6th Status Update & Approved!!

Well, here it is almost mid-April which means it's been 6 months since we've started to be presented to BMs. We haven't heard anything more than a peep since right after New Years from any BMs....which has been really difficult to endure. BUT we are excited that Summer is coming because we have a ton of activities planned, starting with this weekend: Going on the Yakima Valley Spring Wine Barrel Tasting Tour!! We pretty much have atleast 1 trip (mostly small, local trips) planned each month. I hear that our "CALL" will come when we least expect it....so here's to keeping our minds busy with travels!!

As far as being presented, we were presented to 5 BMs: 3/16 ~ S: Hasn't chosen a family yet; 3/18 ~ T: Has fallen off the radar; 3/25 ~ N: Hasn't chosen a family yet; 3/29 ~ S: Hasn't chosen a family yet; 3/30 ~ D: Hasn't chosen a family yet.
Hopefully one of these selfless ladies will choose us to parent their child. We are so so ready to be parents!! Dan has been mentioning (every time we are around any baby/child) that he's so ready.....it still stings to hear those words since I am uable to have any control over making that dream a reality for him...BUT I have learned (through wonderful friendships and support) that it's NOT my fault, as much as I really feel it is, that we don't not have a baby yet. A big HUGE THANKS to my support system (YOU know who your are)!!! You've helped me in ways that a blogged/written/spoken "thanks" is not enough to show my appreciation.

On another note, we recieved our Home Study back and BIG SURPRISE......we were APPROVED!! LOL!! We will be sending that over to AdoptHelp to add to our file. That way we will be presented to BMs who are further along in their final trimester. That last few BMs that we were presented to had between 4-8 weeks left in their pregnancy, so that should give you an idea of "earlier".

I wish my readers well and thanks for following along in our journey!!

5th Status Update & a Crib!!

Well, we have received our 5th monthly status update:

2/4 ~ Marta: Matched with a Family

We were only able to be presented to 1 BM due to the fact we ran out of profiles. Like I said in the Feb 17th blog, we ordered 15 more profiles to be printed. AdoptHelp has received them and we are good to go...hopefully we won't need to print anymore (it's kinda spendy).

We bought our crib tonight!! I have been kicking myself for the last 2 weeks that I didn't buy "the" crib when I had a chance (it was regular priced $529 @ JC Penny, then went on sale for $349, THEN went to closeout sale of $279....and I waited to buy.....now it's clearanced out, for good) =0(
Then I heard about this local baby boutique store (The Baby Daily) that is going out of business (actually closing their doors on Saturday) and I dragged, err, I mean brought Dan with me to check out what they had and how great the sale was, since it was a boutique-type store I was pretty skeptical of the pricing. We found a crib that was displayed (which was only a display for less than a week due to the fact they are clearing out their warehouse)!! We purchased the Bonavita Hudson Lifestyle crib in chocolate!! Dan is picking it up tomorrow after work...best part, he won't really have to put it together!! Here is a picture of what it looks like...I will post what it looks like in the nursery later.

www.bonavita-cribs.com/products/cribs/lifestyle/hudson-lifestyle-crib_3.html

And here it is.....the crib in the nursery!! =0)

I hope this blog finds you happy and well!! Even though we need all the happy positive thoughts we can get to have our lil' Locklear find us.....we'd like to share those positive thoughts and send them to those who need it more than us (You know who you are)!! HUGS!!

Nursery Update!!

Well, here is an update to the Nursery!! Like I'd said before…we wanted to keep the main color gender neutral so when we find out the gender of our sweet bundle of joy all we have to do is add accent color!! So, take a look at the room so far (of course we will replace the twin bed with the crib once we purchase it).

Dan built the built-in cabinets (the bottom portion will have doors and he is currently working on finishing the shelves), the board & batten, aka wainscoating which has a 4 inch shelf instead of the typical chair rail (we also place the shelf higher than a normal chair rail), and the crown molding (which we copied this idea from a friend – we placed the molding about 2 inches below the ceiling and then place dimmable rope lighting inside for ambiance and a "night light"). I did all the painting…which included base color, measuring, drawing and taping off all the lines and the touch-up (which is not fun).

