Another GREAT story

When Matt and I had been married for about a year we started trying to get pregnant with our first child. I went off birth control and the very next month I was pregnant. We were so happy and excited and couldn’t believe how fast everything was happening. When I was 8 weeks along I started cramping and bleeding and I went into the doctor’s office and they did an ultrasound and we found out we were having a miscarriage. We were so devastated and were told that it is pretty common, so we forged ahead and a couple months later we tried again and became pregnant for a 2^nd time. We miscarried again, this time at 7 weeks along. I was terrified to even get pregnant again because I didn’t want to go through the disappointment of another loss. I was very lucky to get pregnant a 3^rd time about 5-6 months later , and with the help of my doctors I was able to carry to full term and deliver a healthy baby boy. Our son Max’s pregnancy was a rough one and I spent the last trimester on bed rest due to pre-term labor, but I was very grateful to have him and it was worth all the trials. When Max was a little over one we decided to start trying for a second child and we became pregnant and we were optimistic that this pregnancy would be like Max’s and would work out. Everything went smoothly and we made it safely out of the first trimester and we were so glad to be adding another child to our family. When we getting close to the 5 month of pregnancy I started spotting and bleeding off and on and my doctor couldn’t really find a reason for it. I knew something wasn’t right but they sent me in for an ultrasound and the baby was healthy and had a strong heartbeat and was moving and kicking. I was so relieved. A couple of weeks later we were touring the Parade of Homes and I started cramping really bad. I thought it was ligament pains so I didn’t say anything to my husband and we continued touring and then I finally told him I wanted to go home and rest. When I got home I went to the restroom and was shocked to see I was covered in blood ( I just thought I was sweating) and Matt rushed me into the ER. The ER dr checked me and then sent me to get an ultrasound and the baby was still looking great, and healthy. I was confident that all would be ok. It was a relief to see a heartbeat in the ultrasound. When I got back to the ER the Doctor (insensitive jerk) told me I was already dilated to a 4 and that I was going to lose my baby and then handed me some pain medication and said.. it will probably hurt, and then walked out of the room. Shocked I sat there for 10 minutes unable to even grasp what he had just told me. I went home and tried to sleep but there was no way I could. I wanted to talk to my OBYGN to see what he would say. I called first thing in the morning and he had me come right into Labor and delivery and I stayed there until the afternoon when we delivered a baby girl. She was only alive for 30 seconds before she passed away peacefully in my arms. Our hearts were broken and we buried our baby Anna a week later. Spiritually it was an amazing experience for us, even though it was a heart-wrenching one.

To make a really long story a little bit shorter, we lost two more pregnancies after losing Anna. I needed time to heal and to take a break from thinking about our losses. I really wanted to pursue adoption. I have always had a testimony of the miracle of adoption and I was so excited to get all of our paperwork done. I sailed through the paperwork and 6 weeks later we were approved. We had signed up with parentprofiles.com and we went online on Dec. 2^nd and we were contacted by an expectant mom on Dec 8^th and we emailed back and forth until the end of December and then I drove to meet her for lunch. We hit it off right away and it was such a great feeling when she officially chose us to adopt her baby girl. She still had 3 months left and so we kept in touch and I was even lucky enough to go to an ultrasound appointment with her. Our beautiful baby girl was born March 27^th 2007 and was placed with us on April 1^st. We have an open adoption with Ava’s birthmother and we talk, text email often. We try to get together for visits every 3 months or so and we love having such a great relationship with her. We couldn't imagine our life without her in it.

We just finished our paperwork for our next adoption and we are hoping it will be a smooth journey to our next child. Thanks for letting me share our story. Check out our blog at www.domesticgoddesslaura.blogspot.com J

Laura

November...Adoption Celebration Month

November is Adoption Month. I cannot go by without posting about adoption and the amazing blessing that it is. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father's plan....for ALL of his children.

Little over two years ago, ours lives were changed by adoption. I have so many thoughts on the topic and have felt at times that as a result of our experience, I am here to sing out to the world, so to speak.

There are reasons for everything, and adoption has been the most blessed learning experience we have had, not just for the sake of being able to be parents and have our lives blessed with little dears, but for so many other valuable lessons in life.

We have learned charity for others and knowing that no matter what ones situation is, with the right direction and love, blessings do come. We have learned a little patience for what is in store for us. I say 'a little' because I am still learning patience. We have a greater understanding of Eternal Families.

Open adoption has been a new road we have traveled. Of course adoption itself was new for us, but having an open adoption with Kya's beautiful birthfamilies has been an eye opening experience. I know at times some wonder if we are doing the 'right' thing by being open, and others wonder if we have Kya's best interest in mind, and even others feel our decision was not the best decision. All I have to say is, 'this is a road we are traveling, one step at a time'.

First and foremost, Kya and her little brother, are number 1 priority when it comes to 'best interest'. They will always be the most important people to us and when it comes to their stories and who they are and where they came from, that will come as it is supposed to.

We love our birthfamilies and we love our families, and the way we see it...ultimately...we are all one family.

I am not here to "preach", open adoption is not for everyone or everysituation. I am just grateful that we have been able to have this experience with our daughter, thus far. I thank my Father in Heaven every day for Kya, adoption, temples, eternal families and the families that allow us to be a family hear on earth.

This post was a lot of journaling, and some celebration, but mostly....unconditional GRATITUDE.

ONE LOVE

Thank you to all who support adoption and all it entails.

Dear Kya,

You are so precious. Your beautiful eyes share so many of those who love you and whom you have touched. When first we talked about having a family, I know as every parent, we wanted to be blessed with someone beautiful, loving, caring, sweet and many others attributes. But never did we dream that you would be all, 100 times, and so much more.

Both your beautiful birthparents have a song for you..."my wish for you"...and this letter is My wish for you. I wish for you to be happy, to love someone, to always be warm. I wish for you to always feel safe in our arms, for you to be giving and serve others, and to feel the love of your Savior everyday. I wish for you to love those who gave you life and those who showed you the world. I pray that you will always know who you are as a daughter of God, where you came from and where you are going. And in the process of this crazy and wonderful journey, that you will enjoy every moment you have here, every person you meet will remember you for your smile and eminating light you have.

Words really cannot express the love I have for you or the gratitude I have for adoption. I wish for you to always know....
Mommy loves you!

Love Mommy and Daddy