Cath & Shane

Welcome Eli... Congrats Hope, Joel and Girls...haven't read your story on the Shooters thread, but that's where I'm headed next!! Love you guys, Cath

Congrats to the two latest WO's families to place!!! Maybe the two families can plan to return to SA to finalize together later this year!! Enjoy those baby girls...best wishes!

Hey all, Just wanted to post this comment about a grant program listed in regards to "financing adoption" from a recent Adoptive Families article: "After our first adoption my husband and I founded Helpusadopt.org a national non-profit financial grant program designed to help couples/individuals (regardless of race, religion, marital status or sexual prefernece) with their adoption expenses. We are accepting applicaitons now ---the deadline is April 18th for our June 2008 grants and we are going to award $50,000! WWW.helpusadopt.org" Maybe this could help one of you!! Good luck on your journeys!

Can't wait to hear some good news on Monday...we're crossing our fingers!

Adam and Beth...how excited (and sleep deprived) you must be! Warm wishes from the Skala's

I would suggest taking out a loan for possibly $5K more than the figure in your head...most likely you'll be paying off your loan sooner than expected with the tax credit and reimbursement from Abrazo if any money is left in your escrow account after finalization. It seems like you always need more money up front than what you expect...when don't you?!? However, if you have another way to come up with a good chunk of money relatively quickly if needed (i.e. 401K loan or something of that sort) I wouldn't worry as much. I've said this before, but 0% credit card offers on purchases over the next year is great to have as a back up too--perfect for travelling expenses on your adoption journey, although I know credit cards aren't for everyone. Just food for thought. Good luck, Cath

Amy & Gabriela, I'll be anxiously awaiting stories from your upcoming orientation this month...as well as following each of your journeys. Amy...get ready for a wild ride; as your cohorts in Memphis that have been there/ done that or are currently in the process can attest, it's an amazing experience. I'm sure you have pretty good insight into how open adoption works due to the wonderful Abrazo families you have access to, but I think you'll still be blown away at the connections you are about to make. Enjoy! Gabriela...we were againers too; it's so weird the second time around, so many questions about how "this one will go". Our second was so different from our first...not in a bad way by any means, just different! What a comfort to have a bunch of familiar faces and voices though as againers...we love our Abrazo girls! Congrats in advance to each of your families!

Mary & Kenneth, Congratulations!! You'll be amazed at how fast Mitchell will change once he gets the hang of eating...they grow so fast! Can't wait to hear updates! Enjoy your new little man and good luck on your meeting with his birthmomma.

Yeah Mark & Marlene!!! I have a feeling Mark broke a few laws while returning to the great state of Texas! We're very excited to see pictures of Ethan, post as soon as you can. Enjoy your stay down South and have a safe trip home. Hopefully Ethan loves (or at least tolerates) long car rides as much as Maya & Malik did!

We had already decided about the multiple ways we were planning to use for financing our adoption, but that would definitely be a big one for those who haven't! We would have loved to have had our homestudy and physicals completed ahead of time...it would've dropped our stress levels in the month that followed; however, we knew our birthmom was due within the month so our biggest fear was that our daughter would arrive and we wouldn't be "officially" prepared for her on paper. As luck would have it, we ended up having plenty of time to spare though. We had received a handful of sample profiles prior to orientation I believe, so I hadn't even started ours but I wasn't stressed by the thought and for me it was a fun and creative outlet that first week home. Let's see, I can't think of anything else big...we had already started our nursery...I think we had the crib, carseat, and stroller along with a couple outfits already bought but upon return we had fun doing lots of mini shopping trips. SO, my biggest advice would be to get those finances in line and get going on your homestudies (make sure you have Abrazo's info in regards to Texas state law if you live out of state though ) Good luck to everyone on their journeys...it's gonna be amazing for each of you! Cath

Lisa... My husband and I discuss many of the same topics that you and your hubby have. Not necessarily the gender issue, we're ok either way but we sure wondered about specifying in regards to race this time (in particular a brother or sister for Maya who would also be biracial or AA). Our train of thought is with you though Lisa, whoever God decides to place with our family will be a perfect fit regardless! We also wonder what to do in regards to Maya when it comes time to travel...make arrangements with family here in town or take her with. Good friends of ours (you've probably seen posts by "WindyCity"), took their son earlier this month when his sister made her way into the world. So, we're leaning towards taking our daughter along; although I think it will depend on our next birthfamily too, so we'll have to be flexible. It will definitely be a whole new ballgame having a toddler to contend with during our stay South if that ends up being the case. Just may be a little more stressful working around naps and overall crankiness at being away from all the staples of home. Thank God there's two of us to tag team as needed! I know all will work out in the end, we just have to keep the faith! Good luck in your quest as againers! Cathy

