Stork Central

Carmen's post reminds us of a good point: adoption is not the right solution in every unplanned pregnancy. And good counseling is always about helping YOU find YOUR OWN best answers. When is adoption not the best choice? For starters, adoption probably isn't the right answer if: * you just want a way to "get back" at a guy who has hurt you. * you're in a bind and otherwise wouldn't consider placing your child but need financial help * you're being forced into the decision by somebody else (a boyfriend, relative, etc.) * your baby has an involved, committed father who wants to parent and is truly ready to do so * you're on the fence about parenting but will probably be ready in a month or so. Can anyone else from the "been there/done that" crowd add anything to this discussion?

Tennessee's tailgaters will be swilling not only cold beer but also warm Enfamil this season, with the arrival of the Summer Strollers' newest Volunteers' fan. He joined his proud new teammates today, just eight weeks after his new mom and dad attended orientation, and they knew they'd thrown the winning touchdown from the first time they spoke with his loving birthparents. May their friendship gain yardage with every passing year and may their little linebacker always be at the center of the huddle.

Yes, homestudies are also required in advance of private adoptions as well as in relative adoptions in Texas.

Just think about it... from the Holy Trinity to the Brothers Gibb, from triple scoops of ice cream to the Three Musketeers, some of the nicest things in life come in threes! Thus for one wonderful couple who came to our 3/05 orientation as the proud parents of twin boys, gaining a third son was truly thrice as nice!!! Tres bien! Plus, they've still gotten to add a girl to the family (their newest son's fabulous birthmom), which entitled them to also lay claim to the world's nicest birthgrandmother! And now, with the completion of their placement, their entire orientation group is officially on Cloud Nine because if you add up the number of months it took all of them to become parents and then divide it by two, whaddaya come up with? 3!!!! Square that, and whaddaya get? Nine miracles, in record time... and one agency staff very thankful for the joy of knowing them, all. Three cheers for Cloud Nine! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!!!

How many TN Volunteers does it take to build a family? Two-- and they're signing placement paperwork in our office even as we speak! That's right, the first of the Summer Strollers (7/05) are meeting their new baby; it's happening today; and they just couldn't be happier about it. Their tiny son is 6 pounds of heaven and eager to get home so he can cheer the Vols on and lead the team to victory in, say, just 20 short years!?! But for now, he's got some serious weight-training and muscle-building to do, so here's to our future TN quarterback, his number #1 coach (named "Daddy") and all-time favorite, cheerleader-pretty Mama!! with love from a stadium-sized group of forum fans and one very special birthmom on the sidelines. Go, Vols! (Go, Strollers!)

Loyal forumites can probably guess which of our members are more likely to be dressing their new baby girl in orange, rather than pink! and that the same young Texas couple has zoomed from Cloud Nine (3/05) to heaven in about 48 hours flat-- ever since getting word that a young mom in a local hospital chose them to be her daughter's new mommy and daddy. (Now "orange" you glad you kept the faith, and waited for the "right" one to come along?!) Congrats to our newest success story and much love to the brave birthmom who made a dream come true today.

The state of Louisiana is in a state of crisis, but one couple from that state has the best possible reason to be out-of-state at present: one tiny baby girl, being graciously shared with them by a young birthmom who wanted better for her daughter's future. Congratulations to our latest Cloud Nine family of 3/05! While their home was not in the path of the storm, we're keeping everyone in that region of the country in our thoughts and prayers. Here's to new beginnings for all!

"O, by the memory of that hour of birth, wherein Heaven's door opened to us of earth..." from "Prayer to St. Jude" by Kathleen Norris Becoming parents was certainly not a hopeless cause for our latest couple of PeaBiscuits!, 5/05, who found the child of their dreams back here in the Lone Star State!! Two days ago, this previously-childless couple was honored to attend the birth of their 8 lb., 3 oz. son, and after all the time they've spent with their beloved birthmom and her daughter, they've made big plans for their future lives together; including but not limited to Camp Abrazo, the kids' summer vacations, high school graduations and even weddings!!! Tonight, though, they're pinching themselves to be sure it's not all just some wonderful dream. Sleep well, baby boy; there's a worldful of friends and family out here just waiting to welcome you home.

