jnholzem

I have a couple that I referred a few days ago too, but they will not be homestudy ready for a while. I think they are still waiting for approval to even get on the forum? Not 100% sure about that though.

What a beautiful story and a beautiful beginning to a wonderful life precious Taylor has ahead of her! Congratulations to Caroline and Benji and the big sis and brother. Prayers to her loving birthmother as well. Nichole and Joe

Only 1 candle burning. Lets light them up folks!!!

Linda, thank u so much. She sure is our little angel. Amy, we do the same thing...we always bring up Abrazo. Word of mouth is better than anything you can read in a magazine, online or whatever. Actually speaking to somebody about their experience means far more.

Linda, I did not see the recent Dateline episode but I have seen this on another Primetime a few years ago. It is just really sad that those poor families put themselves in that predicament, because they put their hearts and their finances on the line. When they could have had the backing and protection of the right agency all along. I think that maybe some families are so desperate for a child that they will just jump into something without thinking or researching it. I wonder if the ap's had any doubts along the way that they were about to be duped? Anyway, the experience that Abrazo has and what they do for their birthparents and adoptive parents cannot be measured in dollars in my opinion. Nichole

Wow, a very interesting and thought-provoking topic here and some excellent responses. I do have to agree that I have heard from agencies in other states do have separate costs for adoption of an anglo child versus a child of any other race...and these were CHRISTIAN based agencies. It appalled me and I do not feel it helps people as an incentive to adopt a child of a race they wouldn't normally be comfortable adopting just because it's more cost-efficient to them. It's ridiculous to think...'well I can only afford this much to spend on the adoption costs so I guess I will adopt a child of this race or ethnicity'. But the sad thing is that it probably does go on somewhere in someone's mind because why else would these agencies still be placing children? I know people in the Abrazo community and family are not so shallow and narrow-minded but the world as a whole can be sometimes. I have a question relating to inappropriate questions that children may ask relating to fees of adoption. My 8 yr old niece asked me one day 'how much did it cost to 'buy' Delaney?'. YIKES!??? I told her that her cousin was not 'bought' but rather that she was 'adopted' by us and left it at that. I didn't think I needed to go into further detail at that time. Her mother was horrified. Just curious what any of you would have answered to that question?

Also lighting a candle for Patti & Steve and all the other wonderful PIW's. 26 candles burning.

CONGRATULATIONS to both of the newest forever families!!! What an exciting day!! May God bless you, your children, and the birthfamilies. Nichole

What a nice story! I now look back at our 4 IVF attempts with a different light too in that if we hadn't gone through what we had, we would never have known this special little gift from above in Delaney. Thank you for sharing your story. Your daughter is just adorable! Nichole

Congrats to Pete & Hallye too!! What a beautiful baby boy and I just love the name!! Enjoy your precious new son!! Joe and Nichole

Thank you all so very much. We are truly head over heels in love with this amazing gift from God. We are just as much in love with her incredible birthmother and feel so lucky to have her in Delaney's life. We are going through a roller coaster of emotions these past 5 days...joyful, sad, endearing and inspiring. We thank Abrazo for making this possible for us and we'd also like to thank our Abrazo friends who have become like family to us as well. The journey is just beginning now!! Take care everyone...gotta go change a diaper now. Love, Nichole & Joe

Congrats to the new joyful, beautiful family!! What a great picture too!! Love it! Nichole

Elizabeth, good advice! I personally took a lot of good advice away from the orientation as all the Abrazochicks have a great eye for the profiles. And something, in each of our eyes, looks different to each one of us. Kygirl and Cathy, we used one picture of us at our wedding in our profile...but it was also of us holding our neices and nephews so it included a 'kid-shot' if u will. We also included 1 picture (I believe) of our dogs even though our dogs are a huge part of our lives. We wanted to keep the main focus on us and to try to show how much a child would enrich the lives we are already living. My other suggestion would be to show it to a friend and get their advice if you feel comfortable with that. Best of luck with it, it sure sounds like you guys will have a huge jump-ahead for orientation already! Nichole

Congrats Kurt and Sherry!!! Katherine Adeline is a beautiful, lucky little girl.

CONGRATS Cathy & Brian!! Orientation is a wonderful time and you will learn soooo much!! Nichole I caught it tonight We're invited. . .we're invited So excited. . .so excited Cathy and Brian too

Great to hear that things are moving along for you guys Cathy~! My suggestion would be to get started on the FBI clearance stuff ASAP. It took me about 3 weeks to get back thankfully but they say that sometimes it can take up to 10 weeks. Best of luck & please let me know if you have any questions about that because it went smoothly for us. Nichole I did it. I left Angela a message this afternoon Cathy

Good to hear it Cathy (no pun intended). Thanks, Nichole I finally am. Three days without a voice during our busy season at work is a challenge! Cathy

Hi Cathy, Yes I would call Angela about that question. She's the one who keeps your file in order for the most part. Hope you're feeling better! Nichole

Congratulations to both the new families of baby boys!! How wonderful!! Nichole & Joe

Wow!! CONGRATULATIONS Cornish family!! What a wonderful new addition to your family! Many prayers being sent your way for your new baby Brennan and the amazingly strong birthfamily that has so lovingly chosen the blessing that is open adoption. Nichole and Joe

Jenny, I agree with the others in that it's very touching that you shared such an emotional story. Thank you for that. I sure had my share of experience with the needles during our 4 rounds of IVF too, but for me the worst was the IV that they put in your hand when did the egg retrievals!! They make sure you have a completely empty stomach so you're a little dehyrdrated too...go figure they have a hard time finding a vein. haha Anyway, for me I am at a point now where I can at least say i'm glad that I tried it because it made my husband and I sooooo deeply close and persistent on our pursuit for a family. And now we're diving in full force with adoption and could not be happier about our decision. I wish you the best in your journey for #2. Nichole

Wow, I truly cannot believe that they are transplanting uteruses. That, to me, just seems so risky. And after all that money and the woman having her heart set on this being the one treatment that may actually resolve her infertility, it may still not result in a pregnancy. I really believe it must be a personal choice of yours and your spouse's decision when you say enough is enough. For us, it really never came down to whether or not we were 'against' adoption at all, but we really never thought infertility treatments would NOT work. We were somehow blinded by the hope that this next treatment might just be it. After all was said and done we endured many cycles of Clomid, laparoscopy x 1, and then 4 heart-breaking rounds of IVF. The last straw for us was when the physician told us that maybe if I had my tubes removed the next IVF could possibly work (I have severely blocked tubes, so they thought that maybe some retained blood or fluid from my cycle was spilling into the uterus every month in turn flushing out any embryos that may be in there). I just finally said NO way! I'm just not going to have my tubes removed, especially since there still is such an IF factor that it might not work again. We just couldn't do it. I came to the decision of adoption sooner than my husband Joe. But now we are, and have been, both on board for quite some time now and it's finally feeling like we've got a light at the end of a very long tunnel. I certainly can relate to Lauren & Chuck's experience and hurdles. Much love and positive baby mojo!!! Nichole

Thanks Char for the welcome! Unfortunately my house got hit hard with the flu bug the last few weeks. Ugh. But I basically have my application complete, I just need to take some pictures of bedrooms & then it will be on its way. We had our fingerprinting done last week as well. I heard that takes quite a while through the FBI. I am also working hard on getting our stuff done for the homestudy. We are hoping to be able to attend the March/April orientation!! Well have a great day & look forward to chatting with you all more. Nichole