oh yeah...that was me!! One of my best friends watch Zachary as Lance and I drove to the hospital (which so happened to be almost 2 hours away....that drive was torture). Once we got to the hospital we learned more. The little baby girl was very tiny. Her birthmother had no prenatal care so the doctors and nurses were not sure how early she was. But she was a healthy 4lbs and 9oz! Oh my! Talk about scared to death to hold her. We learned she was Mexican and had a ton of hair.
Goose Bump Time:
The nurses at the hospital were so sweet. When they let us see her I could not believe how incredibly TINY she was. And then I looked at her name. The name the nurses at the hospital had given her b/c she didn't have one yet. They had named her Isabella. I started crying. Lance started crying. The nurses just looked at us and when I explained to them that that was our daughter that had passed away they too started to cry. God, and I truly believe this with all of my heart, hand-picked my little Ladybug for me. He was saying in that moment: "Here is my reason. She needed a mommy and you are the one I have chosen". We named our Ladybug Sophia Elizabeth.
She was so tiny.
Z was about 2 1/2 and Sophia was about 9 months old in this picture. April of 2010
At her first birthday party. She wasn't walking yet. (She didn't walk until 17 months)
My gorgeous Ladybug just a few days ago at the beach. 23 months.
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