Hi, Andy! Once your completed inquiry and application are on file with Abrazo and approved, your orientation registration form will be processed, and a weekend confirmed for you. At that point, you'll want to talk with our family services coordinator, Angela, about referrals for homestudy workers in your area and about beginning the FBI background check if you're from outside of Texas. Glad you've found the Forum; some of our favorite people gather here! so welcome.

Here's a thought... while it is not necessary to launch your homestudy before coming to orientation, prospective parents may find it helpful to begin the process of obtaining FBI clearance in advance, since the processing time can take awhile and hold up completion of the homestudy even after the interviews with the social worker are over and done. Anybody else out there have helpful do's and don'ts to add?

Once upon a time there was a mighty football team called the Wolverines. Well, they looked mighty. But appearances can be deceiving, and sure enough, when they matched up against the truly mighty Longhorns at the Rose Bowl, the 'Horns sent those 'lil puppies home with their tails between their legs (so to speak.) The people of Michigan were bereft...lost... defeated. The Lord in His mercy looked down upon them and saw that they needed something to lift their spirits; a victorious homecoming of a whole 'nother sort. So He picked out one extra-special Texas-born baby girl, one extra-special family from the Fertile Hearts of 11/04, and the rest is a dream come true!! Congratulations to our newest set of parents and the proud big brother who carried his new baby sister in to meet Mom and Dad for the first time! Keep it up and maybe one little guy we know can "carry" Michigan's team to a victory in, oh, say twenty years?!

Here's a gift idea for parents-in-waiting: give them a airline gift certificate, good for (or towards) the purchase of airplane tickets, a big help for those who will be travelling to Texas at a moment's notice to pick up your new grandson or granddaughter (or niece or nephew.) Or perhaps you could rally the rest of the family to donate frequent flyer miles towards the cause. It's sure to be appreciated, and what a loving way of saying "we're right here beside you!"

Three short months ago, they were just a nervous couple of wanna-be's who came to San Antonio to learn a thing or two about adopting, and look at them now!! This evening, this pair of PeaBiscuits!, 5/05 walked out of a local hospital the proud parents of a newborn daughter, accompanied by her absolutely darling birthmom and one very loving birthgrandma. Our heartfelt best wishes to these faithful forumites, and hugs and kisses to their precious baby girl, who just couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of people!

Here's something to lift spirits in need of lifting: A Message from God

Hear ye, hear ye, all peas of little faith!! Today's momentuous event stands as proof positive that if you mind your peas and cues, you, too, shall also eventually find the sweet pea of your dreams, as did our latest family from the Pea Biscuits of 5/05, who have welcomed a newborn son into the world, thanks to the careful nurture of his loving birthparents, lo these past nine months. Best wishes to both families (birthing and adopting); thanks for being there for each other right when you needed each other the most!!

"Bows and flows of angel hair, and ice cream castles in the air... feather canyons everywhere, I've looked at clouds that way..." Another of our Cloud Nine graduates of 3/05 are walking on sunshine, having just become the proud parents of a bouncing baby girl, born to a birthcouple and adoptive couple who have become both friends and family, and in just a matter of weeks! Even the hospital staff is raving about this one, because they get along so well, it's obviously a match made in heaven. We wish both the birthfamily and the new mom and dad a beautiful weekend together, as they get to know their darling little rosebud of a daughter, counting and recounting each precious little finger and toe!! Congratulations, all.

Once upon a time, a tale was told of a princess and the pea. Today, that tale came alive in a whole new way, as a dream that began with another story about a pea eleven weeks ago resulted in the placement of a tiny, newborn princess with a so-ready new mommy and daddy!! Their happily-ever-after ending has the blessing of not just Baby's loving birthmom, but also an approving birthgrandmother and proud birthsibs, who think the world of the new family, and a crowd of friends known as the PeaBiscuits of 6/05. Hugs and kisses to each of them; what a beautiful launching of a precious new life! and what a ray of hope for our newest orientation group, who begin their journey with us tonight. Blessings, all!