Over the next two weeks, my husband and I prayed a lot about adding another newborn to our family only months apart. The same resounding answer came again and again. Six weeks after that phone call we flew out with Andy to Missouri and met a woman and her three children the night before she was being induced. We all instantly connected. The next day we stood at her bedside and watched as our son Ellis was born. Jason even got to cut the cord. I was first to hold him and again kiss his tiny hands.
Never did we imagine having [two] newborn babies only [four] months apart. Adoption is an amazing thing. Because of a woman’s greatest sacrifice and selfless decision, I became a mom. To [two] of the most perfect baby boys I could have ever asked for.
We have open adoptions with both of our boys’ birth parents. We talk and send pictures and recently met up with Andy’s birth parents at a nearby park.
Four months after Ellis was born we had a strong feeling to reach out to his birth mom and she had mentioned they were in a rough spot. Jason and I decided to then fly her oldest child out to visit us for 10 days so he could spend some time with Ellis. Sean had never been on a plane or been that far away from his home. We instantly fell in love with this sweet boy. [Ten] days eventually turned into all summer.
At the end of summer, he asked if he could to watch his new friends try out for football. Before we knew it, he was talking to the coaches and asked if he could try out. Sean made the top football team for 8th grade in his first year ever playing an organized sport. He called his mom and asked her if he could stay. She said whatever would make him happy. Sean has now been living with us for 6 months and his football team made it all the way to playoffs.
Never did we imagine one year ago that we would be adding [three] more children in under [nine] months (especially all boys) to the [two] that we already had. I have not given birth to any of the [five] boys we have at home right now. But I am their mom. We have since finalized both Andy and Ellis’ adoptions. They are officially Orams. We share custody with our oldest two boys and their mom. And we don’t have a timeline as to how long Sean will end up staying. Family does not have to be made from blood. It can come in many shapes and sizes. Love is all that matters. So here we are. A current family of [seven]. We love each other deeply. And go on a lot of adventures together. It is not always easy. There have been many ups and downs and everything in between. But we wouldn’t trade it for the world.
**This story was written by Heather Crockett Oram and originally appeared on Love What Matters. Follow her adoption journey on Instagram.
