Oh Happy Day!

The day started early ... too early in fact.  And I kept telling myself and the kids, "He's worth it!"  By 5:30am we were loading up the car.  Quick stop at my parent's house and we were on our way to Orlando in the pitch black.

Eventually we arrived at the courthouse and had quite the fun time getting through the security.  It was actually quite funny!  Sam had to take off his belt ... which made his pants fall down.  (Isn't that the purpose of the belt afterall.)  They went through EVERY bag, every diaper, looking for something in each bag.  Of course I had something that caught their attention in every bag.  Nothing that was objectionable, just things that RESEMBLED objectional items.  (I think it takes a lot of talent to be able to pull that off.)  Jacob was the funniest though as he had a toy in like each pocket of his jacket!  There was even a gum wrapper in one of the inside pockets ... a pocket he didn't know existed.  (It was a used jacket.)  That security officer was even laughing by the end it was so funny trying to find it. 

After that, I was exhausted and the day hadn't even started yet!  16 floors of a jam packed elevator ride later, we were there.  (And YES, he is wearing a bow tie! Aren't all the kids handsome/beautiful?)

It was at that moment we met Steve Price (attorney).  He tells us that the Judge wasn't even supposed to be IN today and was only coming in for THIS case!  She switched this around so we could get this done today.  

About 5 minutes before 9am, Manny fell asleep.  Then it was time for court.  The attorney asked us a few basic questions about our names, address, how long we've been married, if we understand the legal implications of this and why we want to adopt Manny. (The Judge had a tear in her eye by the time we told our answer about why we wanted to adopt him.) The whole thing is about 5 minutes. 

Next we got to take a picture with the Judge. 

Quick trip down to get a copy of the judgment so we have legal proof he is our son.  (His birth certificate will arrive in about 4-6 weeks.) 

Then our social worker, Megan, got a call about the medicaid paperwork.  She said everyone had been working on it and if we could come over to their offices then, we could sign it and kick in the medicaid!  No way!! No one even thought that was a possibility!! 

Today was a GREAT day!  Not every day you get to add a new child into your home. 

We are truly, truly blessed.