Camden turns 11 months ... Hurry and Wait

12/12/09 ... Camden turns 11 mos weighing in at 25 lbs 4 oz, yes he lost a full 2 ozs since last month!! ha!

Adoption Update: We are currently in the "Hurry and Wait" mode; TPR is complete, we are now waiting to be transfered to an Adoption Specialist so that we can begin the paperwork for adoption. The good thing is that TPR is complete which means that parental rights have been termed and no one can make any claims for our 'baby boy"; the bad thing is that our process will probably not be complete until January 2010. He is totally worth the WAIT, but plz pray that they HURRY!!!

Camden turns 10 months!

11/12/09, Camden turns 10 months weighing in at 25 lbs 6 ozs (fully clothed :-). Isn't he a cutie? We are currently in the 'appeal silent period' ... the BM has 30 days post TPR to file an appeal. To date, there has been no appeal ... 8 more days and we are home free! This has been an amazing journey, thanks for praying with and for us along the way.

IMPORTANT UPDATE ...

GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS!!!

At 11:30 am, Camden's SW called to advise that TPR had been granted! So what does this mean?
- TPR = termination of parental rights
- Camden's Birth mom has 30 days to appeal/contest the ruling
- B/T now and day 30, paperwork is being prepared to transfer our case to the Adoption unit
- On day 31, barring no appeal, adoption process begins

If all goes well, Camden will legally be ours by Christmas. Keep praying ... GOD truly answers.

Special Prayer Request ...

To our family and friends,

As you know, tomorrow is the TPR (termination of parental rights) Hearing/Trial. The hearing/trial is scheduled for 10 AM. We are asking all to pray for God's will to be done and that Judge Eleanor Garber, will rule in the best interest of Camden. If TPR is granted, the BM will have 30 days to appeal. On day 31, barring no appeal, we will proceed to adoption.

Blessings and Peace,
Warren, Tamla, Annia, & Camden

Camden turns 9 months!

10/12/09 ... Camden turns 9 months weighing in at 22 lbs 15 ozs!

poor poor baby, his 'birthday' was met with an unexpected visit to the Dr's office ... 102 fever! The good news is no H1N1 or ear infections! His pictures say it all re: how he was feeling ...

Labor Day Weekend in NC

Cam bonds with his 1st cousin Sasha ... as you can see, she loves him :-)

1st Cousins ... Sasha, Camden, & Annia

NEWS FLASH!!!!! Another tooth ...

8/23/09 ... from 1 tooth to 2 within just 1 week :-)

Tooth 1 made its debut on 8/16/09, followed by Tooth 2 on 8/21/09. To all of you that doubted me, hopefully you can see both of them in these photos :-). To view, click on each photo.


He's used them on me, so believe me, they are there!!!

August ... A month full of upates!

8/12/09
Camden turns 7 mos, weighing 21 lbs 4 ozs!


















8/16/09 ... Cam gets his first tooth!! Click on the image and look really really close, I promise, its there :-) ....
























and last but not least, 8/19/09 pre-trial date a success!! Trial date scheduled for 10/21/09!!!

So what's next??
- b/t now and 10/21/09, the court will attempt to contact BM to notify her of status (i.e. pending TPR - termination of parental rights, trial date, etc.). If contacted, BM can contest pending TPR ... must show evidence of her intent to rehabilitate self with goal of reunification with child.
- if BM can't be located or if located, makes no attempt to contest, TPR will be granted (signed) at trial
- post TPR, case will proceed to adoption. According to the SW, adoption usually occurs with 30 days post TPR.

Prayerfully Camden will legally be ours b/t Thanksgiving and Christmas. From the photo below, doesn't he already look like he's home ?
















Thanks for your prayers. KEEP PRAYING!

Prayer = Progress

Cam turns 6 months ... 7/12/09!

... and on 7/13/09 we received great news. Pre-trial date set for 8/19/09!!

Only 4 more steps to go:

1. After pre-trial, trial date is set (trial date could be +/- 45 days from pre-trial)
2. Trial (could take +/- 45 days for Judge to make a final decision)
3. If favorable trial, our case is transferred to an adoption worker

4. Adoption finalized (usually within +/- 3o days of case transfer)

GOD IS FAITHFUL!!

5 months ... 5 steps

Today is Friday, June 12th ... Cam turned 5 months

AND 5 more steps to go ... SW submitted file and now,

1. Atty reviews file/petition and sets pre-trial date (this could take +/- 3o days)
2. Pre-trial held and Trial date set (trial date could be +/- 45 days from pre-trial)
3. Trial (could take +/- 45 days for Judge to make a final decision)
4. After decision, if favorable, our case is transferred to an adoption worker
5. Adoption finalized (usually within +/- 3o days of case transfer)

Almost there ...

5.18.09. Permanency Staffing Meeting (at this meeting, we formally declared our intent to adopt ... in addition, the SW and meeting Facilitator reviewed our case and determined that the State was supportive of our intent)






















So what's next??

1. SW meets w/ Atty (SW has 25 days post staffing meeting to meet w/ Atty)
2. Atty reviews file/petition and sets pre-trial date (this could take +/- 3o days)
3. Pre-trial held and Trial date set (trial date could be +/- 45 days from pre-trial)
4. Trial (could take +/- 45 days for Judge to make a final decision)
5. After decision, if favorable, our case is transferred to an adoption worker
6. Adoption finalized (usually within +/- 3o days of case transfer)

Steps 1 - 6 could take up to another 6 months, but on a positive note, all are familiar with Camden's BM's situation, which works in our favor.

Please pray for an expedited process and that Camden will legally be ours before Christmas.

Blessings & Peace.

Mother's Day 2009

Motherhood, the toughest job I'll ever love ... now x2!

--------------------------

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom -I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom -I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom -I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom -I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom -I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Resurrection Sunday ...

and Cam turns 3 months old. As you can see, Cam was not feeling the photography session, but he is still sooooooooooo adorable. We love our children! :-)





Cam and his big sisters ...



Cam waking up from his nap ...

Tarheel Babies ...

North Carolina Tarheels, 2009 National Basketball Champions
Our mommy is a tarheel and so are we!!!!!! Sorry Daddy, Clemson didn't make it :-(

Cam flies to North Carolina to meet the family ...

3/30/09

Cam and Sissy on the plane ... ready for take off


Cam meets his maternal family ...

Cam Meets Birth Family ...

3/22/09

... Auntie and Sissy. What a joyous occasion. God IS faithful!

Cam goes to church ...

3/15/09 ... Cam goes to church. What a glorious day. Aren't our children adorable????

God IS Faithful

Welcome our foster son, "Camden" ... born 1/12 added to our family on 1/22! More updates to come ... in the interim, enjoy the photos!


Please pray that we get to keep/adopt him ... we love him so.