ADOPTION STORIES :  Close Knit Family

Submitted by : Allison Forbes Brideau

Adoption was such a wonderful experience for us overall.  We adopted two girls with global delays when they were 2 and 3 years old.  We were on the baby list just after we got married as we weren't sure if we would be able to have children and it was long at that point so we did it earlier than our actual adoption to the girls.  Once we had completed the paperwork it really didn't take that long as our girls were older and I can remember exactly where we were when the news came!  We were in Tracadie at my husband's cottage and I was so excited about the future of our family!  

Adoption runs in both sides of our families as I am adopted as is my husband's sister. Within a few weeks we were starting to get to know our sweet little girls and it was a very exciting time.  We did some sleepovers with them at first until the foster family and we felt that the girls were comfortable enough to make the transition to our home.  

Due to the fact that the girls both had special needs, we made sure to find out as much about what was going on with them as we could.  We went to doctors and specialists to figure out as much as we could concerning their delays.  Our oldest was going to the pediatric team and seeing occupational therapy and speech pathology.  I learned so much about the girls at this point and felt better able to help them to get ready for school and those who would soon be working with them in the school.  It was a lot of work to meet with all of these professionals but I learned so much that it was worth every minute.  The girls continued to light up our life for many years although they are very different from each other which totally fascinates me. 

Our family believes that adoption is one of the best things that you can do and we love the way that our family was formed. A few years after we adopted the girls, I found out that I was pregnant with our youngest daughter which was a true miracle since I have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian syndrome and was unlikely to have children without medication and help from some specialists. 

 A year after she was born the department approached us again as our name had come up on the baby list.  They gave us a year after having our youngest and then approached us again to see if we had wanted a baby.  Since we felt we had a wonderful family and wanted to do well by all of them we had decided to stop at 3 girls!  Adoption has had its ups and downs but we are always thankful for the children we have.  They taught us many things and we have provided them with love and laughter within our home!