the Surprise Additions!

Welcome back to the Hicks Family blog! A LOT has happened since my last post...Its hard to go back and read those last posts.  2013 ended with the heartbreak of losing our Ruthie, but the pure joy of finding sweet Sara.  Quick recap on Sara's journey to us.  

We saw Sara on our agency's Waiting Child list and just knew she was meant for us.  She was placed on the list with possible special needs of Epilepsy and/or Cerebral Palsy.  She was quite delayed and at 11 months was not sitting up on her own yet, with the addition of some "odd" movements and sounds we didn't know what prognosis Sara would be given, we just knew she was ours. Fast forward and Sara came home to us April 15, 2014 at 16 months old.  Barely sitting up and unresponsive to sound she had many hurdles to overcome.  We started in with one doctor appt. after another trying to pin point what might be going on with this tiny beautiful girl.  She fiercely attached to us right away unlike our experience with Hana; it was as if she needed us as much as we needed her.  

July came and our Sara began to "wake up".  She began responding to sound, her spastic movements were decreasing, she was pulling up on her elbows and beginning the army crawl.  Every day brought improvement and this girl defied every possible diagnosis she was faced with.  No epilepsy, no cerebral palsy, no hearing loss, no vision problems.  The final diagnosis?  It is hard to write.  Neglect. Too long on her back with too little attention and interaction, she created a world for herself hiding in self preservation.  As she began to trust us and physically interact with us, she slowly came out from her hiding place.  It makes me cry thinking about it now.  She is our miracle, our gift.  She gave us something to fight for when we felt like giving up. She gave us hope everyday and more joy than I thought possible.  The skies the limit for her!  She is 23 months now, almost walking and we just got our first word, "Momma". Just perfect.  

This post was titled Surprise Additions so I should really get to the Big News huh?  On Nov. 4th I was once again scrolling through photos of waiting children...it's kinda an addiction :)  We were not looking to adopt anytime soon but when my eyes set on one sweet little boy, I just knew. Mommas know. He has some special needs that are on the surface very overwhelming, but we know what that is like already right?  As overjoyed as I was I knew Doug might not feel the same gushing feelings. They say timing is everything.  Doug was leaving for a mission trip to Chile for 10 days on Nov. 6th, so I had no choice...I sat him down the night before he left and introduced him to his son. Ha! No, fireworks did not light the sky, no hallmark movie moment occurred,  But bless my husband, he committed to praying over this sweet one while he was away.  

As me and the girls hung at home I prayed and prayed that Doug would receive that peace and confidence from the Lord.  I tried to not pester him about it from 8000 miles away....I may have sent a few pictures, a few websites for him to peruse in his spare time, I may have put his file on hold with the agency... The story Doug tells is beautiful. He recounts going to sleep Wed night the 12th thinking "no" this is not my son, and then miraculously waking up the morning of the 13th knowing "YES" this is your chosen son!  He tells me He knows only the Lord can change a heart like that :) Yep, I married well. So that afternoon we were sending in documents to match his file with us and diving into the great adoption paperwork chase once again!

But the title is plural!   As we started paperwork my eyes kept looking back at a second little face. He was Sara's age and had her same diagnosis, Developmental Delay.  Not walking, no speech but perfect in every other way.  And there he sat on the special needs list, day after day, no family stepped forward. We asked our agency what they thought of these two boys together, their ages, medical needs etc. They were very encouraging and we once again got on our knees asking if this was His will for our family.  

You can guess what the leading was...We are so very very thrilled to announce that we are adopting TWO BOYS from China, ages 2.5 and 23 months!!  We are evening out the playing field in the Hicks house...Doug is pretty excited about some new team members :) A crazy wonderful Christmas gift for us all.  Hana is super excited to have two little  brothers and Sara will get a new twin :)

Lest you feel the need to tell us we are crazy for doubling the amount of children in our house, or you feel the need to comment on the crazy amount of money it will take to make this happen, or you worry that we are at risk of neglecting the two girls we are blessed with already (Yes, all comments we have heard in one short month) please know that we are not entering this adventure blind,  We know 4 kids is a lot of kids, we know adoption cost a lot and we don't have the money, and we absolutely know this will affect Hana and Sara.  BUT, our God is BIGGER.  He called us, so He will equip us.  It will be crazy wonderful chaos in the Hicks house.  The money will come in crazy wonderful and I'm sure surprising ways. And our girls will be crazy, wonderfully blessed by the beautiful journey of giving two deserving boys a forever family.  We have nothing to lose, and everything to gain!  

So let the adventure begin!  We invite you all to join us!  To God be All the Glory!