A HAPPY ENDING A NEW BEGINNING

Daddy and Arianna
Tuesday December 21, 2010 3:00PM became the happiest day of our lives!!!! 15 Years WOW 15 years finally came to a perfect ending. Just 6 months ago I never ever thought I'd be finalizing the Adoption of a little girl just days before Christmas. Both of our families where there,Sandys nephew even flew in early to be there. There wasn't a dry eye in the house when the judge announced the Adoption was approved. Arianna even got to sit in the judge's chair and bang her gavel. The judge even gave her a childrens 1st numbers book signed and dated.
Everything when great, the entire court staff couldn't stop commenting how cute Arianna is and they could see why we wanted to adopt her so badly. I held her the entire time and she was so good just looking around and wondered what all the fuss was about. We were asked several questions and the judge got a real laugh when she found out we were married in a McDonalds. The entire hearing took about 1/2 hour and at 3:00 PM our dreams finally came true we are offically Arianna's Mommy and Daddy.
Today our Certificate of Adoption just arrived and soon we'll be getting her birth certificate.
This Christmas was the greatest ever, Sandy and I got the most wonderful gift of our lives our little girl we've dreamt so long about.
As for Arianna she made out like a bandit. Every time a gift came my way her name was on it. We're looking forward to the years ahead watching her grow and the many Christmas yet to come.

Happy Holidays to EVERYONE!!!!

Brian Sandy and Arianna Kelley

Hours away

Tommorow is the big day, the day we've been waiting 15 years for! Our dream is about to come true.

Final Countdown

Only 3 more days until we finalize our adoption of Arianna!!!!!
Our computer bit the dust last week so if Santa gets us a new computer I'll post Arianna's Christmas pictures. They turned out beautiful!! She's getting so big and she's so pretty we're such lucky parents. Sandy and I are so excited that after 15 years our dream is about to come true and so close to Christmas. I'll post pics next week.
Happy Holidays
Brian, Sandy and Arianna

Arianna

Here's finally some pictures of Arianna isn't she BEAUTIFUL!!!!

A little Christmas Magic

In less than 1 month our adoption of Arianna will be finalized!!!!!!!!!!! One week ago today the birth parents signed off on their parental rights and we were told it would be a 30 day wait before we could get a court date to finalize the adoption. We really didn't expect to get a date until next year but to our delight the lawyer called and said Merry Christmas your court date will be Dec. 21st !! What a great Christmas present!!!!!
Last monday was hard being there with the birth parents as they signed off. Our lawyer told us usually we wouldn't have to be there but there was just a case in which the BP's signed off and two weeks later the adoptive parents had a falling out and divorced and didn't want to adopt. So the judge just wanted to question us to make sure the marriage was strong and that we still wanted to adopt. Sandy was brought to tears when the judge asked how would feel if something happened and we couldn't Adopt Arianna. The judge was really nice and told us what a cute couple we are and she can't wait to see again in in a month.
After we finished answering questions, The birth parents went in and signed off. There were lots of tears as they came out of the courtroom to leave, we gave hugs and all just cried.
We are so blessed to have meet them and they're giving us the greatest gift of all something that we have been working so hard to become for the past 15 years- Mommy and Daddy to a BEAUTIFUL little Girl ARIANNA!!

So we are counting down the days and enjoying every minute we have with her and look forward to the years ahead.
People have been telling me its fate that the adoption will be finalized just days before Christmas. Two years ago our attorney told us a story a story of a couple that adopted and the baby was born on Christmas eve. Sadly for us the mother lost the child we were to adopt.
When we tried to adopt through the state they kept telling us forget about a baby all the children are older. I told them we didn't care if the child was a newborn we just wanted to have a child young enough to still believe in Santa. We just wanted a little Christmas magic.
Little did we know years later after we had totally given up all hope of ever becoming parents that there was to be some CHRISTMAS MAGIC for us and we'll finally have our little Arianna.
We have been praying and wishing for so long and have cried so many tears and now we are only days away from reaching our dream. This will be the best Christmas of our lives, and our 1st as a FAMILY.
Sandy Arianna and I want to wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

We have plenty to be Thankful for this year.

Brian

Ones best success comes after their greatest disappointments.
Henry Ward Beecher

Almost 4 months

Arianna 2 days old.


