It has been weighing on mind how to approach Macii and Tom about scheduling our first visit with them and BB but I didn't want to rush them or pressure them into it.
Well they completely made my Christmas by sending a beautiful photo collage of BB's many expressions and with a text they will be visiting us in D.C. this April! I can't wait! So this is now sitting on my desk at work:
As amazing as Christmas was, it had a few downs. My grandfather and his wife were supposed to join us for dinner on Christmas with my friends. Well my grandfather worries about everything non-stop and often makes himself physically sick. He called and said he was not feeling well and would just drop a few gifts off.
When he stopped by my mom asked him if he was really sick or did he make himself sick and he replied that he had not felt welcome at our house since the adoption. (He and his wife did not stop by the hospital when BB was born and said adoption was unnatural.)
They wouldn't have been invited over if they weren't wanted. They don't have to agree with my decision and I don't have to agree with their opinion, but that doesn't mean we don't want them around.
I just walked away from the conversation. Shortly after my friends arrived and had to walk right into a family confrontation, thankfully they are incredibly understanding!
Is it April yet?
Check out these other blog posts i've been writing:
One of the questions Macii and Tom asked during the phone interview was if I had any family traditions I would want BB to grow up with. I couldn't think of a single one.
As I post pictures to BB's private facebook group, I'm realizing that there are traditions I would love to share with her. This past weekend on Dec. 12 was Wreaths Across America. I posted all the photos below to the page with the message, "Good Morning everyone! It's difficult to get into the holiday spirit
when it's 70 degrees! That is NOT normal for this area in December. One
of the holiday traditions I've had for the past five years is to lay a
wreath at Arlington National Cemetery. The organization called Wreaths
Across America wants our nation to remember our nation's heroes, honor
them and teach others about them by coordinating wreath laying
ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery as well as veterans cemeteries
and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. 241,000 wreaths were
distributed for placement at the graves of the fallen.This year was
particularly special because Aunt Sarah's boyfriend Dan got to place a
wreath at his stepfather's grave."
Tom wrote back, "I
love that you do this! BB and I talk often about the importance
of volunteering, and I'm excited to give her another amazing example.
(Side note: It's a true story that these are the conversations we have. Macii's discussions with her are far more age appropriate.)"
I hope one day we will all get to participate in the event together. It may sound lame, but my heart keeps growing bigger and i'm shown every day that adoption was the best thing for BB.
We shipped a big box of presents to BB, Macii and Tom, I'll post a picture after Christmas is over :)
And a bunch of pictures from Wreaths Across America:
Hair Loss!! ahhh!! The average person loses 100 hairs a day, but during pregnancy you lose far less than that due to raging hormones. Now that the pregnancy is over, the body compensates and loses extra hair for the first six months after delivery. But don't worry -- your hair will soon return to its normal growth cycle. (can that be now? Now would be good.) UGH! It's really thinning above my temples and my forehead, lovely.
I did a few things right after BB was born that I'm not sure I would recommend for others. Two weeks after my C-section I went to my friend's baby shower. It was mostly hilarious with her husband's grandmother telling the best stories and really funny games. I've always considered Jaclyn's family my own. She and I would vacation with each others families when we were college roommates. It was great as always to see her mom and mutual friends we have.
There were a few moments when I was sad, birth parents don't get to have baby showers. I wouldn't get to be in a room surrounded by my aunt and grandmother and friends playing games and just enjoying all the love for the baby I gave birth too. There was also a very adorable little blonde haired girl running around as toddlers do and it made me wonder what BB would look like as she got older and what kind of personality she would develop.
I was also comforted by the thought Macii and Tom would get three baby showers! BB was welcomed into that family with more love than I ever knew was even possible.
A couple of months later in October after my first day back to work, I went to the hospital to visit Jaclyn who had just given birth to her beautiful daughter Emilia who is a miracle. She was born 4 lbs 10 oz and didn't need the NICU or any additional support. She will be two months old on Sunday and is really growing! She weighed in yesterday at 8 lbs. 10 oz. which was BB's birth weight.
