We first met Tedy James Matthew Richardson on March 28th. Jenny received a call from Amy Jennings our social worker at Bethany Christian Services. She said the birth mother had the baby at 3pm. We were in Iowa City by 5pm. He was 7 lbs and 5 oz and 20 inches tall. We were ecstatic but still unsure because still no official adoption plan had been made yet. Little did we know the journey that the next few weeks would bring nor the back story of the birth parents that would make this journey of adoption a little different than most...
Tedy was put into interim foster care with a great family in North Liberty. They took great care of him and were very flexible allowing us to come to the house and be with our potential son. They did not want to call him "baby" so they called him Matthew, which is now his second middle name. Each visit we grew closer and closer with Tedy. We were able to feed him and change his diapers. As time went on Tedy became more aware of what was going on. He started to smile, and stuck out his tongue often. He would even chuckle when I would stick out my tongue as well. Grandma and Grandpa Steiner visited him shortly after Easter, and Grammie and Grampie Richardson met him a week later. But still no adoption plan had been made
The birth mom eventually signed the release of parental rights, and told the social workers that she would convince the birth father to sign as well. Days became weeks. Jenny and I would visit as regularly as we could. It became harder to visit without growing attached to him. Finally on May 23 at 9 weeks old the birth Father signed the papers. While it has been a hard journey for us, I cannot imagine what it was like for the birth parents. I cannot fathom doing the same. So while it was a hard 9 weeks for us. I am sure it was harder for them. Today we are not upset about the time we missed with him but celebrate the coming years that we will be able to be a Father and Mother.
Tedy was put into interim foster care with a great family in North Liberty. They took great care of him and were very flexible allowing us to come to the house and be with our potential son. They did not want to call him "baby" so they called him Matthew, which is now his second middle name. Each visit we grew closer and closer with Tedy. We were able to feed him and change his diapers. As time went on Tedy became more aware of what was going on. He started to smile, and stuck out his tongue often. He would even chuckle when I would stick out my tongue as well. Grandma and Grandpa Steiner visited him shortly after Easter, and Grammie and Grampie Richardson met him a week later. But still no adoption plan had been made
