Josh is falling apart already. Only 12 days old. I wonder if this stuff is covered under the warranty? Should I call tech support? Kidding…
His cord fell off!!
I couldn’t find it at first, but then I found it wrapped in his little outfit. He’s got such a cute little belly button - cute to match the rest of his cuteness! I’ll take a picture once the sun comes up!
What a weekend so far! We have had a lot of visitors and it has been great with everyone meeting Joshua. He got lots of cool clothes and lots of kisses!!!! Joshua is doing really well, sleeping and eating well. I am still trying to figure out some of those noises, like the big gasp that he takes every now and then…..what is that about? Steve tells me not to worry, how can I not worry when I have never heard that noise before? LOL.
Joshua loves his room especially his crib. He is so cute in there. My mom is staying with us until Tuesday which should be fun! We are going to run out today to get some supplies for the baby which I am excited to do!
I hope you all have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend and have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joshua is one week old today! I know its only been a week, but time sure does go by fast! We flew in last night and it is so amazing to be home! We gave Joshua the grand tour of the house last night and he chilled out while we unpacked. We hung out with him on our bed for a little while in amazement before putting him in his crib. He looks so small in that big crib! It is so sweet.
We are planning on lots of visitors this weekend and we are very excited for everyone to meet and love him up! My dad was at the house at 7am this morning dying to get in to see him, it was really great to see him with Joshua. I received beautiful flowers from my job today in a huge duck vase which is the cutest thing ever! Thank you for that!
This weekend we plan on working on his baby book as we have so much stuff to put in there now, info about birthmom, boarding passes, ultrasound pics, hospital bracelets and tags, pictures, baby shower stuff, and lots of cool other stuff.
What a phenomenal journey this has been and I cant believe what has gone on in the last two weeks with this fabulous life we have been blessed with.
I learned a valuable lesson today, when you put the diaper on, face the p p down!
Love to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, we got the call today, our interstate compact has already been approved so we are out of here! Our flight is booked on Spirit Airlines leaving tomorrow, Thursday, at 7:00pm and arriving in Atlantic City at around 10:00pm. We cant believe that it happened so quickly. I called the social worker back right after she called us to just confirm because I could not believe it! She was cracking up!
We went to Serena’s house this evening to have dinner with her and her family and bid farewell. We had a really great time and got to watch the Season Finale of American Idol, which was great for me because I love that show as does Serena. Dinner with Serena and her family was a really nice way to end our trip in Florida and begin our new life in New Jersey.
We will be around all weekend so feel free to stop by to meet Joshua, oh, and see us also if you want too!
Love to all!
In the best way possible, Joshua is the biggest distraction to everything. I’m sitting here trying to get some work done and I can barely concentrate. I keep getting up to go and watch him sleep. Every little twitch or stretch or grunt or squeek is the cutest little thing. I guess it’s a good thing I’ll have to go back to work shortly after we get back to NJ - if I worked from home I’d never get anything done!
Steve has been doing a lot of the writing on the website as I have been in awe and have not adequately found a way to say or write what I have been feeling.
The entire process from making the decision that we were going to grow our family through adoption through this very moment has been amazing. There were times I did not understand why we had to do all the stuff we did to have to adopt, but I thank God for AFTH as they really educated us and put us in a position to educate others as we were faced with adversity that was combated with knowledge and perspective. So thanks, AFTH, for that.
Even though our wait time was two weeks long, it seemed liked forever. Truly. If you look back at previous posts we have made to the site you will notice that at one point I knew that my baby was alive and waiting to be born, I could just feel it and when I saw his head crowning in the delivery room I knew it was him. I can’t explain it. My friend Susan who recently was also blessed to adopt beautiful Melissa was so wonderful in giving us support especially me because I was so impatient. She gave me a lot of support and encouragement for which I am very grateful.
Lets talk about God’s will. Perspective and timing. We finish all of our stuff with AFTH in April. Our beautiful families throw our baby shower on Saturday, May 7, 2005 and on Sunday May 8, 2005 I decide to venture on to other adoption sites for resource purposes only and come across another adoption website that has a post of an available situation that was coming up in a week. After discussing it with Steve we decided to email the social worker because, why not? We were contacted the following day and told to send our profile and approved homestudy which we did. The very next day we found out that Serena, the birtmother picked us! The following weekend we were on plane to Florida to pick up our son.
Nothing could have prepared me for the birthmother I was about to meet or her family. They are all amazing, loving, and wonderful people to which we have a lot in common. Serena is the most selfless, giving, loving person I have ever known. She was persisten about Steve and I being in the delivery room with her and being the people that Joshua was going to see first.
We spent the time of inducement to the birth of our son with Serena and everything that entails. There we were only having known her for less than twenty four hours and I was rubbing her legs and feet while Steve was rubbing her head and back, for hours and hours. Right before the doctor said that she could start pushing, she looked at Steve and I as we were standing on each side of her and she said that she was so happy for us and that she loved us. Now, I had already been crying for what seemed like days, but that topped it. She began pushing. After the third push the nurse looked at me and said, “Do you want to see your son?” She pointed to the place that brought Joshua to life moved some things around and showed me his head. I immediately lost it and from that point forward could not take my eyes off of that place. Steve and I continued to stand beside her counting her pushes, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, telling her how great she was doing, rubbing her head, kissing her, and loving her up.
