Stork Central

Fiesta starts this week! and the weather is fine... What better way to celebrate our First Baby of Cloud Nine? From March to April, it took no time at all. But to learn who the lucky family is, y'all will have to call!! (Best wishes to this precious baby girl and her excited new mommy and daddy!)

Sometimes what seems like the door closing on a dream is actually the sound of a window opening to a bright new vista. So was the case for our latest new parents, members of The Dandy Dozen Storkjackers, 1/05. Just one week ago, they felt their world had come crashing down around them when a loving mother opted to raise her child herself. But just yesterday, their fate became crystal clear, when another conscientious parent made a different decision for her newborn daughter. She viewed all of Abrazo's waiting parent profiles and in this one, she glimpsed her baby's destiny. It wasn't a question of if they were meant to parent. It was only a matter of when, after all. May each mother's decisions be blessed, and may our newest happy family find every day of their lives together better than the one before it.

Our Dandy Dozen Storkjackers of 1/05 have another little reason to fling pink streamers and confetti, in celebration of another tiny princess headed home to her new castle! Her new "kingdom" wll be located in the far northeast, with a doctor and her husband, one prince of a big brother and two sisters-in-waiting. The royal family is currently enjoying an extended "spring break" in north Texas with their adorable birthmom and her supportive kinfolk. Enjoy this precious time together counting tiny fingers and toes, y'all! (And don't forget to pose that enchanting maiden in Texas' famous bluebonnets, which have suddenly blossomed, as if in honor of her much-welcomed arrival!!)

We're proud to announce, we're counting another set of blue booties for another of our Dandy Dozen Storkjackers of 1/05, as another family of againers bring home another baby boy (their second son)! Congratulations to these fine folks (active Forumites that they are), with many thanks to their loving birthmom and her supportive family, who welcomed not just the baby but also his new mom, dad and brother into their world with open arms. (Everyone even participated in a touching entrustment ceremony at the hospital, to celebrate this fresh new branch of their family tree.) May your Easter holiday this year be a special tribute to the power of love, in all its glorious incarnations.

The Chinese calendar refers to 2005 as the Year of the Rooster, but at Abrazo, this appears to be the Year of the Againer, as yet another beloved Abrazo family returned to our hallowed halls today, this time to add their third child (and first daughter!!) Originally part of The Believers orientation weekend of September, 1997, they were unable to attend another orientation weekend before being needed here for placement, so this proud family of five will make a joyous return to Camp Abrazo this summer to introduce all their old and new friends to their darling daughter and her two adoring brothers! Heartfelt congratulations to these loyal friends and believers, and also to one strong and determined birthmama and her devoted auntie, who worked together to make this miracle happen for their beautiful baby girl.

Back by popular demand!!, Abrazo has joyously welcomed back some of our againers from north Texas! Last seen at Camp Abrazo 2004, showing off their handsome, curly-haired toddler son, they returned today to add a precious, blonde-haired, blue-eyed daughter to their family, and along with her, the all-too-adorable birthcouple who brought her into this world. This newly-expanded family will be proudly joining us for Camp again this summer (since their new baby girl came before their next-scheduled orientation!) and we can't wait to see how their kids will have grown by then. Because we know that, given the power of love, this family has great things ahead of them, and we couldn't be happier for each one of 'em! Congratulations, all, and God bless.

Every so often, Abrazo is blest with special deliveries for whom we have no ready parents-in-waiting, and when that happens, we are overjoyed to find new families from outside of our program, whom we gladly "adopt" as our own! So it was for a gracious Montana family, who been just longing to add a beautiful baby girl to their family portrait. They were homestudied, and well prepared for open adoption, but not finding much success in their quest out West, so Fate led them South, and God led them to Abrazo, along with a lovely young birthmom seeking just such a family for a baby coming soon. That baby came late last week, and went home with her excited new parents and big brothers just yesterday, with her birthmom's blessing... may their lives together be just as spontaneous, happy and promising, from here to kingdom come!!

