This is Who We are!!

So this is who we are! But how did he and I become a we? Picture it Hanover, Virginia, May 2015, I had just started a new job and was on a home visit with my supervisor. The purpose of the visit was to introduce me to the new families I would be working with in early intervention.

I walked in the home and to my left was an adorable little boy who was "W" sitting and flapping his arms in excitement, greeting us as we came into the home. Jaden was in foster care. The foster family was adopting him at that point but six months later I found out that this had changed. Just like I remember the day I met him, I remember this day as well. I wondered out loud when his adoption would be final and my supervisor shared that the foster family had changed their minds. I walked over to my computer, googled the Department of Social Services' number and the rest is history...well it was not quite that easy.

I had to take classes and have home studies. I was interviewed to see if the adoption agency felt that they wanted to even go ahead with the process which I thought was ridiculous because he was my child, in my mind. But it was far from ridiculous, it was necessary. I had not thought about the cost or the changes I would need to make once Jaden was in his forever home. Now there were classes, readings and meetings where these questions were presented and discussed with me but I had mentally jumped ahead and Jaden was my son already. Would I have changed my mind if I had been present in the moment instead of jumping ahead? Nope, naw, no, nada...not at all!!!

What I would have done was pay more attention to things such as Jaden's medical needs. I knew he had them but the day the nurse coordinator called after his then pediatrician got a "snow day" and read over 500 pages of Jaden's medical records. I was given a list of specialist that Jaden had not seen recently but should have. I honestly pulled over into the parking lot of Cool Spring Baptist Church and cried. I cried and wondered how I was going to work to provide and take him to all these appointments. There was the kidney doctor, ear, nose and throat doctor, the heart doctor, the neurologist, the vision doctor, orthopedist and the feeding clinic because Jaden had a feeding peg (G tube). He was already receiving occupational, physical and speech therapies from his local school system. Oh and I was in graduate school working toward my second master's degree at this time as well. Soooooo, I started going back to therapy/counseling also.

Now here is where I put a HUGE BUT in ...BUT our circle of support runs deep!!! My friends and family where right there with us and helped us get it all done. They gave me honesty, time and support when I needed it. I am crying now as I write this because when I say people showed up and showed out, they did just that. And I praise my GOD for them.

In April 2017 the adoption was final and we continue on this journey together. We have both made so much progress in our developmental, mental and emotional growth. And we will continue to with the love and grace of GOD and our circle of family and friends.