This has been in the works for about 2.5 years now, ever since Jefferson and I met, the discussion of adoption would be in our future. When we got together I had a "sense" that I wouldn't be allowed to physically bear children, I don't know why, I just thought that I was being prepared for that prospect. So before we made a commitment to one another I wanted to make sure Jefferson was on board with the idea. I had no idea that he was adopted by his own grandparents and is so grateful they did, and he didn't know that my own mom was adopted too. It runs in our family on both sides, and we then realized that we both have a heart for adopting.
We didn't find out anything was actually going to keep us from having our own children until Jan 2008, about 6 months after we were married. Jefferson had some surgeries in Feb 2008 to correct our infertility, but the results were not impressive. The issues were not improving enough so we decided to go through AI treatments(Artificial Insemination - not to be confused with the more invasive IVF procedures) which, thankfully, our insurance helped pay for. After 4 attempts over a 6 month period in Fall '08 thru Winter '09, we realized that we were tired of "trying" to make things happen ourselves and stopped all medical enhanced procedures. Instead, we have decided to move our focus onto adoption and if we are meant to get pregnant someday, so be it.
The decision to actually go forward with the adoption process (paperwork) took all summer to take place. I was so fearful of opening my heart to the idea of actually having a baby in our home soon that I didn't want to start the process until all of the funds needed ($20-30K) were sitting in a bank account. After meeting and talking to many women who are undergoing similar infertility & adoption experiences, we decided to start the process by getting our Home Study complete (as of today we are 90% done!) and then start the finance and advertising campaigns. This week we completed most of our home study with only about 2 weeks left for 1 background check to process. At that point we can start looking for a woman in need of adoptive parents for her unborn baby. A private adoption can save us thousands of dollars. We are hoping to forego an adoption agency and find a mother through a word of mouth grapevine. This will cost less than $10,000! A significant difference!
This is where you all come in. We have been humbled to realize that we will not be able to do this alone. We understand that we are in need of help to make this a reality. We also know that networking is so important in this process. So we have started with 2 things and hope you might be willing/able to help us with them...
1) We opened a special savings account for our adoption. If you look to the RIGHT of our blog page we have a "Donation" button. This is a link to our Paypal account, which is directly linked to our special adoption savings account. We are asking for donatins to help us save up the money we need to move forward should a birthmother be found for us. We will post earnings here every month as donations come in. We have started selling items locally so we can apply all earnings to this account as well. As of tomorrow, we should have $500 donated into this account which will be used to pay for our home study.
2) We are sending this blog post, and I've already sent an anouncement on facebook, that we are looking for a birthmom. We realize all of you are spread out around the country, and have your own networks with in your own communities. If you would all be willing ot keep your ears open for new about an expectant mother considering adoption for her baby, please jsut let us know.
We have already been hearing about possible matches, but nothing has panned out yet, so we are still waiting. Until then, we thought we'd get you all started on our own grapevine.
We want you to know that Mikayl is super excited for this adoption to take place too. We have been preparing her for this possibility in our family for 2 years now. I wanted to wait after our first year of marriage before we had anymore children anyway, so she would know how much we love her and to make sure she has a strong relationship with me and her dad as our first child together. She may not be mine by blood, but I love that girl as my own and would die for her. She says she knows this for certain and has been bugging me about getting our adoption paperwork done for months now. When I remind her of our reasons for waiting, she says to me, "I know already and that was a year ago! Get on with it already!!" Sometimes I think she is more excited and ready than we are!
Thank you in advance for even considering to help us out. We also know that many of you will want to, but simply can't. In that case, we would love your prayers to be with us. We believe prayer is more powerful than money or word of mouth anyway, so that would bless us greatly!
Gratefully Yours,
Jen & Jefferson Martin
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Latest stuff...
Just to paly catch up on my summer activities...I have been training for a 5K race for most of the summer (about 2 months) with girlfriends who live around me and attend my bible study. We are like the Herriman Posse with children in tow on bikes, scooters, in strollers and actually jogging with us!In this 1st photo are a few of the women who have been joining us, 3x a week @ 8:30am. Whew!
This was the final result. We went to the 5K race to help fight Bulimia and Anorexia called "Love Your Body" this past Saturday. It was awesome. Gorgeous morning, beautiful park, and we all had awesome times. Thanks girls for helping me get this goal accomplished!!
Mikayl...our 6th grader!!! Her last year of Elementary School began yesterday and when we talked to her last night, she sounded so great. She had fun, was excited about going back today to join her friends, and anticipating all the events the new school year will bring. We knew she would love it, even though there were some nervous feelings before she got there. We are so proud of you honey!! But quick growing up so fast!
