Our family of Three (Seven, really), parts 1 and 2

Before BabyGirl became our daughter, we'd had another placement. It was pretty much a no-brainer that this situation wasn't going to last. The 19-year old mom had been living with his 32-year old father since before they conceived him. Her teenaged heart had her life with their child all planned out and it was a nice vision. At her 8-month medical exam, she learned that she had an STD then subsequently learned that it was from her boyfriend who'd been tomcatting around and, by the way, he already had a child for whom an adoption plan was made. She freaked, broke up with him, moved home, and essentially decided that if the baby wasn't around, she could just forget the whole thing. He was with us for four days. We'd named him Langston to honor Mr. Handsome's Uncle Lou and for my favorite poet, Langston Hughes. Now he's Deon and growing up in the next town over.

Four months later, BabyGirl was born. She stayed, and we're family forever and ever. Amen.