Three short weeks ago I found myself in this courtroom with these people. Friends and family that were able to witness our adoptions. They were sure we broke a record for number of people to witness and adoption (if they only knew about those there in spirit!). For those who haven't heard how it went. The judge asked Kenny to tell her every one's name and relation to him. Then she asked each person if they supported the adoption and if they wanted to add anything else. I hope I am able to get a recording of it, I was a nervous wreck and can't remember much, but a lot of heartfelt things were said. Last the judge gave Kenny "the final say". This was so great for him. He often asked me, "They are ours right mom?" "No one is going to take them are they?" The judge told him this is forever, exactly what he needed to hear.

When we came home from the adoption we were surprised by a diaper shower. Hopefully we are set until they are potty trained!

The day after the adoption we had an adoption/thank you pizza party. It was so much fun to have our friends and family able to come and celebrate with us.

 

                                                           

                                    A huge thank you to my Mom & Dad, Tiff and Kevin who kept the pizza's stocked and the pop flowing. And thank you to my  Aunt Nan, Sy and Mother-in-law who baked the delicious cupcakes.

Last week Sunday we had baptism.  I. love. baptisms. I've been waiting forever for this day. Make no mistake, we promised God we would do the best we can on the drive back home November 10 but I wanted it official!

photo credit: Faith Herrema

Photo credit: Tiffanie Snip

Elijah giggled through his turn :)

photo credit: MSB Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Their outfits were made out of my wedding dress. My aunt Deb did a beautiful job on them.

MSB Photography

MSB Photography

Photo Credit: Faith Herrema

Lizzy has finally warmed up to Opoo (great grandma Kamps)

Photo credit:Faith Herrema

 So now what? Well, we take it one day at a time. God knows what our future holds, we don't have to worry:)

 

The call

The call has come.
 July 12 at 3:30pm we will met Judge Mable Mayfield as she signs the papers stating baby boy and baby girl are ours forever!

Brandon said is best when asked if he was excited. "In my mind and heart November 10 is the day we became a family" He is right, the finalization will not come close to the excitement of that day but it will still be exciting. I will finally be able to breath. No more worrying about every bump and scrape they get. No more waiting for a caseworker to call or come over. No more nightmares of them being taken because something happened. I/we will be stepping out of the glass box I feel we have been living in for the last 71/2 months.

On a different note, last week Thursday was the day that we have had the twins exactly half of their lives. It was also the day our 3months of adoptive care were up. I love how God has put all of these little details together. I had counted out the day we would have them half of their life shortly after Christmas, months before they were moved into adoptive care. It is not a coincidence that these two dates fall on the same day. God has made me special with dates so I can see his workings in our life. Who else would think of counting days? Brandon thought I was off my rocker when I told him the half way mark. Who's laughing now? :)

I want to thank everyone for the support you have given us. The prayers have gotten us through some tough times. The love you have shown by just by accepting us as a family is overwhelming to me. It was scary stepping out in faith. I had so many fears the fact that you are reading this shows that you care, you want to know, and you're right beside us. Stepping out in faith isn't as hard when you have a great support system like we do.

Blessings
Amanda

Just a minor thing.

While we can't wait for this process to be over. It is really just a piece of paper (or many papers). When you give birth to a child, the birth certificate doesn't come for a couple of weeks, during those weeks is that child not yours because you don't have that paper? No. God gave us these two back in November. We became a family the moment they were in our arms.  No piece of paper is going to make us love them more or less. Even if the adoption fell through they still would have been a part of our family.

We think court went well today. We asked the court to allow the kids be in adoptive care for 3 months vs the 6 month requirement. He said "ok" but we were in front of the referee not the judge. The judge could overturn it his decision if she wanted to. Our adoption worker seems to be pretty positive about this but honestly I have learned not to trust their feelings (or thoughts). Maybe if she has been doing this for 5 years but 10 months? No way.


So we didn't get a date but the three months of adoptive care are up June 21. Our caseworker said she would send in the paperwork and hopefully get a finalized date end of June.
 No date today but it is looking like it will be at the beginning of summer vs the end! Still good news for us. :)

Honeymoon over

It finally happened. I am sure it is a combination of them teething (lots of crying), and visiting w/ a family friend (who Kenny adores) that pick up the babies before rough housing with him. "Mom, I wish we could go back to the way things were but I don't want them to leave"  He loves them. Just not when they get what is supposed to be "his" attention. He is trying to work it out. This weekend he is going camping w/cadets. The timing couldn't be better, a little break will do him good.

