Welcome to Dawn's Page!

Dawn's Story as of 6/26/05

 

Hi to all and thanks for taking the time to read my story. I'm Dawn Young, 30 and mother of two and b-mom of two. I started dating my "other half" when I was 15 and we've been together since. Our children are Brianna, 10, (A) Reynolds, 9, Austin, 22mths and (A) Jude 7mths. We've both been in Tifton, Ga. most of our lives. I was born in a town about an hour away but moved when I was 6 mths old. All my family and roots are from here or within a few miles of this town. Chad and I are not legally married but have been together for so long that it's just not right to call him my boyfriend.

 

Well let's see... I have two stories to tell. It started in high school (1991) where I met my "other half", Chad. We were best friends, mates, and lovers. Our worlds revolved around each other and nothing else. Growing up I'd always said I never wanted to get married or have children and that if I did I would adopt them. Well we went on to have our first child Brianna in 1995. Some of my family upon finding out I was pregnant with her suggested adoption, but I told them that would go against my beliefs because I'd always said I'd adopt, not the other way around, and she was born in January 1995. One day when she was about 6 months old, I was watching TV and the show that was on was talking about adoption, I grabbed the yellow pages and looked to see if there were any places near our town, just to see. The next week I found out I was pregnant and immediately knew I wanted adoption. See I'm one of those who believes everything happens for a reason, and this was the way God meant it to be. I called the Open Door Agency in Thomasville, Ga. and started working with them. Chad was confused and took it kind of personal, he felt I was doing it against him that I didn't want his child. I kept trying to tell him it was just something I was meant to do, that my soul was telling me I had too. Well we ended up separating for a while because of this. When I told my family they asked me not to do it, especially my grandfather who said he'd buy anything I needed that I shouldn't do it. Kind of ironic when they were saying do adoption it just a year earlier with my daughter. But I knew what I wanted to do and was very secure in that fact and the belief in myself.

 

A couple of months later my counselor brought by about 10 Life Books for me to look at, maybe I would be interested in one of those... if not she'd give me more. I went thru them and at first passed over L&C... I continued but didn't get a vibe from any others, but was drawn back to L&C's book. So I started to read the letter in it and half way down I read the sentence "children are miracles and blessing from God" right then I knew this was them, no doubts. L. had a son almost my same age from a previous marriage, so Reynolds has a very older brother who loves him to death. L&C came down to meet me and everything went as smooth as ice from then on. I only meet them that one time before Reynolds was born. My doctor was going out of town the week I was due and decided that if I hadn't went into labor by Wednesday March 27  that he would induce me that morning. L&C had plans to pack and come on day that day since I was suppose to be induced.  Well I woke up at 8am in labor that very morning. By the time I got to the hospital by 9am and we called them I was already 6cm. The nurses said I'd had back labor all night and slept thru it. Needless to say it all went fast and less then 3 hrs later Reynolds was here. Right in the middle of the delivery I told my mom I was hungry and wanted a cheeseburger, she thought I was crazy. Well L&C walked in the Labor and Delivery area just as my mom was taking Reynolds to the nursery. Chad of course, wasn't there by his own choice, he was still very confused. He has come to accept Reynolds adoption and is at peace with it and is proud of the smart wonderful boy he is growing up to be.

 

The first time the nurses brought Reynolds back in the room, they asked me if I wanted to feed him, I looked at L&C and said "He's your son... my baby is at home. It's all up to you from now on." And that is exactly how I felt, more like a surrogate. They stayed there almost all day and night to be with us. When it was time to go Reynolds had to stay an extra day due to jaundice. The morning he was released me, my mom, and the counselor all met at the hospital to sign all the papers and to say goodbye. Reynolds adoption is semi-open and I get a letter with tons of pics once a year thru the agency.

 

 

OK FAST FORWARD 7 YRS.

 

Me and Chad have been back together about 4 yrs by now and are very happy. I started having thoughts of being a surrogate mother and started looking at agencies and asking questions, this is in fall of 2002. Couple months later I found out I was pregnant again. I immediately mentioned adoption to him and he said it was my choice. I called the agency I used before and asked some questions but told them I'd get back.... I waited a couple of weeks and I kept feeling that adopting wasn't right... that this was my baby, for us. So Austin was born in Sept 2003. Few months later I got in touch with a surrogate agency but they said I had to wait till Austin was 6mths old to apply. Well when he was 5 mths old I found out I was pregnant again... but knew this one was for adoption. My husband said ok and supported me fully thru it all. My family was a little shocked but was happy too. I called the agency once again, but also started looking on the internet at other agencies and profiles. Late one night I came across one that I kept going back too. It was for Jeff and Debbie and had an email address and a phone number. This was right before Mother's Day, so on that day I sent them a Happy Mother's Day card via email but no response. Now this was before I even met them or made contact with their agency, but I knew it was going to be them. The next week I called the agency, Independent Adoption Center in Tucker, Ga.,  to ask if they were still available and got everything started. Not even a month later they came down for us to meet and I immediately loved them, and most of all so did Chad. They came down for the first ultrasound and once again just to spend a few hours with us. We talked several times by phone and almost daily by email. Even though Chad supported me and had meet them he still wouldn't talk to them on the phone or email. He really liked them and felt that we were really helping someone but at the same time kept his distance with them. We all knew it was going to be a fast labor and I was trying to decide on being induce or waiting because I was due two days after Thanksgiving and didn't want to take the chance of it being that day. Well as the day neared I didn't really dilate any like with the other pregnancies so I was really starting to wonder, but boy was I as big as a house... I was HUGE. As always I worked up until or the day of my labor.. It was Wednesday Nov 17^th 2004, I worked all day, but had told them I was hurting a little, but not like contractions, just pressure. I got off of work, picked up Austin and went to my mother's house. By this time I was really starting to wonder, so I left the kids with her and went to the hospital. At 7:30pm they told me yes it was labor, so I called Jeff and Debbie who were in Lowe's shopping. Later they told me you could hear Debbie yell thru the whole store. LOL.   They had been keeping packed bags by the front door for weeks now, ready to come. Once again the labor was quick and they weren't even half way here (3-4 hr drive) by the time Jude was born. My mother, Chad and a few friends were in the room with this delivery and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was also the first time I got an epidural, with all the others I suffered thru with natural childbirth. When they did arrive it was about 1:30am (Debbie finally had to take over driving, she said he was going to slow). They stayed in the room with me and Jude till about 5 am and left to get a nap. They both stayed by my bed just taking turns holding him the whole time. The day I was released we signed all the papers and said our good-byes. I've gotten several emails and pics and presents from them so far. About 2 weeks after Jude was born Debbie found out she is pregnant and is due in August 2005.

 

I truly am proud of myself for making the decision and following my heart. I don't regret or am I sad for those choices. I tell everyone I can about adoption and what I did, some don't understand, but most bring up a friend or family member trying to adopt. I hope to do it again, but preferably by surrogacy.

 

Well that is my story. Have any questions, comments or just want to say hey you can find me at yahoo messenger devine721  or email me.

 

 

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