Wow we can't believe out little Arianna is almost 4 months old now!!! The picture above was taken by the hospital when she was only 2 days old. My how she has grown and changed. We'll post more updated pictures once the adoption is completed. Our little girl is now cooing and squeeling with delight when we play with her. She loves when we sing to her and is so alert. Everyone keeps telling us how cute she is (We're proud parents).
We're still waiting for the Nov. 15 court date and we're hoping to finalize the adoption before Christmas. It just seems like such a long wait although we should be used to it we waited 18 years to get to this point so whats another few months. We don't mind we finally have our little girl we've waited so long for :-).
This has been a real busy 4 months, every day with her has been a blessing. We've been to our family reunions, several baby showers. My shop picnic, walks on the beach. Arianna's 1st concert Matty B and the dirty pickles at Sara's by the beach. And so much more I love being a daddy and I love my little girl.
Well time to play with her some more and then feeding and off to bed. We've been soooooo lucky that she sleep through the night for us. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she keeps that up.

Good Night

Brian , Sandy and Arianna

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Court Date

We finally have a court date on Nov. 15th!!!!! This will be for the termination of parential rights. The finalization of the adoption can be no sooner than 30 days after this so we're really hoping to get the BEST Christmas present ever and have the Adoption completed sometime in Dec.
Arianna is getting so big almost 10 lbs now at 2 and 1/2 months old, she already outgrown some of her cute newborn outfits.
I'll be posting pictures as soon as the adoption is complete, so everyone will have to wait just a few more months.

Well off to work, can't wait to get home to our beautiful little girl.

Just a Quick post

Wow its been over a MONTH SINCE I'VE POSTED !!! Time sure does fly. Arianna is doing well she's now up to 8lbs 13 oz. and 21 and 1/8 inches and getting bigger every day. We've been to 3 baby showers and now need a Bigger house for everything!!! Everyone has been so great to the 3 of us.
Well the 30 day wait for the termination of the parential rights ended Aug 7th. We are now waiting for our court date to finalize the Adoption. I'm guessing Oct. or Nov. for a court date.
I'll be able to post pictures when the adoption is final, I know many of you have asked to see some. Believe me shes BEAUTIFUL!!!! We're proud parents.
It's taken us 18 YEARS but the wait has been worth it.
I'll post more between the feedings and diaper changes.

Brian, Sandy and Arianna

Adoption in Just 29 Days!!!

A little peak at Arianna we still can't post pics until the Adoption is final.
Well baby is asleep and I have some free time to finally post. Well it only took us 18 years of heartbreak, fustration and tears but we finally have our little girl! I posted before this took just 29 days from the time we were 1st asked if we were still interested in adoption until Arianna was born. I just want to say if you want to adopt and are having trouble let people know your trying you NEVER Know what may happen.
It's been over 2 years now that our Kazakhstan Adoption fell through, then our next two Birth mothers both lost the babies due to various reasons. We lost 3 children within 3 months. Sandy and I had all but given up on Adopting, we figured it just wasn't going to ever happen for us and it was the furthest thing from my mind. We had some money from a loan we took out for when we were to adopt from Kaz. I figured I have the money Adoption was out of the picture so I always wanted a motorcycle so I bought myself one. Gee little did I know what 2 people I knew were about to ask me.
I want to respect their privacy so I don't want to go into to much detail. So I will just say there are two sisters (I knew both for years but didn't know they were sisters). both knew what we had gone through over all the years and knew someone that had a child that they want to have adopted. So one day as they were talking about knowing a couple they could ask our name came up and they were both in shock when they found out they were both talking about Sandy and I.
I was asked June 4th and given the birth parents phone # we talked and finally met them 3 weeks ago this past wed.
We chatted for almost 3 hours and really felt a connection with them we really hit it off. Sandy and I were in limbo for almost a week went by without hearing from them.
We wondered if maybe they had 2nd thoughts, didn't they like us what was going on?
Finally on tuesday Sandy called me at work, they had called and wanted us to be the parents!!!!!
We met the Birth mother on Wed. and got to listen to the babies heartbeat see sonogram photos and met her other little daughter (she's a cutie). Thursday we started telling our families what was going on and on Saturday July 3rd we were at my cousins party and had told everyone we had a big announcement to make. WELL at 5 o'clock the BM called and told us she was having pains and was having her friend take her to the hospital but not to worry she didn't think it was anything serious. 1/2 an hour later she called back and told us you better met me there baby is on the way!!!!!!!! Lets just say my brother had to make the announcement for us.
Sandy and I arrived at the front door the same time as the BM and her friend did. We got her in a wheel chair got her inside at 6 PM and at 9:06 PM Arianna was born!!!

