Spring, 2003 – In premarital counseling, we independently decide that if we can’t conceive we will adopt.

May, 2003 – Married!

February, 2004 – Stop trying to actively prevent pregnancy and expect to get pregnant soon. After all, we want a big family!

August, 2004 – I get vertigo but think it’s pregnancy. It’s not.

March, 2005 – OB/GYN discovers I have irregular ovulation.

June, 2005 – Bloodwork.

July, 2005 – All of my levels related to fertility are low.

July, 2005 – DH’s levels all low as well.

July, 2005 – October, 2007 – Denial? TTC naturally.

October, 2007 – Ultrasound. 200mg progesterone/ day for 30 days to try to alleviate “hostile uterine environment.”

November 15, 2007 – Second ultrasound. NP says I have a heart-shaped uterus and, “You’ll never get pregnant, and if you do, it’ll kill you.”

January 15, 2008 – New doctor. Says progesterone was wrong course of treatment; uterus shape not an issue. Hope!

January, 2008 – December, 2008 – hope slowly and agonizingly fades.

January, 2009 – DH tested again. New doc says pregnancy highly unlikely without some sort of medical intervention.

February, 2009 – decided against any medical intervention and begin discussing adoption in earnestness.

March 17, 2009 – Meet with adoption social work agency and begin prelim paperwork.

April 9, 2009 – Meet with lawyer.

April 15, 2009 – Contract with lawyer to be matched with a birthmother. (Big Check #1)

April 30, 2009 – First meeting with Social Worker. Begin paperwork: autobiographies, physicals, fingerprints, background checks, personal references. (Big Check #2)

Mid-May, 2009 – Profile letter complete; begin pulling pictures for profile.

May 29, 2009 – Complete first and second adoptive parent education workshops.

June 12, 2009 – Complete third and fourth (and final) adoptive parent education workshops.

June 27, 2009 – Autobiographies completed and submitted.

July 15, 2009 – Profile complete!!!

June 23, 2009 – Second interview complete & profile printed and handed in to lawyer – unoffical approval – told we are “paper pregnant.”

June 25, 2009 – Home Visit – (Big Check #3) – and now, we wait 🙂

August 27, 2009 – MATCHED w/ S!!!

August 31, 2009 – accept offer of match (Big Check #4)

January 11, 2010 – Little Man born

January 12, 2010 – TPR signed & Little Man came home (Big Checks #4 & #5)

March 4, 2010 – court! Little Man is officially part of our family, “as if he had been born into it.”