Stork Central

Abrazo is blest to have several special cases entrusted to our care for which we need help in finding appropriate families. If you or someone you know might be interested in any of these opportunities, please contact Angela Martinez at 210/342-5683 (Note: completed/current homestudies are required for disclosure of further case detail.) -------------- The Lord works in mysterious ways. This week, we received an email from a woman in Israel, regarding her family members in Houston, who are struggling to make plans for a baby who was very much wanted, but born with special needs for which they cannot provide; we assured them of our commitment to help, and now we are seeking a very special family for a two-month-old Anglo baby boy with Apert Syndrome. The birthfamily would like him to be with a loving, caring family (with kids or without) who are willing to be open, and if possible, they prefer an adoptive family of Jewish descent. This case is likely to qualify for state adoption subsidy. -------------- A San Antonio birthmom of Cuban/African-American descent is seeking a wonderful home for her coming child, a baby boy due 8/28/06. The birthfather is Hispanic, and is in agreement with the adoption plan. They would prefer an interracial couple OR an adoptive family with a biracial child. --------------- Good things come in small pacakages! Abrazo is in need of loving parents for a tiny baby girl, born 7/23/06, at 24 weeks gestation, weighing just 1 lb., 12 oz. She is Hispanic and her birthmother, who is Spanish-speaking, has already relinquished parental rights. Medicaid coverage is pending; termination of birthfather's rights is being sought through the courts since the conception occurred as a result of sexual assault. The baby did have an IVH (gr4) but is holding her own; the hospital would like an adoptive family to be there in the NICU with her providing TLC as soon as possible. --------------

On Valentine's Day this year, a couple who'd initially pursued international adoption sent their inquiry to Abrazo, on their homestudy worker's recommendation and in hopes of expediting their adoption dreams. They attended orientation the next month, becoming part of the Fools Crush In (3/06). Shortly thereafter, they began speaking with prospective birthparents, and fell in love with them all, but none of the birthparents they spoke with had gotten their paperwork back into the agency. This couple, however, did not lose hope. They held those missing moms in their hearts and kept them in their prayers, and just last week, their faith was rewarded, as they suddenly received word that one of those women had just submitted her paperwork and wanted to match with them! Eight days later, they were in an Amarillo hospital embracing their new son and his very-pleased birthmom, and today, they are officially PARENTS, no fooling! Congratulations and loving wishes go out to this much-loved little boy and the three parents who've joined forces to make "happily-ever-after" his.

And then again, why re-invent the wheel? Christianity Today is offering a special study guide to be used in churches and small groups, called Touched By Adoption. Forty-two pages long, the download can be purchased for $7.95 and then used to make up to 1000 copies for church use. The contents of "Touched By Adoption" include: OVERVIEW Are you beginning to wonder if God wants you to adopt a child? Are you looking for helpful resources as you think through how your family will be affected? This guide has great stories and information for anyone considering adoption as well as encouragement for those who already know its joys and challenges. Introduction: Moved by the Call Whether it’s the drama, the emotions, or the similarity to the way God works, something about adoption moves me more than anything else. by Caryn Rivadeneira Leader’s Guide How to use “Touched by Adoption” for a group study. A Dream Fulfilled I never imagined my miracle would come all the way from Guatemala. by Melissa Montana Adopting Emily My self-righteous plans collided sharply with God’s. by Amy Laura Hall From Haiti with Love The unexpected way three boys transformed our hearts and our home forever. by Karen Kingsbury What Do You Want for Christmas? The difference between God’s hands and his heart. by Elisa Morgan Our Surprise Family It’s not what I’d originally imagined—but I wouldn’t have it any other way! by Brenda B. Covert The International Adoption Option Adopting a child from another country can be a powerful way to share God’s love. And it’s easier than you think. by Suzanne Woods Fisher The Many Miracles of Adoption For Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, international adoption not only changed the size of their family—it changed the size of their hearts. by Carla Barnhill We Are Family My daughter and I were once worlds apart, but God brought us together. by Barbara A. Stacy 'A Conspicuous Family’ The Marcelos represent three races in four people—and praise God for it. by Lisa Ann Cockrel ‘My Parents Don’t Get Adoption’ A look at adoption from an adopted child’s perspective. by Jim Burns ‘I Want to Know More about My Adoption’ How to talk to your kids about their birth family. by Jim Burns Additional Resources A list of agencies and books for more information.