Today was a very special placement at our office, for one of our Forum families, thus their announcement has been guest-written by two very special scribes: We were going to go to Orlando this week. Then my mom got told there was a baby. And we had to go to Texas. And we were jumping up and down, saying "do we get to go?" So Mom and Dad said "maybe." Then they talked and they said yes. So bye-bye we went. And we got on a plane and came here. Then we went to your office. And our parents were doing some boring talking. And papers. So now we're holding our baby brother. Well! He's kinda small. His initials are L.J., because our grandpa was L.J. and he died and it's a tradition. The baby, he's probably gonna be fun. He's pretty cute. He has a lot of hair. We're so lucky because we have a baby brother. Adoption is when someone has a baby and somebody else gets to have him. Like us. Taking care of the baby is going to be fun. We never had a boy as a brother. So we're excited! Dictated by Marcela (age 5) & Carmela (age 9) Proud Big Sisters!!

We had a lovely set of grandparents in the office yesterday, accompanying their daughter and son-in-law to their first meeting with the new baby in the family! so Stork Central thought it might be helpful to post some advice for other relatives who plan to travel with new parents for placement. 1) Dress comfortably! Nothing's fancy down here, and a lot of what goes on is "hurry up and wait" so whether you're going to a hospital or to the office, wear flat shoes, bring along reading, and remember your camera. 2) Be prepared to meet the birthparents! Abrazo encourages adopting parents and birthparents to spend plenty of time together with the baby especially after placement, so if you plan to be a part of this time, learn to use appropriate adoption language, make eye contact and don't be afraid to say "thank you!" and offer hugs and affirmation to grieving young women (and men) whose own family members may not be as supportive. 3) Urge your son or daughter to "do for" their new baby, themselves! Be there to offer advice and to cuddle/feed/change baby when asked, but remember, they've waited a long time to become a mommy and daddy, and they need plenty of encouragement, and time to practice! Hey, you out there! What pointers would you add to this list?

Elvis sang about blue suede shoes, but the Memphis couple in our office becoming first-time parents at this very moment is sure to be singing about blue-eyed baby boys, because theirs is the answer to many heartfelt prayers! No more nights at the Heartbreak Hotel for these folks, nosireebob! From two failed adoption plans before coming to Abrazo to their 11/04 participation in our Fertile Hearts orientation group, their pathway towards adoption may not have always been smooth but their destiny was certain. And we know one precious little guy who's sure to have a great ride down the road of life, with these fantastic new parents at the wheel.

ODE TO TODAY'S PLACEMENT "I have a little brother, he's goofy as can be. He drives me nuts but he's kinda cute And he wants to be just like me!" "I have an older brother, he's busy as a bee. He think he's smarter 'cuz he came first But he always looks out for me." Friends come, friends go, yet there's nothing like a brother. Thus to keep them together is quite a feat! Today saw one going home with the other. Their brave parents are busy! Here's betting their house is a zoo. Both in diapers; one's one, one's just-born... oh my stars! Best wishes, growing family! "Woo! Woo! Woo!" All hail the final placement of the Woo Woo Parenthood Club of 8/04. (What a difference six months makes!)

"With songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Isaiah 35:10 One newly-expanded Texas family will surely be up singing songs of joy well into the wee hours this morning, as they enjoy that special serenade of a newborn daughter who understandably still has her days and nights mixed up! They weren't expecting her, when they got up for their Saturday morning breakfast, but they soon won't be able to imagine their lives without this blessing, made possible by a birthmom whose courage was fueled by dreams of a better life for her baby. Hugs and kisses to this, the first baby girl for the Dandy Dozen Storkjackers of 1/05! May her life be filled with song, abounding in joy, and abloom with white roses, in tribute to the gracious mother who gave her life, to the gracefilled mother who'll now teach her to live it, and to that Holy Mother, full of grace, who watches over them all.

