What Life Is About

Hi, guys.

Well, I'm going to share a little
something with you.

Today, at 4pm, my wife, 5-year old
boy and I are going to meet a very
special person. The 20 year old
birthmother of possibly our daughter.

That's right! She is considering us
as the adoptive parents of the baby
she is carrying. The baby is due 21
June to 29 June, so this can all
happen very quickly.

Keep us in your thoughts and of
course, what the Creator wills
is what we want.

[img]smile.gif[/img]

Wow, that's pretty amazing. A co-worker just finished the adoption papers and process and everything went great!

Best of luck! [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

Thank you, Derek. My son is
adopted and is very excited.
We're getting ready to leave
pretty soon, as a matter of
fact. We are very positive.

Thanks again!

[img]smile.gif[/img]

Hey Peter,
I have only been visiting this forum for a few months but I have noticed that you are not only uniquely insightful with drumming but you are one of the kindest and most gracious members here. So comming from you this isn't suprising. Your love and sacrifice is a rare thing, God bless you and your family.

My wife and I adopted little Haylee 4 years ago. To make a long story short, she was born in a Life-Flight helicopter 1 hour after a deadly head on collision. Haylee has Cerebral Palsy. She is so precious. Even after such a tragedy, God is truly good.

diddle

Yes, GB Peter & his...& GB you as well, diddle.

How COOL is all THIS. [img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rainbow.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/sun.gif[/img]

BTW - [Pete, please be sure to check your private mssgs &/or your E's, here.]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 10, 2004 07:56 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]</font>

Very Inspiring.

[img]graemlins/star.gif[/img]

Thank you for your kind thoughts.

Everything went better than I could
have imagined. She could not speak a
word of English. Thankfully, I am
Spanish and it was no trouble for me
to communicate to her. She really
seemed to like us.

She wants us to be in the delivery
room with her!

[img]smile.gif[/img]

I feel so electrified again, just like
when adopted Santi.

The miracle of life is the miracle of
life, if you catch my meaning.

I am just an instrument. Thank you all
for your ongoing support.

I will inform you as to details.

Call it 75% done. Nothing is certain
except that it's in God's very capable
hands. I'll be back to you!

Thanks again for well-wishes!!

[img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 10, 2004 08:53 PM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

Children are the Greatest Gift God has given us.
What a huge! blessing they are, would not know what to do without my kid's. I am very excited for you Peter, I hope and pray for the best for all of you Peter. Children need and deserve our best for sure. If it works out for you and your family and the child, WONDERFUL [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Dig

Peter, I hope the adoption works out well for you and your wife.

Wow, thanks for sharing this wonderful event with us Peter... [img]biggrin.gif[/img] [img]biggrin.gif[/img] [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

I agree, kids are such a blessing. I am very thankful to have been entrusted with two wonderful boys myself.

Peter, this little girl will be in good hands I am sure of that, keep us posted as to how it goes. And yep, my prayers are with you and family.

WOW!!!! that is just AWESOME Pete! My wife at one time were considering a baby girl from China. Then my daughter came along and we felt that three kids were enough. I wil keep you in my prayers and I hope that soon there will be a new member to your family. Congratulations, PT.

That's exciting Peter! God bless you and your growing family!

You guys are pouring it on.

[img]redface.gif[/img]

Really... I am the lucky one!

When all is complete, I hope to
post pictures.

The happiest day of my life was
when my son was born and I was
there, with my wife, helping to
deliver him into this world.

Carmen wants us there, she said.
I told her she can change her
mind but I hope she doesn't.

I will be filling you in on all
the details as we count down.

THANKS SO MUCH, GUYS.

[img]smile.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 12, 2004 02:13 AM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

That is great that you are adopting. I was adopted and it seemed to turn out great for me!
Many congratz!
Time to get some diapers.

Pete, I think he (she?) will be one of the luckiest human beings to have you as a father.
My best wishes are with you [img]graemlins/sun.gif[/img]
Thanks for sharing [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

ya, best of luck peter...you truly are a special person [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

im currently involved in an absolutely bitter custody dispute and will be filing contempt papers on my childs mother, she is trying to leave the state, and she has been taking alot of my visit time away... I honestly feel im fighting the good fight and i have been praying it wouldnt come to this. I say this because I see love and cooperation in your story from 2 strangers who are focused on the well being of a child and you mirror that with the hostility of a custodial parent to a non custodial parent who have a mutual child and know each other... its sad... im glad to see that it can work the other way.. thanks and God bless

That is sad and I am sorry that it has come to that. Your situation is different.

Now, Carmen's (the present adoption) situation is and will be very 'clean' next to that of my 5-year old's son, whose case is much more complex.

We know her (my son's birthmom) and we had a 'wide-open' relationship, which went too far the other way. The reason I say that is because of the effect it had on my wife - not so much my son. His birthmom was very concerned with her needs and not that of my wife's. She acted to parent him in many ways, subjugating my wife's role. I saw this early on.

It's important that everyone realize that what is right for the child is what is right for his immediate parents. That is the environment that the child will grow up in. If there is a lack of stability there, it will have the more immediate impact on the child. My wife acted and not only in her best interest but in the interest of the entire family and I am proud of her courage.

Mind you, we intend to keep contact with the birthparents but in a much more controlled way.

Let me add that we try never to speak negatively about the birthparents, especially in front of my son.

My wife, like most Americans, it seems, comes from a broken home. Her stories of how hurt she feels after hearing her parents or siblings denegrate each other are powerful. When we attack one or both parents, we attack them AND the child because the child IS both parents. Think about it.

