Domestic Adoption
One April Day by Michael and Dani
I had known from an early age that adoption would be the way for me to build a family. Thankfully, my husband, Michael, agreed, and fate led us to Adoption Associates, Inc. During a search for adoption agencies in Michigan, AAI popped up first, and the next day I met one of AAI’s host moms at my doctor’s office. We eventually decided that AAI’s biracial program would be the right fit for us, and we adopted our daughter, Mason Jane, in 2003.
We soon hoped to adopt a sister for Mason through the same program, but then one day in April of 2006, our plans changed.
The Phone Call: April 10, 2006
It began as a typical Monday evening with a casual dinner at a local restaurant. My husband, Michael, our nearly three year old daughter, Mason, and I were waiting for our meals to be served when we received the phone call that would so dramatically change our lives. I stepped outside to answer, and on the phone was Sara, our AAI caseworker. Sara had been our caseworker for Mason’s adoption, and when we began the process to adopt again in the fall of 2005, we requested to work with her once more. Her friendly, easygoing personality and incredible knowledge of the adoption process made our journey from home study to placement an amazing and joyful experience.
Twins?
After a brief catch-up conversation, Sara asked if, even though we were hoping to adopt a biracial sister for Mason, we might consider biracial twins, a boy and a girl. I answered immediately—ABSOLUTELY! She explained that the twins had been born three days earlier and were currently in host care. The birth mother would be reviewing profiles over the next several days, and either Sara or the birth mother’s caseworker would get back to us with her decision. I thanked Sara for the call and excitedly went back inside to share the news with Michael.
Chosen
Two days later I was cleaning up my desk and getting ready to head home when the birth mother’s caseworker called with the wonderful news that Michael and I had been selected to parent the twins. She gave me all of the available details, explaining that the birth mother was not interested in meeting the adoptive parents and that she was scheduled for court the following Wednesday at 9:00am. If all went as planned, we would bring our babies home in less than seven days!
It’s Official
We spent the next several days trying to prepare for the babies while remembering that until the birth mother signed the paperwork, nothing was certain. This meant telling only our immediate family about the twins and talking in “what if” scenarios with Mason. During this time, we had the opportunity to meet the twins at the host home and even attended their doctor’s appointments with their host mom, Kathy, who is truly one of God’s angels. The following Wednesday, we met Betsy, AAI’s casework supervisor, in her office at 9:30am and learned that the birth mother had just signed the release that morning. We would be bringing our twins home that day!
Adjusting
Because the placement happened so quickly, the transition was initially a bit challenging for Mason. There was no opportunity to prepare her for the changes our family would experience. Thank goodness for Dora the Explorer, whose family became a model for us to use when explaining our growing family to Mason. For those of you not “in the know,” Dora is a very hip cartoon character with a twin baby brother and sister.
Mason soon grew accustomed to the twins, and today our children are all good buddies. As the twins are crawling and taking their first steps, they are both hot on Mason’s trail.
A Year Later
It is hard to believe that nearly a year has passed since that crazy, wonderful week last April. Our son, Chase, and our daughter, Spencer, are growing so quickly and doing really well! They have such unique personalities and are incredibly happy, content little people. Even though it has been such a short time, it is difficult to imagine life without them.
Blessings of Absolute Joy
People often ask about the challenges of raising twins, and some have even questioned our sanity for embarking on this journey with a three year old and two very busy careers. The response is always the same: it takes a lot of love and a good sense of humor, but adopting these children has made our lives so incredibly complete. The fun and absolute joy that we receive daily from the twins outweighs even the most trying situations. In the balance of it all, we have come to accept a few things:
We will never again get out of the house on time.
We will never again go anywhere without people asking questions about the kids. In our case, this is probably exacerbated by people seeing two Caucasian parents with biracial children, but this gives us the opportunity to share the joy of adoption with them.
The price of formula, diapers, car seats, strollers, etc. times two is not for the faint of heart.
BUT, in spite of these challenges, we would do it all again in an instant, and we would also encourage others to consider adopting multiples or sibling groups. We have been so incredibly blessed by this opportunity.
For Others Considering Adoption
Adoption Associates, Inc. is the right partner. Even though AAI is the only agency we worked with, we think that they are in a league of their own—from the services provided for adoptive parents and birth mothers to the knowledgeable, compassionate staff and the host home system. It is the best agency by far.
Also, be sure to ask the team all the questions you have, go to the meetings, meet other adoptive parents, talk to the birth mothers, and then just have faith in the process. It will all be worth it in the end.
More Information
For more information on domestic infant adoption, please visit our domestic adoption page.