It takes an average of nine months to become parents the old-fashioned way, and that's because Mother Nature, in her wisdom, knows it takes just about that long to prepare for all the enormous changes in life that will come along with the baby. Sometimes parents are in a hurry to get there sooner, sometimes babies are, but things still have a way of happening in the fullness of time and often when we least expect them. One special couple can attest to this (sleep-deprived though they may be at this particular moment, having driven all night in order to get to Texas without delay!) After all, it was just nine months ago that they became graduates of our Bobbing for Squirrels orientation weekend of 10/06. They'd gotten their homestudy done and talked with several birthmoms since then, but nothing seemed to "click" and like anyone, they wondered why? and pondered when? But the answer to that question is now amazingly clear, as they lovingly admire their beautiful, three-day-old, 5 lb., 8 oz. baby girl! Good things do come to those who wait, and we're very thankful that they did! Blessings upon this new little angel, the birthmom and birthgrandmother who ensured her safe arrival into the world, and the overjoyed new mommy and daddy who treasure each of them so!

As we post this announcement, our latest orientation group is slowly drawing to the close of their day, and we're proud to report that they're off and running! as the eleventh couple of that group has just taken placement of their second Abrazobabe, thanks to their daughters' loving birthparents, and we just know that more baby announcements are soon to follow for our newest graduates, And Then... There Were Ten! (7/06), because "if you build it, they will come!" Not if, but when!! Congratulations, all. Surely God is good, and His loving kindness endures from generation to generation.

Indeed... three local canines are proud to announce that their owners now have a new distraction to dote on (and hopefully, someone else to dress in those baby clothes!!) This terrific trio faithfully loved on their People throughout the travails of infertility and painful pregnancy losses, then stayed home (behaving nicely) while their couple attended our 3/06 orientation weekend, Fools Crush In. The three patient pooches then kept their owners faithfully entertained during their brief match with just the right birthmom, a conscientious parent who made the ultimate loving choice for the future of her baby boy, born just days ago. The thankful adoptive couple has chosen to keep the name she chose for their son, knowing how well it fits both them all, and with great joy, they are heading home, to introduce the little fellow to his new family members (those with four legs as well as those with two!) and to begin what we know is a divinely-inspired life together. Congratulations, all! (And "woof!" to all others.)

For anyone out there who doesn't really understand what infertility is all about, or perhaps for birthmoms who wish to better understand an adoptive couple's infertility treatment experience without asking too many direct questions, here's an excellent resource posted elsewhere on the Forum: Fertility 101. And for those who may be secretly wondering why anybody tries to adopt, jump right in with questions OR answers! Feel free!

Just wanted to share some useful "Infertility 101" type information from a reliable source, and launch a discussion of pros & cons, from the "been-there, done-that" crowd. From your personal perspective: what are the advantages and disadvantages of fertility treatment vs. adoption, for the benefit of those newbies out there who may still be in the early stages of trying to decide which way to go?

From today's New York Times (yes, THAT NY Times, for all you Bushies out there!!!) comes this excellent article about the ethical questions related to conversion for children who join Jewish families through means other than birth: "I May Not Have Been Born Jewish, But I'm Getting There As Best I Can." In case the link should go bad, here's what reporter Judith Berck says is standard wisdom on the subject:

We have received the sad news that another of our birthfathers has passed away at the age of 40, in Fishtown, PA. Robert Camac was the birthfather of twin girls who were placed for adoption with an Abrazo family in 1995. He and the twins' mother, Kristy, struggled for five months to parent the children, but came to believe they needed a more stable home and a more secure future. Although no longer a couple at the time, they worked together to plan a loving, open adoption for their daughters, and had stayed in touch with the adoptive family ever since. He was very proud of the girls, one of whom looks just like him and the other who looks just like her birthmom. Robert was the life of the party; he lived life in the fast lanes and died accidentally. He is survived by his wife and son; his birthdaughters, Autumn and April and their adoptive parents; four sisters; and a stepdaughter. May his children always know how much he loved them and may those he leaves behind find comfort in the certainty that he has been reunited with his parents now and rests in peace.

NEEDED: TEXAS FIRST-TIMERS!!! We love having applicants from all over the U.S., of course, but lately, Abrazo has seen a strong birthparent demand for childless couples in the Lone Star State who are open to infants of Anglo and/or Hispanic descent, and at present, we have only three Texas families in our program still waiting to match/place (two of whom already have a child). If you or someone you know in our state are well-suited to open adoption and ready to find an agency that's ready for you/them, please call Angela at Abrazo (210/342-5683) and holler "Yessirreeeee, Ang, sign us up!!" (And then if you really want to score points, tell her you're available for our July orientation weekend if she can get the paperwork to you right quick... you never know what might could just happen between now and Christmas, for those who believe... it's not "if?" but "when!!!:

...from the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Publication 968, Tax Benefits for Adoption (for use in preparing 2004 returns)... You may be able to take a tax credit for qualifying expenses paid to adopt an eligible child (the tax credit being an amount that you subtract from your tax liability); also, up to a certain amount paid or reimbursed by your employer for qualifying adoption expenses under an adoption assistance program may be excludable from your gross income; and this currently applies to you if you happen to be from the State of New Jersey and you attended Abrazo's Connecting-The-Tots orientation weekend of 1/06, then spent the past five months wondering if that Texas agency really knew what they were talking about??, but you now find yourself in El Paso, as the elated new parents of a 4 lb., 2 oz. tax deduction (indicate "male" on Form 1040). Congratulations to the happy taxpayers! (With love to them and the originators of this tiny new dependent.)

