Zyan's Story Part 2

Ok I have kept you waiting long enough for Part 2 of Zyan's story.....

I remember the exact place where I was standing in our small lil first home that we had when they told us it was a BOY, honestly I was even more excited. I always felt like I would be a great mom for boys with my suck it up kinda attitude. Really the rest of the time frame is such a blur because it happened so quickly. We left the next weekend to head to Kentucky. Not the best decision because we were told that birth mother was going into labor and wanted to meet us first. Well, we get there and none of that was true. We drove 8hrs to sit in a hotel room for 3 days and NOTHING happened. I was pretty down and frustated about the whole situation.

We returned home and I talked with the birth mother a couple of times and each time she informed us that the birth father wasnt on board and did I mention they had 3 daughters already and now that it was a boy I was sure this was all a waste of time and they would keep him because it was a boy. But 3 weeks later we got several phone calls in the middle of the night. Of coarse the night I forgot to turn my phone off of silence. We woke up at 6:30 to get ready for church and I checked my phone and had 8 missed phone calls. We made several phone calls to our volunteers and told them it was time. We literally had our car already packed just in case and thankful for all of our church members we had TONS of stuff that they gave us because we didnt have a single thing. Heck I didnt even know how to change a diaper and Andy had never even held a newborn. But we were on our parenting journey starting now and nobody knows what they are doing or getting themselves into no matter how many people give you advice. We drove straight back to Kentucky checked into a hotel and went straight to the hospital. Baby boy was already almost 24hrs old by then so we met with a counselor and social worker first then I was told that the birth mother wanted to meet me first. I will never forget going into that room and meeting baby boys birth mother. She was as sweet as she sounded on the phone. Big smile with big brown eyes. One of her daughters was there so just getting to see what one of baby boys birth sisters looks like was even more crazy. After we met she wanted Andy and I to go into the room by ourselves to meet Baby and have the counselor with us to see what our reactions were. I just remember being in this TINY room with one chair for hours that day wondering what in the world we were suppose to do now. Andy and I would just sit and trade holding him hours after end. I honestly thought it was the wrong baby at first because he was very faired skinned and almost looked indian/hispanic.
In the state of Kentucky the birth parents had 3 days to decide if they wanted to keep the baby. After day 2 they still hadnt signed and the birth father wanted to meet with Andy. Boy was that a tear jerker. He basically said that he was giving up his one and only son because he couldnt provide for another mouth and had been in and out of prison just to make ends meet for his family doing all the wrong things. Birth mom actually was in labor but still worked a 12hr shift went home braided the girls hair, put them to bed and came to the hospital and said im having a baby and bam there he was. They actually named him after the father and asked if we were going to change it and we said yes and they asked what. We told them Zyan Patrick Charles. (patrick is andys middle name) He looked at us and said I think that is a fine name and I think you will be fine parents and be able to give him what we cant. We asked if we could pray for them and we put Z in the middle and all prayed around him and their family. They signed the papers and we allowed them to keep Zyan for a whole day so they could morn and spend time with him. Their lawyer then informed us that Zyan would probably have to be put into a foster home until all of our paperwork was cleared to "go over the border" and wouldnt know for several hours once she met with the judge. She came back hours later and she said, "in all my 20+ yrs the judge has never grantited a child to go with the adoptive parents but he did this time. You can now take your child back to your hotel until the rest of your paperwork is clear which will be in 2 to 3 days." I remember putting Zyan in the car and just started shaking, what in the world were we doing, what do we do now? PEOPLE....We had to stay in 2 different hotels for 10 days with a new born. We were so dilarious. Zyan was up every 3 hrs on the dot and made lots of noises and I am a terrible sleeper as it is. We finally got a routine down but believe me I had some break down moments also. I just wanted to be in our home with our new baby with our support system. But when we did get home our amazing church family had our house cleaned, bought us a pack in play, diapers, stocked fridge, diaper bag, stroller and the list goes on.

First time holding Zyan.

Andy told me the reason I never held a newborn was because I wanted my first time to be my child.

Some of our middle school kids through us a Meet Zyan Shower

Hadnt even put anything in my basket yet

7month pics

First plane ride home and he did awesome

Second plane ride home and daddy got me flowers z a new toy

my boys

My family came in for the final court hearing..OCT. 2011

First Family Christmas

First Bday



When I tell our adoption story and look back at Zyan's story I know he was ment for our family. There are so many little stories in between but franckly that would take a whole book to write. I couldnt have made a child more like Andy and I its crazy how much of his personality is like ours. He is a very smart kid, loves cars:always has to have at least 2 in each hand, also loves; singing and dancing, airplanes, fruit, will talk to anyone who will listen, sweet, loving, a hugger and LOUD. I know God has a special plan for Zyan's life. He is so special to so many people and can make anyone smile. I pray all the time that he would love others, show compassion to all and be joyful. All things he does so well already