A synopsis of the first 4 1/2 years of our journey

1. Paul and I got married in 2001 and began trying to have a baby in 2002. We began fertility treatments in 2003.
2. In the spring of 2004 we began seriously discussing various adoption options. We decided that in November we would start pursuing adoption if I wasn't pregnant by then.
3. In November 2004 we started the home study process with Jennifer, a social worker with Schuylkill County’s Children and Youth Services.
4. On December 7, 2004 we began a two year contract with Lifetime, an adoption facilitator in California.
5. In January 2005 we mailed Lifetime 50 profiles.
6. In June 2005 we learned I was finally pregnant (from our seventh round of fertility treatments). Sadly we lost this baby in July.
7. In February 2006 we began the process of completing a home study update as ours was soon to expire.
8. In March 2006 we started discussing other adoption options since the domestic newborn adoption was taking longer than we anticipated.
9. After taking many new photos, in May 2006 we mailed Lifetime 20 more profiles.
10. In September 2006 we mailed Lifetime 25 more profiles.
11. During the summer of 2006 we were added to the contact list of an attorney in Jacksonville, Florida. We considered asking to be presented for one situation in July, and then in November we were one of six couples presented to the birthfamily of a baby boy born on 11-17. We learned on December 19 that a local family would be chosen.
12. On December 19 after months of discussion about IVF and many adoption options, we decided to start pursuing the adoption of two children from Ukraine. Since the ectopic pregnancy in 2005 we completed three additional rounds of unsuccessful fertility treatments; in August we were told IVF (which we haven't tried yet) is our only remaining option.