The Name Game

After WEEKS of discussing and searching through lists and lists of boy's names, we ended up right back where we started... with a name we'd picked out early on in our marriage, three years ago! It was very important to Zach for our son's name to have a strong meaning, a name he could live up to and be proud of. I (Anne), was more focused on the more "unusual" and unique names. So, we did both. :-) We chose the name Caleb Brenner.

We the love the story of friendship between Joshua & Caleb in the book of Numbers. The Lord chose Joshua & Caleb to enter the Promised Land over all the other Israelites. Numbers 14:24 says, "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it." The name Caleb is Hebrew for "faith, devotion & whole-hearted." We feel this is exactly what we want our son to be.

Oh BOY...

I (Anne) was so blessed to go with Katerina for her ultrasound on Friday. We were both very anxious and excited. Kat was so certain it was a girl that she wore all pink (even her shoes!). I hoped she was right, but I also knew how much Zach wanted a son so I resolved in my mind to be happy either way. Theresa (the director of the maternity home Kat is staying at) also came along. When the three of us sat down in the doctor's office Theresa asked the technician, "Could you print doubles of the pictures? We have both the adoptive mom and the biological mom here." It was the first time someone (other than Zach and Kat) referred to me as this baby's mom. I could feel it sinking in.

I've never seen an ultrasound done in person before. It was an incredible experience. I was especially mesmerized with watching the baby's heart beat. I just kept thinking how miraculous it all was. Throughout the ultrasound the baby kicked and moved continuously (Kat says the baby does that non-stop anyway). We could see it's legs moving and kicking and it made things so much more REAL. For almost thirty minutes the technician moved around and focused in on all the different body parts, but she couldn't tell what gender it was. Kat and I were beginning to think we might not be able to find out and we were really disappointed. Then I just started whispering to the baby to "cooperate please" (like any mother would when their kid is being difficult). Sure enough, minutes later HE revealed himself and it was quite clear we were having a SON!

He's developing normally- all his organs are in good shape and he's already weighing a little over 2lbs. Kat is doing great as well. We are so grateful for their good health!

The due date has been moved just a few days from January 1st to January 6th now (our wedding anniversary!), and the doctor said as long as Kat delivers after Dec 16th the baby will be fine.

I couldn't wait to get home (a very long 2 1/2 hr. drive!) to tell Zach. I brought four beautiful sonogram photos with me. We can even see his facial expression and his little fists! It's pretty awesome. I surprised Zach with a blue baby jumper with blue smiley faces all over it, and an "It's a Boy" balloon. He was ecstatic! :-)

Now, to pick a name....

"Mommy"

The other night we were sharing with our life group about Katerina's temporary "freak out" after talking with her sister. I didn't realize until sharing it out loud that Katerina being rattled, rattled ME quite a bit too. Up until then there wasn't anything that could make her waver in her decision. Now that we know there IS something that could cause her to doubt, I'm feeling a bit paranoid and uneasy. This whole time we've known in the back of our minds that this baby is not officially ours until the papers are signed, but still I think we've been praying with the assumption that everything will work out. It has so far anyway. God's been clearing a path for us this entire time, so what's to worry about? As I shared with our life group through, I found myself saying, "It's time to start praying for God's will, not our own." If it's God's desire for Katerina to keep this child, then that's my desire too... as heartbreaking as that is to say. Now I'm simply praying that if Kat DOES change her mind, that she does it before we lay eyes on that sweet little baby.

After my brief and emotional paranoia, I got an email from Kat yesterday. It began, "Hi Mommy." Thank you Lord, for that gift. My heart and mind are at peace once more. :-)

Brief Update

There hasn't been much to report since we moved Katerina & Nevelle to the maternity home in Merced. Sorry for the lack of blog updates! We've heard from Kat a few times since the move. She & Nevelle have settled in well. They've made many trips to the park and the local zoo, and Kat's made friends with the other girls in the house.
Our adoption agency contacted the director at the maternity house this week & was told Kat's Medical & welfare paperwork have gone through and she is now picking a doctor. She will let us know as soon as she's made an appointment (so I can go with her). We were also told Kat's been receiving counseling to help her process all the transition she's going through. She decided to tell her sister back in the Czech Republic that she's pregnant (no one in her family knew), but her sister was very unsupportive of the adoption plan. Apparently this rattled Kat quite a bit, but after talking w/the staff & counselor at the maternity home she was affirmed that adoption is indeed the best option for her and the baby. She is debating whether or not to share the same information with her mother, knowing the reaction will be similar. Please pray for her as this is a very big struggle for Kat right now.