4th Status Update

Guess what....We're still waiting.....
When will it end?!? Hopefully soon!! =0)

Status Update: 1/12 ~ Kelly - Hasn't chosen a family yet; 1/12 ~ Angela - We were her 3rd choice; 1/17 ~ Julie - Chosen family & in the process of being matched; 1/28 ~ Autumn - Hasn't chosen a family yet; 1/28 ~ Gina - Matched with a family
AdoptHelp sent out all of our profiles, which means we were possible matches to 30 birthmoms. We contacted our printing company to print 15 more profiles to send to AdoptHelp for potential matches (hopefully we won't need to print anymore).
We have also been added to another adoption website for more exposure. Check it out:
www.adoptionplanners.com/choosefamily3.php?id=195

We are still waiting to have our home study approved. Other than that, that is all I have to report on the Adoption front....

~ HUGS & LUVS ~

Feelings & tissues

So Dan and I are getting a little impatient. It's been a month and a half since the last time we were picked and even though we've only been selected twice, the timeframe between them was about a month. I keep hoping that today is the day we get the call....We're still waiting.....

Well, as I was looking through some other adoption bogs I came across this video. It is so completely moving and oh so TRUE to most of the feelings I have been through or are going through.

**Warning: If you chose to watch this video, please do so with a box of tissues**

4th Status Update

Well, we just received our 4th status update (for the month of Dec) and we are still getting a good amount of interest so...YAY!!

Here's our status update:
12/2 - Amber: hasn't chosen a family; 12/2 - Erin: hasn't chosen a family; 12/2 - Diane: hasn't chosen a family; 12/3 - Elaine: hasn't chosen a family; 12/14 - Leonore: "has fallen off the radar"; 12/30 - Stacey: matched with a family

Although we are bummed that we are still waiting, I keep reminding myself (along with my mother, Miss Vicki) that it will happen when the universe deems it right....Miss Vicki has been a great sounding board through this experience. I love the way her face (and my dad's face) lights up when they talk about my adoption story....they were out of town and "back then" there were no cell phones so they were out of touch, finally they were reached and overjoyed. My parents tell me that adoption was so different back then....they got to see me right after I was born and then had to WAIT THREE MONTHS until I could come home to them...talk about learning the value of patience...LOL!! Well, as mom and dad remind me of my adoption story, I look at Dan and I and think....WE CAN DO THIS!!

I know I say it in about every post I post BUT....THANK YOU so much for being so supportive in our journey to our family!!

Emotional Roller Coaster

Well....here we are again....we were PICKED again a few weeks ago and we were so SUPER excited because we thought it was the perfect match. So here's the story....

It was a Friday evening when we received the call, again we were so stunned and giddy!! We waited and waited for AdoptHelp's case worker to email us the information on the BM. We LOVED the whole situation and the Birth parents!! We actually got to talk to the BM over the phone and it was amazing!! We were nervous, scared...didn't know what to expect but we ended up talking for over an hour!!
Well, long story short, come to find out our BM wanted something completely different than we did with regards to visitations with the child after finalization of the adoption. So, a few days later, we were notified that the BM is seeking out other families to fit her visitation requests. Which is fine because we all want to be completely comfortable with the entire situation before all of us get too vested emotionally.

I'm not gonna lie....it hurts to have this match fall through but I know that our baby is out there waiting for us and we will welcome with open arms and warm hearts!!

THANK YOU all again for supporting us during our family's journey!!

Status Update for Nov & Dec

Hi all!! I'm sure you probably think I forgot all about my blog....well, that's not entirely true. As most of you know, I (Becca) started my new job November 2nd and just haven't had the energy to get on the computer...so guess I better update you, huh?!?

