I just have to share this with my wonderful friends on LCT.

As many of you know, our youngest daughter and SIL became the parents of Lucy last May. What you don't know is that they spent a very long time trying to get pregnant, going thru a lot of infertility stuff and several IVF's, and miscarriages. They finally decided that they were being led down the adoption path, had been accepted and approved for adoption and were "waiting" so to speak when she found herself pregnant with Lucy. They decided to keep their profile active and update it to include Lucy, as they belived they had been led down this path for a reason, and felt that adoption was very much a part of their family plan.

Well, I'm sure you have guessed where this is going ;) -- the week before Christmas they were notified that a birth mother had picked them and wanted to meet with them. She was due end of January. They met, twice actually, and everything seemed in place and we started planning for a new Grandbaby - Lucy will be 9 months on Feb 12. The baby was born last Friday, a boy. However, the birth mother had a very emotional time, and went back and forth all weekend long about whether she was going to place the baby or parent herself, and Laura and Glenn were very supportive of her possibly deciding to parent herself. Its been a very trying weekend for all of us, but not necessarily unexpected that the birth mother would go thru all this. She had wanted a direct placement, meaning the baby would go from hospital to Glenn and Laura, rather than in interim care. In VA, the mother has 10 days to sign the papers, then after they are signed another 7 to back out.

Well this morning, after as I said a long weekend of uncertainty, Laura got a call from the birth mother's counselor, that she had made a decision and was 100% sure about placing the baby and they could pick him up today. They are literally in the car driving to pick him up as I am sharing this with all of you. I don't have any details as to statistics, other than he was born Feb 2 around 11:30pm. I don't even know what name they have picked as yet - but I just couldn't wait to share this with such special friends. She still has the 7 days from when the papers are signed, but she has spent a lot of time this weekend going back and forth and everyone seems comfortable that she has made her decision and plans to go thru with it at this point. We are saying prayers that she is at peace with her decision and feels good about it.

More to follow!!! But we are so excited to be welcoming a new little Grandson into the family, now our little Matt will have another boy to help fend off all those girls.

JoAnn, that is some very special news! I can't wait to hear what they are going to name him!

JoAnn,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful story with us!!! I am so happy for your family, and I have no doubt, that is one lucky baby boy to be joining a fine family. Best of luck to everyone!! Hope we will get to see photos soon!

Laura just called from the car, they have decided on Gabe Thomas Nunziata. Apparently the baby has red hair, which will be fun, Glenn is very Italian looking, not to mention a very Italian last name!! :D

Wonderful story JoAnn! Congratulations to your family on this wonderful new baby boy :) :)

Congratulations, JoAnn and family! My step-daughter adopted in Virginia, and it was such a legally painless procedure. There was never any doubt about whether or not they would actually be keeping the baby. It was an open adoption, too, Jill went to the doctor with the birth mother for several months.

I once knew a lady who was three months pregnant when she received her adopted daughter. That was like having twins the hard way, and your daughter is going to have that situation, too.

Wow - JoAnn - What great news. Congratulations.

A new baby Boy!. I love the name. And Laura and Glenn must be on Cloud 9. Wait until he finds out what a warm and loving family he's come to join.

Please send Laura and Glenn our best wishes.

What a precious story! Blessings to you and your wonderful family, JoAnn!

Wow! Wishing the birth mother peace with her decision, Laura & Glenn the best of times with their children, and a fantastic grandparenting time for you!

Cheers, Anne

Thanks all of you.

Pam - I agree, VA seems to be one of the easier states legeally at least to adopt in. What a sweet story about your friend - yes Laura and Glenn will have "Irish twins" I think they are called. :eek:

I am anxiously waiting to hear more about him. I don't want to call and be annoying as they are probably just getting Lucy settled and maybe feeding Gabe and such, and just getting things organized at home if they are even back yet - but I'm hoping she will call later and tell me what he looks like and how much he weighs and stuff.

Ditto all that Anne said so well!

What a beautiful story, JoAnn! Congratulations and lots of blessings to everyone! Please post some pix when you are able to do so!

JoAnn, thanks for sharing such a beautiful story!

I'm adopted and I feel so fortunate.

Nancy

JoAnn, thanks for sharing your joy. What a blessing! Looking forward to pictures as well.

