Pictures

Here are some pictures that the adoption agency has sent us.

More Details - and bad timing

Adoption can be such a roller coaster. We had saved up almost all that we needed to adopt a baby girl in Atlanta Georgia. We applied for a grant from http://www.giftofadoption.org/ to cover the remaining amount, and we received preliminary approval. But by the time that had happened, the baby had been born and the birth mother had changed her mind about placing the baby for adoption. It was a difficult time. We decided to try adopting through the foster care system, and began moving in that direction. In the meantime, we had some family medical expenses that were not covered by insurance and all but depleted our adoption savings.

Then one week ago today, the adoption agency in Atlanta called and to tell us that they had a baby in their care who had been born on the 19th of October. The birth parents had signed away their rights, and the 10-day grace period required by Georgia law had elapsed. The agency had lost contact with the birth parents (phone disconnected, address invalid), and the social worker thought that we would be the perfect family.

So we contacted the Gift of Adoption and told them that we had been matched with a new baby but that we also had no savings. We would be able to cover post-placement expenses and finalization costs, but not the placement itself. Today we found out that the Gift of Adoption has granted us $3500 to adopt this baby. The previous placement was going to cost $4000 plus interim care (interim care is $30 per day beginning when the baby is released from the hospital and ending on the day that the baby is placed in our care). That cost is up to over $300 so far, but Nathan was placed by the same agency and they reduced the interim care fee for him. We also obviously have to travel to Georgia.

We just found out late today about the grant, so the Agency in Atlanta was closed when we called to let them know. So far we do not have an exact figure for the placement fee, but we are scrambling to get together as much money as we can. I sold the big screen TV, and the patio furniture and the Bowflex are for sale. To anyone who may read this, we are open to donations and personal loans. We are selling baby blankets at http://adoptionBlankets.etsy.com, but that has been very slow.

We ask that anyone who reads this will pray for us to make this placement happen. We are also open to suggestions of other ways to raise money.

Baby Boy

We were recently informed by Bethany Christian Services in Atlanta Georgia of a baby boy that is in their care and was born on Oct 19. He has Down Syndrome, and the birth parents have signed over their rights and left the picture. We are working on getting a grant to cover the placement fee so that we can adopt him. Pictures to come soon.

The birth mother of the baby girl changed her mind about placing the baby for adoption.