November is National Adoption Month! It’s the month that made me a Mom and my husband a Dad!
Our story is not an unfamiliar one to many adoptive parents. We suffered through 18 years of pain, heartache and loss. The pain of losing multiple pregnancies is one I can’t describe. Our fertility struggles tore us apart and brought us closer. I had problems getting pregnant and when I did, I couldn’t sustain the pregnancy. Together we grieved each loss. In November, 2005 we made the decision that changed our lives. We started classes to become Foster Parents and we chose to continue the classes to join a Concurrent Planning program. All in all, we spent about 11 months in classes and getting our home approved. Our final approval was in October, 2006. We waited on pins and needs for ‘the call’. Our first call was for two children – a boy and a girl. We said Yes! But the children disappeared with their parents to another state before Child Protective Services picked them up. The next call was for a brand new baby boy – just born. Yes! Oh wait, he has an Aunt who is going to take him, sorry.
In my heart I KNEW it would happen with the right child, but my brain was tired and there were a lot of tears. We were at work when we got ‘the call’. There was a baby boy, barely 12 hours old. We were told his background and birth story and we said YES! Neither of us really slept that night knowing that tomorrow was the day and praying that everything would work out the right way.
We arrived at the hospital to pick him up and were ushered to a waiting room. A few minutes later, a nurse came out of the nursery and asked for our ID’s. I searched frantically through my purse for mine. All sorts of thoughts went through my head – we were going to be turned away and lose him if I couldn’t find it, we would never be parents! But then, I found it! She confirmed that we were the people they expected and we were taken into the newborn nursery. There he was. We immediately fell in love with the tiny, beautiful, sweet baby boy that we were going to be taking home.
I was shaking as I dressed him to in a sleeper. My husband and I were both shaking in the elevator as we rode down to the parking garage. We placed him in the back seat of our car and headed home.
Our first visitors were my Dad and his wife who were so happy to see the baby. Next was my husband’s Mom and Dad. I saw her shaking while holding the baby.
We were all so emotionally overwhelmed. Over the next couple days there were lots of phone calls, emails and visits. We were such proud parents. But in the back of our minds we knew that it may not last. He was ours, but just for now.
Four days after bringing him home, we had a harsh reality check. It was his first visit with his birth mother. She was young and she made me sad. We also met the foster family where his birth sisters were living. These visits were weekly with both the birth mother and birth father.
They were so HARD. For 6 days he belonged to us and every 7th day we had to share him. It was frightening. We shared the pain with the other foster family and that did help to relieve some of the fear. The birth parents were young and struggling with many things in their lives. Neither of them were ready to be parents to three children under 4 years old.
Seven months later, the painful visits with the birth parents were stopped. Neither of them were doing well. They had both regressed to behaviors that were unsuitable for children. The workers moved for permanency and we endured a few court dates. Eventually, birth mom and birth dad both voluntarily terminated their rights to all three kids. We were officially on the road to adoption!
We shared our adoption day with our family and the girls were adopted at the same time. We were all happy to share the day with one another. We adopted Andrew in December of 2007. He was 13 months old. And he was OURS. We were officially Mommy and Daddy. We were a family.
Our story doesn’t end here. We knew that there would be another child coming into our lives. I will share his story with you this month as well.
Contact Robyn at Robyn@theneighborhoodmoms.com
- Easy, Southern Bread Pudding - November 5, 2019
- Easy Scarecrow Craft - September 24, 2019
- Leaf Rubbing Fairies Craft - September 18, 2019
An incredibly happy ending – thank you for sharing your story! You have a beautiful family. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this journey. I can’t imagine how nerve-wracking adoption is, but I am so glad everything worked out with the little boy who was created just for you. Love the photos as well!
What an awesome story!!! I am so glad that everything worked out with Andrew! Do you see the girls still?
We do! Not as often as we should but we get together with them a couple times a year.
I love a happy ending! I can only imagine all of the emotion during that time, but the strongest of those is love. Congratulations to your happy family.
I loved reading your story! I would like to adopt one day, but an older child. We are waiting until my daughter is a little bit older, we would want her to be older than the child we adopt.
Kim, I think that’s a great plan! We learned the first time we went through classes to become foster parents that not upsetting birth order in your family is the best idea when bringing in foster or adoptive children.
I am thankful that there are people who take in children who need love and a family. Love is what makes a family.
Lynda, you are so right that Love is what makes a family!
Such a beautiful story. My mother in law went through the same thing as you and had several multiple pregnancies. And then finally they thought about adoption and adopted my husband!!!
Thank you for sharing.
*lost multiple pregnancies is what I meant to say above. Sorry.
I’m sorry you and your husband endured so much pain. But you have a beautiful story and a handsome boy! !
I honestly got teary eyed at reading your story Robyn. I loved it! I can’t wait to hear more. Such a blessing to have children!
What a lucky little boy to be blessed with such loving parents! I’m sorry for your fertility issues. I went through years of treatments and it really is such a long, heartbreaking road. I’m so happy that yours ended with such beautiful miracles!
What a beautiful family story you have. Our two girls are adopted, as well.
I love this story, what a big heart you and your husband have. I still remember the day my aunt and uncle got the call that they were parents and I have very vivid memories of rocking my baby nephew for hours. Adoption is such a beautiful gift!
What a beautiful story. I have several friends who I have recently discovered were adopted and I think that is amazing. They are so grateful and loving to their parents – its incredible. I would love to adopt a child as I am unable to have any more.
In my heart, I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. So glad that you found your son. Beautiful story!
What a beautiful story! You brought tears to my eyes, both as you shared the pain and the final joyful answer to many years of prayers. You are blessed and your children are as well! One of my cousins was given up for adoption at birth because my aunt knew she could not provide him with the stability he needed. No one in the family ever knew of her pregnancy or decision to place him with a family that wanted to adopt. We met him years ago and he was so grateful and could not stop thanking her for the beautiful git he gave him when she made that choice. They now see each other regularly and have a wonderful relationship and my aunt also enjoys a real friendship with his adoptive family.
What a heartwarming story. We struggled for many years to have a child and had pretty much given up. I found out I was pregnant with my daughter a few months before my 40th birthday 🙂
Sorry for all your struggles but I am so happy for your ending. It sounds like he just needed a good home from the start and will forever be happy with you all. Glad to read his sisters were adopted too. Are they able to stay in contact with him? I wasn’t sure how something like that worked.
Yes! We see the girls at least a couple times a year. They will be at our big birthday bash for both boys next weekend.
What a beautiful story. Your son is blessed to be in a family surrounded with so much love. Thank you for sharing your heart.
I’m glad he found his forever home with you. I think I would have been a nervous wreck for a while though!
I love your beautiful story! Every time I read it, I get chills and know you have two very lucky little boys to have such loving parents!
So happy to hear your beautiful story. My niece is going through a similar process with her foster children and I am hoping it turns out just like yours did.
I loved reading this, so glad you had a happy ending. I cant wait to hear the other story you have to share
Do they are brothers n sisters? I’m so happy you have each other and that you have shared your struggles. It gives hope to others in there journey..
Andrew sees his biological sisters a few times a year still. John is not his bio brother.
Thanks Missy 🙂
Love this story! You are all so blessed and have a beautiful family!
I still love reading and hearing this story. He is an amazing young man and you are an amazing mama! ❤️❤️❤️