Hello, everyone. It has been a while, and I hope that you all are doing well. I have some exciting news on the adoption front: we are matched with an expectant mother who has chosen us to parent her child!
We finished the last of our paperwork and completed our homestudy in June, and at that time our social worker told us that we probably could expect to wait AT LEAST a year for a baby. However, she informed us that there was a possibility that it could happen any time, including very soon, if an expectant mother were to choose our profile from the agency's website before contacting the agency. In that event, if the agency were to determine that her preferences match ours, we could be matched at that time regardless of the amount of our time on the waiting list.
EIGHT DAYS after our homestudy was approved and our profile went up on the agency's website, we received a call from our social worker that a woman had chosen us, our preferences matched, and she wanted to meet us. My husband and I met her at a restaurant for lunch two days later (coincidentally, for the meeting she picked the same time of day and the exact restaurant where my husband and I had our first date 14 years ago), and we all "clicked." We really like her! I'll call her "C." We all have a lot in common, and I am especially happy that she is a Christian. (Unfortunately we will never get to meet the man who fathered the baby because he is totally out of the picture at this point.)
C is due to deliver a baby girl on August 10. However, C may be induced earlier because an ultrasound earlier this week revealed that the baby has a health issue that may or may not turn out to be serious (an enlarged bladder that may be affecting her kidney function).
If the adoption plan proceeds, though, we could be parenting a baby in the very near future!
My husband and I are feeling such a roller coaster of emotions. Mainly we are THRILLED, excited, and happy at the potential of adding a little daughter to our family. We would love her to pieces! Our extended families are very excited, too; my husband's sister even cried happy tears when we saw her because she is so hopeful and excited for us. I feel sad that my dad isn't here to share the news with because he would have been SO excited. We also are feeling a bit overwhelmed and our heads are spinning that it is happening so unexpectedly fast (we made a mad dash to Babies R Us with my mother-in-law and my husband's sister and went on a wild shopping spree because even though we have been trying to have a baby for over 5 years, we still hadn't acquired ANY baby paraphenalia and were woefully unprepared in that department). In addition, we are concerned about the baby's health and hoping and PRAYING that the bladder problem will turn out to be nothing serious (an amnio already has determined that she is chromosomally normal and doesn't have any of the genetic conditions that commonly could cause an enlarged bladder, so that is good news).
We also feel sad for C; we told her that if she has a change of heart and decides to parent her child, we would understand. We told her that we don't want her to feel pressure just because we are matched; in order to feel good about adopting her child, we need to know that she is doing it because she truly believes it is the best option for her as well as for her baby and not because of any outside pressure. She assured us that she has prayed and prayed about it and independently feels that she truly is making the best choice for everyone involved, including herself. However, I certainly would understand if that all changed when they put the baby in her arms. We would be very sad and disappointed if she has a change of heart, but God would give us the strength to deal with it, and regardless of what happens with this match we have faith that there is a baby in our future, some way, somehow.
All you pray-ers out there, please pray for God's will and guidance in this situation. Please pray for the baby's and C's health and that the delivery will go smoothly and safely (C wants us to be there for the birth, by the way). Please pray for guidance and peace for both C and us and that this situation really will turn out to be a good one for all involved, whatever happens.
Thanks! I'll keep you posted!
WOW -- congratulations!!! I found your blog some time ago and have been peeking in every now and then to see how you're doing. This is wonderful!!!
If you would like to discuss the potential kidney issue, feel free to email (RutaK aol com). We went through something somewhat similar with our youngest: an enlarged ureter led to fluid trapped in one kidney, severe kidney dilation and loss of function as a result. In utero, it appeared to be kidney problems. Turns out he had a UPJ obstruction which was resolved through surgery at 5 weeks of age. In the interim, I pretty much researched everything I could find on pediatric urology, prenatal kidney problems, you name it.
Good luck!!
Posted by: Ruta | July 12, 2007 at 03:11 PM
Wow! What a blessing! We'll add her to our baby prayer list ;)
Posted by: Julie | July 12, 2007 at 03:42 PM
I was just thinking about you this morning!!
August 10th is my Nana's birthday and she is going to turn 87. (Don't tell her that I told you)
You guys are going to be wonderful parents, you've shown such tenderness and grace to "C" that it only confirms my point.
Love to you all,
K
Posted by: karianne | July 12, 2007 at 03:47 PM
that is awesome news! God Bless.
Posted by: Hoping | July 12, 2007 at 03:48 PM
Oh, what beautiful, wonderful news!
I've kept you in my prayers and thoughts over the past few months, and now I'll add these specific things to those prayers! Keep us posted!
Posted by: Jen | July 12, 2007 at 04:00 PM
OK, Jill, you are now required to update your blog every single day with updates! I've been following your story for a long time and am so excited/nervous for you! You are absolutely in my prayers.
