Unexpected Blessings

It has been ages since I updated our family blog. For once I actually have a good excuse for the delay.
To explain I must go back to last October. Aaron and I at the time felt very strongly that our family needed to grow and we looked at our options. Suddenly after 5 years we knew that foster/adopt care was the way to go again. So we pushed on and started the process of getting licensed. 30 hours of classes, Saturdays, tests, first aid and cpr training. Dr visits, house prep, the works.
As most of you know, in December we received an amazing gift to be able to try in-vitro fertilization to get ourselves pregnant. If this is news to you check out my prego blog: www.harwardsmiracleinthemaking.blogspot.com. Of course we pursued this as the foster care licensing was on hold while we waited for background checks to come back. We thought nothing of it. In fact we were thinking, perhaps Heavenly Father was testing us to see if we would do all we could do before blessing us with the in-vitro option. With that mindset in March we got a call from the licensor wanting to finish up licensing with a home study and interviews. After much thought we decided that we should finish the process. Who knows how our chance at a miracle would end up right? Plus we felt again like it was the right thing to do. So we finished it up and forgot about it again as the weeks passed with dr visits, drugs, hormone therapy, surgery etc.
On May 9th my pregnancy test came back positive! On the 25th we found out it was twins. Thrilled we planned for two babies. We were even given by random chance two cribs! On our next ultrasound we found out that one of the babies was lost. (A vanishing twin). That same week we received our foster care license in the mail. Of course emotions ran rampant and we thought not a lot on the foster care. In fact we discussed it the day it came. We decided that unless we felt an absolute "yes" feeling, like we felt with Egan, we would simply say no should they call us. Besides, its not like you get a call right away anyway. People typically wait months and months for their first placement. We weren't worried. I was still pregnant and we were thrilled with the very thought of that.
On July 19 I got a phone call from a placement worker from CPS. A newborn was in need of an foster/adoptive home. We were chosen because of our background in helping babies going through withdrawal and we are willing to adopt. Shocked, (I'm in the parking lot of winco with a friend) I tell the lady I need to call my husband. Hands shaking, butterflies racing, I call Aaron. I tell him the little details I knew, a baby boy needed our help. His response immediately was "Yes!" I was feeling the same thing. It was crazy. What were we thinking?! I called her back once I got my bearings. Yes we told her. She gave me some basic information and told me to expect a call.
It was crazy gathering the information and the things we needed, but somehow it worked. We visited sweet baby at the NICU on a the following Thursday and picked him up on a Monday. He has been in our home, blessing our lives for about 3 weeks now and we are loving every minute of it. I won't be discussing details or posting any pictures on the internet for obvious reasons, but we welcome comments, prayers and support from family and friends. This hasn't been an easy task, but has so been worth it. We were planning on twins and are currently enjoying the idea of Two!
I will continue to update when possible. Hugs to all!

Rose Famaily Reunion!

The first week in July I took the kids and my pregnant self camping to the Rose Family Reunion. Well, it depends on your definition of camping... we had cabins with bunks and electricity. Full bathrooms and a huge hall with kitchen. Not to mention a fully fenced pool! It had been years since i had gone and seen all the wonderful people on the Rose side. It was a Blast. I was tired and sicky, but well worth the fun and laughter.

Egan and Evelyn spent hours and hours in the pool.

They had a raft race. Each kid, with mommy's help built a raft out of twigs and rope and raced them in the river. Evelyn's took second in her age group. :)

There were so many other activities to name. We had so much fun the kids didn't want to leave. Gotta love the Roses :)

Egan Turns 7!

On July 24th Egan Celebrated his 7th birthday! It's hard to believe that our little boy is 7 years old! I remember when he could fit into build-a-bear clothes :)

Egan enjoys playing hard and loud. His favorite time of the day is playing a video game (Zelda) with his daddy when he gets home from work. He is looking forward to 2nd grade and I'm sure will be top of his class like he was last school year.
This year is the off year where we just have a simple family party. Egan wanted to have Zelda cupcakes and decorated the house himself with green streamers and balloons. He also celebrated by having an extended stay at grandma's house with a favorite cousin Elias. 
Egan is such a good big brother, always a playmate, and a help to Evelyn. I'm so happy he is our "Little Red Fire" (Egan Ray). Love you sweet EggNog :)