I mention all of this because I've spent some time the past couple of days with Jaclyn and Emilia. I'm really grateful to get a glimpse into what life is like with a newborn. I get an idea of what I'm missing out on. It also reaffirms my decision. The exhaustion and the pressure of being responsible for a human life... I don't think anyone can really prepare you for that. I couldn't have done that alone while trying to work. Jaclyn and her husband make a good team and their beautiful happy healthy daughter is proof of that.
Sure, i'm missing out on the first smiles, the first laugh, the first everything, but BB gets to grow up in a much more loving and calm environment with her parents than she would have with me.
Emilia and I hanging out yesterday :)
If you are looking for more to read check out my additional blog posts on Graceful Adoptions' Page:
Today was amazing! You know what the best part was? I found out I have some biases where adoption is concerned, I didn't even realize it, but it came to light and I changed my mind.
I met several incredible single women who wanted to learn about adoption. I realized I never even considered a single person to be the parent of my daughter. I grew up with two parents, I wanted her to grow up with two parents. I wouldn't have hesitated to adopt to either of the women I had an opportunity to sit down and talk to. I had no idea I had a bias, I didn't even realize I felt that way, but now that I do, I can change it.
On my way!
It takes a village to raise a child and they both had amazing support from their families. Whichever child is chosen to be placed with them will never lack any amount of love.
The hard part is how to help them be noticed on the same level a couple would be. The answer would be to have the birth parent(s) meet her, but that in itself can be quite a hurdle.
To those who I got to meet today, thank you so much for listening to my story, but more than that.. thank you for sharing your experiences, your hopes and your fears with me. I shook each of your hands as you left but I really just wanted to embrace you as a friend in a huge hug and thank you for opening your hearts.
Seeing Karen (founder of Graceful Adoptions) and Mark (my phenomenal adoption attorney) today felt like seeing old friends.
I learned so much about foster care and that the children who need the most love will show it in the most unloving ways.
As I shared my own story I realized birth parents aren't really thought of during the process for most agencies and for most potential adoptive parents. I also learned adoptive parents share a lot of the same fears.
The Adoption & Foster Care Expo in D.C. is free to the public and provided an exclusive one meet of adoption professionals as well as current adoptive and foster parents who shared their knowledge and personal stories.
Some of the topics included:
Adoption A-Z
There are many ways to adopt a child, and key steps in the process to foster parent also. Public and private agency experts in the field of domestic and international adoption present all the information you need to know about the adoption process from the home study, training, and placement process.
Exploring the Adoption Options: A Legal Overview
Adoption attorneys outlined the different types of adoption: international, independent, domestic, private agency and domestic public agency. The requirements and process associated with each type of adoption were explored.
Mentoring
Do you want to get involved but you're not in a place to be a foster parent or to adopt? Mentors provide invaluable support to children in foster care. Learning about how to positively impact a child's life through mentoring and hearing from mentors and mentees about the rewards of mentoring was something that was new to me.
Foster/Adopting the Older Child
Hearing from adoptive parents and young adults who were fostered and then adopted as teenagers...what their process was like. Foster parents shared their perspective about the process of loving and letting go, and why they have chosen to serve their community in this unique way.
Preparing to Adoption: A Lifelong Journey
A basic understanding was given about the developmental stages of adoption. Learning about the cycle of grief and loss for children, what to expect after you bring your child home and when and how to obtain post
Also, I meant every word, if you want to talk through your experience and have someone there to bounce ideas off of.. my door is always open to you.
I asked my mom the other night during dinner if she reads my blog. She said she has read a few posts here and there. She mentioned to me that she found it surprising that I write about such personal topics and that i'm so open about anything including very personal topics.
It's true. Prior to this experience, I was a very private person except for those who I was closest with. I don't think my family even knew I was dating Dutch until at least a year into it. My dad was diagnosed with cancer in January, and again except to the very few I was closest with, didn't share that information until April.
I told my mom, "before this experience, I didn't see a benefit to being open. I don't want everyone in my personal business." Now being open has a purpose. When I was in a complete panic over an unplanned pregnancy, I was looking for information and I couldn't find anything to relate to, to help me come to an informed decision, research, personal experiences, you name it. This also serves as something I can re-read to reflect on experiences, it's cathartic and something to leave for BB if it's something she ever wants to read.
