ADOPTION UPDATE – Please read (or skip to the bottom of the page for the short version)

So, everyone always ask how things are going with our adoption, if we have heard anything, etc.

First of all, let me explain how the adoption process works these days, it’s not your grandma’s adoption process anymore. Throughout the years of studys it has been proven that children who have some connection with their birth parents are more emotionally stable and have a better understanding of who they are, etc. Therefore, most adoptions these days are what are called “open” adoption. This basically means there is some connection between the birthmother (and/or birthfather) the adoptive parents. This connection can be anything from photo updates to actual visits throughout the year, etc.

Because adoptions are now more open, the birth mother has more say in who raises her child. Not only has the mother made the tough and right choice to give birth to her child, she now wants the best home for her child. Also, the adoption parents have a say as well in the child/ parents they are willing to be paired up with.

So here are how things work, the agency gets a prospective birthmother who comes to them. They gather a lot of information about the birthmother - medical history, education, family background, etc. The more information the better. The same is compiled for the birthfather. This information is then forward to all the waiting families with the agency. After reading all the information sent to them, families then need to reply either “yes or no” to each profile opportunity that comes to them.

The agency then shows 5-10 profile books of prospective adoptive families to the birthmother/father. Each adoptive family complied a profile book that shows them off to others, giving perspective birthmothers an inside look at who they are. Birthmother will then sometimes pick to meet with adoptive couples before picking a couple for their child.

Sometimes if the birthmother doesn’t want to look at profile books, the agency will choose the longest waiting family that is open this adoption.

Anyway, we have had our profile book given to a few perspective birthmothers, but have yet to be picked; that was until last Wednesday. Last week, Heidi and I received a call from our Agency about having a sit down with a couple whose profile we replied “yes” too. So, we had a sit down over dinner with the couple and a social worker from the Agency to get to know each other a little better, and to answer any questions that might come up.

Heidi & I spent nearly 2 hours, talking with a delightful couple, answering some wonderful questions / concerns the birth mother had about the future and safety of her child. Heidi & I left dinner feeling good, but we didn’t know where we stood in regard to everything. As we were driving home from Milwaukee, we stopped for coffee only to receive a phone from our social worker, that the couple we met with chose us. That’s right, “we were chosen!” This means that we will be welcoming a new child into our home in the very near future.

Our son is due October 20th, a week before Peyton’s 11th birthday. Both Peyton & Lorelei are excited about welcoming a brother into our home. As are Heidi & I, however, we all know that a lot can still happen. The birthmother could change her mind at any point up to 4-5 weeks post birth, at this point the parent’s rights are terminated and we are then basically for all purposes parents to our new child.

Therefore, we are asking the following:

• 1) Please keep us in your prayers.
  Not just the Yaw family, but our unborn son, and the birth parents. This is an emotional time for all people involved.

• 2)  As we near the end of our adoption, we face some of our final big cost. If you would be so willing consider making a donation to the Yaw Adoption Fund and buying a Puzzle Piece as we wait for our missing piece.

• 3) We will be starting to gather items that are needed with having a baby. If you have any items we can borrow or purchase from you, please let me know.

 

SHORT VERSION

“We have been chosen!”

We will be welcoming a son to the Yaw Family come October. Our son’s is due Oct. 20th.
We are excited but also realize that anything could happen between not and the due date.
We ask for your prayers as we prepare for our adoption.