Thankful {adoption post four}

Thanks everyone for the kind words on my adoptions posts!

Thanksgiving was my last 'normal' day before Leighton was born five years ago. Honestly, I can't remember how we celebrated, but I think it was just us 6 (- my parents & siblings) at home that year. Dont remember Friday, but I assume I worked at BK at least a few hours. The day after black Friday - {Black Saturday?} I worked some 8-5 or so at Bath & Body Works in the mall. In my stretchiest shoes which barely fit that day. I didn't know that I had eclampsia because I hadn't been to the doctor for my pregnancy even though I was 30-some weeks {stupidity - hindsight is 20/20 indeed!}. To this day, it is unknown how far along I was, but my doctor's guess is 35-ish weeks. I should have been on bed-rest and medications.

Instead I was working. So, imagine being 35 weeks pregnant and working 8-5 on your feet {oh yea, my employers didn't know about my pregnancy either}, helping millions of customers. That was my day, and it was exhausing! I went straight to bed after dinner that night and slept and slept. Woke up with a monstrous headache {noonish}, got tylenol and went back to bed. The last thing I remember is waking up around 3pm and going to the bathroom to change my pants because I'd peed my pants {from seizures... not a normal occurance for me incase you're wondering}. My brother & I shared the basement and he & his friends were in his room which was only seperated from my room by glass french doors.

So, there's that crazy background story.
This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for life - I should have died that day due to deadly high blood pressure basically. I'm thankful for open adoption. I'm sooo super very thankful {really I know the words don't make sense, I wish I could make some up words for how thankful I am} for the parents that God gave to my baby boy! And that they've allowed me to be a part of his life. That they've raised him to love God, love me, love his family and be an awesome big brother!

I'm super thankful for second chances! I've been blessed with the opportunity to be a mom for real this time and it is soooo awesome! Some days I think about what I gave up, but on better days I think about how lucky I am to get to experience motherhood and be a birthmother.

Open adoption has allowed me many visits & hugs {the hugs are my favorite!} and will always allow me to know where & how my baby is doing! I pray we will always have that special bond!

Happy Thanksgiving!