Wordless Wednesday

Questions answered

I was asked a few questions so I wanted to address them. :)

Tammy will you get any of this back on your taxes? Luckily, yes, we will. Yay! That will definitely help. The tax credit is going down in the next few years unfortunately. I'm not sure if we'll get the credit this year or not being the adoption will be finalized in June. Hopefully this year as the tax credit is almost $14k but will be going down to $12K I think next year and then will continue to go down which I think is soooooo sad.

Out of curiosity, what are marketing fees for? Ah, the marketing fees. Apparently some agencies use a separate marketing agency for their advertising, marketing of the situations, etc. I really questioned this A LOT. I mean, really? $9800 for "marketing"? What kind of "marketing" can there be, especially that's almost $10K? BUT, then I tell myself that it was that marketing that brought our Hannah to us and to me that is priceless. It's just sad how much some of the expenses are.

I was wondering what the mother goose fees were? The agency we went through (Mother Goose) has partner agencies that they work with. Our agency was a partner agency so whenever you have a partner agency, there is a fee for that.

I could go on and on about how sad I think it is that it is so expensive. I just think adoption certainly doesn't have to cost so much. It's really sad.

But, looking at Hannah, I would've paid 10 times the amount. She is so worth it and so precious to me. She's my baby girl and I'm so blessed.

$61, 416

I am writing this post as a request from my dear friend, Rachel. When I was talking to her, she was shocked at how much our adoption cost. So, here is the breakdown of what our adoption cost us:

After spending over $30,000 in failed infertility treatments, here is a list of our estimated adoption expenses:

1. Christian Adoption Consultants package: $2000

2. Home Study: $9050
--Initial fee with travel and time: $3500
--Home Study Update: $750
--Post placement fees: $1600
--Travel and time for 6 postplacement visits: $3000
--Home improvements: $200

3. Agency Fees: $29,481
--Registration, Home Study review and agency fees: $15,550
--Birthmother final assistance fees: $4000
--Birthmother travel fees: $1500
--Birthmother housing: $6000
--Mother Goose Referral Fee: $2059
--Profile Copies: $100
--Certified documents: $72
--Application fees and mailings: $200

4. Marketing fees: $9800
--Blue Sky Choice Marketing: $9800

5. Travel Expenses: $2160
--Plane tickets: $1800
--Rental car: $360
(We stayed with a friend in Utah. Otherwise there would have been an additional approximate $1000 in hotel)

6. Lawyer fees: $1500
--Retainer fees: $1000
--Filing fee: $500

7. Medical Bills: $7425
--Birthmother stay: $3400
--Baby stay: $500
--Anesthesia: $835
--OB/GYN: $2190
--Labs: $500


TOTAL: $61,416

When we originally started the adoption process, we set a budget of about $40,000 for a situation. We had taken out a home equity loan of $30,000 and with the fund raising we had already done, my overtime, my coaching gymnastics, our toy shows, my craft shows and selling Avon, etc., we had been able to raise about $8000. Knowing we could probably get another $2000, we set our budget at $40,000.

We had already spent about $10,000 before we even started looking at situations--all money we had already earned by my overtime, coaching, shows, etc.

We didn't want to get hugely into debt right before getting a child. If money wasn't an issue, we wouldn't have set a budget. But, we also wanted to be smart about it and knew we could comfortably raise a child and be able to pay off a $30,000 loan without being financially in a huge hole.

So, when we were told this situation was going to be almost $50,000, that was where we were $10,000 over budget. That was why we originally said no to this situation. We knew it was going to be too much for us to be comfortable raising a child.

This adoption wasn't just $10,000 like some people have thought, but $60,000 and we'll be paying it off for a long time.

But, I have to say, Hannah is worth every single penny. :)

1 month

My dearest honey girl,

It's hard to believe you're a month already. It seems we just came home from Utah on the airplane with you. Time has just flown by and it makes me sad.

You're growing so much. You eat about 1-2 ounces every 2 hours. Sometimes you'll eat up to 3 ounces but not usually. You're not the best eater honey and certainly not a good burper. We always praise you so much when we get a good burp out of you.

We always know when you're hungry as you'll turn your face to the right side with your tongue sticking out. It's another one of your cute traits.

You love to make noise, especially at night. Your daddy and I will sometimes just lay there and listen to you and smile at you. It is so adorable sometimes the noises you make. And when you sneeze, you always sneeze twice. It never fails. You might have learned that from Grandma as she always seems to sneeze 3 times in a row. You're already learning stuff from our family.

You hate getting changed and really hate being naked. Daddy does like that you hate being naked. He hopes that continues for a long, long time.

You've started focusing on us more. When we talk to you, you look straight at us. We've had people tell us that you've really taken to us and bonded with us. We sure hope so. We sure have taken to you.

You gave me my first peed on experience when you were almost 3 weeks old, on January 8. You squirted poopy on me when you were just over 3 weeks, January 12. You're a comedian and love to tease Mommy sometimes. One time, you had pooped in your diaper and I changed you. Right when I put on another diaper, you pooped again. I waited awhile, decided you were done, changed you and put on a clean diaper and you know what you did? Yes, you pooped again. I couldn't help but laugh. It was so cute.

Honey, you are my world. I'm so very much in love with you. I often am asked if you were worth the wait to which I ALWAYS reply, "of course". The pain is still there of course and I think about your siblings all the time, the ones I haven't been able to hold and love. But I'm sooo grateful you are here with us to love, cherish and be ours here on Earth. God is so good to us, so much better than what we deserve.

Happy 1 month sweet Hannah Dawn. Your daddy and I love you so much.

More pictures!!

I have a lot I want to write but I'm holding Hannah & typing with one hand so that will have to wait. :) In the meantime, here are more pics from her newborn session. Amber did a fabulous job. If you would like to check out her blog, click here. If you're in my area, I HIGHLY recommend her. :)

Finally a few pictures!!

Blogger cooperated! Here are a few from Hannah's birth :)

Stupid blogger

Stupid blogger still won't let me upload pictures. :( I've tried 2 more times today.

Stupid blogger. :(

Hannah did have her 2-week check today. :( Time is going so fast. I know...it's only 2 weeks, just wait until it's 2 months, then 2 years.

Hannah is now up to 6 lb 12 oz (birth weight was 6 lb 8 oz). She is 19-1/2 inches long (at birth she was 18 inches long).

She's growing. :) The doctor said she looked fantastic and was doing great. He said to keep up the good work. That was nice to hear. :)

And as soon as the stupid blogger works, I'll post more pictures.

Stupid blogger.