The Beginning

Our journey to China and to our lil China doll actually began in the summer of 2006. We had been trying unsuccessfully for nearly 2 years to start a family. We were feeling very frustrated and sad at that time. After all, we had watched our friends pop out babies and they all seemed to get pregnant so easily! We began asking, Why us? We are young and healthy, what is wrong with us. We will make wonderful parents. It just isn't fair! We had tried all the tricks - read all the books. We began searching for answers. After many doctor visits, tests,blood draws, MRI's, and ultrasounds (did I mention alot of tears) later, we learned that it may not be possible to have our own biological child. Although it is not impossible to get pregnant, we learned that we may have a hard time carrying a baby. Our next step to getting pregnant would have to be fertility treatments. After alot of soul searching and praying, we came to the conclusion that God makes babies and not science. And so we are leaving it in Gods hands, if we are meant to have our own biological child, then someday he will give us one. There are so many babies in this world that need a mommy and a daddy - we feel we are already parents just needing a baby to love! Through adoption we will find that baby!!!!!!! And so began our journey................

We immediately ruled out domestic adoption - too many horror stories. And so we began our research phase. We spent many many hours on the internet, talking to adoption agencies, and emailing adoptive parents. A few months earlier our good friend Chris had shown us a Lisa Ling documentary "The Lost Girls of China". Those baby girls had touched our heart and stuck in our minds. Remembering that video, our hearts kept leaning towards China for some reason. In September, I was in Denver for a conference and decided to take a little sidetrip to Littleton to visit an agency specializing in China adoption (CCAI). It was there that I first realized that my baby girl was on the other side of the world - and I NEEDED to go get her. My love for her started to grow at that time! In November, Jason and I visited with the regional rep here in Phoenix for Great Wall China Adoption. She brought her adorable 2 yo adopted daughter Carly to the meeting and we fell in love! After leaving our meeting Jason said "we have to get one of those"! And so began the next step! We decided on Great Wall, but needed to save some money. This little adventure in not going to be cheap! And so Jason started picking up shifts (he is a full time grad student, so working is not easy!) and I began working overtime - and we saved our pennies!
On a warm sunny day in mid December I mailed off our application to Great Wall China Adoption! My heart was filled with joy and my eyes filled with tears - as my journey to motherhood was finally beginning!
We recieved an early Christmas present on Dec. 22nd , we had met the requirements to adopt and we could begin the time consuming "paperchase".

I have started this blog for several reasons. Not only do I want to jounal my thoughts and keep my family and friends updated on the process, but I also want to help others. While I was coming to terms with my own fertility and how to best start a family - I found great comfort in reading about other families and their stories. I spent countless hours on the internet - reading and leaning. Hopefully, I can now help someone else!
Thank you in advance for your love and support as we embark on the most important advernture of our lives!
Heidi and Jason