Our Story
We met in 2007 at the wedding of Theresa's sister and John's best friend. We immediately hit it off and long story really short, we were married April 4th, 2009 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Steubenville, OH. We knew after a month of marriage that we wanted to start a family as soon as possible.
On January 1st, 2010 we found out we were pregnant for the first time. The next month or so was a blur of happiness and planning. Unfortunately, on January 28th, Theresa suffered a miscarriage at 9 weeks. We named our little angel Marian Joy. Six months later we lost our second child at 6 weeks and named her Claradona Joy.
Throughout the following year we kept hoping and praying for a child. By the beginning of the summer of 2011 we decided as a couple (with a lot of prayer!) that we would add to our family through adoption. We slowly began gathering information about agencies and adoption possibilities. Then three weeks later, to our surprise and joy, we found out we were pregnant! Since we hadn't gotten too involved in the process yet we decided to pause and focus on the newest little member of our family. The next few months everything went as perfectly as could be. This was our little miracle. We were overjoyed when we entered the second trimester, believing that now we could breath easy.
In the routine second trimester ultrasound the technician noticed signs of preterm labor. We were terrified. We met with doctors and specialists, and began several precautionary measures to prolong the pregnancy. Less than a week later we woke in the early morning and rushed to the hospital with contractions less than 3 minutes apart. We were sent home after the contractions subsided, but later that day they began again. Our hearts were ripped open when our son, Micah Nathaniel, was born still at 22 weeks on November 15th, 2011. We laid Micah to rest a few days later in a special place in the local cemetery set aside for those called home so very early in life. The following March we lost another little love via miscarriage at 6 weeks. We named him Timothy Jacob.
Since then we have been slowly working our way toward adding to our family. Our adventure has had many "plot twists", not the least of which was our blessed pregnancy and birth of a healthy daughter, and most recently our decision to transfer our file to the China Special Needs program.
Our story continues to evolve and while every change may seem like taking a different path, the destination remains the same - adding love to our family!
Thank you for blessing us with your presence and friendship as we wait joyfully until the children God has for us is found!
Since then we have been slowly working our way toward adding to our family. Our adventure has had many "plot twists", not the least of which was our blessed pregnancy and birth of a healthy daughter, and most recently our decision to transfer our file to the China Special Needs program.
Our story continues to evolve and while every change may seem like taking a different path, the destination remains the same - adding love to our family!
Thank you for blessing us with your presence and friendship as we wait joyfully until the children God has for us is found!
Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone, but still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute, you didn't grow under my heart - but in it.
~ Fleur Heylinger ~
Never forget for a single minute, you didn't grow under my heart - but in it.
~ Fleur Heylinger ~