We have BIG news!
We are adopting a baby!
Ryan and I have always wanted to be parents. For the past 10 years, we have been trying to have a child in both the “good ol’ fashioned” way and then through science once it became clear that my body was as much of a contrarian as I am. Since we have sought medical intervention, we have gone through: many medications, countless medical tests, procedures, and surgeries, 4 (or more? I lost count) failed rounds of IUI, 2 failed rounds of IVF, and an emotional roller coaster of hope and tears. After the last failed IVF transfer, we decided that we had reached our emotional limit. We still desire to be parents, but my body would not cooperate – what could we do? Enter, adoption.
There are many children who are in need of families, however the costs associated with adoption are significant. Many don’t realize that adoption related costs can easily total up to $50,000 or more. We are saving as much as we can, and we will be applying for grants as well, but there is no guarantee that we will be awarded funds.
So, while asking for financial support from friends, family and complete strangers is not our favorite thing, we are starting a crowdfunding campaign and have set a goal of $20,000 to help offset some of the financial burden. Your donations through this page will be tax-deductible and will go directly to the adoption agency. We hope that by inviting you into this process, you will see yourself as part of the community we hope to build around our child (or children!) as they grow up.
We have not sent this request out into the world to encourage anyone to feel obligated to give financially. However, if hearing our story finds you interested in helping, any gift would be wonderful. Since we are entering into parenthood behind many of our close friends and family members, we should be all set on baby gear. All we will need when the little one comes should be diapers… as well as love and patience.
We have completed our Home Study and have been approved for up to triplets (crossing our fingers for twins)! We have submitted our paperwork to the adoption agency and will soon be waiting for a match! I will do my best to update this page as we progress through our adoption journey!
Our Story
Ryan and I met in 2001, started dating in 2002, and have successfully fooled each other into staying together since. We married in 2011, much later than our friends and family had expected… because I am stubborn, but so is Ryan.
In almost 20 years together, we have gone through many periods of both laughter and tears. We have loved and supported each other through the deaths of all of our grandparents, the deaths of many family members (Uncle Marty, Aunt Marie, Aunt Yvonne), as well as through the car accident in 2008 that left my father quadriplegic, and that eventually lead to his death in 2013.
We have also had many wonderful times together! We have gone on many vacations (with friends, family, and just us two), moved cross country to Cleveland and back, purchased a home, changed careers (even career paths!) many times over, and we have each devoted time to our passions.
Through all of this, we make sure that we take the time to enjoy life to the fullest. We spend much of our time with family and friends; we are a very devoted Auntie Rosie and Unkie Ryan to our nephew as well as to the children of many close friends. Together we love doing things outdoors (hiking, camping, kayaking), doing crafty things (pottery classes, drawing, painting), and just spending time together on the couch. We have four cats who are completely spoiled and used to running our house with iron paws. All that is missing now is a baby of our own with whom to share our abundance of love.
