7,300…Diapers?

So, we’ve been reading a lot of material lately on what it’s like to raise a new-born.  We’ve learned so much, and our eyes have been opened to a host of shocking realities.  Perhaps the most surprising statistic that we have come across relates to the amount of diapers we can expect to go through in the first year.  The standard rule of thumb seems to be 10 diapers a day.  A simple calculation of 10 diapers a day would look something like this:  10 x 365 = 3,650.  Oh, mercy…that’s overwhelming!

Evidently, only by God’s providence, we must now consider a new calculation…even more overwhelming.  Here’s what it looks like:  10 x 365 x 2 = 7,300.  We have to double the amount of diapers in the first year, because it appears that God has doubled the number of babies we are going to adopt!  Indeed, we are pleased to announce that we are planning to adopt twin boys that are due this November.  We are beyond excited, deeply grateful, and totally scared out of our minds.

We were first exposed to this potential lead at the beginning of July.  When we learned about it, it was very unclear to us if it was a serious possibility. The details were foggy at best, and we dismissed the idea in our minds because we heard nothing else about the lead over the next month.  All that changed two weeks ago when the adoption attorney called us and said that the birthmother was ready to seriously consider placing these children with an adoptive family.  We had about 72 hours to decide if we wanted to pursue this opportunity.  So, we prayed and sought council from those close to us, and we felt at peace with moving forward.

Over the past few days, we have had the privilege of personally meeting with both the birthmother and birthfather.  Those meetings went as well as we could have expected, and all parties seem to be on the same page.  It was very special for us to hear both the birthmother and father articulate the fact that they feel like adoption is the best way they can show their love for these children.  It is certainly no small decision for the birthparents to make this decision, and we feel honored and humbled by the opportunity to raise these children in a loving environment.

As you can imagine, the last two weeks have been a complete whirlwind for us.  In many ways the whirlwind has just begun.  Although it has been hectic and will become even more so, we are amazed by God’s provision and direction. His plan is being revealed right in front of our eyes, and it’s been a blessing to observe.

Christi was able to go with the birthmother today to her doctor’s appointment.  Both Henry Banks and Hayden James seem to be healthy at this point.  In fact, they each weighed 1lb. 14oz. Although the due date is November 30^th, we anticipate the babies being delivered at least a couple of weeks early. 

So, now the real planning begins.  We would certainly appreciate your continued prayers for us as we plan for their arrival.  We’ve created a sign-up sheet in case you might be interested in helping us tackle the 7,300 diapers.  Any takers?