Our Decision to Adopt
November 2nd, 2009 by Andrea
As you may or may not know my boys were both preemies. During my first pregnancy I devloped high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia. Because of complications from that, Ethan was delivered at 32 weeks in 2002. The Dr’s said with the next baby I only had a small chance of delivering early. When I got pregnant again in 2004 I was so excited. I felt like I had failed my son during my first pregnancy and I was determined to have a better pregnancy and delivery with the next baby. During the end of the first trimester with Trenton I again developed high blood pressure. Because of my blood pressure I was put on strict bedrest and was in and out of the hospital for much of the second trimester. Around 25 weeks Trenton started showing signs of Intra Uterine Growth Retardation. I was having ultrasounds twice weekly to monitor his growth. At 27 weeks it was determined that he was in fact not growing and it was decided by my Dr. that I needed to deliver within 24 hours or he may die. So at 27 weeks and 2 days gestation I gave birth to Trenton. He weighed 1 lb. and 11 ounces at birth and was 12 inches long. Again my body had failed my child and I felt like such a failure as a mother.
Since Trenton was born in 2004 I have longed to add another member to our family. I just don’t feel like we are “done” or that our family is complete. I really want a little girl and have wanted one since I was a child myself. So, since my body cannot carry babies to term I am unable to have another child I have decided to adopt a baby. I have been doing a lot of research about adoption and am sad to learn that to adopt within the United States costs close to 20 thousand dollars. I have added a chip-in widget to my sidebar in hopes that I might raise some money to offset the costs of the adoption. I know for many folks money is tight so I am not expecting a lot from it. However, I wanted to let my readers know why it is there and tell you in advance THANK YOU if you decide to chip in. My boys both want a baby brother or sister and I know that God will bless us in the way that he sees fit.
On November 17th I will be posting the boys’ birth stories in their honor for Bloggers Unite.
Have a blessed week!
~Andrea
ETA: At my husband’s request I removed the chip-in widget. He wasn’t comfortable with me having it on my blog.
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 PM
awwww girl I’m so happy for you!!!
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November 3rd, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Adoption is wonderful! I have three little sisters from China–and they are such a blessing!
I can’t wait to share this journey with you!
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November 3rd, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Have you checked in the costs of adopting from say Juarez Mexico, or from another country? It may in fact be less expensive, but not necessarily any shorter of a wait period.
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November 3rd, 2009 at 4:42 PM
I didn’t feel like my family was complete either, after three. So, we decided to have one more child. We now have four, three of them are older (21, 16, and 10), and now our toddler (2), and we do feel complete. You really do just ‘know.’ I believe things will work out as they are meant to. Hugs to you.
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November 8th, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Blessing to you and your beautiful babies.
HOPE all your dreams come true and there is a baby out there for you. the adoption road can be a difficult one and if there is one thing I can say Is tell everyone you know your wanting to adopt. Spread the word and remind them. You never know where your baby might come from.
There are 3 children our our extended family that are adopted, and 1 in my immediate
1 the adopted mother worked in a hospital and her friend at clinic. She was talking to a birth mother who spoke she was still searching for the right parents to adopt her baby This is how they were connected
my niece at 16 was looking to adopt out her baby. She called and ask if I knew anyone. Just so happend that my boy friend at the time cousins were trying to adopt through Catholic charities with no luck. they adopted this child.
My best friend tried to adopt through China and Russia for over 6 yrs spent $80,000 trying and never was placed with a baby. They gave up just last year. Not 6months later, this past Jan. I got a call that my niece was looking for birth parents, again. The baby was born this past Sept and placed with my friend.
I myself adopted my dd. She’s biologically my niece and they wished to keep her in the family and I gratefully excepted the responsibility.
The point to my stories is a lot of times its not where you go but who you know. So blogging too is a great way to spread the word. On forums put it in your signature every where you post. Spread the word through family, friends and strangers.
Blessings to you HOPE your Dreams and wishes come true.
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November 11th, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Good luck in your quest. I have had neices and nephews adopted out of my family (open adoptions) and hope to one day adopt a child of my own.
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