If I could suggest, be as positive about, not only your relationship with your child but also, as hard as it seems, his relationship with his mother's. Do not disparage her in front of them, rather showing compassion and understanding for her desperate acts.

We know, after all, that people love differently, when in different states of mind and disposition.

Be calm around them. Do not give into anger. We, as parents, teach our children how to act, not by what we say but by what we do.

My heart cries out for you in this situation.

Of course, I am sharing my opinion with you and only wish to help.

Please feel free to contact me about anything related.

[img]cool.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 12, 2004 07:06 PM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

Great words Pete!! PT.

I wish you all the best Peter!
T

Peter, your positivity is contagious. I'm glad you're here and I hope you get everything you're wishing for!

Brad

I too wish you all the best Peter, and Congratulations! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Well, things are heating up,
as they always do in these
types of situations but we
still have a 'go'.

She is due on the 28th, now.
Both are healthy, though I
am mediating a strained re-
lationship between birthmom,
her boyfriend and the agency.
No way to tell if he's the
birthfather. Now, birthmom
really likes us and that's
what matters. She talks to
me more than anyone else.

I had dinner with her, one
night, when she met my family.
She talked with me for 1.5
hours, almost exclusively.
She is a gentle soul and
appears quite determined.

However, the magic of a birth
is a wildcard that cannot be
predicted, as to its effect.
She wants us there in the
delivery room, with her.

We are just about there. I'd
say its 70%. We are hopeful,
though strained but that's
natural.

This is what life is about.

BTW - I did not tell you this
before but something strange
has been in the air all year
and it started with this...

Our son, attended a wake
with us, for my wife's uncle.
He liked my boy a lot. While
at his wake, my son drew in
his little notepad. He's 5
years old.

This is what he drew:

www.thediametrixletter.com/santidrawing2.gif

When we saw this at home, we
thought it curious because we
didn't have any possibilities
for adoption in our future.

Later that week, we got a call
from NYC, about a possibility
in Ohio that was a really good
fit, or so it seemed. When that
situation became complex, we
were disheartened, as you can
imagine but my boy's drawing
and other 'coincidences' made
me wonder...

That SAME week, we got the call
from the agency that we were in
touch with about this one.

[img]eek.gif[/img]

There was/is definitely something
going on.

I will keep you posted.

Holding our breath....

[img]graemlins/umbrella.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 20, 2004 12:45 AM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

They've taken her to the
hospital. This is it, guys!

[img]eek.gif[/img]

THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME!!!

[img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] Happy for you and growing family!! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Congratulations to you and your family, Peter! I know your daughter will grow up in a loving home.

Congratulations to you Pete and to your Family. I'm 40 and have a beautiful daughter named Kalisia, she is now 22 months old her birthday will be on 21st August. On the 11th June Kalisia had a special present, my son was born. I'm over the moon and I know how you must feel. For ages we were going to call our son Vinnie but over here in England people relate Vinnie to the ex-footballer/tough guy actor? Vinnie Jones! We came up with a name at the last minute.....Zak. Zak is now 16 days young.

Look out Vinnie and Mr Weckl Zak has arrived, he's already doing paradiddles with his feet and hands combined!!!

Love and Peace to all parents.......
Good luck Pete, I'll be thinking of you...

The baby was born at 1:21pm,
on 25 June. We were there,
with Carmen, when she was
born. I'm glad I could help.

Her name is Graciela Amada
Corona. She had a lot of
black hair!

All the papers were signed.

The baby returned from the
hospital, with us. I have had
two diaper changes already.

[img]wink.gif[/img]

On Monday, the final document
is signed. Then, it is finished,
We are 98% new parents.

We are VERY happy. I will post
pictures when I can.

Thank you for all your prayers
and good will, during this very
pivotal time in our lives.

[img]cool.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 27, 2004 12:42 AM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

Graciela was born at 01:21pm CST, 06/25/2004, at St. Joseph's/Resurrection Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She and her birthmother, Carmen Mendoza, from Honduras, were healthy, helped along by Judy (my wife), nurses and doctors.

On Saturday night, she was released into our custody for the 72 hour period, which was begun the moment she was born, during which the birthmother makes her final decision in regards the placement of the child for adoption.

Even though documents had been signed and the child is with us, technically, per the laws in Illinois; she (the birthomother), could still have changed her mind about the adoption, as remote a possibility as it was.

At 1:21pm CST, today, the final document was signed and the 72 hour window closed. Now, with the final document signed by the birthmother, the adoption became final and irrevocable. The birthmother is happy and healthy.

www.thediametrixletter.com/Graciela2.jpg

I can't tell you how happy we are! http://www.hostboard.com/forums/

Who says lightning can't strike twice?!

Thank you all for your kind thoughts during this incredible time!

http://www.hostboard.com/forums/

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 28, 2004 11:50 PM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

wow man, congratulations! I'm SO glad it all worked out!

Happy for you and your Family Peter and the Birth Mother. I am sure the Baby Girl is in Wondeful Hands. And what a Blessing She will surely be to all of you also.

Dig

WELL ALRIGHT!!!!!! Another beautiful gift finds a loving home. PTL!!!! Congrtulations to you and your wife!!!!PT.

big congrats peter [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

Thanks, guys!

Here are two more photos:

www.thediametrixletter.com/Graciela2.jpg
www.thediametrixletter.com/Graciela3.jpg

[img]cool.gif[/img]