Puzzle, Post Placement & Infertility

I don't think I mentioned in my previous posts how much we raised with the puzzle so here it is!

 

 $6,750!

 

That's incredible!  That is nearly half of our total cost! We paid just under $10,000 up until placement of our Lil Man. Now we have 5 post placement visits from the agency in 6 months.  Each one of these has a small fee (about $60 each time) involved for mileage to come to our house.  Many of you may be asking why this has to happen since we were already approved to adopt.  The state of Texas does not finalize an adoption until 6 months has passed.  That means we do not have a birth certificate, social security number or anything of his that has our last name on it.  Right now he still carries his birth mother's last name.  At 6 months we will receive a court date to finalize the adoption. This is a fun court date though so no worries! It's a formality really.  Once we have those papers we get everything changed to Joaquin Zavien WEIR!

Can he be taken from us before the 6 months? Not from the birth mother, but if the agency were to see us or our environment as unfit, it's possible. That's why they have the visits.  No worries there=)

 

Here's a flashback to NJ's day in court!

 

slept through the whole thing=)

 

On to other things.....

 

Infertility..a word that stings like a bee to many women, but it's been on my mind a lot.

 

Recently, it seems that many women close to me have been or are going through this struggle of infertility and ALL that comes with it.  At this point in my life, I can honestly say that I am thankful for my infertility. Notice I said 'at THIS point in my life.'  This was not always the case. The 2 1/2 years leading up to Natalie being placed in my arms were not easy years. But the Lord saw us through.  Month after month of negative pregnancy tests were heartbreaking. But the Lord saw us through.  The 80 + friends that became pregnant during those years with their first, second, third, and fourth children were gut-wrenching at times. But the Lord saw us through.  The roller coaster of emotions involved with the IUI decisions, then the adoption decisions were difficult. But the Lord saw us through.  During this time of my life I became closer to the Lord than I have ever before.  It was the first time I completely let go of MY plans and gave them over to Him. And WOW has He blessed me with two beauties!  My point is I would not have made it through this journey without my relationship with the Lord. Now I'm not talking about  going to church and praying like so many 'Christians' flippantly discuss. I mean a relationship with the Lord. He alone brought me through a time of despair.  If you do not know the Lord like I speak of, please contact me as I would love to share.

Do I wonder what it would have been like to carry a child? Sure.

Do I imagine what mine and Brian's children would look like? Sure.

That's normal. That's expected. But it is not a yearning for me anymore. I simply wanted to be a mom.  And thanks to two beautiful, brave birth moms, I am.

 

I share my heart for two reasons.

1. I am an open book and love to share my story with others if it helps. I feel like God brought me through this for a reason, and I want my testimony to bless others.

2. I obviously have a heart for adoption and want to open people up to this possibility in their own family!  HOWEVER, I do feel like adoption is a calling and it is NOT for everyone so I never want to push it on anyone.