There we were watching this girl turn into a woman. Unbelievable.
After about a half an hour the pushing got more intense as well as the coaching. Before we knew it the doctor said, here he comes and there he came. Like I said, nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to see. Me, Steve, Serena and her mother were hysterical crying together, holding each other in total amazement. Steve cut the cord which was amazing and I am so glad that he got to do it. Immediately following that we got to hold our son for the first time. There are no words.
The following 2 days we spent every waking moment at the hospital with Serena in her recovery room while taking care of the baby. That was also an amazing process. She never faltered and was determined to provide the best life she could for this little person that she loved so intensly and so much.
For me, motherhood was instant. I felt an instant connection with Joshua and since the second he was born could never imagine my life without him.
In the end, through all adversity, Serena became our biggest advocate. Who would have thought?
My family is now complete because of Serena, an angel, gift from God who will forever remain in our lives and hearts, forever.
Thank you all for your kind words and support.
Joshua was checked out by a local pediatrician today. She said he’s in perfect heatlh. Of course. She said he’s got all the normal stuff babies should have, sneezes, pig noises, poops, etc. We asked some silly questions that in hind sight seem like common sense stuff, but at the time were as bewlidering as E=MC2.
Josh has been nothing but a pleasure to be with. I am so grateful for this time we have to bond with him. Upon the suggestion of Aunt Dana, Josh and I will have some kangaroo time later. He’s putting down a ton of formula, and squrting it out just as quickly. I can’t decide if I want to knick name him Squirt (for all the squirting he’s doing) or Chewy, after Sir Chubaka, for his imitation like squeels.
Josh also has a permanent formula mustache / beard. He’ll get his first sponge bath tonight. Should be fun.
PS - Josh wished Grandma and Pops a very happy 35th wedding anniversary today.
It will be celebrated in the Guberman household anually, May 22, 2005 is officialy Joshua’s Gotchya Day!
This is Josh in his coming home outfit. He’s so damn cute!
This is Josh and Mommy yesterday, he’s a burper.
Josh loves to be swaddled up and cozy warm!
My level of standards on ‘cute’, ‘love’, and ‘family’ has been raised about 1,000%! Joshua Gregory was born today at 1607 (that’s 4:07pm) in perfect health. He weighed in at a whopping 7.04 lbs. and stretched to a lanky 20.25″. He’s perfect, in case you didn’t see that yourself. Serena, the birth mom, did a wonderful job, and so did Daddy (me) cutting the cord and all! Jess nearly lost lunch and the doctor told her to get out if she wasn’t going to be OK. She pulled together too!
Josh’s first meal consisted of 1 oz of Enfamil. He got a poopy diaper change too. Not a sound from him the entire night! I got to hold him for about 3 hours straight. He’s amazing. He’ll get a little snip snip tomorrow afternoon. I’ll supervise to make sure the doctor doesn’t take off too much.
I really have to say that it was an amazing thing to be a part of the delivery of Josh. I am so grateful to have been able ot be by Serena’s side the enitre day, talking with her, keeping her calm, rubbing her back, and more. It was truely an honor. She has more courage than I could ever imagine. She and I talked a lot today and I am amazed at the maturity of this 16 year old girl. I have no doubt whatsoever that she will sign some papers on Sunday. Once Josh was out, the first thing she said was “Give me those papers”. It’s hard to swallow, but she really and truely did all this for us.
Jess is pulling the first overnight at the hospital and I’ll releive her in the morning.
Today has got to be the day. I hear May 20 is a good day for a birth day! Jess and I actually got some rest last night and are recharged and going back to the hospital in a little bit. The birds are singing their song. I can’t wait to be a father today. I prayed this morning for the health of Serena and Josh and a smooth delivery. So if all goes as it might go, we’lll see Josh today and will probably loose our shit. I’m pretty strong emotionally, not!
So, happy birthday to a special AFTH lady 
, and one more for another speical AFTH lady tomorrow . And hopefully a very special happy birth day to Joshua Guberman today! His birthday could be 05 20 05 2005, that’s a pretty decent set of numbers. Play that on your pick five!
It is 10:36pm and we are just getting back to our home for the evening. No baby yet! Serena was not progressing as planned so she was given some medication to be able to sleep through the night and we are to return early in the am to watch our beautiful son be born! The day did turn around. I was sick to my stomach this morning by the ignorance we were faced with, but we persevered! The nursing station was extremely supportive of us and at one point, Steve and I were standing in front of the nursery looking at all of the babies being born and Serena’s nurse walked by and said, “Your going to be looking at your baby soon!” The doctor is a total and complete gift from God and after she came in this evening to examine and meet with Serena (while Steve and I stepped out) she said to the nurse, call the parents, Jess and Steve back in so I can explain to them exactly what is going on and how this is going to happen. Having empathetic hospital staff really does make all of the difference.