2nd Profile Update ~ 10/5 - Christina (matched w/a family); 10/12 - Kim (hasn't chosen a family as of Nov 10th); 10/13 - Laura (matched w/a family); 10/13 - Amelia (matched w/a family); 10/13 - Cherice (hasn't chosen a family as of Nov 10th); 10/27 - Crystal (matched w/a family); 10/27 - Jessica (hasn't chosen a family as of Nov 10th); 10/27 - Catherine (matches w/a family).
Again, we were picked beginning of Nov (see blog entry: Decisions, Decisions...DECISIONS).

3rd Profile Update ~ 11/30 - Laura (hasn't chosen a family as of Dec 8th); 11/30 - Amanda (matched w/a family)
We were actually picked again.....(please see blog entry: Emotional Roller Coaster)

We had our Home Study visit last Sunday and it was...um, interesting to say the least. BUT it went GREAT!! We have to finish up some of our paperwork and then it will be COMPLETE!! Another thing that will be complete.....is the NURSERY!! We have worked so hard on it and can't wait to show you our creation for our lil' Locklear!!

Well, now that I've updated you....I hope your holidays were filled with love, laughter and joy!! I wish you all happiness, peace and prosperity in the New Year!!

Decisions, Decisions...DECISIONS

How do I begin to write about this, other than coming right out and saying it!! Dan and I were PICKED!! I was in the middle of cooking dinner one night and my phone rang. I looked at the number and thought "oh great, a telemarketer is calling me" (it was an 818 number) and YES, I do occasionally screen my calls...who doesn't...LOL!! Anyway, I decided to answer it anyway, the gal on the phone didn't sound like a telemarketer so I was instantly engaged in what she was saying and then the words came out......"You and Dan have been PICKED!" My heart started pounding so hard I thought it was going to jump out of my chest!! I stopped making dinner, ran upstairs to where Dan was and shook him like crazy...he gave this look like "why did you just do that and acting so crazy"!! I started mouthing the words "it's the call!! it's the call!!" while pointing at the phone!! He got this look of "OMG, is this really happening".
So we listened to what the case worker had to say. She informed us of all the details of the BM and possible Birth Fathers...yes that is plural. She said to give her 15 mins to gather all the info she just told us and compile it to an email. That 15 mins felt like an hour! We finally got the email. The email included light history of BM, her parents and siblings, her health, the birth fathers status, a picture of herself (which Dan referred to as a total Facebook profile pic) and an ultrasound picture and a list of her possible expenses. The ultrasound picture was the sex determination one....and it's a Girl. The case worker told us to review the info and get back to her with our decision.
The Decision: After careful consideration of all aspects of the BM match we decided to decline the match. This was probably one of the HARDEST decisions either one of us have EVER had to make. Here we have the chance to give this little girl a good home and we were rejecting her...also, what if this is our 1 shot and we get put back into the pool and then end up waiting over a year.....our conversations regarding the match was FULL of ifs.
We feel good with our decision and the case worker assured us that we will get picked again and it will probably be soon. As for the BM, the case worker assured us that they are working with her to find a good match for the BM and her situation.
So....here we are again, waiting for "THE CALL". The next time, we will be ready and not so shocked and hoping that it will be a good fit!!

1st Status Update

Well, we have received our first status update on how many times our profile has been shown to birth moms. Here is what our case worker emailed us on October 8th:

"Here is your September status update: 9/14 ~ Racquel: hasn't chosen a family yet; 9/15 ~ Ester: matches with a family; 9/15 ~ Evi: hasn't chosen a family yet; 9/17 ~ Blanca: hasn't chosen a family yet; 9/29 ~ Samantha: hasn't chosen a family yet; 9/29 ~ Kim: hasn't chosen a family yet"

Now keep in mind, our caseworker received our profiles (birth mother letters) on September 14th....so in 3 weeks we were shown to 6 birth mothers. We feel that is a good start!!

We are in the Home Study stage now. Our first home study step is to gather all our required paperwork, then we will have our home study case worker come and visit us in our home.