Domestic Adoption - Designated/Identified Adoption Program

Designated Adoption Stories

Our Story is a Pretty Remarkable One..

Eppie and I both are from Indiana and are new transplants to Minnesota, having moved here in February (yes, the heart of a Minnesota winter!) 2004. Our intention was to begin a new life in this state --we both wanted to realize our lifelong goals and dreams that seemed to be too difficult to reach back in our native home.

Family has always been very important to us, and our own journey to start and raise a family had been filled with heartache --one devastating experience after the other. The series of miscarriages, medical issues, and infertility was so difficult on us --there were times when we wondered if we would ever realize our dream to have a child, as one horrible setback, ---each one worse than the last-- after the next took its toll on us.

What was equally traumatic was seeing our immediate family --brothers, sisters, nephews, etc., having their babies with seemingly little problem or effort.

Yes, it was quite hard on us.

But it has always been said that when a door closes, a window opens. In our move here to Minnesota, we knew that we would try exploring adoption, as we were exhausted with the trials of trying to overcome our own difficulties --before we even moved from Indiana, we knew that it was most likely in the cards for us to build our family via adoption.

So it was with this understanding -and deep inner knowing in mind-- that brought me to one day at work, pick up the phone and call a number that seemingly "jumped out" at me --LSS-- and speak with a counselor, who gave me information about an informal workshop on adoption that was to be held that very same week.

And a couple of days later, one bright and sunny afternoon in late May, I found myself walking through the doors of LSS to attend the free informative seminar.

I received quite a bit of valuable and interesting information, and afterwards, filled out the little sign-in sheet with details about myself and husband, and figured on attending the formal workshop in September.

Again.. this was the very latter part of May..

One morning, in mid-July, I received a phone call from a worker at LSS, who informed me that there was a strong possibility that we may be considered as candidates to a birthmother. Our family was needed due to our racial diversity that the birth mother was seeking. This, understandably, came as --and I put this VERY lightly-- somewhat of a surprise, as I fully knew of the different requirements and steps that one must go through in order to begin the adoption journey..

So I let the LSS worker know that "sure, we'd be interested" ---I'm thinking in my mind, "well, this is sudden, but (not being one to look gift horses in their mouths) --I figured "..somehow things would work out --after all, we still had a few months"

Ha!

The first step was that the birth mom would like a profile "could I possibly write one up for her?" I wrote one that very night --and emailed it --along with a photograph of us-- that evening..

Now, I know you're wondering, okay, what's with the "Ha!"? Just wait.. here's where it gets interesting..

A couple of days later we got a call from LSS and they let me know that "the birth 'mom loved the profile, and is indeed interested in meeting you --can you meet with her to-morrow?" Again, I am somewhat bemused and half thinking about how fast everything is going --we are actually meeting a birth mom! Wow Then they gave the most startling information - "oh, and BY THE WAY --she's due anytime now"

(Cue up the sound of crickets in the background)

Can you tell I was floored at this time? --But I was good --I kept my composure like a champ --like I'd been offered potential "instant parent in a jar --just add water" every day of my life..

You're also probably thinking, "well what about Eppie?" Well, let me just say that he simply --like me-- just went with it and took on the reins of the horse that was galloping headlong --faster and faster-- to its inevitable goal..

That said...

At any rate, we were supposed to meet the b-mom the next day --which was a Friday, in the morning.

Well, Friday came, --and we ended up having to cancel this date "--could we possibly make it for Tuesday?" We both gave our okay --we were in automatic pilot mode by now-- and tried to go through our weekend and Monday as though nothing unusual were occurring --like, say, a Stork on Steroids heading directly into our path in a head on collision with us, for instance....

Anyway, we get another phone call that Monday informing us of the change in locale --we were not to meet the birth mom at LSS, as planned, but instead <get this> at the HOSPITAL.. ”She had the baby over the weekend"..

(Shall I cue the sound of crickets in the background again?)

So.. in one fell swoop -- we meet the birth mom and our daughter in the same day..

When we met Kaia's birth mom she was very sweet, and extremely pleased and satisfied that we would be Kai's parents --it was she who named Kaia; Eppie and I both liked the name --as everything had been going so fast, we just didn't know what name we were going to choose and we wanted to honor the birth moms choice. We agreed that we would send the birth mom pictures of Kaia from time to time, and, as our adoption of Kaia is an open one, we left the door open for her to maintain contact, via letters, photographs, and such.

We then went to meet our little daughter.

Words can not express to you the depth of the total mind blowing phenomenon of "one day no baby.. next day, BABY!"

Or the experience of seeing a tiny little peacefully sleeping face.. or the first feeding from a tiny, tiny bottle.

Not to mention the total whirlwind and flurry of activity that surrounded us in getting the home study--fingerprints--fee payment--car seat--formula---diapers-etc., etc.

Everything happened so fast --that souped up stork didn't leave us much time to do anything --we hadn't even a pacifier!

Needless to say, it has been one wild ride --little Kaia came to us with a mind of her own --she just parted the waves like a little mini Moses.

I tell her that she will just get a kick out of her story, because she impacted everyone around her --my supervisors at work were along for the ride, as well! All they knew was that their quiet employee all of a sudden became a Mom out of the blue. --they were great as well --even giving me paid time off so that we could bond.

Anyway, that's kind of the gist of the Story of Kaia.. Everyone at LSS were all wonderfully supportive.

At the time of this writing, Kaia is five months and will be at the half year mark this coming February 1st. Kai (that's her nickname) is very outgoing --she loves to smile and laugh, and she totally charms everyone who lays eyes on her.. She has a large family of cousins, uncles, aunts, and godparents, grandparents, etc., all of whom compete with one another to spoil and nurture her --Kai, being the little Leo that she is--soaks it all up happily and is quite pleased to be the center of so much love and attention.

I tell you... I really believe it was she that really helped put all of the events in motion.. Having her and being her Mom is the most natural thing in the world --and her little personality is so large --I really feel she was meant to be --in the manner that she came to us.

By Robin, Eppi and Kaia