PKK, Any updates for those of us "forumites" who might be interested??? When discussing God's will, the following comes to mind, "the plan and will of God will never die. The thing God wants you to do will become stronger each day in your thoughts, in your prayers and in your planning...it grows and grows." Keep us informed! Cath

Jeez Elaine, I feel like our adoption story is fairly similar to yours. My husband and I were "set" on adopting from China or Kazakstahn when I heard about Abrazo through a patient I was taking care of at work. My patient had a brother who was adopted from Korea 18 years ago; we were talking about international vs. domestic adoption and she strongly recommended I look into Abrazo, as she had a cousin who adopted a daughter several years ago (must've been soon after Abrazo began). I was pretty leary and I knew my husband would also have a fit that I was looking into something "new" when we already had a tentative plan! Needless to say, he wasn't thrilled...BUT, after much prayer and writing out a pros/cons list, we decided that Abrazo was for us. Once we decided on Abrazo it felt like a huge weight had been lifted and within a month of attending orientation little Miss Amaya Michelle was in our arms. We feel so blessed and are excited to see the rest of God's plan unfold for Maya's future sibling(s). Cath

Melissa, My fingers are crossed for your family, can't wait to hear the good news! Shane & I are excited about becoming "againers" as well...not certain about the timing, but hopefully sooner rather than later. I'll be looking forward to updates on the process of Baby Merritt #2...good luck Cath

Hi everyone, My husband and I feel very lucky to have bypassed the whole IVF experience. Our decision was fairly "easy" one...as a nursing student I worked in an infertility clinic and saw as many happy as sad outcomes. Now as a labor nurse, I again see many beautiful miracles as a result of IVF but the tragic stories remain and I was worried that we just may be one of those "tragic" stories. I think my career has helped me not to feel the void that some may feel by missing out on their own pregnancy and L&D experience. I wouldn't trade places with some of my patients for the world for the sole outcome of a biological child. I was blessed that my husband shared this view and didn't consider IVF as an option...he felt strongly that adoption was our route to having a family and thank God we found Abrazo and were enlightened about open adoptions! Our daughter is the highlight of our days, she brings our entire family so much joy...it's hard to imagine life without her! You just never know where life is going to lead and we all must follow the path chosen for us to reach each destination...I know that successful families are plentiful as a result of IVF as well; we just have to follow our hearts and our children will find us one way or another!

Melissa, Keep us posted. I feel so bad for you guys! Adoption is stressful enough without the incredible fear of losing your husband's income in the process. I'm confident that "all will work out in the end" for your family but that's of little consolation to you now I'm sure! I agree with you that it doesn't hurt to keep inquiring as far and as high up as you can in the company. If, God forbid, he does end up losing that job and going to another company, it may not be such a bad deal...what if you had a lengthy family illness/emergency or any short/long term disability that would keep him away from work for a few weeks?? Maybe this is a good time to find out how unsupportive his work would be. (Just playing Devil's Advocate...I wish you guys all the best!!) Take care, Cath

I'm not sure I have any earth shattering advice for you...but thought I'd share my situation too. We unofficially matched with our BP the day we took off for SA for orientation (1/14/04...our BP's due date was 2/8). So, immediately upon returning from orientation I let my manager know our situation and she took me off the schedule as of 2/2 knowing that I may be leaving even earlier than that if necessary. I was fortunate enough to have plenty of paid leave hours saved up and planned to take 12 weeks off work. I also let her know at that time that upon returning, I hoped to go to "on call" status yet work close to full time hours. (Then I could request the hours I wanted to work around my husband's schedule to eliminate the need for daycare). She, and all my co-workers, were very supportive and have remained that way throughout our adoption journey. My husband began investigating FMLA soon after our return from orientation as well and they were aware that he may be leaving at a moment's notice; as time progressed we planned to leave for Texas the day after the Superbowl to await the arrival of our baby with our BP and her family...so he let his work know those specifics just the week before. We feel blessed to have had a healthy baby girl born on 2/13 with placement occuring 2/16. If our adoption wouldn't have been successful, my husband's not sure what his company would have done because their policy isn't set up to allow for beginning FMLA, returning to work (in the case of a failed adoption) and then requesting it again for another??? We're very thankful we didn't have to work through that one. I know everything will work out in your case as well and wish you luck in your adoption adventure!!