Nichole

My husband and I watched Juno one weekend and we LOVED it! We even added the soundtrack to our Ipods! It was so great for him to see and understand some of the emotions and love I was feeling when I went through that! We were not together then and I have always been very open (to anyone that will listen!) about my placement and now he finally gets it! It was great!!

I hadn't realized that ya'll were in Arlington until just now. We are in the area often. My husband has family outside of DFW in DeSoto and Mason has to go to the doctor at Scottish Rite now almost every two-three weeks. What a small world. I wish that Wichita falls/Burkburnett weren't so small and almost unheard of!

I had no idea how mad I was when I wrote that post! I wish I could have said it to them that way!!

After everything that I have done for Mason and Jake to know all about their brother Joshua (including meeting him) my ex's family had the nerve to tell them one weekend that Joshua was not their brother anymore and not our family. Mason is still a little bit young to really understand, but Jake knows good and well that not only Joshua, but Larry, Susan and Lydia are our family. We might not be what you would call a "home grown" family, but we are still family none the less. I knew just how to handle the situation with the boys, but not some much with the close minded rednecks that were trying to mess with my kids minds. It just goes to show you how spitefull some people can be...

HALLELUJAH 90% down....10% more to go! A goal worth striving for!!! YAYYYYY!!!!!

My mother had a hard time with my pregnancy and later with the choice that I made to place Joshua. She is just now opening up to me about how much she enjoys the pictures and stories that I share with her and we can finally talk about everything. She has even said to me recently that she is ready to meet Larry, Susan and Joshua, and when the time is right (hopefully soon) build a realtionship with them as I have in the past six and half years. I am so proud of her for being there for me and supporting me the best that she knows how, even if it isn't always what I need or want. I am ready now to support her and hope that she will find the peace and love that I have found in my relationship with them.

I want to support anyone in their choice to adopt or to place their child, I have been there ad after having the amazing experience that I have had, I will always be there and open with anyone that that has any questions or needs some advice.

I had done nothing but open the phone book and by the luck of the draw ended up calling the first adoption agency I saw. Abrazo. I was familiar with the meaning of abrazo from a few spanish classes I took in high school... hugs. It sounded great. I called Elizabeth and she spoke with me for several hours and sent me all the information I needed to to consider. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Elizabeth and Abrazo. They are the most supportive group of people you will ever meet and however they cannot make your decision for you they can make it easier to find the right family for your child and offer all the support and care you would ever want. Choosing to place your baby is hard, I know this because I have been in your shoes. If you ever need any advice or just an open ear, please feel free to contact me anytime! Good luck and God bless you!

My husbands niece, only 16 years old, had just found out (on mother's day) that she is pregnant. I wish that teens weren't given this romanticized ieal of being pregnant and being a mother. She is beside herself with excitement over this baby and having been in her shoes nine years ago when I had my son Jake, I was more worried about how I was going to finish school and work to support my new baby.I refused governmental assistance and did it all on my own. His father was never there and hadn't seen him since he was six weeks old. I never got any child support and everything I did for my son was all me. My parents helped out and still do sometimes, but most girls are not that fortunate. Guys will promis a girl the world to be with her and when a baby happens they are the first to get cold feet and run with the wind. Our county (Wichita County) was on dateline in Feb. 1998 for having the highest teem pregnancy statistics in the entire country! Someday I want to start a support group for teen mothers in my area to show them that it is not easy being pregnant and even harder to be a mom. I wasnt to show these girls that there are options and that they are really not alone!

My boys are very aware that they have a half brother. I designed a tattoo for my mother that she had done on her birthday this year that has a single star for each member of our family: one for my older brother who passed away, one for me, one for my younger brother, one for my mom and dad, one for Jacob, one for Joshua and one for Mason. My fahter keeps pictures of all three of the boys in his office at work, I of course keep pictures of all othem all over my home, and both of my boys carry their own little wallets with pictures of their brothers in them. Joshua is a huge part of all our lives. We even have birthday cake for Joshua on his birthday. One day we would like to be there for his birthday. It almost happened this year, but scheduling conflicts made it impossible. Each birth family and adoptive family is different, but we have not forgotten the fact that Jushua will always be a part of our lives and Larry and Susan are family now too.