THATMotherNZ

Joshua August 1994 will always hold a special place in my heart as the month this handsome young man was born to other parents who selflessly gave us the most precious gift of a son.  There are no words that can begin to explain the absolute delight in such a gift; nothing can prepare you for the emotions that surface when suddenly you are offered such a gift.  All of sudden your childlessness is over.  Sure your infertility hasn't changed but you have a child - a child who is yours to love abundantly and forever.  I know we had a child already, our favourite foster child, but for anyone who fosters children you understand that this child who you love unconditionally and pour your heart and soul into may one day move from your care. So a confession - even though I was sold on the idea of adopting a child when I received the phone call to say we had been chosen to adopt this wee man I suddenly had cold feet - actually they were beyond cold - they were frozen ...

January 1992 began our family journey into the world of fostering and the world of parenting a child with a disability.  Two months before we saw an advertisement in the local paper reading something along the lines of  "wanted good home for eight month old baby girl with special needs" - well how could anyone not respond to that!  So respond we did and after going through the fostering application and necessary checks this beautiful 10 month old baby came into our lives......and now 27 years later she is still a huge part of our lives. Growing up I thought it would be awesome to get married, have kids of my own, and one day after that was achieved I thought it would be cool to adopt a baby with Down syndrome.  I had a plan that I thought was going to work for me and of course would work for the future hubby!  Along came the future hubby and surprisingly he agreed that he was ok with my plan - must have been true love! On stumbling across the ad in the newspap...