3 weeks old and I'm growing

So Karlee had her first Dr Appt. She is 3 weeks old and is doing well. She was born weighing 7lbs 7oz and 20 inches long. Today we weighed in at 8lbs 7oz and 21 inches long. So we are doing good. She continues to be a great baby. The only problem we are having is the issue of constipation. She is a stubburn pooper. The doctor said that she just need to relax. So if any of ya have any home remedies - We would love to hear them. I just read about 2 tsp Karo syrup in the bottle, so I guess we'll try that one and see if it works.

Home Sweet Home

We flew into Salt Lake City on our way home and were able to stay and visit with my sister and her family. We had such a good time. We couldn't get a flight into Las Vegas so my dad made the trip up north to come and get us. My grandparents were able to drive over to see Karlee. My neices and nephew were so cute and it is always so fun to see them. We drove home Sunday. It is just so good to be home. Rob was definately missing us. Now we are home and not planning on taking any vacations that will require us to stay in a hotel (Thank havens!) Thanks again to my sister for letting us stay with her and her family, and especially to my dad for driving all those miles to come and pick us up.

(My grandparents came to meet Karlee)

(Loving on my neice, Sadie)

(Grandma with Karlee and cousin Trenton)

(Paige, Papa and Karlee)

Goodbye Tennessee, Hello Utah

We are so so happy... we got our clearance from the ICPC to bring Karlee across state lines. We of the phone call yesterday from our social worker that all paperwork has been received and accepted. Yesterday February 21, exactly 2 weeks from the day Karlee was born. What a nightmare some of these past hours and days have been. More good news... The Adoption Agency has also received today, the birth fathers paperwork relinquishing his parental rights. So Karlee is OURS!!! I don't know what to be more excited about being able to leave and come home or that all the paperwork is accounted for. So So many prayers have been answered. We have been so blessed. After hearing the news that we could leave, we didn't want to waste another minute. We got online and started trying to find flights back to Las Vegas. A couples days ago we had found some super cheap flights, that we debated getting, but since we had no news on where our paperwork was at we had to pass them up. We looked online yesterday for 4-5 hours trying to find any flights. We would find a flight and then by the time we decided on getting it, the flight was no longer available. We had become super super stressed out and frustrated to say the least. But we were able to finally find one that would get us to Salt Lake City. We jumped at the flight. We flew into SLC this afternoon, Monica came over to pick us up and has been such a great host. Karlee was so so good on the plane, we were actually in the same plane for the whole trip, We flew from Charlotte NC, to Atlanta GA, to Phoenix AZ, to Salt Lake City UT. What an extremely long day, but so so worth it. My dad is coming up tonight to drive us down to St. George on Sunday. So many people have helped us get home, that I am so grateful for. It has been quite the adventure.

Johnson City, Tennessee

Now while we have been here we really haven't gone out and done much. The weather hasn't really been good enough to where I have wanted to get Karlee out. So we have stayed inside much of the time. We have gone out for lunch a couple times, and gone to the grocery store to buy some food. Eating out too me just gets so so old. And not much is going on in the month of February. The rolling hills are suffering from the winter season. So I thought that I would journal a little bit was what Johnson City is all about. Most all the follow is from the internet, but I wanted Karlee to be able to look back and learn a bit about where she was born.

Johnson City , Tennessee is the crossroads of the eastern United States. For almost two centuries, Johnson City has been the center for tourism and business in Northeast Tennessee. Originally a train depot, Johnson City is now a metropolitan melting pot with invigorating music, enchanting culture, and exhilarating mountain adventure. Home to East Tennessee State University, the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, Freedom Hall and the Carnegie Hotel, the city flourishes with tradition, heritage, and hospitality. Its natural beauty and fresh mountain air make Johnson City the perfect location to live, work or visit.

Pictures of Karlee

Karlee Weston

February 7, 2008

7 pounds 7 ounces - 20 inches long

Johnson City Tenneessee

Still in Tennessee...Ugh!

We had only expected to be here in Tennessee for 3-5 days well it looks as though we will be in Tennessee for another week. The theme of this adoption process has seemed - What can go wrong will go wrong.! The paperwork for the ICPC was sent to the Tennessee lawyer last Monday morning, but the Georgia Case Worker didn't hear back from anyone, so he called only to find out that the paperwork had been sent to the wrong address, and that the lawyer had changed addresses. So new copies of the paperwork was sent to the correct address. Only to have the lawyer say that Tennessee did not like the wording of the 'Statement of Legal Risk' paragraph. So LDS Family Services had to rewrite the statement. Have Rob sign it and then have me sign it. Well by the time this got done, it was Thursday afternoon, and the lawyer was taking an early holiday weekend. She was not going to be in the office at all on Friday. So with it being Presidents day on Monday. The paperwork will not get started until Tuesday the 19th. So this little vacation has turned into quite the long drawn out one. We are hoping that by Thursday next week we will get the OK to take Karlee to Utah. Which I hope comes for sure soon, if I never have to stay in a hotel this long will be a blessing.

