New Beginnings

March 17, 2021 (St. Patrick's Day), our lives changed forever.  That was the day we learned of Maisy's existence. She was actually born the day before (March 16). The knowledge of her started a journey that we never could have imagined. James and I prayed, fasted and prayed some more and just couldn't ignore the feeling we had that the Lord was calling us to step in and get involved with this precious 2 lb gift. She was tiny and very sick, but she was a fighter! 

While we were never allowed to visit Maisy in the hospital, we received new photos and health updates every single day from her grandmother, Graci (and a few from kind nurses that ignored the note not to take any photos of the baby).  We lived for those updates and prayed that the Lord would (fully) heal her tiny body! We loved her so much before we ever met her! 

Looking like big sister, Marley from the very beginning (Marley on left, Maisy on right)

While Maisy was fighting like a champ in the NICU, we were fighting a battle of our own that wasn't going according to plan. We initially thought we had a chance to be considered for kinship foster care and that we would become Maisy's foster parents, but that option was quickly removed from the table because we didn't have a relationship with Maisy's birth mother. We were then told by CPS that while we couldn't be considered for kinship foster care, we could be a non-custodial placement for her. That just means she comes to us temporarily instead of entering DCS custody first. But six days later (and after we had furnished a nursery), we were told that upper management had reviewed our case and we weren't a placement option for Maisy at all anymore, in any way, shape, or form. We were crushed. Absolutely devastated and honestly, feeling a bit hopeless.

Maisy entered DCS custody on Monday, May 4 and was released from the hospital into the custody of her foster parents (and our good friends), the Turman's, on May 7, 2021, weighing in at 4 lbs 6 oz. James and I were in the waiting room at Regional One awaiting our chance to finally meet sweet Maisy girl! 

Side note, Maisy came home on May 7, which was one day before our biggest event of the year at Harding Academy, Taste & Tunes featuring Ellie Holcomb and 600 guests on the Harding campus. It was about the craziest possible time for the Turman's to be bringing a tiny human to their home, but as James says ... "if they tell you you can leave the hospital, you get the heck outta there!" So the Turman's stepped up. We are so very grateful for the sacrifices they made to make sure Maisy remained with her family. 

The next few weeks, we spent as much time with her as possible. I worked from home for a few weeks so I could spend time with her during the day and she spent most weekends with us. We wanted to get in as much bonding time as possible, without compromising the Turman's role as foster parents. The last thing we wanted was for them to violate any rules and get Maisy removed from their custody. 

Big sisters Emery and Marley meeting her

Meeting Nana and GPW

Days spent with Maisy are the best days

Someone was super pumped about becoming a big sister

 Meeting big brother for the first time too

Big brother Jayden 

Meeting CJ

Meeting Miss Melissa

First visit to the doctor was a success! Less than a week in and already up to 5 lbs 4 oz! 

Sleeping through her bath

Multitasking in the best possible way

Big brother Ty

A little love from Pebbles

Meeting Mario

Meeting Paw Paw

Meeting MawMaw

Our hope was restored when we met with (and hired) an attorney that had a lot experience with families wanting to adopt. He walked us through the process and was confident that the end result would land in our favor. However, he warned us that the court system moves slow and it could take some time to get her into our custody. On May 27, 2021, our attorney filed a motion to intervene in the case. June 8 is the date of the next hearing where the judge will decide if we can intervene in the case and officially become parties. So for now ... we (not so) patiently wait for June 8.