Sophia's first pictures

My great friend Jackie took these pictures of Sophia and has allowed me to share some with you. I still have 29 more to choose from....but I think I have narrowed it down.

Play dough fun and so much more!

Just thought everyone would want to see this cute picture. Caleb and Mimi were playing play dough and this is what they made. Caleb is so creative and loves to make things.

Today, Caleb wanted to help give Sophie a bath.....if you notice she is screaming..that is because Caleb thought she needed water poured over her face. I also added some sweet pictures of her in the bouncy chair....she is so cute.

Our first week home!!!

Well our first week home with Sophia was so busy. I forgot that new babies are supposed to stay at home for a couple of weeks. On Monday of last week we stayed home and unpacked, our friends Debi and Sue came over to visit and see Sophia. It was a rough day, just getting used to staying up all night feeding and changing and having two kids again. On Tuesday morning we got up and took Sophia to get pictures taken at my friends Jackie home. The pictures turned out so sweet and you can all be expecting an announcement soon. Also on Tuesday we got locked out of the house, HAHAHA, that was alot of fun. Fortunately Dr. Gottsman was able to fit us in for a quick appt. for Sophie so the day was not all lost. On Wed. we went to Chickfila to play and have lunch with our friends the Myer's. The kids had alot of fun, and actually got along very well. Also on Wed. I had my first outing to Walmart with the kids by myself....it went very well. On Thursday we had play group at Corie's house, as always it was alot fun and Caleb loves to go. Brave Corie invited Caleb and several other children to stay over all day and play. Thursday night we went back to Corie's house for dinner. Friday, we went to Burger king to play with our friends Misti and Joshua. Misti and her family are getting ready to adopt a baby. It has been a neat friendship we have so much in common and we have been able to help each other with adoption stuff. Friday Evening we met Brad in Gainesville to go to a funeral. Our Brother in law Trent's Grandmother passed away. Witch ( yes that is what we called her), was a sweet woman, she and Trent were very close, we will miss her. The Picture below is Caleb and Sophie dressed up for the Funeral.

On Saturday, we got up and got ready for Clermont days. Clermont days is a festival that our very small town has every year, there is a parade, food, music and at night there are fire works. We walk to main street about noon for the parade. Caleb loved it, he waved for an hour. I think his favorite part was the marching band. Saturday, we had a Party for my dads 50th Birthday. My grandparents surprised my dad with a quick visit from VA. We had a great time, it was the first time they had seen Sophia. Sunday was spent recovering from our busy week. Really we are the busiest people. I am thinking that this week we will slow down a little.

OUR FIRST WEEK WITH SOPHIA!!!!

So sorry I have not been able to blog. We had no Internet service at the condo in Panama City. This 1st week has been amazing. Let me start off my praising our Lord and Saviour, with out Him this amazing experience would not be possible. I would also like to comment that my baby is so beautiful!!!!

When I last blogged Sophia was only 12 hours old and I was actually holding her while I typed. Sophia was born on Thursday, Sept 4. Our first night was great, I nursed her all night long and we bonded great. She almost never cried and it was a great opportunity for me to talk with our birth mother.

The next day, Friday, the lawyers assistant Leah (picture below) came to the hospital and had our birth mom sign her consent to adoption papers. It was a very precious moment. Laura and I just cried and hugged and we thanked her. Initially she wanted 2 hours with Sophia to say good bye, but when I brought her Sophia she asked us to stay with her while she said goodbye. Laura said she did not need 2 hours, she hugged Sophia and kissed her. Then told us to take care of "Our Baby". We will always remember Laura and the fact that she chose life over death, and that she chose us.

These pictures below are when Sophia was officially our baby. Laura left the hospital and we stayed another 24hours. Caleb was so amazed by Sophia and he just hugged and loved on her, he kept telling us that Sophia was telling him secrets. It was really sweet.

Saturday morning, the adoption consultant for the lawyer came to the hospital for Brad and I to sign our set of papers. It was so exciting to be leaving with our baby. We had like a 2 hour drive to Panama City from the hospital.


Marilu, Adoption Advisor
Saturday also was Caleb's 3rd. He was such a good sport. He was so excited to just have the 3 of us there with him. I don't think he cared that he did not have a big party. When we got unpacked at the hotel we went and found Caleb a birth cake. It was so much fun just having his birthday party with us, I think more in life needs to be this simple. Caleb had a few presents to open. The one he was most excited about was a hot wheels parking garage. It was so funny, when he opened the "parking garage" he screamed oh daddy it is a "poker game". I am not sure where he got that from put it was hilarious

The "poker game"
Our family picture, taken from the balcony of the condo.

On Sunday Brad took Caleb to play golf for his birthday. Brad said Caleb loved it, he even got a hole in one.

Me and Sophia sleeping.

Isn't she so cute.
Sophia and her parents!
This is at home is Georgia, she is sleeping on me.

