[mom2j&d]

Your story was so touching and beautifully written I feel as if I were in that hopital with you!

I am an adoptive mom of two boy who are bio brothers. Your story is like a combination of my two adoptions. I remember walking down the hall to her hospital room when my first son was born. I was so nervous and practiclly sick to my stomach! We walked in and she said "Are you Debbie?" I said yes and the rest was easy. My son was in his bassinett next to her bed and I couldn't even look at him, I was so afraid. She noticed my hesitatiion to pick him up and finally said "would you like to hold your son"? I couldn't beleive my ears. MY SON! I didn't know I would ever hear those words. We spent three days together and on the last day we also took an entire roll of film of her and our son. It was a very emotional day, one I will cherish in my heart forever!

Our second adoption was a bit different. We found out from our attorney when she was 7mths pg and she was hoping to place with us. We were both nervouse and excited. My som was only 14mths old and I was not even thinking about another baby at this point but we knew this is what God had planned so we of course said absoultly!! From the moment I spoke to her on the phone I could tell things were different. She seemed nervouse all the time. I just took it as we haven't spoke in a while and we both need to catch up! She had just received my son's 1yr pics from her mom so we had that to focus on and brag about how wonderful he is!!

She kept missing doctor appts and would call me afterwards and say she over slept. Finally, I called her and asked her why she only went to the doctor once this entire pregnancy? (at that visit we found out it was a boy!) She broke down and told me she was using heroine and had been most of the pregnancy. I was shocked. She always need to straighten some things out but for the most part she had a good head on the shoulders and this was, well, I was speechless. She cried and I cried with her. She kept asking me if I hated her and of course I didn't, I love her and I wanted to help her.

I spoke to my doctors as well as doctors they recommended that specialized in drug exposded infants and found out that heroine is an opiate drug so withdrawal could range from mild to severe but the baby would definitly suffer from some!

The last two weeks went by in a blur and when she called to tell us it was time my dh and I held hands as we got on a plane to greet our second blessing! To make an already very long story short. We arrived in time for delivery and were blessed to witness that miricale for the second time. He was withdrawing pretty bad so they only let us hold him for a minute. His bmom and I held hands as we waited for the doctors to give us an update. They said the baby was suffering sever withdrawal but didn't see any other health issues! We were both nervouse and relieved. Our birthmom wanted to be released right away so the next day after signing papers she left the hopital. My son remained for two weeks and finally after talking with my pediatrician they agreed to release him under his care. The night before we were to take him home we took her out to dinner to say our goodbyes. Earlier that day we all had to meet with DCFS which was emotional for all of us. The next day we got on a plane with our new little one anxiously waiting to introduce him to his big brother!

The first six weeks of methadone treatment were rough but today he is a happy, healthy, very intelligent 11mth old boy who is the absolute light of our lives! He is trully our miricale!