November Is National Adoption Month: Our Journey with Adoption

The Journey to Motherhood

My journey to motherhood was long. After seven years of failed fertility treatments, miscarriages and depression, I almost threw in the towel. All I ever wanted to be when I “grew up” was a mother. My husband and I came to an agreement that we would seek out a local agency to begin upon our journey with adoption. Another wave of fear entered our lives. The fear of “What if?”

What if no one picks us?

What if they think we are too old?

What if this child rejects us?

What if?

The Phone Call

After meeting with the agency and signing an overwhelming amount of paperwork, background checks, online testing, and home inspections, our home study was complete. We were ready! I remember getting the call from a social worker after dinner. She asked me to put the phone on speaker so my husband could hear the news. A birth mom chose us and wanted to meet up the next day! I think I tried on five different outfits before walking into the doors of a bakery.

Suddenly, we found ourselves sitting across the table from a pregnant woman. We were so nervous we would ‘mess up’ this interview. This birth mom was due in less than four weeks and she felt certain that Todd and I were meant to parent her child. I spent the next three weeks preparing a nursery and picking out the best stroller. I had the honor to be by her side during the delivery.

We spent all of 72 hours with this precious newborn baby. We were minutes from leaving the hospital to head home and the social worker informed us of the news. The birth mother had changed her mind. We left the hospital empty and broken. As you can imagine, this was a pain I wouldn’t want anyone to endure. We spent the next few months healing and of course asking “WHY?”

Remaining Strong

I remained strong in my faith and even carried a prayer journal with me. I began writing down my thoughts and prayers for my child, whom I would someday parent. It was almost two months to the date of our last match that we received another call. As you can imagine, we had put up a wall and we were a little distant. We were scared of getting hurt all over again.

When I met the birth mother of our son, she was laboring in the hospital. I shared with her my love and respect. Her act of selfless love was more than I could put into words. She handed me Elijah when he was five minutes old. She looked me in the eyes and said, “He wants his mother.” It was in that instant that I fell in love. There was no doubt he was my baby.

The Greatest Gift

Adoption has been the greatest gift in our lives. I truly enjoy every aspect of motherhood, including those tantrums in the middle of Target!

Looking back on this journey, I realized that life is short. It is too short to not be chasing and capturing my dreams! My son was just shy of eight months when I decided to leave my very comfortable career in “Corporate America.” Time was so precious to me. I took a huge leap of faith and started my own business that enabled me to lead, cheer-on, encourage, and strengthen other mothers! I get to take my son with me to work every day. I model the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. The journey may have been long, but I know we are exactly where we need to be. 

If anyone is considering adoption, I would love to be another resource for you to connect with! My porch light is always on!

 

About Courtney Simmons

Courtney Simmons is just a small town girl from the East side of Ohio. Columbus has been her home for the past 15 years. She is a graduate of Kent State University. She and her husband Todd, recently celebrated 9 years of marriage and both have a passion for international travel. She is a certified prenatal and postnatal fitness instructor and co-owner of FIT4MOM Columbus East. She loves all things related to faith, family and fitness. Her biggest accomplishment thus far is having the title of “mama.” Her son, Elijah is proof that good things come to those who wait!