Sophia and her Aunt Terra
Poppy, mommy and Sophia

This week has been crazy, but awesome!! How Awesome is our God!

Coming Home!!!

Erin just called me to let me know that they got the call and they will be coming home tomorrow. Yeah!!! Everyone is doing great and they are all excited to be coming home. Please pray for there safety as they are traveling tomorrow.

-Terra

Family Update!!!

Brad & Erin don't get service where they are so they asked me to post an update on how everything is going. They took Sophie to the doctor today for a check-up. She weighs 5lb 7oz which is what she weighed when they left the hospital. The doctor said that it is good that she is maintaining her weight. They are all doing great and Caleb is adjusting to having a little sister. There is a possibility that they could come home sometime next weekend or the first of next week. Please continue to pray for them as the all adjust to a growing family and for their safety when they travel back home.

Terra :-)

SOPHIA HAS ARRIVED!!!!

Today, at 12:51pm Sophia Virginia Raffray graced us with her presence. It was the most amazing experience I have ever had. To watch your child be born and to be such a part of it and yet to not have to go through all that pain. Our birth mother Laura is wonderful. Even thought she has a terrible drug addiction she truly wanted the opportunity to meet me, she really cared about who Sophia was going to. I got the opportunity to spend several hours with her before the birth. I really got to know who she is and what she wants for her children. Laura is terribly convicted about her addiction , yet it controls her. My heart longs for her know peace, that peace that passes all understanding. After spending time with her, labor really kicked in and after an epidural things got going fast. Laura allowed me to be in the room and even allowed Brad and Caleb to listen from a private waiting room. When Sophia was born Laura only pushed 3 times and then they lifted her and placed her on Laura's tummy. Laura just cried and of course so did I. Then Laura allowed me to cut the cord. That was so special, Laura's family was there with her and she could have easily allowed them to be apart. Laura told every that I was the mother, she was just the carrier. I got to nurse Sophie right away and I think she must have gotten colostrum because she latched on great and after 40 minutes!!!....she never fussed or anything . She weighed 5lbs and 11oz and was 18.75 inches long. Brad and Caleb came into the delivery room after they cleaned Laura up. I heard Caleb say " Is that my baby"...he was totally blown away. Brad just smiled and I think he was in love from the beginning. Sophie has recovered from her birth well and is just wonderful...she is with me is a separate room fro Laura. Tomorrow we will finalize the adoption and Sophia will be ours. Thanks you for all your love and support...yall are going to just love her.

Sucking her hand

Daddy and his girl

Brad falling in love
She weighed 5'11oz
Laura's sister Tonya is showing Caleb his new baby....Tonya was amazing

Our first Family picture
Tonya's mom cut the rest of the umbilical cord

Sophia is on her way!!!!

Tonya called about 3pm today and said that they are inducing Laura tonight. SO...we are packing the car and headed to FL. I will post more news when we get to FL...

Update on Sophia!

OK so I talked with Tonya a little while ago and she is taking Laura to the Doctor tomorrow at 2pm. We are hoping that they will induce her, she is trying really hard to not do anymore drugs but is really struggling. Please be praying for her and that God will protect them both. Also with these 3 new hurricanes approaching we are hoping God will get us in and out of FL quickly. Who knows, maybe tomorrow I will be letting you know that we have a baby on the way!!!

Hurricane Gustav!!!!

HURRICANE GUSTAV!!!!!!!

Hurricane Gustav brought a host of interesting activities this week for the Raffray Family. The biggest surprise was the unexpected evacuees from Louisiana. Early Sunday morning Brad's
Grandparents and Unlce Richie arrived here in Ga. We are very happy they choose to leave LA early and avoid a lot of the traffic and the storm. We still have not heard how their homes are but I am sure they are fine as the storm was not as bad as they thought it was going to be. Today, we had a cookout at Brad's parents house. We had a great time, including Caleb who found the cake that Stephanie made and hide. Yes, I turned my back and for a split second I was not sure what Caleb and Dalton were up to. But as you can see we found out when Caleb came out of the back bedroom with chocolate all over him and the carpet. He said he just had little bite. Somehow I don't believe him.
Brad and the kids went out to the pond after lunch to catch frogs. They were so cute, Caleb had a little net and was scooping everything out of the pond in hopes he would catch a frog. Dalton spent a lot of time carrying around the frog and tad pole in a large plastic jar. He was so proud of them and wanted to keep them. Alana, being our princess, was sure not to get to close to anything dirty. Actually she and I took a long nap on the couch together watching "scoliboo" or scooby do ( i like the way she says it).




Also today Caleb and Aunt Brandy picked Muscadine grapes in Stephanie's back yard. Granny loves those grapes and on Sunday had a very large plat of nothing but muscadines. All though I don't have any pictures the kids also sang Karaoke on the porch and played Frisbee. We had a great Hurricane Party!!!!