It's about love!

One of the reasons that I wanted to do a blog is to share our adoption story. We are also hoping to adopt another child and this is one way that birth parents can get to know us. I don't know where to start besides adoption is the greatest thing in the world and it has blessed our life in so many ways.
When we first found out that we would not be able to have kids it was the hardest thing in the world. We cried for hours just holding each other. That day we knew that we would not thy any of the infertility treatments and that adoption was the right thing. Nate and I wanted to be parents more than anything. There were many times that I would see a new baby and I would just cry. Not knowing how long it would be before I could hold one of my own. I remember when friends or family would call to say that they were pregnant and I had to fight back the tears. One mothers day I was asked to speak in sacrament meeting. I just couldn't do it, I had to tell them no. What would I say? Would I just talk about how much I wanted to be a mom? I think that I ended up skipping Church all together. That was always one of the hardest days of the year. We would also pray each night that our baby would find us. And she did!
Our prayer were answered threw the most amazing girl, Shaleena (Shea). She contacted through email in June of 2006. We email back and forth a few time then she wanted to meet us. I don't think that we slept for days before. We didn't know what to think. Would she like us? What does she look like? While she choose us to be the parents of her baby? The questions just kept coming. We met her and her mom at a restaurant and everything went great. She was amazing. She just seems to know everything she wanted in life. She had so many goals and such determination. It seemed like we knew each other for ever. We talked for a couple of hours and then went our separate ways. Nate and I walked out of the restaurant hand in hand, crying. She hadn't said that we were "that couple" yet but it felt so right. We went home and like a little teenage girl I started thinking of names we could name our little girl. I always wanted to name my first girl Korey kay. Kay is my middle name. Now if Shea choose us I wanted to name her after both her moms. I wrote down kaylee, Kaleena, Alee kay, And Aleena Kay. I know that I am crazy she hadn't even picked us yet.
Two days later on July 4th Shea called us and said that her mom had some more questions for us. We met her at the city fair and had snow cones. As we sat around a picnic table and talked Shea said "I have a present for the two of you" and handed us an envelope. In it were all the ultra-sound pictures of her little girl. She said this is your baby girl that I am carrying. We just held each other tight and cried. I could believe it, was this really happening? Nate just kept squeezing my leg so tight. I had bruises from all five fingers. Our next three months became very crazy tying to get ready for a little one.
Our friendship with Shaleena began to grow. Talking on the phone, email, out to dinner and even to get pedicures. To me Shaleena seems like the little sister that I never had. Talking to her is so easy. We like so many of the same things and love to just have fun and be little kids.


At 3:00 am on October 4th Shea called us and asked us to come and pick her up. She was in labor. I never imagined how amazing an open adoption could be. We went and picked her up, Nate ran every red like and was speeding the whole time. We spend 7 hours in the labor room joking, watching movies, and little sleeping. Seeing Aleena be born was two big for words. A miracle, Amazing, Emotional, Self-less, A blessing, Priceless, and very Spiritual. The tears didn't stop for days. So many different emotions. As Nate and I held Aleena we were so happy, but at the same time hurting so much. I handed Aleena to Shea and we held her together for what seemed like eternity. Looking at her little hand, feet and her cute little lips. I can't imagine the pain that she was feeling. Part of me wanted to say I can't take this child out of your arms again. But I know that is what she really wanted. We spent many hours laying in the hospital bed together talking, laughing and crying. I loved when I would see Shea smile so big when Nate was holding Aleena. He would totally be unaware of everyone around him. That would just reassure me that she know that her choice was right. Shaleena was defiantly sent to us. She is an amazing girl and a great friend.
Then came that sleepless nights and I have to say I loved every minute of it. I did also take naps alot during the day. Aleena is so wonderful. Now we look at our life so different. What in the world did we do before we had Aleena? She fill our life up so much. Now our trial of not being able to bare children is a blessing. We would not have this beautiful spirit in our life if it wasn't for our trial. We know that someday (we hope soon) more children will come into our life through adoption.


So as we have our papers in to adopt if you know anyone that is thinking about placing their child keep us in mind. It is now 2:30 am so I need to get some sleep but I will write more later!!