Day 12: Ice Cream Memories and Heart Ducts

So how in the world did this adoption come to be? And how far back do we go to try and share in this story? I could take forever to tell you all the background, but I won't. It's too long. But I can share some morsels to give you a framework because it is all about God, and I love sharing how awesome He has woven this story together.

Becca and I are childhood friends. As in, our moms had us in preschool together (waaaaaay back in the day) and in elementary school they would drop us off and then meet up in a moms prayer group to pray for us. And we lived life together and it was crazy and good. We grew up, moved to different states, stayed in touch when we could, etc. We also talked quite frequently as Becca and Nathan were starting their adoption journey in 2015. Fast forward to this year.

On March 19, 2017, I pulled out my journal for church to take notes during the sermon. Our pastor's focus that day was on expecting a miracle, and how we should not only expect miracles, but pray for others who are expecting miracles. I immediately thought of Becca and Nathan, because they had recently experienced another failed adoption. I wrote her name down in my sermon notes as a reminder to pray for them, and then went on with my Sunday.

Do you see the note and Becca's name in parentheses?

Two days later, I received a phone call from our adoption attorney letting me know that my adoptive children's biological mother was expecting again. As much as I wanted to say yes, my husband and I knew it wasn't our yes to say because we truly felt our family was complete. The next morning, my daily devotional was about finding beauty in the mess - a story about infertility. It again brought Becca's name to the forefront of my thoughts, and I knew at that point I needed to pray hard about coming to my friend to ask an extraordinary question. Would she and Nathan consider adopting this baby?

In our conversation on March 29, I even went so far as to point out my morning scripture for the day, which talked about the Lord fulfilling His promises to the Israelites as he parceled out the land of Canaan (yes, do you see that God-wink there with her name?). I feel like this promise of adoption was moving all along to this child, even though Becca and Nathan went through the heartbreak of failed adoptions first. God went to extraordinary lengths to confirm this adoption story for both our families, and it is those promises and groundwork that sustain us.

If you've made it through all of my babbling today, then thank you for indulging me in sharing some of this story. But now to the matter at hand. How is Canaan doing today, and how can we pray for her?

Canaan's NICU station

PRAISE
Canaan is tolerating the medicine she's receiving to (hopefully) close the PDA. As her doctor said, she is "critical, but stable."

PRAYER REQUESTS
Dose one of the medication was received yesterday, she is taking dose two as I type these words, and then the final dose will be tomorrow at lunch. Pray that the medicine works, and pray that it doesn't compromise function of any other system in her body. Pray that her urine output remains the same.

Pray for Becca and Nathan's health. They need to stay as germ free as possible to visit the NICU, so we need sniffles and colds to stay away! They are healthy right now, free of illness. We would all like them to stay that way.

The scrub-in station outside the NICU.
Three minutes of vigorous scrubbing helps keep germs at bay.

LOOKING AHEAD
Friday is going to be a big day for Canaan. She will have a brain scan to check for brain bleeds, and will have an echo to check on the PDA. We are praying for there to be no brain bleed and a closed PDA.

HOW YOU CAN HELP -
Go Fund Me Page for Becca and Nathan

Their temporary home:
ATTN: Becca and Nathan Daniel
15 N. Locust Avenue, Apt. 3
Fayetteville, AR 72701

As you go to bed tonight, sing what we sang to Canaan the other night:

He's got the itty bitty babies, in His hands

He's got Canaan Rebecca, in His Hands

He's got the itty bitty babies, in His Hands

He's got the whole world in His hands.

Praying with hope,
Courtney