JoAnn....congratulations to all of your family. What an exciting day. Thanks for sharing the joy.

Margo

Thanks again all, your good wishes and joy at sharing this with us means a lot.

Michele - how is your foot? That was such a scary thing that happened to you, I've been wondering how you were.

Its been an amazing day really. Laura finally called as they were leaving the hospital around 5:30, they had literally been there over 4 hours, Lucy was napping in Glenn's arms, she said it was worse than buying a new car, it took FOREVER!!! Paperwork, seeing the Dr, meeting with the Nurses, just everything. But she said he is the cutest baby, and has a mop of reddish/golden hair and they are just pinching themselves to make sure this is real. She hopes to send me a picture or two tonight, and I am probably going to Richmond on Thursday, so will also take plenty of pictures and will send a couple to Karen to post, as I am totally "picture posting challenged".
Now we just have to get thru the next 7 days and hope nothing unexpected happens. But if it does, we will deal with it together as a family. Hopefully there won't be any issues.

We just feel so blessed that this child has come into our lives and been entrusted to Laura and Glenn and our whole family. We also feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends as those here on LCT to share our joy. :lct:

JoAnn, what a beautiful story! My heart-felt best wishes to all your family as you get to know this little red-headed boy. Obviously he will have lots of love to surround him.

Congratulations, best wishes and much happiness!
What a blessing! Enjoy! Celebrate!

What a blessing...Best wishes to your wonderful family and this very lucky little boy

Like Nancy P, I, to am adopted, and was blessed with the most wonderful parents in the world. Joann, Gabe will be so loved I am happy for your whole family.
Lynn

Nancy & Lynn - thank you so much for sharing that - I as a Grandmother hope this child knows how much he is loved and was wanted, as the two of you do.

JoAnn, my folks were/are the most wonderful and loving parents! Being adopted is so special and I'm so proud of being adopted! I'm so excited for your family.

Nancy

Congratulations to you and to your expanded family. What a wonderful story.

Wonderful news.

Joann, thank you for sharing that warm, wonderful story. We're all eagerly awaiting pictures of Gabe!

What a heartwarming story. Thanks, Joanna, for sharing your news with us. This is a special day for your family and especially, Gabe. Congratulations.

What a wonderful blessing from above for all of your family. All my best to baby Gabe, his parents and the two of you! :)

Congratulations to all. What great news! And a redhead - absolutely the best! (Said the "unbiased" redhead...) My advice: don't dress him in pink, and stock up on sunscreen! :cool:

Dena

Dena - <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> Like dressing him in pink would be a possibility! None of his 4 Uncles would allow that, not to mention his Dad and 2 Grandfathers.

Congratulations Jo Ann that is so wonderful!

What a beautiful story - congratulations, JoAnn!!

A lttle late with this,but Congratulations JoAnn.

Hope they are getting a little bit of sleep with 2 babies! My sisters are 11 mos. apart, and I remember my mother saying that when she left for the hospital, the oldest was just a baby, and when she came home,a few days later, she was all grown up!

My younger sister has two children 11 months apart as well. Those first two years were not so easy.

A friend of mine had her first child at 35. She wanted another one so they hoped to have one right away since she and her brother were only a year apart and very close. Surprise on her - Twins (no drugs and no twins in the family). 3 babies in less than a year. Lucky for her they had means enough to have full time help. They live nearby and I frequently see her mother in law pushing the triple stroller with the dog in tow on a leash.

Actually interestingly enough, Glenn has twin brothers that are just 11 months older than he is. His Mom somehow managed all three of them by herself, as his Dad worked very long hours since he owned a restaurant at the time.

I've been telling Laura all the stories you all have been sharing here, she said it makes her feel like she isn't alone! (Of course she knew she wasn't). She also thanks all of you for your good wishes, she knows about this board and I told her I had shared the story here.

Actually, I do believe that she has met some of us during her Navigator visit in 2004!

Yes she and Glenn did meet you and Frank onboard the day in Boston.
She also knows of the board from when I had my surgery 2 years ago and you Kathy, emailed all the good wishes for her to print out and bring to the hospital. She was amazed at how caring and concerned everyone was, especially since at the time I hadn't met hardly anyone yet.