In all this, I am truly grateful for the miracle from my Heavenly Father our little daughter, Karlee. We are so blessed. She is changing everyday. She is such a wonderful baby, and hasn't complained at all spending her first 2 weeks of life in a small, stuffy hotel room. What a trooper!

Karlee's Birth Story

I thought since we are not going to be able to make it up to Kentucky to see all our dear friends. I would share with everyone Karlee's birth story.

We have felt the Lord’s hand in this birth all week and feel so blessed! Karlee was born at 10:35 pm on February 7, 2008. What a miracle! We got up at 4 a.m. to drive down and fly out of Las Vegas on Thursday morning. We arrived at the hospital in Johnson City, Tennessee less than an hour before Karlee was born.

As soon as Karlee arrived, Heather S. (the birth mother) brother came into the waiting area to let us know of her birth. It was a very emotional time and he told us that his sister had not gone into this decision lightly. She had looked through many bios before selecting us. He said that as soon as our bio came up Heather S. knew that we were the ones who should raise this baby. He told us that he knew no one in their family could care for Karlee at this time and that although it was a hard decision he knew it was the right decision. He thanked us for being willing to raise Karlee. He said, “I leave her in your hands because they are the right hands. We are not giving her up because we do not want her. We are giving her up so that she can have a better life. We know that you will raise her right, that you will give her the moral training that she will need. Thank you so much! We know she will be loved. This was meant to be...you are the ones!” Heather S. chose not to see Karlee, although the rest of her family did.

Rob and I were immediately taken to the nursery where we were able to take part in all the preliminary weighing and bathing. After being in the nursery, we left there to go and see Heather. She looked really good. We gave her some flowers and of course some chocolates. She gave us a gift for Karlee. It was a small Elmo doll (She loves Elmo) a picture of herself framed, to give to Karlee later in life. Finally at 1:30 am we were given a hospital room. I just sat up for the next few hours watching our little Karlee. Rob’s attentiveness is probably the most shocking. He can’t get enough of Karlee. He feeds her, changes her, and just gazes at her. He is going to be an awesome dad! We were in three different hospital rooms during our two day stay. The first and last ones were nice and spacious. The room that we spent most of Friday in was a small exam/storage room. We called it a broom closet because that’s about how much room there was. Saturday morning, Heather S. signed over her rights and we were able to take our baby out of the hospital.

(picture: Our "Broom" closet room in the hospital)

What an amazing feeling it has been to be a mother. Th sleepless nights have taken some getting used to. I have never been much of a daytime naper, but I have to recharge somehow. To finally be a mother is a dream come true! I am so grateful!

No Trip to Kentucky :(

Note to Our Kentucky Friends: We are sad to say that we will not be able to make it to Kentucky, the rule/law of the ICPC, we are not able to take the baby our of state lines. So we are just going to hang out here in Tennessee. We had hoped that the ICPC wouldn't have taken so long and that we have run into timing issues. We are pretty bumbed, but are glad that we have this blog to be able to share our little miracle.

Finding the Positives

207 East Mountcastle, Johnson City, TN 37601, Phone: (423) 282-3335

This is our hotel while staying in Johnson City, Tennessee. Thanks to my mom we are getting somewhat of a better deal (Thanks AARP discount) We were hoping to find one that would be a good place: NON-SMOKING rooms, Quiet, and affordable for a long-term stay. This hotel has many amenities that help with staying connected to the rest of the world. Internet, Cable TV (Gotta stay up to the minute with all those US politics!), Laundry services, a workout room, and a continental breakfast.

(Yummy Continental Breakfast: muffins, muffins, muffins...)

