Sunday Update

I spent the entire day with Zoe in the newborn nursery. She has been down-graded from the NICU. All our feedings together went extremely well. I spoke with an intern who was beginning her discharge paperwork. The discharge date is Tuesday! Please pray for all to go smoothly. Tuesday, when she is discharged, I will be able to sign our intent to adopt Zoe and our agency can file the paperwork necessary for interstate clearance. It can take up to a week to get permission to bring Zoe across the state line, and home to Georgia. Please pray for a super fast interstate clearance! I am most anxious to get back to Jonathan and Lizzy with Zoe and have all my babies under the same roof. Jonathan and Lizzy are very content with my helper and I am thankful for that. I'll update when I have more news.

Tiny Blessing

I'd like to introduce our newest daughter, Zoe Grace Razzano! She is tiny and perfect and feels like a little bit of heaven snuggled in my arms. I keep trying to come up with words to describe what seeing her for the first time was like. I don't think there are words. It is a moment I'll remember forever.

She is 17 inches and 5 pounds, 4 ounces. She's doing great. After I spend the day with her, and feel comfortable that she's feeding well for me, the nurse has intimated that she is ready to be released! But I don't have a specific release date yet. I'll update here as I know more.

Enjoy seeing our sweet blessing!

My Boys

Jonathan was so excited about our trip to Mississippi and especially eager to see his daddy again. On the drive, he kept saying, "Wait daddy, we coming!" I wondered how he would react after so many weeks of separation. But his face broke out into his happy grin when he saw Jonny at Camp Shelby. They picked up right where they left off.

I have so many pictures in my mind of the two of them. Playing at the pool. Relaxing in the hot tub. Making a tent from blankets in the condo. Playing chase. Wrestling on the ground. Building sand castles on the beach. Watching Bob the Builder. Each activity was punctuated by laughter and more laughter. To say Jonathan was a happy camper doesn't do justice to how much fun he had with his daddy.

Saying good bye was no fun. After we drove off, Jonathan kept asking me, "Daddy coming too?" I had to remind him over and over that daddy had to stay and help the soldiers for lots and lots of days. Jonathan has gone through a rough patch but is slowly coming back to himself. I had to take him to the doctor this week because he basically didn't eat or drink hardly anything for 3 days. He cried a lot and was clingy and wanted me to hold him all the time. I thought he was sick but my doctor said he was grieving. Watching him go through this has been harder than my own sadness. Nothing hurts like your child being in pain and being unable to take the pain away. I've tried to be extra demonstrative with my love and super attentive to him. We are making good progress. He is much, much better.

Jonny is making his way overseas today. It is so strange to be so far apart.

Daddy and his Princess

So much time as gone by since my last entry, I hardly know where to start. There is too much to say in just one blog. It will take several posts to catch up on all that has been happening. For now, I'll just jump in to where we are today.

Jonathan, Lizzy and I returned home last Thursday from 5 days in Gulfport, MS with Jonny. He was on his final pass from Camp Shelby before heading overseas. This was our last family time together for many months. Jonny describes our time together as "a little taste of heaven." I couldn't agree more. To say we had an amazing time doesn't do justice to those 5 days.

I took over 1,000 pictures. I'll share a few tonight and look forward to sharing more. I feel both happy and sad when I see the pictures, so I can only spend a little time going through them before my emotions start to overwhelm me. Here is what I offer so far.

When Lizzy saw her daddy's face again, she rewarded him with a big smile. I felt an enormous sense of relief. It would have devastated him if she screamed in fright over a new face. She is 7 months old and has not seen him for the last 2 months. I had prayed so much over their initial reunion. God answered my prayers. While Jonny and Jonathan had a ton of great interactions and time together (more will follow in another post), seeing Jonny and Lizzy together touched my heart in a special way.

It was hard seeing the pain on Jonny's face as he held her for the last few times as a baby. When he sees her again, she will be walking and running and saying a few words. This knowledge made their time together even more meaningful. I am so thankful for these pictures of the two of them. They capture the joy of their brief, yet incredibly special time together.

Saturday night we baby sat Anna Kate and Sophie for our friends Joy and Joe. I incorrectly thought we had the worlds most playful pre-schooler! These two gals know how to kick up their heels and play to the fullest! It was so fun to get a preview of what's coming with Lizzy. I can't wait. Anyway, we all really had a blast with Anna Kate and Sophie.

Two cute

Jonathan loves that Lizzy is slowly able to participate more in the things that matter most to him. Like watching "movies." That's what they are doing in this picture. I prop Lizzy up with a ton of pillows and Jonathan sits with his arm around her. They are so adorable together! He asks daily to hold her. She really can't get enough of watching him play. Even when I am feeding her, she will twist her head so far in order to see what he is up to next. They are going to have a lot of fun together in the days to come.

Jonathan was so happy to be able to play outside for a while today. We are both really looking forward to warmer weather. I love his adorable face!