[FurBaby]

Julie it's so great to hear from you, congrats on your adoption news. Please do keep us posted.

Hugs,

[meremere]

Julie Julie Julie!!!!!! Oh my heart is so so so full for you!!! I jumped when I read the title of your post and yelped enough to startle Jason........... oh Honey I am so so so so so so happy for you and I pray that this is a fast and pain free oppertunity for you! I expect pictures when you have him/her! ( personally I think boys rock go figure!)
we all love you Gemma!

[frymomma2b]

Oh congrats sweety. THat would be wonderful! That would be strange to not know your due date lol. I know you have been through alot but sometimes God leads us in directions we never thought we would go. How amazing to be able to provide a home for a child that needs it.

[Anastasia]

Julie - This is so wonderful to hear. I am so happy this door opened for you, I hope you get your baby soon!

[Kari]

Julie,

I hope your wait goes quickly! I know what it's like to not have any idea when you'll get the call to say you're going to be a mom. It will be the greatest surprise of your life!

We brought our little one home a month ago and it's been the most rewarding month of my life! Interacting with our son....seeing his first smile, and watching him turn his head when he hears mom and dad's voices ..... is worth all the years of heartache we've experienced!

I'm so happy for your wonderful turn of events - keep us posted!

[J*e*n*_78]

julie- that's awesome!! Congrats on waiting to adopt!!

[Gemmabean]

I got our "scrapbook" all done this weekend. The hospital wants to see who we are, where we live, who our family is etc. Lots of photos we were told.

It goes in the mail today.

I have told my office but DH doesn't wanna tell anyone. He is afraid it won't happen for months. I think it could happen any day. We don't have ANYTHING and I think we need a few essentials (Pack and play, infant carrier, etc). DH wants to wait until we get the call, but we will have to go to CA ASAP when we get the call, no time to buy stuff (esp since everything is at least 1.5 hours from us!).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

We aren't going throuh and adoption agency, it will be a baby that is abandoned at a hospital.

Homevisits will come later.

Any idea what type of papers we'd need to take with us? Medical records? etc? I think we need a bag packed, just like waiting to go into labor...

I'm trying to take one day at a time, but my mind likes to think and plan ahead! :P

thanks again for all your support! It's much appreciated!

Love and hugs,
Julie

[Tatanka]

Hi Julie!

I do not have any advice for you, but I want to wish you good luck and hope your dream will come true soon!
I am so happy for you!

[jenedens6102]

Julie, that's wonderful news. I'm sure your "scrapbook" is perfect too. As for the essentials, I agree that I think you should get at least a few things out of the way. While it could be any day it could also be months but either way you WILL be parents and need to start preparing. Hey, most mom's have 8 months to prepare and believe me you need it all. A crib, a pack n play, the infant carrier, a stroller, the diaper bag, some unisex clothes, etc. Even if it's just one item at a time while you are checking things off a list, it's a start. Best wishes as always!

[Gemmabean]

I'm starting to freak out. Thinking of all the things I never thought of. Having a baby as been so far out of reach for so long.

DH asked how much it will cost to add a baby to his health insurance at work and they said $225. Is that normal??? I just had no clue!

I know families with less income than us have managed, I'm just starting to feel overwhelmed. And the not knowing WHEN we will get the call is frustrating to say the least.

Has anyone else had experience with such a non-traditional type of adoption?

Thanks again for all your support and encouragment!

Love and hugs,
Julie

[jenedens6102]

Julie, depending on the insurance program yes that can be very normal. If I would have had Ethan while working for my past employer it would have moved us from the employee + one category to the family category and that was an increase of $300. However, it wouldn't matter from that point whether I had one child or ten, the coverage would be the same. Here luckily it's free for me and $35 for my dependents, again whether it's just DH and Ethan or three more kids in the future. Can't beat that.

[vbaby]

Julie, I am so thrilled for you and just thanked God for the way he brought this out for you!! Please give us updates!!!

[Gemmabean]

Over $200 to add a baby to my health insurance too. I will have to get a 2nd job, DH already works 6 days a week.

Will we still be allowed to adopt if we are working that much???

Oh ugh...

[meremere]

Oh Julie, I am thinking of you with all of this! I would not go into the additional cost of insurance with anyone if you can help it. If they ask then show them where you can cut costs, ie cable tv, car-pooling to save on gas ( even if you already to they do not know that) nights out ( even if they are few and far between) until you can show in a budget where you can ge the extra money. Also thankfully the insurance will be taken pre-tax so you will have less taken out of your check in taxes because of it. If you save for 401K and what not try to change the amount you save JUST FOR A SHORT WHILE to help abosorb the cost of a new born. But always go back to it as much as you can as fast as you can.
There are always places you can "tweek" a budget, but the main thing is you will have the long awaited well planned for and much loved child in your arms, home, lives and heart! That is the big picture that you have to look to and you my friend will make Mother of the Year of that I am sure! Hey wait that means you will beat me out of the prize........... ok we have to break it down then you will make Mother of the year in your state.......... Washington state is my award ( my DH says so!) YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

[jenedens6102]

I agree with Meredith, Julie don't get too wrapped up in the cost of insurance. It's a necessity and I know you'll do whatever is necessary, wherever you can, to make sure that everything for your child is covered. We've given up our cable, only have cell phones - no land line, we rarely go out to eat, to movies, etc. Any sacrifice on my part is well worth it when I see Ethan's smile at the start of every day. No complaints of what I've given up, I can do without those material things.....Ethan, I can't go without!