After the whirlwind, a boy

It’s been quite a trip.  Pauline and I started the adoption process for our second child in March.  After the ups and downs–turning down possible situations and being turned down–we were feeling pretty discouraged the weekend of June 30.  We knew of one possibility in Mississippi, a baby due July 17, but because of a mix-up we thought it had become unlikely.  To cheer ourselves up a bit, we got a baby-sitter for Mac (our 2.5-year-old) and went to a movie: “Pirates of the Carribean III”. 

The movie had about a half-hour left when our phones started vibrating.  One call was from a Utah area code.  The second was from our babysitter.  After a couple trips back and forth across peoples’ laps in the theater, we had a more full story.  The birthmother from Mississippi had traveled to Utah, was in labor, had just seen our profile, and was interested in talking with us.  After a brief phone conversation in the parking lot of the theater, it was pretty clear we had made a match.

Knowing that adoption means staying in the state of the child’s birth for a couple weeks (and that it includes a lot of hurry up and wait and odd hours), we had planned to drive Mac to stay with his grandparents in Great Falls, MT, and then to fly together wherever we needed to go.  Since the birthmother was in labor and headed for a C-section that Saturday evening, we took her agency’s advice and decided to have Pauline fly directly to Utah right away.  I would drive Mac to GF and then join Pauline as planned.

The baby boy was born by C-section Saturday, June 30, 8:20 PM.  I dropped Pauline off at the Seattle-Tacoma airport Sunday morning, 4:30AM, and immediately from there began the 11-hour trip to Great Falls.  Pauline was at the hospital by 10:30AM Mountain Time that day and by 11AM was holding the child who would become ours. 

Mac and I were in Great Falls by 5:30PM Sunday eve. 

Flying out of Great Falls can be challenging these days.  I chose a ticket that was quite a bit cheaper than a direct flight; I left at 7AM Monday and my first brief layover was in… Seattle!  Then Boise, ID.  By 2:20PM, Monday Pauline was picking me up in Salt Lake City.  There had been some drama and phone calls during my layovers, but all was happily smoothed out while I was in the air.

We had a couple names picked out, but by the time I held him, we were sure that he was Trevan Douglas Kaurin. 

 

Trevan is African American with one-quarter Korean… beautiful boy, as you can see.  His first name, Trevan, is an African American name meaning “outgoing”.  Douglas is the name of one of my good friends since childhood. 

The papers have been signed; we just need to wait for the Utah and Washington courts to give us clearance to take Trevan home–probably next week sometime.  We will be glad to fly to Great Falls and spend a few days with family before driving back to the Seattle-Tacoma area.  It is joyful, tho’ still a bit dizzying!  We thank God and all our friends and family for their support, love and prayers!