Adoption Update

I think most of you are aware that Jill, Kate, Josh and I were anticipating the arrival of an adopted baby boy later this month. This past Friday night while we were camping as a family in Midway, we received a text message from the birth mother that she was in labor at a hospital in SLC, asking us to come and be with her. Jill and I left Kate and Josh with our family members who were camping with us and rushed to the hospital to be with the birth mother and her family.

Throughout the night as we visited with the birth mother, birth father, their parents, their grandparents and friends who were also there, everything looked positive for the adoption to go through. We felt privileged to be a part of something so incredible. The baby was born on Saturday morning just before 7 a.m. and Jill and I were able to spend some time holding him. We left the hospital after a while on Saturday morning to give the birth mother, birth father and their families some private time with the baby before adoption placement, which was to occur Sunday afternoon.

Late Saturday night the birth mother texted Jill and me and told us she was not certain whether she could go forward with the adoption. She then texted us early Sunday morning and told us that the birth father and she had decided not to place the baby for adoption.

As some of you know, this birth mother picked Jill and me as prospective adoptive parents when she was only a few weeks pregnant. Consequently, Jill and I and our kids have essentially lived much of the pregnancy with the birth mother through all of the ups and downs of being pregnant in high school, facing an uncertain future, not knowing if she could place the baby for adoption, but believing it was in his best interest under the circumstances. We met with the birth mother and birth father four or five times during the pregnancy, spoke on the phone, e-mailed, and Jill and the birth mom texted on an almost daily basis. In the process, we grew to love this birth mother as a friend, as well as anticipating the arrival of the baby.

Although this is a very hard thing for Jill and me, we have much to be thankful. We’re not certain whether we will try again—this was the fourth failed adoption in the past year-and-a-half, and by far the most difficult.

We have appreciated the kind words and constant inquiries from many of you during these past few months. We are also grateful for the many prayers that have been offered on our behalf. We feel extremely blessed to be surrounded by such caring and supportive friends and family.