...And I fully believe that your dad is here to see all this. Who knows, maybe he even had a hand in it. :)
Posted by: Jennifer F. | July 12, 2007 at 04:26 PM
Ohmigosh, Jill -- you are all in my prayers!!!!!! I am thinking of you! (And my heart was beating so fast when I clicked in here!!!) Please keep us all updated!
Posted by: dawn | July 12, 2007 at 04:31 PM
Congratulations!!! What wonderful, wonderful news! Praying for all of you.
Posted by: Heather.PNR | July 12, 2007 at 04:35 PM
I squealed out loud when I saw that you had updated-and now have tears of joy for this wonderful news! You deserve so much happiness! I'm thrilled for you!!! Will keep all of you in my prayers.
Posted by: lisa g | July 12, 2007 at 05:03 PM
I am so excited for you. What wonderful news!
I will keep all of you in my prayers.
Posted by: Cathleen | July 12, 2007 at 07:04 PM
Oh wow!!! Wow, wow, wow! This is all so exciting, Jill. I'm so happy to hear the happy news.
Posted by: Bittermama | July 12, 2007 at 07:17 PM
Jill - I am simply THRILLED for you both!! Can't you see me grinning from ear to ear? Your news has made my day.
You, baby girl and C. are all in my prayers.
Posted by: Jill | July 12, 2007 at 07:19 PM
Oh my goodness, Jill! That's the most wonderful news. I'm very rusty with prayers but will certainly say one for this most special thing. You deserve this so very much (and I say that knowing how hard this might be for C. but trusting her choice and thinking she must be so thankful to have found you and your husband).
Posted by: Sonya | July 12, 2007 at 07:55 PM
Jill, it is wonderful to hear from you, and with such great news! Your family, C and the baby are all in my thoughts.
Posted by: Karen | July 12, 2007 at 08:00 PM
Jill,
I am so happy to hear from you and this news well... I am so terribly excited for you. I have been thinking of you often and hoping and praying that all was going well. To read this news this evening brought tears of joy for you and I sent up a prayer for you, hubby, C, and this baby girl.
Know your dad is with you even though he is not here. I'm sure you can hear his voice in your mind when you think of him. I also know he's up there in heaven looking down and smiling and hoping that this works out for all of you.
Hang in there and keep us posted. We've missed you.
Love
Sami
Posted by: Sami | July 12, 2007 at 08:31 PM
So very, very thrilled for you! Congratulations! Please keep us updated...
Posted by: steph | July 12, 2007 at 08:41 PM
Oh my goodness, Jill! That's the most wonderful news. I'm very rusty with prayers but will certainly say one for this most special thing. You deserve this so very much (and I say that knowing how hard this might be for C. but trusting her choice and thinking she must be so thankful to have found you and your husband).
Posted by: Sonya | July 12, 2007 at 10:13 PM
Congratulations! I have been reading your blog for a long time, amazed by your reliance on God through all the difficult things you have been through. I know He has a perfect plan for you and am praying that this might be it. How exciting!
Sarah Abrahams
Posted by: Sarah | July 12, 2007 at 10:54 PM
I'm too glad for words. I've been following your blog for quite some time and I really wish you all the best. Please continue to update us, your faithful readers.
Posted by: Lila | July 13, 2007 at 04:19 AM
Oh, Jill, it is so very good to hear from you, and especially to get this amazing news! I can't tell you how it's touched me.
I am so full of hope for you, for C, and for that little baby girl. Keeping all of you in my thoughts.
Posted by: Kath | July 13, 2007 at 06:16 AM
Good luck and it's clear you and your husband will be wonderful parents. Here's hoping everything goes very very well.
Posted by: Lyrehca | July 13, 2007 at 06:28 AM
Jill,
Clearly C choose your family for all the right reasons. I can't imagine that C encountered more compassionate people in her journey to select prospective parents for this child. I am sure that you are giving her strength that her decision is the right one for her and her child. And I agree with you that even if C changes her mind and this little one is not your future child, you will become parents soon. God bless you on the rest of this journey.
Posted by: | July 13, 2007 at 09:49 AM
Wow. Wow. Wow. I am so thrilled and excited for you. You could have your baby in as little as a month. I will pray for you Jill that this all works out for everyone involved. Keep us posted!
Posted by: Kate | July 13, 2007 at 10:47 AM
Whew. WOW! Praying for God's perfect will in this one. (And I concur with the "please post lots of updates" requests.)
Posted by: Salome Ellen | July 13, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Wow, what wonderful news! Keeping everyone in my thoughts & keeping everything crossed that babe is born healthy. Good luck!
Posted by: ericalil | July 13, 2007 at 12:44 PM