AFS and FAS

You think these abbreviations are a coincidence? The fertility clinic we have been using is Alabama Fertility Specialists (AFS) and the adoption agency we met with this week is Family Adoption Services (FAS)...interesting no?

We met with Rebecca (social worker), Rick (attorney) and Susan (Rick's wife and spear head of agency) on Tuesday and they are the most wonderful, caring and compasionate people we have ever met. Scott and I loved them and were giving them big hugs when we left. They had a 2 day old little boy there they were waiting to let their new parents know they had been matched with. He was adorable and they had nicknamed him Rudolph. There were lots of things we liked about them other than just the way the treated and sympathized with us. Rick and Susan went through fertility treatments 30 years ago and have two grown adopted children of their own. They are a small agency that places about 10 newborns a year but the way they place the children is what Scott and I thought was the best aspect of the agency. They actually don't let you know you are matched until the legal time frame (5 days in AL) has lapsed...so when they call you to tell you that you have a baby, you really have a baby! Little Rudy's parents are finding out Friday that he is there and I couldn't help but think that family is out there going about their day and they have no idea that Friday morning they are going to get a call that will change their lives.

Scott and I decided that although we still have a fertility treatment or 2 left that we were going to go ahead and fill out the application and file our fingerprint and child neglect clearance forms. It can take up to 12 weeks for these forms to come back so we have some time. While I would love for this FET in January to work I am really getting excited about the journey ahead of us. We have alot to think about and need prayers that we make the right decision. Caucasian adoptions have become such a monopoly and there are so few childern out there that it can take 2-4 years on a waiting list. If we would consider a biracial or african american child our wait could lower to 9-12 months. This is still something that is weighing heavily on our hearts and we need all the prayers we can get to make the right decision. Scott and I feel that if we sign the paperwork and have no preference and leave it up to God he will give us the child we are supposed to have. I start shots on Christmas day for our January FET and take them for the next month with transfer on the 26th of January...still hopeful!