Welcome, Don and Andrea! You'll find a thread especially for our July orientation folks under "Parents-In-Waiting", entitled "Next Stop: July Orientation." Enjoy!

(At LONG last, we've got no good reason to proLONG the agony of all our buddies out there any LONGer...!) Some say that the nicest surprizes in life come when we least expect them. It seems ironic, considering how much time and effort folks put into planning to adopt, but it surely was true for our newest set of parents. They'd already booked their summer vacation-- their first-ever cruise ship experience-- for next week... and now, they have the best-ever, 7 lb., 10 oz. reason to forfeit both the trip and what they paid for it! because as of today, after just eight short months of waiting, the long-awaited miracle has happened, and another of our 10-4, Good Buddies (9/05) have a newborn baby boy to bring with them to Camp Abrazo next year. (After all, what Texas-born little boy wouldn't prefer a dude ranch to some big 'ole boat?!) So here's sending heartfelt good wishes out to our newest Abrazobabe, his proud new mom and dad and grandparents (and great-grandma!), his loving birthmama, birthdad, birthsibs and birthgrandma. May life be smooth-sailing for all of you, from this day forward, and may this be only the beginning of a LONG and beautiful friendship between your families!

Some amazing things begin at Camp Abrazo. Sometimes, it's the magical formation of lifelong friendships between kids who realize their life stories share the same special cast of characters. Sometimes, it's the healing that can occur when kindred spirits connect, having suffered the same losses but having gained the same hardwon wisdom. Sometimes, it's feeling the love of our greater family surrounding you, whether in the glow of a candlelight ceremony under oak trees or the warm applause as you receive your first Golden Binkie at the close of the weekend. But sometimes--just sometimes-- it's the miracle that's launched when you're in the right place at the right time; when you're pulled out of the keynote address at Camp and asked if you might be interested in a phone call with a desperate new mom who was advised by hospital employees to do a "Baby Moses drop" but instead, wants to place her 4 lb, 10 oz. baby boy with someone who can be ready in less than 24 hours, to welcome him with open arms and shelter him from harm and love him forever. That ready family said "yes!" and traveled back to San Antonio with us after Camp ended; placement happened this evening, and the birthmom couldn't be happier with her choice. Congratulations to our newest baby's new parents (who will forever remember the 2006 Camp crowd as having been their cheering section), congratulations to the precious "big" brother, and congratulations to this tiny babe, an amazing miracle in his own right!

Some performances are just so extraordinary, they require an encore! and so it was with the newly-expanded family who took placement of their tiny new son just today. Three years ago, they were a nervous childless couple fearful of open adoption, but since then, they've learned and grown, and they're now the folks who sing the praises of openness, having visited their first son's birthmom and her family periodically and having seen how beneficial that is for everyone. They attended their second orientation in 3/06, becoming part of the Fools Crush In weekend, and now, they're back for son #2, a precious preemie. Their new son's birthmom couldn't be happier with her choice, nor could we! and so we offer all of them a standing ovation, with our heartfelt wishes for a happily-ever-after, forever to come!

From James' Dobson's "Focus on the Family" comes this current article on Christians Struggling with Infertility Choices. How has your faith impacted your decisions, where infertility is concerned?

"Blue skies smilin' at me... nothin' but blue skies do I see Bluebirds singin' a song, nothin' but bluebirds all day long Never saw the sun shinin' so bright, Never saw things goin' so right Noticing the days hurrying by When you're in love, my, how they fly!" The view's nothing but green lawns, Texas-blue skies and smooth sailing from here on out, for our newest parents, forum faithfuls from Connecting-the-Tots (1/06). They'd bravely survived two adoption plans that weren't meant-to-be, before connecting the dots to find their way to the newborn baby girl who is truly meant to be theirs. (Their very own Jersey Girl-- at long last!) That's not to say the final stretch of their journey was simple (indeed, nothing good comes easy) but all's well that ends well!, thanks to this adoptive couple's fortitude, their birthmom's commitment to her plan for her infant, and a little divine intervention along the way. Blessings, all!

