Brianna Marie

After several years had gone by, we had settled into our lives and I had kinda gave up on ever adopting again. One afternoon my sister and I were sitting visiting and the phone rang. It was the sister in law of some of our friends, we were friends also, but didn't talk that often. She asked if Don and I were interested in adopting again. I was floored! I said YEA, of course we would be. My sister was standing there in shock. We just hugged and cried. Her daughter was working with a lady, and her daughter was young, pregnant, and wanted to give the baby up for adoption. I said please, let her know we would love to adopt the baby. Their daughter, Jess, called me later and explained the situation to me. She was confident that she wanted to do this, the baby was due in about 4 months. Due date of Sept. 11th. Jess called consistently letting us know how things were going, how the doctors appointments were going. Things were going right on track. I was scared and leery. It seemed things were going a little too well. We had our attorney get things going. Now we just wait, and wait. We hadn't heard what the baby was going to be, like we really cared, but the birth mother hadn't had the desire to know. She had taken very good care of herself, and was just disconnected from it. I probably would be too in her situation. We know nothing about the birth father. He wasn't around and so our attorney had to deal with the legal issues that involved. The birth mother decided that she wanted to meet me before the baby was born, I agreed. Just waited on a time that was good for her. I was working one afternoon about a month before the baby was due. Jess called me, and said they had done an ultrasound today, it was going to be a GIRL! I was so excited! On my lunch break, I ran and got a big pink baby foot balloon that said It's a Girl! and a little pink teddy bear, I ran over to where Don was working. When I got there he was on the roof of a building he was working on. I jumped out with the balloon and yelled for him. He couldn't get off the roof fast enough! We were so excited! It just made things more real, and we could get prepared for the baby to come. Jess gave me the ultrasound pics and other items that the birth mother had passed along through her. We still hadn't been able to meet. A couple weeks went by and we got a call one evening that she may be in labor. We were sitting by the phone all night, but no call. I called into work and told them that I wouldn't be in that day just in case. Later the next morning Jess called and said that she was in labor, and that the birth mother wanted to know if I wanted to go into the delivery room. I would love too! I anxiously got myself together, called Don, told him to meet me and Cole at the hospital. We called our attorney, he ran to the hospital to meet with the birth mother. Apparently they had all the documents there and signed. Jess called just as I was pulling into the hospital, there were some complications and they were taking the birth mother to surgery for a c-section. I wasn't going to be able to go into the delivery. I was disappointed, I won't lie, but the excitement far exceeded the disappointment. Don met us in the waiting room. Jess came and sat with us. All of the sudden, we see this baby come into the nursery, a newly delivered baby, but was it her?? Then we see our pediatrician walking over to her, checking her out. He looked at us through the window, and I said is she ours? He nodded and gave us the thumbs up! Don and I just started crying. She was perfect! We watched them bath her and bundle her up and lay her in the bed in front of us. I wanted to hold her so badly. My sister and nephews came and shared the moment with us. There was another family there awaiting their new arrival and I started talking to a lady standing next to me. They were looking at their bundle of joy who was laying next to ours. She realized that we were adopting this baby girl and was so excited for us. The stories of adoption can be such a special thing. Some people can't understand it, but most get really emotional and excited when they hear your story. A while later, she came walking up to me with a bag of clothing. She wanted us to have these things. It was a sweet gesture from a total stranger. Later on that afternoon, our attorney came to us, the papers were all signed, the birth mother was recovering well, and we could go and see our baby girl. The attorney had legal custody of her for the time being, and we were only allowed one bracelet to go and see her. Cole wasn't allowed in the nursery, so sadly he and Don sat outside the door while our attorney walked me in. They have a sitting room off the nursery. They placed her in my arms for the first time and I cried again. I walked over to the door and showed her to Don and Cole. Cole was upset that he couldn't come in, and it broke my heart. I told him that he would be able to hold her soon. I went into the sitting room and just held her, starring at her. She was so beautiful. After a short while I gave her back to the nurses and we just watched her through the window for a while. Later that evening, my sister took Cole and Don and I went back up to see her. They allowed Don to come in the nursery with me, and we sat with her. Watching Don hold her for the first time was magical just like the first time he held Cole. We held her for hours. The nurses finally came and told us that the birth mother was asking to see the baby so we had to hand her off. That's a scary and nervous thing. But, I was glad she was bonding with her, she had to know this was right for her. We had to try and prepare ourselves just in case, like with Cole, she changed her mind. I went back the next day and sat with her for a short time. The next morning we were going to be able to take Brianna home. I took her a special outfit and blanket. Don, Cole and I went to get our baby girl. I went down to the room of the birth mother and slowly walked into the room. I introduced myself and we small talked for a few moments. She seemed to be doing well, and feeling pretty good. I then asked her if she was still OK with everything, and she said yes. She explained that she knew this was the wrong time in her life to have a baby, that she wanted more for her. I thanked her for giving us such a precious gift. She said she was happy that she could do this for a special family that deserved a baby. It was so surreal. I told her if she ever wanted to know anything, pictures, all she had to do was tell Jess and we would be happy to send them to her. She thanked me. I asked her if I could give her a hug, she said yes. I hugged her tight and cried saying thank you so much. We then met with our attorney, I went into the nursery, dressed Brianna and we left the hospital. Out attorney had to carry her out of the hospital, being the guardian at the time. He handed her to us, and we took her home! What an experience it was. Those same emotions were there like when we brought Cole home. Brianna was and still is a very happy, smiley, bubbly little baby girl. She's a delight. Cole has been a great big brother! Of course she gets on his nerves. She "bugs" him like little sisters are suppose to do. Brianna turned 2 recently and she's a smart little thing. She has a huge vocabulary, repeats just about anything you say. I remember when she was about 1 1/2 years old, one morning I went in her room to get her up and she jumped up in her bed and said " mommy, Joshie caught fishie in da pond"! My parents live on a pond and the boys go fishing all the time. I was floored at that big sentence coming from this little baby. I sit and watch her on the baby monitor when she first wakes up, she sits there and talks and sings. It's precious.

John, Wanda and Dean have taken to her as if she was truly their own. Dean told everyone at his school that he had a new baby sister. They love her dearly too.

Brianna's birth mother asked for a picture shortly after she was born and we sent her one through Jess. We haven't heard from her again. I've asked periodically how she is doing and am told she's doing well. I pray she is. I hope she is blessed and comforted knowing that Brianna is loved so much by all of us. She should never doubt that she made the right choice. And I can't thank her enough for what she did for my family.