Monday, November 17, 2014

Our Miracle Baby

Written by Heather
 We are beyond excited to be expecting our 3rd baby in March. After 3 cycles of IVF and a very scary start to this pregnancy, there was a point when I didn’t think we’d make it this far ever again. We had a very small chance of this pregnancy continuing in the beginning due to a huge SCH bleed that was pretty much taking over my uterus. For about 7 weeks, we were told on and off that I was most likely going to miscarry, but one thing is for sure, this little baby is a fighter! I was at the doctors every few days to monitor the bleed and every time this little baby would surprise us with that little heart beat! I can’t even express how sick with nerves I would get anticipating seeing that little fluttering on the ultrasound, then hearing the sweet sound of the heart beat. I was pretty much an emotional wreck for those few weeks! At 10 weeks we were so surprised to see this on my ultrasound…..


…this is about when things started getting more positive. I love hearing my Dr.’s excitement on the ultrasound! She couldn’t believe that this baby made it though the rocky start to this pregnancy.


I am now about 21 weeks along with a healthy baby girl and we couldn’t be happier! My boys are so excited to be getting a baby sister!! Its been a really hard couple of years trying to get this baby here and its all been worth it!!

Monday, November 3, 2014

Always Meant to Be Yours

November is National Adoption Month.  To kick things off, Carter's birth mom, "E" has graciously offered to share her story.  We couldn't love her more and are so happy she is part of our family. - Alli

Always Meant To Be Yours
Carter seeing "E" for the first time since he was born. 
If you would have asked me 5 years ago if I would be sitting here writing my placement story, I would have looked at you funny because I never wanted to be a mother. I did what I wanted and I made plenty of mistakes. I loved going out with my friends and didn’t have a care in the world. All of that quickly changed for me and now I want nothing more than to be a mother. I won’t get into the details about how I got pregnant because I am sure everyone has heard how that works. After I found out I was pregnant I was in total shock. The questions “What will my parents think?” and “How can I care for this baby?” continued running through my mind. I barely made it through work that day and when I got home I still couldn’t believe it. 

I waited a day or two before I told the father. “J” was never my boyfriend, he was just a friend and I enjoyed his company. I text him and said it was very important I talk to him. He kind of blew me off but I was persistent. I finally got a reply back “Are you pregnant?” I replied “Yes, and we really need to talk” It was like word vomit, he starting sending text after text. “I can’t afford to support this child” “I thought you were on birth control”. I then realized that I would be going through this pregnancy on my own. I felt so alone at that moment but I knew I would find the strength. “J” finally came to talk to me days later. We sat on opposite sides of my bed and I just cried until I couldn’t cry anymore. He told me that I should “take care of it”, and I was offended that he would even mention abortion. I was so angry with him yet I still wanted comfort from him. He gave me a hug and held me for a minute. All I wanted to do was scream at him but I kept my composure and let him leave. I never saw “J” again. Getting some legalities taken care of was a struggle with “J” and so emotional for me. I was sure the stress would make me lose the baby but my little peanut stayed strong for me. He then willingly signed his rights over and I never heard from him again. I no longer needed contact and he didn’t want it. It was sad for me. Not only had I lost a friend but I was alone while I made one of the hardest decisions of my life. Even after placing almost 2 years ago, it makes me so upset to think that he will never see this beautiful angel and never cared enough to know him. 

But moving on; it was right around Christmas and I had to tell my parents the news. I took my Mom and Dad into their bedroom; I immediately started crying and told them I was pregnant. My Father paced the room and I saw the disappointment in his eyes. I kept telling him that I was going to place my baby for adoption. Both my parents told me I needed to really think this over. Weeks went by and a friend of a friend had heard that I was considering placing my baby. One of her old college friends in Utah was looking to adopt. I knew she would be contacting me but I just couldn’t pick up the phone when she called. She left me a voicemail with the information of the couple. I listened to it over and over. I felt emotions that I had never felt trying to decide whether I should contact them. I finally got the courage and looked at their blog. They were a beautiful happily married couple. I can’t count on one hand how many times I looked at that blog. Finally I contacted them. I didn’t know what to say but somehow found the words. There was no pressure to make a decision with them and we spent the next couple months getting to know each other. I fell in love with them immediately. I found out I was having a baby boy and I immediately sent a photo to “A”. She was so happy for me and I just couldn’t wait to tell her the news. 

On March 28th I sat there on my couch typing an email telling them that I had made the decision to place and that I knew they could give him everything I couldn’t. I had chosen them. It was scary but I knew I was making the right decision for this precious little angel that was coming. I got the sweetest email back and I then felt a little bit of peace. I knew they were the ones. Even though I was carrying this baby I knew he was always meant to be with “P” and “A”. Months went by and I went to my weekly check up.   My doctor did my exam and told me that I couldn’t physically delivery my son and that I should schedule my C-section. My body was at wits end and they had an appointment for the next day so I scheduled it. I called my boyfriend Joshua while I drove home and he got it arranged with work. He stayed in the hospital room the whole time with me. He was my rock through this whole 9 months (It is amazing how life can bring people together). I couldn’t believe tomorrow I would meet my sweet boy. And while I was happy to meet him I also was scared. I text “A” and asked how quick could they get to Arizona? I won’t get into details but little “C” arrived on August 9th

Seeing him for the first time was a moment I will never be able to recreate. I was amazed that I had created this little miracle that was lying in my arms. He was a beautiful baby. I was sitting in the room when his parents finally arrived. The joy on their faces when they saw him was beautiful but in the back of my mind it was bittersweet for me. I let “C” stay with them every night because I didn’t want to take this moment away from them. I spent as much time as I could with him and every time I looked at him I just fell in love all over again. The love a mother feels for their child cannot be described. 


The last day came quickly and it was one of the hardest days of my life. I asked my family to leave because I couldn’t handle my own emotions and be strong for them. I held my little “C” and I kept thinking. Am I going to be able to walk away? Will I be able to do this? I gave “C” one last kiss and handed him to Joshua (who now happens to be husband). I watched him place him so gently into his bed and I asked his parents to come back in. We hugged each other and just cried. It was such a beautiful moment but I felt sadness I had never felt. 

I drove home holding Joshua’s hand tight and cried the whole ride home. When I got home I sat on the couch and cried until I couldn’t cry anymore. I never thought I would be able to smile again. Signing the adoption paperwork the next day gave me heartache but in the back of my mind I knew that this was the best decision for little “C”. He deserved so much more than I could give him. I received a beautiful necklace the day I signed the papers from “C”’s parents. I carry that necklace with me everywhere I go. I carry him with me everywhere I go. “P” and “A” both wrote me letters but I couldn’t get the strength to read them. When I finally did it was pure joy. Those letters reassured me that I had made the right decision. They were everything “C” needed and were going to be the best parents in the world. 

I love my open adoption and being able to watch him grow. I look at him in awe everyday and am so thankful I am a part of his life. I will probably always have good days and bad days, but seeing “C” can change that frown upside down. This experience is something completely new to me but I love everything about it. I am such a proud Birth Mother and love “C” more than I could ever describe. I am thankful for all the sadness, heartache and tears I cried. Everything was worth it because “C” is exactly where he was meant to be.
Carter and "E"'s husband.

Carter and "E"