Thursday, March 25, 2010

having it all, and a little bit more or maybe more aptly titled "second brother"

Sometimes I really think God is sitting up there in heaven missing me like crazy. He's doing his best to shock me to death.

The story I am about to relate is totally unbelievable but one hundred percent accurate. Make no mistake about it, humans couldn't think this up. Only God is capable of spinning a yarn so convoluted.

Last Thursday I was trying to figure out how to grow my business with a ten month old at my feet. Last Thursday I was sitting on my sofa lamenting my lack of time and energy to a dear friend. What a foolish girl I was.

At 1:24 a.m. Friday morning I learned that a girl had given birth to child. A boy.


A little boy was delivered via c-section around midnight. He was 4 lbs 10 oz. He was 17 inches long and perfect in every way if just a little underdeveloped.


And so I was notified in the middle of the night. I sat alone on the edge of my bed staring at the slanting street light streaming through my blinds.

I texted Ben. "Call me." He texted back. "I'm in a meeting." (He was in Taipei) I texted. "Call me now."

He said exactly what I had known he'd say. "She wants us? Is she sure she wants to place? I'm coming home. We are going to get our son."

We threw everything in the car, bundled up the boy and the bird and drove twelve hours to Utah.

I've been trying to put words to my emotions. Dazed doesn't cover it. Neither does shocked. Scared is an understatement. As is happy. It's a feeling I've never experienced and I wonder if it is similar how someone might feel when they die suddenly and find themselves surrounded by loved ones since past.


We named him Henry Wyatt Meeker.

When we laid eyes on this little piece of heaven, we knew that he was ours. It's an experience every person should be so privileged to experience. It's like smelling your mother's perfume or riding a bike down your childhood street. It's home.


He needs a little help breathing and eating. He will be in the NICU for a little while yet. And everyday I will drive a hour to see him, hold him and kiss him. And then I will drive an hour back to my parents house. Back to my other children, who are also riding this wild ride, but harbor no fear, only excitement, as children are want to do.


I tell ya, I feel some kind of stupid for writing the previous post. I'm a different girl today. Jewelry business? What jewelry business? Clean house? Tidy yard? Skinny jeans? Poohey.

I guess God doesn't really want me back anytime soon. He's keeping me pretty busy down here.

First MEeting4

57 comments:

Erika Jurney said...

What a wonderful story! And our oldest is also named Henry - wonderful name :)

Congratulations on your new son!

xoxoxo,
Erika

The MacPherson Family said...

Congratulations!!!! I am so happy for you. Isn't it amazing the little surprises we get when we least expect them. I'm very excited for you!!!

Kristi Kroeger said...

I cannot believe it! I am so happy for you and your family. It is truely amazing!

Tara said...

OH MY GOSH APRIL.
My heart is so full in this moment.
For all of it. All of the people involved. All of it. Oh my gosh. So overwhelming.

Elizabeth said...

Oh, my gosh. That is so beautiful. I have chills and tears in my eyes. Breathtaking, really. The picture of you bent down over him is amazing. The picture of your husband looking/gazing at him is amazing. Thank you for sharing this with us. God Bless you and little Henry (I have a Henry, too!).

amyesq said...

I'm so ecstatic for you guys!! You have a full house now! Guess it will be time for a shower when you bring him home!! Please let me know if you need ANYTHING!

Jessica Munk said...

Wow! Seriously, I kept getting waves of chills reading through this all. Amazing! I am so very happy for you! Congratulations!

Kelli said...

Please don't think this is weird but, I have been blog stalking you for awhile. I think your writing is witty, your jewelry is beautiful, and I just enjoy your blog.

My heart is bursting with joy for you and your family. Congratulations on your newest addition!!

RiNNE said...

It was meant to be! Congratulations on your little Henry!

Melissa said...

I never comment (sorry!) but I'm a faithful reader and OH EM GEE!!!! I was crying reading this and I'm a complete stranger but I am so freaking happy for your family. God works in mysterious ways.

Daniel Monahan said...

Wow oh wow! That's absolutely amazing!!!! I'm so excited for the Meeker family, and for little Henry. He's going to have an amazing life! Congratulations!

tamifoulger said...

My heart is leaping with joy for you and Ben. I have thought about you nearly every second these last few days. What a miracle!!!