One is working on 6 teeth the other 5 teeth! It makes for some long days and nights. Hopefully once the molars come through things will calm down.

One week from today is the court date. Prayers that Judge Mabel makes the best choice for the kids. Brandon and I will both go to the hearing. I am very excited. Even if she says we have to wait another 4 months we walk away with a date when it will be finalized. At least this is what the caseworker said. From there we can; plan an adoption party, their baptism, a vacation (we plan on going to Canada). All things we can't do until the adoptions are final.

I can't wait to give an update.

A new name for a new year

One year ago today we signed up for Foster Care Orientation. At that orientation (April 4) we had been told there was no need for foster parents for anyone under the age 9. Boy were they wrong! Little did they (or us) know two little ones had entered the world and would change the way they (Bethany) did things. Not only have they changed our family but they have helped other children. It stinks they had to endure so much (at least I think it is a lot) but good has come from it. Every room on every floor is now checked. It may seem a little invasive but if you have nothing to hide there should be no reason to worry. They aren't looking for cobwebs!

Today is their first birthday. Honestly, it feels like we have had them a whole year not 4 short months. Judge Mabel has given all of us a special present.  She signed papers stating they are 1. now in adoptive care 2. to be called by their new legal names _____ Jon Kamps and _____ Louise Kamps (still not able to post full names). What a great way to start the second year of their life. 

Now we wait again. May 4 a case worker will go before Judge Mabel and give an update on the kids. She will ask for a date to finalize the adoption. This is when we will know if we are waiting 1 more month or 4 more months. Kenny is already coming up with party plans. I hope it will only be three months vs 6 months of waiting, the longer he has to plan the more trouble we are in! 

Because they are now in adoptive care we will be "loosing" a case worker :) No complaints here! 2 down 2 more to go!

Love being outside with big brother

Check off another step!

Today our adoption worker called. MCI has signed off! We are filing for adoption Tuesday :) I have been able to get word to Brandon (in Haiti). I haven't heard his response yet but I know he is extremely happy.

 My understanding is now we wait another 3-6months (depending on the judge) until the adoption is finalized. I could be wrong. There may be a million other steps that someone forgot to tell us. We will know more details Tuesday night. I am very excited that we are here. It hasn't even been a year that we have been on this journey. A journey that honestly neither of us wanted to take. We were happy where we were but God had big plans for us! I am glad we stepped out of our comfort zone!

Baby boy's surgery went well. He had an issue with the anesthesia but is doing good now. Today he played catch up on sleep which gave B. girl and I some alone time. She was very happy to have mom to herself!

Brandon is doing well in Haiti. He is in Leogane rebuilding a school. From the pictures I saw he looked like he was having a good time. The earthquake that happened last night didn't affect him at all. Some of the team felt it but all are safe. I can't wait until Sunday when he comes home.

Amanda

Updates

We have some good things to report!

Baby boy didn't need a swallow test. One night he decided the spaghetti we were eating looked good. Since then he has been able to eat most everything.

He will be getting tubes put in and his adenoids taken out Wednesday. Hopefully this will take care of his apnea, snoring, gagging, and infections.

We have our old licensing worker back! She did our home study with us and while it may change again it shouldn't effect us. We will be closing our license after the adoption is finalized. At least for now :) Brandon is ready to adopt another, I need some convincing!

Our case will be in Berrien county not Van buren county...so I am told...

Things are going well with the kids. The twins are walking, climbing, dancing and teething. Kenny is still loving on them. At times he thinks we are being too harsh with them and rushes to their aid (crying to be picked up, put behind a gate).  I am waiting for the "honeymoon" phase to end but he shows no signs of it. I know it isn't always going to be like this.

Brandon left for Haiti tonight. His flight lands in Port-au-Prince Saturday late afternoon. He was very excited to go. It will be a great experience for him.

 We haven't heard from MCI yet. It has only been 5 weeks...not that I am counting, or have the date circled on the calendar....It could be another month! God is really teaching me patience. Most days I am ok with waiting but whenever we go to a doctor or I have to fill out paperwork I am reminded they aren't mine, I am just their guardian. But they are mine. They are a part of me I can't live with out!

 I have three amazing children that all came from the same place, GOD.

Thank you for your continued prayers