RE: It s a girl...

[startx]

 
A little catch up for those that don t know.  Our youngest one, the 11 month old,  is not our child by birth.  She is the child of a family member that was taken because of in-utero drug exposure, and we are raising her.  We have had her since she was two months old, and she was a preemie.  We had some rough going in the start, but now she is a happy healthy little girl.
 
 She has a new baby sister as of today.  She was born this morning, and although she is three weeks early she appears to be healthy and pretty good sized.  We are now waiting to see if she was also exposed to drugs, and what will happen from there.
 
 We are probably crazy, but have decided to raise this little one too if she is taken by the state.  We just cannot turn this baby away, after accepting one.  We also believe it will make it easier on both girls as they grow up knowing they are blood siblings etc.  I would imagine there is some comfort in having someone else in the house that has the same situation as yours.   We of course love the first as our own, as do the children, because now, she is our own.  Doesn t matter who gave birth to her, she is our baby, just like the two I gave birth to.  I have no idea how we are going to pack another baby into this house, but if we have made the right decision, then I m sure a higher power will help us carry it through. [8D]
 

[birol]

 startx
You are doing such a good thing by taking the new sister home. It is rare that people do sacrifices like this, this is a life time commitment and will help those two girls tremendously.
 
 I congratulate you on your new baby and wish you and your family  health wealth and lots of fun filled days. God bless both of you.
 
 Birol
 
 
 

[Gamecock Camper]

 startx
Congrads to the both of you.  My DW is also adopted, so I know how important it is that you are able to adopt a child who needs a proper home.

[Ab Diver]

 startx
Brian and Barbera-
 
 You post stirs such strong emotions in me. Joy, happiness, gratitude...
 
 Your actions show the very best we can be. The love you give to these children will change their lives in so very many good ways they can t be counted. I salute your courage, character, strength, and inner beauty. It s not going to be easy, but the end result will be more rewarding than you can possibly imagine at this time. Congratulations on a new baby girl!
 
 Thanks for making my day.

[wiininkwe]

 startx
Children born under the specter of that drug use have a very hard time, and these two are so lucky that they have you in their lives to help them along when things go hard, and to shower them with love and most of all to give them that sense of self worth they need.   I have the utmost respect for you and your family, and am proud to be able to say that I know you.
 BTW, I am an adoptee that had to go searching at the age of 45 to find a sister and a brother that I was separated from in infancy.  It really is important to have those connections, to know that someone  out there  shares biological connections with you.
 T
 []

[NightOwl]

 startx
Oh, Barb,like you,  we all realize  that the mere act of giving birth doth not a mother make.  Motherhood is a matter of the heart and THAT IS THAT no matter whose body a child springs from!  You are truly a mother to this little girl and I know you will be to her sister, too.  It is often said, where there is love in a home, there is always room for one more.  Bless you for  uplifting all of us with your  open-heart.

[Acts 2:38 girl]

 startx
Startx, I just want to say, " Thank you "  to you and your husband for having such wonderful, open hearts.  A lot of people out  there will not even consider adoption or foster care, and it s thier loss.  I think your a great Mom, and I ll pray that God will give you the strength and patience you will need.  []

[whippetwrun]

 startx
There is always room for another member of the family!  You are very wonderful people, and obviously have more than enough room where it really is needed - in your hearts.  The rest will work itself out.
 
 Congratulations!

[midwest_camper]

 startx
Wow....
 
 
 
 Brooke, Joan, Ethan & Gannon
 2000 Astro
 1999 Jayco Eagle UDK12

[Kelly]

 startx

 

ORIGINAL:  startx
 I have no idea how we are going to pack another baby into this house, but if we have made the right decision, then I m sure a higher power will help us carry it through. [8D]
 

 [font=" comic sans ms" ]I m sure, too.  
 Whippetwrun is right ~ there is always room for one more.  And you will get lots of help from that higher power and from all your friends and relatives.  Blessings to all of you and enjoy that new little one!
 
 And you know what else?  They are all yours ~ they became that the moment you claimed them as part of your family...[/font]
 
 

[startx]

 startx
Thanks everyone for your well wishes, it was a tough decision.  We feel heavily burdened to make sure we don t ask for too many sacrifices from the children we already have.  We want them to be happy another little sister has come to live with us, not feel burdened by the sacrifices we will all make.  Everyone knows how expensive a baby can be, at least this time though, we already have the gear, I didn t get rid of anything since I knew the birth mom was pregnant again.
 
 I really needed people to tell me we were probably doing the right thing.  I don t know if I can t see how hard taking the first one was on us or not, but some of our friends and my mom didn t think we should take another.  Not because we aren t good parents, but because they thought we were taking on too much.  I think we can handle it though, lots of people have four or five kids, and they seem relatively sane!

[GeneF]

 startx
quote]lots of people have four or five kids, and they seem relatively sane! [/quote]
 
 May you stay sane throughout the years with the family.  The joys of parenthood often outweigh the troubled times.
 
 Material sacrifices may have to be made but the joyous gains will always be there.
 
 My best to you and yours.
 
 

[tlhdoc]

 startx
I wish you all the best.

[C. Hains]

 startx
God bless....He will provide....strength, courage, all those things you and your family need!

[Gatsmommy]

 startx
Barbara,
 I m sure you will make the decision that is right for your family, not what everyone else says. I grew up in a family with 5 kids, and we re all relitivly sane and so are my parents. My mom actually says that 5 was easier then 3. I m very close to my family and would love to have a large family myself, we ll see. DH says 2. I ve " talked"  several families on line who have babies that we re drug addicted at birth and most of them say that by school age they have caught up to their peers in most areas.
 
 Congratulations
 Beth