Hi Everyone,
It’s been a few days since we updated you all. Some of the craziness has subsided and we are somewhat finding a groove. We are settling in, learning the lingo, and meeting some of the locals. The community in the NICU is amazing. They have a volunteer led parent room filled with snacks, plenty of storage, and COFFEE. The coffee has been clutch! It’s nice to connect with other families with children in the NICU. The hospital staff and the nurses are absolutely amazing, and we feel that Nellya is getting the best care. Kim and I have frequented the baby store along with grandparents to get some needed supplies for the journey home such as: car seat, diaper bag and cute little outfits.
Nellya: I’m sure you all want to hear how Nellya is doing! She is such an achiever. She graduated from her IV, her heat lamp, nest, and UV light (for jaundice). Her oxygen level has greatly improved. The last things she needs to do is gain some weight and eat from a bottle consistently… and clean her room. We are told that learning to eat consistently takes the most amount of time here in the NICU. She is technically 35 weeks old, which is a HUGE week for brain development. We are told that she is going to sleep a ton this week and that we can expect her eating habits to fluctuate. We’ve been able to spend plenty of time with her and do what’s called skin-to-skin (this is the best thing that we can do for her). Please be praying for her to sleep well and eat well : )
Prayer: There are 2 big things happening tomorrow. We are going to visit the birth mother tomorrow and go to the court to start the finalization process of the adoption. Please pray with us for a good meeting on this side of the adoption. The finalization process takes a total of 6 months and if we go before the judge while we are here, then we shouldn’t have to make an extra trip come July. We are praying for meeting with the judge. There’s been a setback in Kim’s process to get maternity leave through her work. There could be a chance that she doesn’t get any (but not because this is an adoption). We are waiting to hear word back from her work in the next few days. We continue to covet your prayers.
The time that Kim and I have had with Nelly has been priceless. We’ve gleaned much information from the medical staff and have been spending the majority of our time holding her and spending time with her. Guys, she’s pretty stinking awesome!
We long to be back home with everyone. We’ve felt so loved by so many people, near and far. Kim and I have greatly enjoyed visits from the the grandparents and the many that have reached to us by the various forms of communication. Words cannot express how grateful we are for all the kind words, the love, the excitement, the support, and the prayers. We’ve been humbled in many Nellya does not yet know how many people love her; she does not yet know the army of people who have become part of her story. And I can’t wait to tell her! She is loved and she is precious – to God, to Kim and I, and to so many. Thank you all for everything you’ve done and been to us this far.
Sincerely,
Ryan, Kim and Nellya
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Kent's Adoption Part 2 