Never Never did I ever think I would get to be there for the delivery, hear a babies 1st cry (our baby), get to hear her weight and size and believe me I was in tears the 1st time I got to hold her. She so beautiful!!!!!!
So everything is going well now. Baby sleeps better now at night up maybe once or twice during the night. Shes a great eater and sleeps thru anything nothing wakes Arianna up.
We've been spending the past 3 weeks showing her off :-) Yep I'm a proud daddy.
The 1st day we had Arianna we were walking around Walmart and and some ladies were saying how cute she is. One lady asked how old she is and Sandy told her 4 days old she took 1 look at Sandy and exclaimed "You look great for just having a baby"!!!! :-)
So now I'm the luck guy how gets to walk around with to Beautiful girls.

Everyone has been great to the 3 of us, work gave us a big baby shower and our families are planning Adoption showers after Aug 7th
We have talked with the Birthmother about a week ago and shes so happy for us. Shes such a wonderful woman and we are blessed to have them in our lives.
So thing are going great my life had taken a GREAT big turn for the BETTER!!!
Family reunions coming up lots of family that can't wait to meet her.
Well almost feeding time so I have to go warm up a bottle or her. I'll end here and post more when I get some free time.
Thanks everyone who have been praying for us DREAMS DO COME TRUE!!!!!!

Baby doing well

Well after wondering what the heck we got ourselves into after spending the 1st night home to a crying screaming baby and 1 hour of sleep, she finally settled down. I don't know how she can sleep and not wake up for anything during the day, but as soon as the lights go out look out!!
Usually we give her last bottle between 10-11PM and she will give us 4-5 hours of sleep. We even had to wake her up once or twice for feedings. I hope this last.
I'll try to post pics as soon as we can. We hear it was hard for them but the birthparents signed off on paperwork and now we wait until Aug 7th. 30 days we'll be on pins and needles hoping they won't change there minds.
Arianna had her 1st Doctors appt today and she's doing great!!1 Upto 7 lbs butdidn't grow yet still 19 and 3/4 inches. Doc will see her again in 7 weeks
Well its 11PM on a friday night and I'm headed to bed, But not until I give Arianna a kiss good night. WE Love her so much. WE spent the 4th of July sitting alone in a hospital room with her and it was the best day of our lives!!! ALL The the fireworks in the world don't compare to her.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments

Brian Sandy and Arianna

Dreams do come true!!1

1st Night with Baby

Just a quick post while baby finally sleeps. She was up all night with mom and dad and after a 6AM feeding shes been out like a light sleeping for the last 4 hours.
Busy day lots of Appts and Nurse to visit the house within the hour.
We did everything in 29 days so its been really crazy. June 4th we were asked if we were still interested in adopting. Two weeks ago we met the Birth Parents. Only 1 week ago today Sandy called me at work and told me the Mothers Loved us from the moment she met us. Wed. we went to her Appt. Saturday she called us at a July 4th party and said she was having pains. 6 PM she called back and asked us to meet her at the hospital and 3 hours later our little girl was born.
Well that the short and sweet version. When we have time I'll post the long version.
Our lives have took a huge change. Sandy spit up on and I got my 1st hand full of poop. And you know what I love every second of it.

Time for a feeding
Thank you all for the support over all these years. Pray that the adoption will go thru.

WE ARE PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Arianna Danielle Kelley Born July 3 2010 at 9:06 PM 6 lbs 13 oz 19 inches
FINALLY AFTER 15 YEARS OF HEARTBREAK WE ARE FINALLY ADOPTIVE PARENTS I'M HEADED BACK TO THE HOSPITAL NOW AND WILL POST IN THE COMING DAYS HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UPDATING

Updated homestudy Wed. night, just waiting for our child abuse clearances and going to update physicals in 1/2 hour. Its going to be a wild ride the next few weeks!! Stay tuned folks :-)

"Dreams do come true, if we only wish hard enough, You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it." --Sir James M. Barrie ...

Deja Vu

Feels like we been here before!!! New fingerprinting, updating paperwork and Homestudy change / updating this is all happening so fast and came up at the last minute. Stay tuned folks and pray for us!! I'll post updates

We're Back!!

NEW HOPE

Sara Paddison, The Hidden Power of the Heart
When the heart is enlivened again, it feels like the sun coming out after a week of rainy days. There is hope in the heart that chases the clouds away. Hope is a higher heart frequency and as you begin to reconnect with your heart, hope is waiting to show you new possibilities and arrest the downward spiral of grief and loneliness. It becomes a matter of how soon you want the sun to shine. Listening to the still, small voice in your heart will make hope into a reality.


We have HOPE