09/23/12
  At a later date, I will explain how we got to the point we are with our adoption. For now, I am just going to give a quick update on how Willow is doing. I have very limited internet at the hospital and am not actually allowed to use my phone in the NICU. So.. Willow was born 9/17 at 4:14 am in Mission Viejo,CA. She was 5.3 lbs and 18 inches long. Her gestational age was 38 weeks but they're estimating her to be actually younger, about 36 weeks. Her birthmother tested positive for a cocktail of drugs and Willow did also. The adoptive family lined up chose to back out and we were called. We accepted and took off to CA. When we arrived, Willow was 4.13lbs, not eating well, and had a NG tube for feeding. She is being weaned with methadone to help her transition from the drugs that were in her system. The weaning process could be anywhere from 2 weeks to months depending on how she tolerates the process. Willow is progressively doing better. Saturday she started to eat her whole feedings on her own. She is rated very low on the drug withdrawal scale. She has been scoring around a 3-6 on a scale from 0 (best) to 20 (worst) with the highest rating she's had being an 11. On Sunday evening they removed her feeding tube and they began the weaning process since she's been stable at the low dose of methadone they started her on. She has been eating better than expected, they require her to eat a minimum of 37cc's every 3 hours amd she's been doing anywhere from 45-60. She has tolerated the weaned amt of methadone very well and is staying around a 3 on her withdrawal scoring. She's slowly gaining weight and is now weighing in at a whopping 5 pounds! She is very cute, with large dimples and very large eyes. We are hoping that as she continues to grow.. she grows into her eyes. ;)
Her doctors and nurses here at the Childrens Hospital of Orange County NICU have been very good and are willing to possibly send us home on the methadone. That will allow us to continue the weaning process at home rather than stay in CA for the next month. They are still working on the details and the laws that govern these things.
As for the legal side, all papers have been signed and Willow is officially ours. At a later time, I will explain the miracle that must have taken place to get the mess that was happening to having the papers signed in such a small amount of time.
Thank you all for the prayers on our behalf!