We have actually enjoyed most of them already. We have even made it to the workout room. My mom and dad are usually up at 5am and out walking for an hour, so this little trip out to Tennessee will probably be a chance for mom to relax... Actually we are making the most of working out. Really we are. Here is the proof:

(Mom - You are so so motivated)

(I just didn't want to be up in the room alone - pathetic huh)

Having to Leave too Soon

Today I had to drive Rob to the Charlotte North Carolina Airport (not too bad of a drive, however the wind was so bad, that it made for a very cautious drive back). He has to be back in St. George for work tomorrow. I am really going to miss him, seeing how he has pretty much taken care of Karlee every waking hour. It was just Rob and I driving down and me solo on the return trip. Karlee can't leave the state of Tennessee until we get all that ICPC paperwork back from the two states, so she will stay with my mom. Rob didn't want to leave his baby girl. He has really fallen in love with her. He is completely taken with her. Karlee will definately be his little girl. I love this picture of the two of them. Yesterday after we left the hospital we had planned to go to something touristy, but Rob and Karlee sat in the chair over in the corner and slept most of the day away. Truly some bonding time, lets not forget to mention all those diaper changes, and late night/early mornig bottle feedings. Just got a text from him and he is boarding his flight from Atlanta to Las Vegas, then he will drive home. He's almost home! Hopefully we shouldn't be here too much longer. We are anticipating by Friday.

Our Adoption Placement

We are finally out of the hospital. After spending 2 days and 3 nights in the Johnson City Hospital. We are finally out, and Karlee is with us. This morning we met with Brad A. and filled out and signed all the adoption placement paperwork. Which took forever. (wish we had taken pictures, but our photographer was back at the hotel sleeping, no problem mom) Just after we signed our papers, Brad A. the case worker asked if we would go with him to the birthmothers room. The birthmother had signed all her paperwork prior to us signing. While in her room, we sat and visited with her. Brad presented to her these Willow Tree figurines (below) along with a little message. He said that the two girls in this figurine represented both myself, and her. That we are both mothers, and that we are bonded with a special love, and a special miracle, Karlee. This just touched me so much that I left the birthmothers room, feeling at peace. I hope that she was also at peace with her decision. I have plans to purchase this Willow Tree figurine and put in Karlee's room. (The figurine below is called, Sisters by Heart).Karlee is officially/unofficially ours, because now we get to take her back to the hotel, but we start the wait of the ICPC. (which will hopefully only be a few days. lets hope) So we are now just hanging out in the hotel room. We were able to find a pretty good deal for a hotel room. I am sure it helped that we reserved it for a week. Ouch! We just hope that its not that long.

Karlee is doing so good. She is such an alert baby, when she's awake, all she wants to do is look around and soak everything up. She is pretty good at night, although Rob has been the one getting up with her. I am pretty embarrased to say that I can't even hear her crying - sad because she is no more than 8 inches away. Can you just say EXHAUSTED. Seriously.

Karlee has Arrived!!!

Karlee Weston has arrived!!!

Here is a quick post and then I'll write more about our trip. Karlee was born Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 10:35 pm. She weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces, and was 20 inches long. She was born at 10:35 pm. She is BEAUTIFUL!!

(Here we are the three of us.)

(Can You say Exhausted! Karlee is the only one who is still awake - Thanks mom for capturing this moment.)

Tennessee here we come!

(Just had to add this one in there, because I just love the new Quarters)

Just a note to let everyone know that Rob, my Mom, and I are headed to Tennessee tomorrow to pick up our new baby. She has not been born yet, but we anticipate the next day or two.

From my mothers words: Our experience with the adoption since moving to Utah has been a nightmare. We know that things would never have worked out without the Lord’s hand in their behalf. Up until a week ago it looked like the baby would have to go to a foster family. Then, suddenly all our paperwork cleared. Yesterday, when we thought we had already dealt with everything that could go wrong...we were informed that we needed physicals done here in Utah. After unsuccessfully trying to get a doctor’s appointment, I called my dad. He called President/Doctor Booth (former mission president who is a doctor in St George) and the next thing we knew we had our appointment! We were even able to find plane tickets for 1/3 the regular price. Rob cannot stay the entire time so my mom has offered to stay with me until all the adoption legalities are finalized (1-2 weeks). She is our families personal photographer! We are excited for this wonderful blessing in our lives and would like to thank everyone for their prayers.

I will update my blog once she is here. So Stay Tuned!

New Presidency Announced

We are so excited to sustain and support the New First Presidency. President Thomas S. Monson, Elder Henry B. Eyring, and Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf. We really are truly bless to have the Lords Church lead by wonderful, worthy men. I have always loved President Monson, and am so excited to see where the church will go with him as our Prophet. What wonderful times we live in.

A Touching Tribute to Our Prophet!

This is a tribute that my mom has sent me. I thought it was pretty touching. Seeing how the media has not really mentioned the passing of Our Prophet. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.