William's first doctor's appointment

I love the perspective of this picture. Darren's hand looks like it is bigger than the baby and the size of the bottle looks miniscule in his hand! This was taken after we got home from his doctor's appointment this afternoon.

Today William is one week old. We celebrated his first seven days of life by going to his week old check up. As we suspected, William is in excellent health! As is quite normal he has lost a little bit of weight and is down from 6 pounds 9 ounces to a very trim 6 pounds. He is also only 18 1/2 inches long, not the 19 inches they recorded in the hospital. It seems he is not only losing weight but shrinking, also! The nurse asked that we make a follow up appointment in a week to make sure he is gaining weight. The way he is eating now I don't think that will be an issue!

As I mentioned earlier last week, Jenny was supposed to accompany us to this appointment. We arrived at the doctor's office a little early to begin filling out paperwork and she arrived shortly thereafter. I knew this would be difficult for her so we had William in his stroller with the sunvisors closed and a blanket over it. Jenny came over and set on the opposite side of the small room facing me and with a tired smile began making small talk asking me how I was doing. Everytime we meet with her she is concerned with how we are doing...am I enjoying myself, getting rest, seeing any of the sites. She has demonstrated her unselfishness throughout this whole process.

While she and I were talking, Darren was up at the reception desk working out the insurance and confirming whether or not Jenny really had to be there. The nurse said it was not necessary and Jenny was relieved to be able to leave. We walked her out to the lobby and told her thank you and how very blessed we were to be chosen by her and she said she knew she made the right decision in choosing our family. I hugged her goodbye and told her that we will forever share a special bond and will meet again someday and she asked if we would send letters and pictures to her occasionally. Which, of course I am so happy to do

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Jenny said that her sister had bought something for the baby, so Darren walked me into the doctor's office and then went to wait for Dawn to come back with the gift. When he went out Jenny was crying. I know I cannot fully comprehend her pain, but I have a very real sense of what she is going through and my heart is broken. Dawn again reassured us that this was the right decision for Jenny and that they were truly happy with their choice. She gave Darren the gifts, a little outfit and a security blanket and then they left.

Our contact with Jenny is now complete. Though we have known Jenny for only a few short days, we now share a common love for a little boy that will essentially join our families together forever; her family will now be an extension of mine. Maybe not now, but eventually. And we have come to love her and her family and look forward to sharing William's progress with her now and in the future. I hope she will be proud.