Profile Book

We had to work very hard to create our profile book. This is what is shown to potential birth mothers that we are interested in! Most birth moms make their decision quickly and solely on these books.

http://app.picaboo.com/WebView/Project.aspx?clientID=260c903ddaee0a372266ce608f14e3d2&version=397697&siteID=ViaPreview

Heavy Hearts

My heart is hurting. It is hard being patient. It is hard not getting frustrated.  It has been over a month since we have heard a peep from our adoption agency.  No profiles have been shown, no phone calls made. I am having a difficult time just sitting back and waiting for something to happen. There has been absolutely no movement at all. People keep asking me “have you heard anything?  What’s going on?”  I am not sure what to say.  Ethan asked Santa for his “baby sister” for Christmas. How do I explain to him that is not a possibility? He threw coins in the wishing well everyday while we were on vacation, and every day he told me he was wishing for his “baby sister.” It breaks my heart.  I know it is the season to be merry, and I am. I feel extremely blessed for the amazing family I have, but it is difficult to not feel like there is a void in our lives.  In January it will be one year since we submitted our application for adoption. I honestly thought we would have a baby by now. It is hard not to be disappointed. I am going to try and make a conscious decision to focus on the positives for the rest of the year and pray that things will fall into place.  Love to you all.

Emotional and Financial Costs

When you think about adoption you envision families being completed, birthmothers making selfless decisions for the baby they love, you think of smiles and happiness, and baby cuddles.

Unfortunately, until you are in the mist of the process, you don’t think of money.  The cost of adopting is like adoption’s dirty little secret.

We have had some disheartening conversations with our adoption agency recently.  Long story short, we were informed there are no local babies.  That Oregon has some sort of “stigma” about adoption.  That the only agencies that are going to survive are the ones like in Utah, which bring the mothers to them, giving them housing and medical care.   

These agencies are nearly double the cost of using a local agency because as the adoptive parents you are picking up the tab for that housing and medical care.

Essentially we are being told, if we want a baby, that is route we are going to have to take.  No mind given to the thousands of dollars we have already spent (which of course is nonrefundable.)  Now we are talking about spending nearly double what we had anticipated spending.

I know it is child’s life we are talking about and how can you put a price tag on the process? Unfortunately you can, and depending on what scenario you want the price goes exponentially up. And unfortunately what comes with that is guilt ~ guilt about taking that money away from your current family and guilt about potentially going into debt. 

Many of you have asked for updates. I wish I had more to give.  We have submitted paperwork and are going to be working with one of those Utah agencies as well.  I am praying for strength, fortitude, and guidance with our decisions.  It has been incredibly hard so far.

Thanks for the love and support ~ as always.