When I was looking, most of the information I found was entirely too religious based, others I couldn't relate to, so I decided to share my story in the hopes to help someone, anyone, everyone. Guess what? I even get paid to blog now. I would always just smile and nod at people who would say.. money will follow your passion.
I am absolutely passionate about veterans and helping them get hired, but if I won the lottery would I continue to work 8-4 mon-fri? Probably not.I do love helping people though, and I will talk to anyone anytime about adoption and I'd do it for free. Money does follow your passion.
My mom and I also had a conversation about birth control. I had a procedure done yesterday. I got the birth control implant called Nexplanon implanted in my arm. If you are squeemish, don't scroll down! I had no idea about the implant until talking to my very dear friend Laura, so I want others to be aware of it as well.
Birth control makes me nervous now because the shot didn't work. I very seriously looked and wanted the Essure procedure. It is a permanent, non-surgical transcervical sterilization procedure for women. Permanent. I decided against it, if an unplanned pregnancy happens again, I would go the essure route, but I want to try this so that I have the option to change my mind. I have an option to be a surrogate mother for friends if we decide to go that route, it was a topic just glossed over, but a topic discussed none the less.I have the option to have another child, if I choose to do so, not anytime soon mind you!
I took a sick day from work because I wasn't sure how I was going to feel. I arrived for my appointment. It was really strange being back in the baby doctor office. The doctor who delivered my daughter was the same one who completed the procedure on me. I signed a consent form and was given a shot of lidocaine. I had to lay on the table for five minutes. I freaked out a little bit because I kept poking my arm to see if it was numb. Is it numb now? *poke* nope. It's been two minutes. It is numb now? *poke* nope. Oh my gosh, what happens if they inject this thing into me and i'm not numb?! The procedure took five minutes and I didn't feel a thing. I was told not to lift anything and not to exercise for one week. Well, I took my bandages off before I was supposed to and carried dog food down to the basement. OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! I thought to myself.. YOU HAD ONE JOB DUM DUM! Well two jobs, no lifting and no exercise, but that's beside the point. Note to self: Do not join a running streak when you have a medical procedure at the beginning of the streak. Fail. Although I did get about 98 miles in for the month of October. WIN! I have a lot of pain in my ankles and tightness in my calf muscles when I run now. I just have to keep reminding myself that it will be a long slow process for ligaments and my body to work anything like it used to.
Patience young padawan.
I'm going to WALK on the treadmill tomorrow, I promise. There may be a small amount of running involved. (Put your judgey mcjudgerson face away!) Anyways, here is what it looks like:
Is there a male birth control option yet? I actually like that Nexplanon lasts 3 years, I can physically show the implant is there in my arm and I don't have to worry about forgetting to take a pill. It should be effective by day 5 according to my doctor. This isn't the right choice for everyone, but again just an option that you may not be aware of.
My new favorite part of the holidays? More updates than usual! I asked Macii if she minded that I post these, they are too adorable not too! BB is now 13 lbs. 9 oz. and 24 inches long.
I was just so touched and overjoyed when I received this photo, this is one of the Halloween costumes I sent Tom and Macii. Tom even dressed up as one of the 7 dwarfs!
This is the photo I have of her on my desk at work :)
While I was doing some reading on my flight to St. Louis, several adoptive parents mentioned in letters to their agency wanting to know how their birth mother and her family were doing. It reminds me that it's just as important to share photos from my adventures and family events as it is for them to share photos.
You truly become an extended family, you care about each other. On our Facebook page where we keep in touch, I posted my favorite photos my grandmother shared with me to show BB what her Great Grandparents looked like when they were 18-19 years old.
We spent quite a bit of our time in St. Louis with my grandfather at his assisted living home. He has made a tremendous rebound. I mentioned to my dad how we had been making contingency plans for when BB was born if my grandfather passed away, he would go there and mom would stay with me.
Instead, we got to surprise him with a Christmas gift, a mini-fridge for his room so that he can offer beverages to people who visit him. The family also got him set up with a reclining chair that has an electric button to recline the seat since he no longer has the strength to push the foot rest down.
A month ago we had made a plan to tell him about BB over Thanksgiving. For some reason, I couldn't tell him and hold it together. He would want to meet her and may not understand why she wasn't with me.