Stef said...

Amazing! What an incredible story you are living. I don't know you, but I have tears falling down my cheeks. I am so happy for your family. What a blessing. Congratulations. Welcome to the world, little Henry.

Heather said...

That is the most amazing story and I am so overjoyed for your beautiful family of 5!!

brooke said...

wow....there are no words!!! this is so amazing!!! i literally clung to the edge of my chair while reading this...SO SO SO AWESOME!!!! you are completely right what a wild and awesome ride...i love it! cannot wait to read more!!

and when c and i are blessed with a third (and hopefully male) baby our top baby name picks are henry and harrison!! love henry!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Corinne said...

Call me wacky but I thought something was up! I kept checking for a post and days went by... (I love your blog April!) and then you floor us with this beautifully spun tale of unconditional love. I'm so very happy for your growing family and can't wait to hear how this little addition tips the Meeker apple cart:) Congratulations! Corinne

Anonymous said...

It's stories like your that cement my belief. Enjoy every moment.

Kiera said...

It's funny what God does for our Soul. We too were wade deep in life when the prompting came to prepare... Prepare I thought? Our fourth is not even one! Prepare? I am off to Africa in just a few weeks... Prepare? Are you crazy? We are still in line for our China doll... But we prepared. 3 short weeks we received a call... "She still has some growing and developing to do yet but if you will have her she is yours. Her birth mother chooses you." And so Gods plan for us began to roll forward. He knows just what we need even if our plans are different from his.
Congratulations my dear Mama friend.
Thank you for starting my day with a true Miracle. May your soul soar with joy! Mine is just from reading your adventure...

blair said...

wow, wow, wow! what an incredible thing. and what a lucky little boy to have found your family. i have to say, i am not a religious person... but this? this makes me reconsider.

congratulations and welcome little henry!

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing your story and giving me the opportunity to relive the moments we received 'the call' saying a birthmom had chosen us for her child. The truth is it is undescribable with words but you have done it so well and the pictures are frosting on the cake. Enjoy little Henry!

JennC said...

I don't know you (although I read your blog on the regular so I feel like I do) and my eyes are filled with tears and my heart is filled with joy for you and your family. What a blessing and wonderful surprise. Anyone who doesn't believe in miracles need to open their eyes and look around because miracles happen every day!

Congratulations!!

Anne Thompson said...

I figured something was up when I kept checking your blog and there wasn't an updated post. I figured you were busy with your children while your husband was away. But I never expected this! Congratulations! What an awesome gift, unplanned, unexpected, miraculous really. I can only imagine your husband's trip home and your family's drive to Utah...there are no words for what you all must be feeling. And what a gift from this birth mother! It was 7 o'clock in the evening when I found out that I was to pick up my son at 1 the next afternoon--out of the blue, unexpected, and only several months into the adoption process. But like you, I knew when I saw him that he was mine. I wish you and your family all the very best. Welcome, Henry!

Kari said...

Hug and kisses and tears and love and chills for you and your THREE little babies. Henry Wyatt is dreamy. In name and being. So happy for you all.
(And if Thomas starts to long for boy-ish companionship, we'd love to come grab him for a rendezvous.)

Krista said...

i can't even begin to explain the euphoric joy i feel for you.

all my love and congratulations. your henry is lovely in every way.

jeanette from everton terrace said...

I too am over the moon for you and I've only just recently discovered your blog. Truly lovely. I have tears rolling down my face. Life is such a journey - God has much better plans for us than we can dream for ourselves. I can feel the love with every word you wrote. Welcome Henry!

Jill Wilson said...

I can't believe it....what a miracle!! This is so absolutely amazing! Little did you know you had another baby boy in store for you...waiting to join your beautiful family! Such an amazing story! Totally made me cry! Little baby Henry is a very lucky baby boy!! We love you and are thinking of you and can hardly wait to meet the little guy!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! And thanks for giving me hope :)

Jill said...

Again, you have me in tears! We're so happy for you! Remember what I told you on Friday morning ... all those years that we waited, wanted and cried over our desire for kids ... well, the Lord was letting us rest!

I love you! Thanks for being such a great friend. I'm looking forward to coming to see you next week.

HUGS ...

Anonymous said...