Now for a different update, not as pleasant. My little Noah had surgery again to replace the medicine pump in his abdomen and connected to his spine to help loosen his muscles due to his CP. While Crys and Jeff were at the hospaital and at home with him the last 4 days, I have had the privilege of spending lots of time with little Ava. Oh what a joy she is! We all just love her, but out of the 3 of us (Jefferson, myself and Mikayl) she loves Jefferson the most. She always goes to him and sits with him. I think its partly because he looks a little like her daddy with dark hair and facial scruff. Anyway, I have just loved my time with her, despite the reason is because of Noah having to go through such a hard time.
Speaking of Noah, his 1st day home yesterday was full of keeping NOTHING down, getting sick all day. Poor guy. That kid has the best disposition though. He is throwing up and crying one minute and dancing and singing (while lying on his back of course) to Gabba Gabba! He is so stinkin sweet. He just brings a smile to my face.
The Harpers are being taken care of through meals from all of us who love them, and babysitting. They sure could use your prayers though.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Worship '09 - more than just music!
We too went to the Gallivan Center last night, sat by the Harpers (check out her blog to see her side of the story on "Kisses, Giggles, and Little Toes" or "Harper Family"on my sidebar) to listen to some music, but we ended up watching some miracles transpire.
Noah Harper was born just 4 years ago with little to no chance at even making it out of the hospital because my little guy was born at only 25 weeks premature. He fought and we prayed and we have been allowed to spend all of these years watching him blow us all away with his abilities.
Well he recently went through a really challenging surgery where he received a new medication pump that injects him with a drug that helps his muscles relax (stiffness due to CP - Cerebral Palsy) enough to do things we never thought possible in ways of standing, walking, using his left hand, etc. Well last night I witnessed him do things physically and socially that still brings tears to my eyes. He has come such a long way!
At first, he was being his usual sweet self hanging out with his parents, Jeff & Crystal, and me and my husband Jefferson, all of which he is familiar with. Jeff & Crystal walked off for a minute and left Noah on my lap. Suddenly he is crawling off my lap, sitting next to me on the same curb, and starts scooting down about 3 feet away. He is scooting over to a little girl from our church! I am cracking up laughing watching this event. He is not very social, not with people he doesn't know, although he is very charming. Remarkably, this little girl stays there and is so friendly to him and they quickly became friends. He shares his toy, he follows her around, they dance together! They did this for like an hour! I couldn't believe it!
He then moves onto other girls, and all of their parents, making himself comfortable laying against them, clapping to the music we were there to listen to instead of freaking out from the noise and crying uncontrollably. Who is this kid? Is this really my Noah? YES!!
Jefferson was busy entertaining Ava much of this time who was giving all of us hugs and dancing with Red Vine juice all over her face...so cute!
As we left last night I just started crying telling Jefferson what a praise this all was. He didn't know Noah when he was born, but I was there. I held him when he came home after 4 months on oxygen. I was there when the doctors didn't think he was going to live! He is only doing all of this because God has given us this gift of life in him. I am so blessed to know him and witness his miraculous progress year after year. His mother and I were having the time of our lives, and sorry to all of you performers...we didn't pay much attention to you. We were in awe of this amazing kid.
Please view the cute pics below!!
Noah Harper was born just 4 years ago with little to no chance at even making it out of the hospital because my little guy was born at only 25 weeks premature. He fought and we prayed and we have been allowed to spend all of these years watching him blow us all away with his abilities.
Well he recently went through a really challenging surgery where he received a new medication pump that injects him with a drug that helps his muscles relax (stiffness due to CP - Cerebral Palsy) enough to do things we never thought possible in ways of standing, walking, using his left hand, etc. Well last night I witnessed him do things physically and socially that still brings tears to my eyes. He has come such a long way!
At first, he was being his usual sweet self hanging out with his parents, Jeff & Crystal, and me and my husband Jefferson, all of which he is familiar with. Jeff & Crystal walked off for a minute and left Noah on my lap. Suddenly he is crawling off my lap, sitting next to me on the same curb, and starts scooting down about 3 feet away. He is scooting over to a little girl from our church! I am cracking up laughing watching this event. He is not very social, not with people he doesn't know, although he is very charming. Remarkably, this little girl stays there and is so friendly to him and they quickly became friends. He shares his toy, he follows her around, they dance together! They did this for like an hour! I couldn't believe it!
He then moves onto other girls, and all of their parents, making himself comfortable laying against them, clapping to the music we were there to listen to instead of freaking out from the noise and crying uncontrollably. Who is this kid? Is this really my Noah? YES!!
Jefferson was busy entertaining Ava much of this time who was giving all of us hugs and dancing with Red Vine juice all over her face...so cute!
As we left last night I just started crying telling Jefferson what a praise this all was. He didn't know Noah when he was born, but I was there. I held him when he came home after 4 months on oxygen. I was there when the doctors didn't think he was going to live! He is only doing all of this because God has given us this gift of life in him. I am so blessed to know him and witness his miraculous progress year after year. His mother and I were having the time of our lives, and sorry to all of you performers...we didn't pay much attention to you. We were in awe of this amazing kid.
Please view the cute pics below!!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
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