I told my dad if he felt it was right, I would like him to tell grandpa. He decided it was not a good idea, that it would just cause more confusion than anything. Dementia / Alzheimers is the worst kind of thief. Could you imagine your family making the decision not to tell you about your first great-grandchild because they didn't think you were mentally capable of handling it? It seems so wrong to me, but at the same time I didn't want to upset him. He forgets how to use tools, how to use the phone, and has a really hard time with understanding time. Why would I want to make that worse for him?
Here he is about 18 years old :)
My grandmother at the same age :)
My grandfather with my sister and I when we were younger.
My Aunt Jan, Grandpa Rich and my dad Rick, Thanksgiving 2015.
I recently wrote a post about the very close relationship I have with my birth mom Erica and her side of the family, this one is about the relationship I have, or lack there-of with my biological father Jeff.
Sharp looking young Marine isn't he?
I don't know why, but I didn't think or wonder about him as much as I did my birth mom growing up. My understanding was that he asked Erica to marry him and offered to raise me together, but she declined knowing they could barely take care of themselves as teenagers, let alone a newborn.
I met him for the first time during that same trip to Idaho to meet my birth mom and her side of the family. My dad never seemed panicked or worried about what my relationship with Jeff was or what it had the opportunity to become. I wonder if he hid that from me, or he just understood that the same way a parent can love multiple children, a child can love multiple parents.
We met at an Outback Steakhouse the last night of our trip. I didn't realize I was pacing in the hotel room until my sister and Reba told me to sit down, that I was wearing tread marks into the carpet.
When we walked up, he was walking out the door. I still have a feeling that had he not run into us on his way out, he may have left. He mentioned wanting to get a few photo albums from the car. During the dinner conversation I learned he was married and had two daughters, but had never told them about me because they were too young to understand. They are both in college now, they still don't know.
We flipped through albums of his pictures from his military days as a broadcaster and later as a country music radio DJ. We took a few pictures and said our goodbyes.
These are absolutely awful quality. Maybe someday I'll find the actual ones.
(Mom, me, Dad, Katie, Reba)
(My biological father Jeff, Me)
(My biological father, me, my Dad)
I met him in a similar situation a few years later at a Red Robin before my flight home. I met his wife Leslie who was very kind and mentioned they were very proud of the person I am. Jeff took me to a store and introduced me to his old co-workers. With a lot of hesitation, I was introduced as a family friend. It was like a punch to the gut.
We became friends on Facebook and I get to see photos of my sisters as they grow up. It did help when I developed little tumors in my sinus cavities to have him and my birth mom to ask about if it ran in their families. That was a first for me! Normally when I was asked, "Does such and such run in your family?" I'd always have to respond, "Well, I don't really know. I'm adopted."
I messaged him in 2010 explaining the diagnosis I had been given along with some additional information on some broadcasting work I got to do at work.
"and if there's such a thing as good broadcaster genes... i think ya passed em down :) with my boss deployed ive been doing the podcast and updating our information hotline... updated it today, and a few other recording type things, ive really been enjoying putting my broadcast writing skills to use!"
and he replied, "I'm glad that everything looks like it's going to be ok. If there is such a thing as good broadcaster genes they were handed down to me from my dad who works radio as well, I'm glad your enjoying it, it can be a lot of fun. Never been to Vegas, but everyone I've talked to that has been has had fun. I'm proud of ya, keep up the great things you are doing."
We messaged a bit back and forth and I asked if he could fit a quick visit into my travel itinerary. He replied, "Hey there! I sure would like to see you, but unfortunatly I will be swamped that time of year, (sports broadcasting) I hope you have a fantstic trip, and with any luck I will catch up to you next time through. I have been having fun keeping up with you reading your posts. your a busy young lady."
I started to send him Happy Father's Day messages, as I would send Happy Mother's Day messages to Erica. That turned into him messaging me annually on my birthday. The last message we sent was a birthday conversation in 2013.
