Here we are…. The final entry in our journey blog.
~Adoption Day~
What a beautiful experience it was at the court. We all went into the court room and the Judge was just lovely. She had such nice things to say to Olivia and congratulated her on doing such an amazing thing for us. She talked at length to Ysabellah which was so cute! Ysabellah and Tatum were brilliant. They both sat there so nicely and so quietly. I was so proud of them.
While she was talking with Ysabellah and asking her questions Ysabellah answered her clearly and politely and then decided to tell the Judge that she had very strong muscles to help Mummy and Daddy hold Leo ♥
The judge commented on our fantastic report from our social worker which was so glowing it was virtually in NEON (lol) and she commented many times on the special unity there is between us all, on how we as parents care for Ysabellah in knowing where she comes from, and how we will so the same for Leo.
She also granted us, very happily so, FINAL ADOPTION!!!
It’s all over. He is officially our son. He was officially named from this day forward as Leonardo Sebastian Snow (same as it has always been, but it felt good hearing it from the Judge)
Then it was hugs all round. The Judge was so gentle and caring and happy for us all. I loved that she acknowledged Olivia in that special way. Her parting words on her report as she dictated it to the court reporter were “This is a gifted child. This is a special child”. What beautiful words.
I walked out of the court in a daze of big feelings and floating on my own little cloud.
Olivia’s
all time favourite place to go is Starbucks, so wee trooped off and had
delicious coffee. Olivia converted me – I had a gingerbread latte and
OMG YUM!!! The girls had a lovely time playing ladies while we had our
coffee, then we took them to McDonald’s for their celebratory treat.Mark, Olivia and I would like to thank everyone so much. Your constant love, support and excitement on our journey has been amazing. Thank you for sharing all our moments along the way right from Leo’s conception to this day where we are officially a family. The comments, thoughts, messages and good wishes along the way have really blessed us. It has been an honour to share this with you all. Such a
Beautiful thing.
Our family is now complete thanks to the incredible generosity of some very special women and birth families that supported them.
Katherine and the Andrews family….. Thank you for our beautiful Ysabellah. Her joy of life and delight in the world touches hearts and heals souls.
To Olivia and Tatum, and Nan and all of her dear friends and family, thank you for our precious cherub Leonardo. His light shines bright, his little personality is growing full of love and joy. He teaches and he touches with his smiles and his peace.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts not only for our beautiful children…. but for seeing us as worthy of such a gift.
A special thank you to the other amazing women who offered to help us on our long journey to this point. You know who you are and our gratitude is immense.
I hope that our story offers those of you taking the path less trod to parenthood some hope that dreams really can come true.
As part of our way of paying it forward we have set up a website and facebook page to support others going through alternative roads to parenthood via IVF/IUI, Adoption, Surrogacy, Egg, Sperm or Embryo donation… And it is also a special place for those who do so much to help others reach their dreams of becoming parents, Donors and Surrogates.
The page and the website are run by a group of wonderful people who have walked in these shoes, both parents and surrogates/donors.
Our facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/SupportingJourneys
And our website is: www.supportingjourneys.co.nz
Blessings to all
Bernice
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