On January 17th, 2004, we received the eagerly awaited phone call that our son had been born.  We were supposed to get this phone call in MAY not January.  Ty was born 15 weeks early.  He had an 83 day NICU stay and the entire journey is detailed in "Mama's Diaries" located on top menu bar.  Begin with Jan 2004 wk 01.  Following is Ty's adoption story written before his premature birth.

We feel so blessed that the Lord chose us for two very unique and different adoptions.  The first was a Snowflake Embryo Adoption – what a joy it was to get to carry Tanner.  After loosing all 10 of Tanner’s siblings in first trimester miscarriages though, I did not have the heart to continue down that road. 

I have wanted to adopt children for as long as I can remember.  When Jim and I were dating we discussed having one biological child so that I would have the opportunity to carry and then after that we would adopt the rest.  Little did we know this was very close to what God was planning.  It makes my heart secure in realizing that He often prepares our hearts in advance for the great things He wants to do in our lives. 

When we looked into domestic adoption years ago, both Jim and I were very perplexed and concerned about entering into an “open” relationship with our child’s birth family.  As the years passed, we went from confused and concerned to educated and excited!  We decided that an open adoption would be best for us, our child, and the birth family.  I have prayed over the last few years for the woman that we would one day adopt from and asked the Lord to bring the woman of His choosing, one that we would love and one that would love us.

On December 9^th, 2003, after waiting for 6 months (officially) we received the call!  A birth family had reviewed our profile and wanted to meet with us.   This meeting surpassed anything I could have hoped for.  Jim and I were drawn to this young birthmom immediately and her family.  There are many similarities between us and we are looking forward to a loving relationship between our families. 

They are a precious Christian family determined to make a choice of love for this little boy.  I have been told that love is doing the best for someone else regardless of the cost to yourself.  Lovingly placing a child into another family is not a decision made lightly.  From my past experience as a crisis pregnancy counselor, it was the most mature, unselfish and loving young women that chose adoption.  The one’s who placed the needs of the baby above all else.  Jim and I feel honored to know and love this family that has made such a self sacrificial choice.  Because we love them, our hearts will mourn the loss they face yet we rejoice knowing that we could never receive a greater gift.  What a privilege it will be for Ty – two families to love him all his life. 

At the beginning of our infertility journey I often quoted Deirdre Hall in saying “Infertility is like giving up your dreams – one dream at a time.”  After years down this road though, I would now say that God lovingly gave us new dreams.  Dreams we will see in the eyes of these two little boys.  Never could I have dreamed this big.  Infertility has become my greatest blessing and I wouldn’t change it for all the world.  Thank you Lord that your mercies are new every morning!  A new day has come…

Celine Dion, having experienced years of infertility, wrote a song that has deeply touched my heart.  Every time I hear it my eyes fill with tears.  I could have written these words in regards to my boys as well.  My boys….do you even know how exciting it is to get to type those words?

A New Day Has Come

Performed by Celine Dion

I was waiting for so long

For a miracle to come

Everyone told me to be strong

Hold on and don’t shed a tear

So through darkness and good times

I knew I’d make it through

And the world thought I had it all

But I was waiting for you

Hush now

I see a light in the sky

Oh it’s almost blinding me

I can’t believe I’ve been touched by an angel

With love

Let the rain come down

And wash away my tears

Let it fill my soul

And drown my fears

Let is shatter the walls

For a new sun

A new day has come

A new day has come

Where it was dark now there is light

Where there was pain, now there’s joy

Where there was weakness, I found my strength

All in the eyes of a boy (of two boysJ).