And to look at this from a different perspective... If you're in the process of trying to adopt and you're scared of the idea of "having" to get to know the birthparents of your future child and keeping in touch: here's the kind of press that birthparents often see, leading them to fear adoption altogether. (Perhaps this also illustrates why openness is so healing, as is the opportunity for all parties to maintain contact in the years following the placement): http://www.washtimes.com/culture/20060301-...1751r_page2.htmAdoption In Shadow of Abuse.

The Lord does work in mysterious ways... and in a timing all His own... A beloved Abrazo family (loyal Forum members) recently completed the adoption of their first and only child, a beautiful baby girl, a child they had longed for and waited for and prayed for, and in whom they were utterly enthralled. Were they thinking of ever adopting again, we asked? They smiled. They gazed at their tiny daughter and shrugged. How could they? was their reply. How could God ever top this miracle, having already blessed them so perfectly the first time? They asked the question, and God answered, as gloriously as only He can do, when this family learned that their daughter's birthparents had unexpectedly birthed a full sibling, and hoped to have the sisters grow up together, forever. They contacted Abrazo for help, and now the family that was three is four! We ask God to smile on both families and the children they share; to lend comfort and peace to the birthparents, and energy and strength to the adopting couple; to protect and guide each of them and to bless their union, as long as they all shall live. (And let the people say... amen!)

Sometimes, the nicest surprizes in life happen when we least expect them Take this couple we know: this time yesterday, they were packing for a trip to Barbados, leaving tomorrow. A couple hours later, they were enjoying a late-night phone call with destiny. And today, they gladly traded in their vacation plans for a trip to San Antonio, to meet their new, tiny, two-week-old baby boy and his loving birthparents, who recently moved here from out of state. Tomorrow is the birthfather's birthday... may our adoptive couple, from Connecting-The-Tots (1/06) prove to be not only the greatest gift he could ever give his son, but also, God's gift to this birthcouple, offering them a "forever friendship" that adds immeasurable joy and support to their lives, as well. Our thanks to both sets of parents for placing their trust in us, and our congratulations on the precious son they now share.

Stephanie, that's a very valid concern. In a placement program that most generally takes 6-12 months from admission to placement, and then 6-18 months thereafter for post-placement supervision, before finalization (adoption) can occur, it is important to have realistic expectations about time frames. (Obviously, being open to special needs children can help shorten the wait, sometimes, but nothing eliminates the state-mandated supervision period before you can finalize.) Up to recent times, it was entirely possible for licensed American agencies to place babies with families who lived abroad, help the families to obtain passports for their babies prior to issuance of birth certificates (since those are not accessible until after finalization) and arrange supervision overseas, but unfortunately, it appears that changes in Homeland Security policies are changing all that, which is causing many US adoption agencies to cease placing with families outside the U.S. So make that move to Texas right-quick! and don't leave the Lone Star State a day too soon.

Try this one on for size: Fertility Doctors Help impregnate 63-Year-Old Grandma And on top of that, she and her 60 year old hubby are newlyweds. Stork Central hesitates to impose its values on anyone else, but to this tale, we can only say "...enough is enough!" (Just because senior citizens can get pregnant doesn't necessarily mean they should.)

ADMISSIONS UPDATE Abrazo is being deluged with applications from "againers"; those who have adopted with our agency in the past and want to come through, again. We're delighted to know that those who have used our services before think highly enough of us to come back... but considering the numbers of such requests that we're receiving, we need to ask a favor; please, be patient! And keep in mind that things usually move much more slowly the second (or third) time around. As you may recall, Abrazo only accepts as many adoptive applicants as we can conceivably place with within a year's time, and more birthparents do prefer to place with couples that are not yet parenting. Therefore, we can generally admit only one family with children for every three childless couples who enter our program, meaning space for againers in our orientation weekends is very limited. First priority, therefore, will be given to those families who are open to children of full Hispanic or biracial (Hispanic/African-American, Anglo/African-American) descent, and againers whose demonstrated support of Abrazo's mission since placement (Camp Abrazo attendance, consistent Forum participation, etc.) has been most evident. (We like the idea of "giving back" to those who have done the same.) Thank you for your consideration!

If they gave out Olympic medals for motherhood, there would surely have to be a special category for those who demonstrate special endurance far beyond the strength of the garden-variety athlete, and then the Gold Medal would have to be given to our newest birthmom, who made it through an marathon pregnancy, months of bedrest, being airlifted to an out-of-town hospital and back and finally, delivering a super-healthy baby boy ahead of schedule! So we're sending out a hearty "attagirl!" to his beautiful birthmom, a "cootchy-cootchy-coo" to the handsome lad, a "thanks for your support" to the birthgrandma who's loyally stood by her daughter through it all, and a "lucky you!" to the elated new parents (another couple from Bobbing for Squirrels, 10/05.) Congratulations, all. Here's wishing you each a shiny medal and a bouquet of flowers at the end of this challenge.