God is truely amazing! How Blessed you are:) baby henry is blessed! cant wait to see him come home with his family......it fits just right:)

DomestiKatie. said...

WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?!
this is insanity. this is the best insanity i have ever known.
in even more insane news, THIS EXACT SITUATION HAPPEN TO MY COUSIN THIS WEEK. They are new adoptive parents to a tiny 3 pound baby boy who was born at 28 weeks. They live in the Ronald MacDonald house in Toledo, OH until he weighs 5 pounds and they can bring him home. They had no idea last week that he would be a part of their life forever, but they can't even remember life before he was part of it.
This is blowing my mind and filling my heart to bursting.
April, I can't handle how happy I am for you.
Welcome, Henry! I can't wait to learn all about you. :)

Katnip56 said...

Congratulations on your growing family! That beautiful baby boy will be a little fighter his whole life. How blessed is he to have you, and vice versa.

Terri Fisher said...

Congratulations! What wonderful news! God is so good!

Jillary said...

I also had a baby born at 33 weeks via c-section. You're in for a roller coaster, but it's a wonderful one. I hope the next few weeks go quickly for you so you can settle in with your sweet new baby boy. He is so precious.

Heather @ Life Made Lovely said...

what an honor! blessings to you and your whole big happy family.

Design A-Peele said...

congrats! This gives me the strength to keep trusting the Lord...knowing he is good and will do his will in his timing. Thanks for sharing!

Erika said...

That is just about the sweetest thing I've heard. Congratulations! Life is never how we plan it to be. Yes, you'll have your hands full for a while, but you can totally do it. You're a strong one, I can tell. Isn't it awesome that the birth mother chose YOU?

paintit4u said...

What a wonderful, sweet story. May God bless your family as you welcome this new little one. Becca :)

Sharon said...

And this is why I believe with all my heart that there is GOD. Blessings on your family.

MandaLynn said...

I am so happy for you all! How exciting!! We send our love and healing thoughts to your new little one.

Megan said...

Oh, wow! What a wild ride adoption is! Congratulations. He is perfect.

Anonymous said...

Congrats!!!! I am so happy for you all. I am sure Thom is thrilled.

From the Kitchen said...

Henry's precious little hand on yours + the way his dad is looking at him = meant to be happiness! Congratulations on your beautifully growing family.

Best,
Bonnie

Jamie said...

Wow April, That is awsome Congrats!

Emily said...

OH my gosh, what an amazing story! Congratulations to you and your whole family. He is perfect and beautiful and WONDERFUL. I'm so excited for you. I just had baby #3 3 weeks ago and it's an adjustment for sure, but sooo amazing. You are blessed!

Sue Eisenbeis said...

Wow! I can so relate to how you must be feeling - my husband and i have also built our family via the adoption process and it is such an amazing selfless thing that these birth mothers give to us - absolutely amazing! God Bless You and your family - congratulations!

Jessa said...

Wonder of wonders! Couldn't be happier for you!

Cindy at LottieBird said...

Wow. God really does know who you are. He watched your concern over things and showed you the direction to go.

I don't even really know you, but I am crying for your family.

And I am adopted.

jo marks said...

that is so wonderfully amazing! i am so happy for you (and teary), best news!!!love jo xxxxx

Natalie said...

such wonderfully spectacular news for you - my heart is so happy!

joy said...

congratulations! i have recently found your blog and am soo happy for you and your growing family. what sweet pictures of your new son. continued blessings to you all!

Unknown said...

April, this is Jill's little sister. She was telling me about your incredible story.

Our's is very similar, parent's overnight!! Congrats to you and your adorable family, you can do it with the Lord and plenty of diet coke.

annie said...

Yay!!! You're making me tear up over here. I am so happy for you! love, annie

Heather Toller said...

What a blessing!! God is good.

* said...

Beautiful boy.

What A Journey.

{Enjoy it}

robyncal said...

wow wow WOW! what an incredible story! Congratulations! So happy for your family.

Looking forward to reading about your homecoming!

amytangerine said...

this post brought me to tears, i am overjoyed with your new bundle of happiness called Henry!

Heather @ Glitter and Gloss said...

What an amazing story! Congratulations on this new blessing! You guys will be in my prayers.

:) Heather