On Sept. 18 this year, this was our conversation:
Reading the story you wrote took me back to when Erica and I had to make the same decision. A little different in the aspect of we were just teens but the same kind of thoughts went into it. She was a very strong woman and had a lot to deal with and I didn't help a whole lot when I look back. I was scared and angry and confused and a thousand other emotions. I have always been impressed with the kind of person you have become. We don't talk a lot because I feel that I played just a small part in your life. Maybe I'm wrong I don't know but I never felt it was my place to interfere in your world, I didn't have the right. But I want you to know that you do impress me Jacqueline, a lot. I thought you should know that.
Sep 18th, 6:14pm Hi. Thank you for reading that. If I remember correctly through a letter Erica wrote...you had proposed and she didn't feel she could take care of herself let alone take care of a baby. (feel free to correct me if I don't have that right) but it does help to hear the emotions you went through to help me understand how someone I dated for 3 years on and off can just stop communicating.
I understand not wanting to interfere, but I do think you having a role in half of my genetics gives you a right to be a part of my life. The most surprising part of this for me has been how much the decision has affected other people. My family has been supportive but I didn't make the decision they wanted. They offered to retire early to help me take care of her. Thankfully I had an opportunity to introduce them to the couple Dutch and I chose, and my parents loved them immediately and could relate to how badly they wanted to be parents.
My parents, sister, friends, Erica, and her family are invited to be a part of my visits with her so she can always have that relationship. (you are more than welcome as well). It's extremely open and her parents philosophy is why deny a child to be loved more? I know the stigmas with a child out of wedlock were much different then compared to now, and heard that Gpa Rob had one hell of a temper about it and how disappointed Gma Mary was. Going through this I realized I don't even know the names of your parents, wondered if they even knew and was thankful you've taken more of a role than Dutch has, he probably won't ever tell anyone and she won't have an opportunity to know him and his family.
I do hold some resentment about your daughters not knowing, but I figured that is your decision and not for me to interfere with. I've read a lot of articles about how closed adoptions are not really possible now because of social media and people reaching out to siblings and biological family. I don't agree that its the best way for someone to find out, but learning how the relationships develop is comforting. I am really thankful for being able to meet you and then later see you and meet Leslie. I also really appreciate you reaching out, I hope nothing I said came off as offensive or hurt your feelings, it wasn't intended to but I do appreciate the opportunity to hear your thoughts and say things that have been on my mind in regards to our own relationship. Also, thank you for the compliment that I impress you, nurture plays I think a larger part in someone's life but the genetic nature part can never be denied.
I've always enjoyed that I ended up in Public Affairs and love being around the old broadcasters, doing radio casts for Belvoir would always make me feel somewhat connected to you knowing your past. So I hope you can take some pride in having a part in that! Also, I know I'm biased.. but we've got some good genes! I've never been a baby person and I think BB couldn't have been more adorable or perfect.
He never replied to that, and heck I don't even know if he read it, but I do know I've been thankful for the opportunity to have those conversations. The opportunity would not have been there without BB's existence.
The part that has made me the most anxious about BB's adoption is that she may grow up having the same resentment towards Dutch that I had towards Jeff. When we were discussing adoption and Dutch was asking me more about my own experiences, I mentioned having a lot of resentment towards my biological father. That didn't prevent him from repeating the cycle, and at least Jeff claimed me and was at the court date. I saw letters between him and the agency asking how I was doing and he would request updated photos.
I struggle the most with how do I even begin to explain to BB that her biological father wants nothing to do with her, through absolutely no fault of her own. Then my friend's voice pops up in my head that sometimes the best thing someone can do.. is be absent.
BB has the most amazing parents and she's exactly where she is meant to be. With a wonderful mother and father who love each other very much and who I know love her unconditionally. I couldn't provide that on my own. If BB grows up resenting Dutch, if she searches him out one day, she would do so whether or not I had decided to keep her.
Kids grow into adults who have all kinds of resentment and abandonment issues, whether they are adopted or not, I hope that the love and security from her parents will prevent her from experiencing any of that, but that may be unrealistic thinking. That's alright, I will always want the absolute best for her.
(The left center photos are the only pictures I had of Jeff, that and a catholic necklace he had given to Erica)
When looking for these photos, I couldn't help but smile and think.. at least history doesn't ALWAYS repeat itself. (What is is about a Marine in his dress blues? Chris and I dated for a bit, no baby though!) Like I said.. I'm thankful history does not always repeat itself sometimes.