Once upon a time, a lovely Midwestern couple came to Abrazo to adopt and found the baby girl of their dreams. They lived happily after that and became loyal Forum fans, sharing their expertise with others and honoring their birthmother by raising their daughter to love and respect her for her courageous life choices. Life was good. Yet they got the feeling that their family was not yet complete. Somewhere out there, they knew, there was another little person just meant to join their home. They searched far and wide; still, nothing seemed to be happening for them. But it wasn't that they weren't meant to grow their family or that the garden was bare; it just wasn't yet their season... until this week, when Abrazo called to tell them their future son was here. Born. Ready. Waiting. For them. So it was that this eager duo dropped everything to fly to San Antonio, and thus begins a beautiful new chapter in the tale of their family! (With an exciting footnote to be written in July, when they'll be joining us for Camp Abrazo, in lieu of orientation.) So come meet our latest success story then and there! and witness firsthand the miracle heaven launched this week. Texas ain't quite paradise, but it's jest a stone's throw a way.

Three times is a charm, they say! and just three weeks after officially signing on with Abrazo, a third couple from the Dandy Dozen Storkjackers, 1/05 made the trip back to Texas (leaving their three daughters eagerly waiting back home) to embrace their new baby boy (the third little fella in three weeks, for this proud orientation group, nearly a third of the way to completion!) Three cheers, also, for his courageous birthmom, who felt a special connection with this, her thirdborn child. May this dear trio of parents build a friendship for the future that's thrice as nice as any of them expected it to be when they first began this journey!!

It was a match made in heaven, and as a result, the Dandy Dozen Storkjackers of 1/05 are thanking God for the placement of another simply divine baby boy, joyfully headed home with one of their own! Last night, his new mommy and daddy celebrated Valentine's Day by going out for a romantic dinner with his loving birthparents (and rumor has it that massive servings of cheesecake were involved.) To see them together leaves no doubt that these folks were always meant to be kin! and we thank them both for letting us take part in the first chapter of their new family legend. May each passing page be better than the last! and may they all live happily ever after.

It's a new year, and Abrazo is off and running! but with nearly half of our newest orientation group well on their way to matching, we need more families!! Particularly needed are (1) childless couples, (2) Texans, and (3) families for children of full Hispanic or biracial (African American + Hispanic or Anglo) descent!! Our next scheduled orientation is in early March; if you fit the bill, let us hear from you, pronto. "Operators are standing by to take your call!!..."

Their first and second miracles began in Russia, but for Number #3, this winsome couple from our Sweetest Daze (10/04) decided to adopt somewhere that was half as cold and twice as easy to get to! They took the first plane to Texas yesterday morning, got to the hospital before noon, met their new birthcouple and fell in love, met their new daughter and fell in love, and by today, paperwork was done, the baby was discharged and her excited new parents were calling a zillion relatives and friends back home with the good news! (And they said nothing big ever happens in February...!) Here's to new friendships, growing families, and (as one very wise birthgrandmother put it yesterday) a miracle event that was truly the result of "a God thing."

Is it? Wuzzit it? Could it be...?! The final Fab 9's are no longer three. Their new daughter's here, they wait no more! For our Texans are now a Family of Four!! (Good things come to those who wait. Congratulations, all!)

To elaborate (and to pacify the agency's legal eagle!): be assured that Abrazo does not invite prospective parents to orientation until/unless it appears certain from the submitted paperwork that the family fits the agency's stated admissions requirements. Abrazo recognizes that coming to orientation requires no small level of investment on the applicants' part, and the agency is appreciative of this fact. Orientation enables both parties (applicants and agency) to better assess the potential "fit" between the prospective parents' needs and the agency's services. It allows both parties to share information and explore rapport. In most cases, at the close of orientation, the agency issues a written admissions decision, which is either a conditional acceptance letter, or a deferral for specific reasons stated therein. The primary reasons an applicant might not be accepted into Abrazo's program may include: falsification or misrepresentation of information, ongoing fertility treatment efforts, domestic or personal instability (of a medical, financial, marital or psychological nature), criminal history, inadequate life expectancy due to current illness, lack of integrity, history of child abuse or neglect, incompatibility with agency policies/staff/placement modalities, etc. Abrazo's purpose in assessing applicants is not to judge their worthiness as parents but to honestly convey our program's limitations and dedicate our efforts and resources to those we are best qualified to help. (Admission into the agency's program is in no way a guarantee of placement.) In certain instances, in which qualified families have already secured homestudy approval and met agency standards, the agency reserves the right to offer program approval enabling specific applicants to officially become clients and therefore match before orientation, when this is necessary to provide for a child already in need. However, all agency clients are expected to participate in orientation and/or reunion, in order for the agency to verify for its Licensing authority that quality pre- and/or post-placement education and support have been directly provided by Abrazo to all families adopting from within its program.