We took Carol, Serena’s mom back to her house tonight so she could shower, eat, and freshen up as she is spending the night in the hospital with Serena. We got to eat dinner with Carol and Al, Serena’s parents and it was good. Nice to spend time with them. I believe our degree of openess has changed as their idea is not nearly as open as we originally thought or planned to be. Overall, they are loving, caring, people, who love us dearly.
I am trying my best to stay hopeful and understand that Josh is not legally our son at this point and will not be until she signs the surrenders. But my God, does he feel like our son.
This situation could not have been any better than if I planned it myself. I am grateful to be on this journey, can hardly wait to meet my son and fall in love, and start this new chapter of my life with Steve, who I honor and love so much and Bosco, who I miss so much!
We will keep you posted tomorrow. Please pray for us.
Love to all!
Just a quick update, it’s 3:15 est. and no baby yet. I stepped out for a little rest while Serena and Jess both napped. Here’s how the day has gone so far…
3:00am pick up Serena and Carol (Serena’s Mom)
4:00am arrive at hospital with precious cargo
4:20am settle into delivery waiting room, wait for open bed
7:00am crazy laboring woman arrives, hangs with us, pukes, and goes to have baby
7:15am fight off urge to kick shit out of other crazy ignorant bitch
7:30am get told to come back between 10am and 11am when a bed might open up
8:30am arrive back at Serena’s home
8:40am receive phone call from hospital about open bed - please return
9:50am return to hospital
10:00am Serena gets settled into bed and hooked up to NASA sattelite equipment, labor inducted!
10:30am greeting in sub-human form by ignorant bitch-ass hospital social worker
10:35am fight urge to throw her from window
11:00am back in room with Serena, watching monitor and chit chat
11:30am quick lunch with Jess and Carol, pick up trashy magazines for Serena
12pm - 3:00pm hang with Serena, Jess, and Carol, snooze, oogle over other baby’s in nursery
3:30pm Serena takes a little pain med and passes out (for a nap) Jess naps too, I step out for a litttle nap and run to the store and some phone calls and a quick note here.
The nurses say this could take a while. I wonder what they think a while is. Tomorrow might also be a great day to have a son!
We’ll keep you posted more later!
Steve and I just getting home from our first face to face meeting with the birthmother. She is absolutely beautiful and her family is amazing. We talked for hours and hours and hours and it was wonderful. We got to take a lot of pictures together with her and her family and in just a couple of hours, she is allowing us to pick her up to take her to the hospital to be induced to deliver the baby. Steve is trying to get some rest and I am antsy and cant seem to stay still! I wonder why! We packed a little bag for the hospital for Joshua. The birthmother even gave us all of his ultrasound pictures that are amazing. He is soooooooo cute. Its amazing, the birthmother and I look a lot alike. It must be the Greek background. We gave the birthmother a journal that had hearts all over it as she said she likes to write poetry etc. We wrote a little something in the journal and she loved it! We also brought her family flowers which they loved.
Well friends and family, the next time you hear from us, we will be parents! What an unbelievable week and what an unbelievable life! Beyond my wildest dreams and better than anything I could have planned myself.
Love to all!
Today was a great day, a great day of anticipation. Jess and I went to South Beach for a wonderful dinner on the beach. You can see the pictures on the left and on the flickr account. Tomorrow night we have a very special dinner planned. I can hardly wait to meet the people that are about to change our lives, forever.
My anticipation is rising. I can’t wait to meet Joshua. I know it’s still about 30 hours away, but I can’t stop thinking about what he will look like, how big will he be, will he fit the coming home outfit that we got him today? Jess and I talked a lot over dinner about how much this one event will change our lives and what we forsee happening. So much is unpredictable, but all in all it’s going to be the most amazing thing.
We had to go to the UPS store to get some papers notarized and faxed. The girl working there asked us a bunch of adoption questions. I was a little annoyed with it, she got very personal, but mostly I was amazed at still how many people know so little about the blessings of adoption.
Jess and I have been so blessed in this process. I can’t believe how smoothly the process has been so far (knock on wood please). Jess had to lay it down with the agencies today, but other than that its all gone quite well. I’m also so amazed at the speed that we’ve been chosen. I know this is damn near unheard of, and for that I am grateful. I’m also so so grateful for all the love and support from all our friends and family, truely amazing.
Big stuff tomorrow, and I’ll put more up then.
Gotta love the way things work out. I got on the plane and Jess chickened out, she’ll meet me here in 20 hours she said. Kidding, she was a trooper on the plane and through the entire trip. Smooth flight and everything. We got in around 8pm, drove in circles a little, found the place we’re staying adn grabbed a bite to eat. While driving in circles we realized we are one town away from the hospital where the delivery will be in a few days, so after dinner we took a drive and found it. Now we’re in the house, piggy backing someone else’s highspeed wireless lan, and settling in. No cable tonight so we’re going to talk. Imagine that.
I gues it’s due to franchising and mass production of things, but other than the palm trees, Florida seems really similar to NJ. Oh, and no stupid jug handles: You want to make a left you get in the left lane!
More tomoorow, including pictures of Jess on the plane!