GudJen

What a beautiful blessing! Welcome Lucas!

This is something I have struggled with and went into my calculations for ending fertility treatments. We knew we wanted more than one child and then we started doing the math. We expected to face some adoption age discrimination, but Drake came to us 5 months after orientation. We were really blessed. We are planning to start the adoption process again next year and it will be the last for us, although we would love to have more. Haukur is 7 years younger than I am, so age is not such a concern. I still fear that birth families will be concerned about my age, but we are leaving it to God. Drake is only 2, so we haven't faced these math issues yet. Haukur and I are from families of longevity. Haukur's grandmother turned 95 last month and still lives alone. My grandmother will be 92 on Halloween. Honestly, I do wish I was younger for Drake's sake, and for my own. I don't want to miss a minute of his life. We have such a nice mix of friends, several older mommies like me, several older daddies, some adopted, some not, but younger parents, too. We keep up with them all, and we will address any issues as they arise. But yes, this is definitely in my mind. I need to finish dinner and think about this some more, organize my thoughts better. Thanks for posting this article.

Mandi, Thank you so much for sharing. I love your writing style. So honest and straightforward. Your strength shines through!

Congratulations to the newly formed family and as always, prayers of healing to the first family.

Prayers of healing to this little one's birthmomma, and congrats to the new family! And as always AMAZING Love to the AbrazoChicks!

Wonderful news!! Congratulations! Our thoughts are with the first family, and this newly formed family!

We're with you Melissa. Although we are so tempted to jump in now, we are also beginning home renovations, including a new nursery, so we will see y'all in the spring! But we will be keeping all of the againers in our prayers, cheering on the sidelines!!!

What a BLESSED announcement! We are so overwhelmed with joy to know that Darshan and Charu and baby Krish have found each other to become a family!! We will be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers, as well as the birth family!! Baby Krish is so gorgeous!! Hope he is home so soon!!

Welcome to these new Abrazo babes. Off the forum for a couple of days, and you miss a lot! Blessings to all!

Congrats! What a lovely photo of this family! Best wishes!

Sending a prayer to MamaM that she may heal and to all birthmothers that make the courgeous decision of adoption.

What a gorgeous announcement and a lovely family! Congrats and best wishes to all!

Congrats Andrew and Tanya! We are sending prayers to you, your new son, and his birthfamily! We also wanted to add a bit of encouragement. Our son was 33 weeks, 3 1/2 lbs and spent a good deal of time in the NICU. And now he's almost 7 months, almost 18 lbs, and a very happy, healthy boy! Don't know what hospital you're at, but we will be in San Antonio next week to visit our NICU nurses and would be happy to bring you anything you may need. We'll be sending prayers that you will head home soon! Jennifer, Haukur and Drake Gudmundsson

Congratulations! We will be keeping y'all and the birthfamily in our thoughts and prayers.

Sending congrats to this new family and thoughts for the birthfamily, too. Charlie is such a cute name!! Many blessings to y'all!

Congratulations on the new arrival. We will be keeping y'all and the first family in our thoughts and prayers!

Congrats Will, Melissa & Major! Thoughts and prayers to y'all and the birthfamily.

We are so happy to hear the great news!! Congrats on your new son. Our prayers to the birthfamily.

Amen! No it isnt just you Hannah, waterworks here too!! Prayers to all who love this little guy.

Prayers and blessings to all that love this little one!

Lighting a candle to honor God's love that radiates throughout my life. What a blessing.

This is a very special place. I lit a candle today, and will be back. I find this very peaceful.

Ms. Johnson's story and other adoption "horror" stories scare the dickens out of me. I would be interested to know if these negative adoptive parents affect decisions of those contemplating adoption plans for their little ones. While my friend was working on adopting abroad, she and her husband were postponed due to negative press about an American adoptive couple that had mistreated a child. It had absolutely nothing to due with them, but the negative story was fresh in the mind. Hopefully, Ms. Johnson's daughter will be connected with a loving family soon.