After a bevy of infant girls, we've placed our first boy baby of the year, with the first of our Dandy Dozen Storkjackers of 1/05, and we couldn't be happier for them! Although they'd only been home from orientation a couple of days before their new son was born, they were more than gracious about turning around and coming back to Texas to become parents right away... much to the delight of their dear birthmom and her supportive mother, who'd been hoping and praying to find the perfect parents for this little guy whom they loved so, but could not take home, themselves. Our new mom and dad are pinching themselves, to be sure it's for real, as we work on getting them home, soon as possible, so they can introduce their son to excited relatives and begin life as the "forever family" they were always-- surely-- meant to be. Blessings, all!

Being from our nation's capitol, we can only guess that our newest parents were more than happy to have a reason to leave town right in time for the inauguration! And today, in a town on the southernmost border of Texas, one couple from our Sweetest Daze of 10/04 found the nicest excuse of all for missing the official festivities in D.C., as they officially became a family in TX!! And that was an event worthy of its own ticker tape parade, because life is surely going to be a ball with their precious new baby. Congratulations, all.

Fertile Hearts (11/04) were lit afire today with the news that one of their own have joined the ranks of happy parents, with the arrival of their first baby, a 7 lb., 11 oz. little girl born over the weekend! Even a blitz of bad weather out East couldn't keep this excited new mom and dad away, and their brave birthmom weathered a rough delivery even without anesthesia. We know the darling daughter they share is destined to be a young woman of charm, grit and determination, given her stock, and we wish them a "purr"fectly wonderful future together!!

The road to parenting is washed with tears of sorrow and joy, and today, the last of our ForresTears (3/04) can attest to this, as they proudly walk out of a west Texas hospital with their new baby girl and her dear birthparents. It was only months ago that they left another hospital empty-handed and struggling to understand why that dream had not come true, yet they kept the faith, and they know now why they just had to wait for the "right" one, because at last they've found their answer: all 7 lbs., 9 oz. of her! Congratulations to our latest mommy and daddy, to their darling daughter, and her birthfamily, who made it all possible.

Sometimes, in all the excitement of how quickly some placements can happen, we can forget that the most important thing isn't when the baby comes home, but how they get there, and our first homecoming of the New Year is a beautiful reminder that the best things in life truly are worth waiting for! Today, a special Tennessee couple became a mommy and daddy here in Texas. It was a long journey, one that they started with Bruce's Great Eight Posse in April, 2003. Midway through, however, the adoptive mom's beloved father became ill, and the couple decided to put their file on hold, to focus on supporting their family in the midst of this crisis. The would-be grandpa's condition, unfortunately, worsened over time, and when he died, the couple kept their file on hold while they grieved their loss. It wasn't until last summer that they decided to relaunch their dream of adopting in earnest. About that time, a birthcouple in North Texas was thinking about adoption. They had several children already and knew they weren't ready to start over. They received our TN couple's profile and saw amongst those pages the mom and dad they wanted for their next baby. Although the due date seemed soooo far away back then, the Tennesseeans said "yes!" and the rest is now part of their shared family history... Because two days ago, one year to the day that her grandpa went to heaven, a new little angel entered the world. We know that upstairs, he's surely celebrating in spirit with his new granddaughter and his daughter and her husband, here on earth, as they marvel at the miracle that adoption has wrought and thank God for the family that faith built. May it be so for all our new Abrazo families throughout the year ahead!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR LITTLEST ANGELS, celebrating their first-ever Christmas in grateful new homes this year! Bless our babies and all those who love them!