More Background...

I have no children, but hope to be blessed with an adopted baby girl, less than 18 months old, from Russia. I thought about a baby from Ethiopia, but am concerned about future problems as a multi-racial family. I have decided that I need as many things on my side as possible, in order to give me the best chance of a successful adoption. In my opinion, special needs children are outside of my skill level, and a younger child will help reduce attachment disorder and adjustment problems.

I started the process in June 2005 by contacting a social worker in Madison and working through the home study process. I then gathered documentation on my health, finances, insurance, guardianship, taxes, employment history and references from friends and family. I also had several back-ground checks completed. I submitted my dossier to the Russian Ministry of Education on December 13, 2005, and was told that the wait would be 8-10 months. I thought the wait would be easy.

Back in September, I received a referral for a 15-month-old girl. She seemed physically healthy but developmentally very delayed. Throughout the adoption process, I’ve been warned to expect delays because the children are institutionalized. However, she had more delays than normal. Institutionalized children typically have one month of delay for every three months of age. The little girl was able to sit independently, but wasn’t making any attempts to crawl, stand, or walk. After agonizing over the details, I decided to turn that referral down and wait for the next one. I felt terrible turning her down, and hope that she will find a home with a family that is prepared to handle a special needs child.

Typical medical reports from Russian baby homes (orphanages) are misleading, and I am trusting my agency and God to lead me. I will work through developmental delays with the help of early intervention programs. I know that they will assess Grace and provide therapy to help her catch up. I hope she will thrive with good nutrition, nurturing, and love.

Motherhood...

Overall, I see a giant change to my life, one that I am looking forward to. I hope to feel more joy from the care and nurturing that I will give my child. I hope to build a family that will grow as years go by. In my opinion, the most important job in the entire world is raising a child, and I would like to have the opportunity to make an imprint in the life of my little girl. I hope that she will grow to be a responsible, respectful adult. Of course, I hope that she will have the same interests as myself, but I also plan to expose her to as many opportunities as possible. I would like her to travel the world and meet as many people as possible. She will surely spend lots of time with her extended family, learning and loving from all of them.

I hope that this adoption will give us both a new opportunity for happiness and comfort. I want to be the world for Grace. I want her world to revolve around me. I want to love her and be loved in return. I want to watch her sleep. Sing her lullabies. Take care of her. I want to be the mommy. More than anything, I want to be a mother.