Dear Henny and Baby Lady,
Well, let's just say it, 2012 kicked our asses. There I said it. Starting just before Christmas 2011 and ending on Valentines Day 2012 Daddy seriously battled pneumonia for the first time ever and it tried to take him seriously down and out at least twice. I made the mistake or good fortune of reading the post today that I wrote while he was in rehab. You can reference by clicking here...but I warn you, my eyes are still foggy and can't read the words I'm typing. I had blocked out/forgotten a lot of it. Over the year I've had mixed feelings when I consider how terrible it all was. Was it really? Am I missing the point? I mean, we were all together, we were really able to rely on our friends and family, and we made hard choices and Daddy is in full recovery. Was it an amazing blessing of sorts? Lots of scenarios could have made it much worse in the end. The next crapper was... In the middle of Daddy's recovery at home after her hip replacement surgery it was discovered that Grandma Jean had a serious blod clot. Due to staying in tune to her symptoms she got help early and that turned out good too.
Then we found out two of our loved family were going into hospice, GG and Daddy's Aunt Kelli, at the same time. While we didn't want to loose them we were able to be with GG almost to the end and share some amazing bonding growing time with GG, Krispie, Currie, Grandma Jean, Great Aunt Ruthie and Grandma P and Bahboo. Aunt Kelli chose her course of treatment for her breast cancer from the start and lived her last years exactly how she wanted and had a wonderful memorial at their home with friends and family near. A few months later Mama's outdoorsie, hilarious Uncle Buzzy was found to be done with his battle with lung disease but he had all of his siblings with him for a week and enjoyed his last day teaching his daughter and wife how to shuck walnuts, passing quickly after. I had some humbling conversations with him in the last days. The coughalator that saved Daddies life went to Wyoming with Grandma P and Bahboo...Buzzy was able to use a couple of times and cleared a lot of gunk out of his restricted lungs. We all believe this likely gave him the extended couple of weeks he had. His body gave many amazing gifts, renewing comfort and life to people who perhaps thought these were their last days or were in pain.
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BUT! Then, sandwiched in the middle, just two weeks after GG's passing Hazel you were born! Our sweet baby lady girl came to us through WW's choice and trust in us. OUT OF THE BLUE! We re-met WW at the agency picnic and I am still in disbelief and I've been wiping your butt, feeding, bathing and dressing you for almost 4 months now. Are you really here!? Our year...really. We are still joyful and still standing. Our hearts a little sore and our minds really missing GG, Buzzy and Kelli, but of all the challenging things 2012 threw at us we flipped it the bird. So this brings me to our end of the year announcement, 500th post worthy sharing....HAZEL LUCILLE! You are officially a Thompson as of December 20th, 2012.
We finalized in the courts in Indianapolis with Grandma P, Bahboo, Uncle Gary, Grandma LaJean, Krispie and Currie. The court ladies loved you! They oohed and ahhhed over your gold shoes and cute smiles. After court we celebrated with an early dinner at an Italian restaurant and doubled the celebration with Grandma LaJean's birthday.
We were grateful to have our family near and missed having Grandpa Tim and Trish with us. Of course, GG was there in spirit (Henny you still go to her room to see if she is in there. On Christmas I sat back in GG's rocker with you, Hazel and rocked with you and talked to GG a little. It was snuggly and warm a make due way to be close and to share you with her.)
Making it official is a pretty great way to end the year. A pretty poignant reminder to be grateful, to not let down when you're in the middle of a storm and to know there is always going to be light around the corner if you wait out the blows and the scrapes and the fear, you'll be tougher because of it. Happy New Year my little babies. (for Henry's finalization, click here.)
Love, Mama
Dear Henry,
Yesterday was a really important day for our family. Important day equals lots of pictures in this post but it was your adoption finalization day after all! It really didn't mean anything as far as if we are a family or not... there is no doubt that before yesterday we were a family. We were a family the minute J came into our lives and she made the choice to place you with us. As she said it, "she was giving us to you." What an honor Henry, to have someone view Daddy and Mommy as a worthy gift to her beloved beautiful boy. Every morning when I get you up and give you your first snuggle J's statement runs through my head. It has become a mantra of sorts for me, "be the gift that J believes you can be." It is a little bit of pressure but you're so special that it isn't hard to rise to the occasion. Even if you're wigglin' around and flippin' when there is a poopie diaper to be changed I feel myself smiling.
So yesterday it was time for it to be official in the minds of the state. When I told J that we were going to court to finalize she thought it was a little redundant because she had already placed you with us that should be enough.
So we got up early and Daddy put on his first custom suit with a green tie and let me tell you Henry, Papa was h.o.t! I put you in some gray herringbone pants, a little white dress shirt, a little green tie and your cool robot vest and let me tell you Henry, you were gooood look-in'!!! Mommy wore a green a white dress. We decided to all wear a bit of green because we wanted J to sort of be there with us. Green is her favorite color.
We arrived at the court house in Indianapolis and our family was there. Grandpa Tim, Grandma LaJean, Great Grandma Hazel, Grandma P, Crappaw, Auntie Kristi and Auntie Carrie. Auntie Michelle and Uncle Gary wanted to come really bad but there was no way the kids could miss 3 days of school to come. They were with us in spirit though.
There were four other babies, and Mommies and Daddies waiting for their time in court. We were second to last in the line up. We entered the courtroom and Daddy "took the stand." They asked him about 10 questions about how we came to know J, what our expenses were, if we were prepared to take care of you forever and so on. Then Mommy actually had to walk up to the front with you and sit in the witness stand, I took you with me. I basically had to confirm Daddy's answers and then we returned to Papa's side to hear the final judgement...That you are Henry John Carl Thompson and our petition for your adoption has been granted! Yeah! We all cried a little and then we took some photos with the judge. All was done... then EEEERrKKK...
We leave the courthouse and make it over to the Spaghetti Warehouse for lunch. We were put into a big private room of our own decorated in grand windows and chandeliers from old churches. It was pretty awesome. Yesterday was also Grandpa Tim's birthday! So Daddy had the waitress bring him some cake. We sang happy birthday and we all ate a little of the cake. Even you got a little bite and you loved it! We all got a little dish of ice cream and Mommy and Daddy thought it would be okay for you to have a little. Crappaw was enjoying giving it to you. You'd open your mouth like a baby bird. I think it felt good on your top middle teeth, which made their appearance yesterday.
It was time to go home and Mommy noticed that you were red eyed, coughing and sneezin' from time to time. You started whimpering like a sad little animal, you were clinging to me like a Munchichi... you were getting sick! As soon as we returned from Indy I called the doctor and they were able to see you. You have an upper respiratory infection. POOR BABY! You still tried to play with the stethoscope when Doctor S was listening to your lungs. He said, "poor little buddy is still trying to play." With a little Benadryl you'll be on the mend soon.
Mommy was very proud of you yesterday. You were so well behaved and cute. You bring light to all of our lives.
Love, Mommy
