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Gracie and Kass are Adopted |
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It took a couple of months for the twins' adoption to be finalized. Their biological father first refused to sign relinquishment, so we prepared to have his right terminated. After we'd done all the preparation for termination, he finally relinquished. The twins were officially adopted on 2/27/02, although they were placed with their adoptive parents since they were two days old.
Alysse stayed in the hospital for five weeks after she was born. |
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| The girls in Europe at 20 months old |
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She had some difficuly breathing, but her main job while in the NICU was to learn to eat (suck) and to gain weight. She was at first fed through a tube down her nose, but by two weeks old, was learning to suck from a bottle. Alysse's name was changed to Kassandra Alysse. Kassandra (she goes by Kass) has had two viral infections in her lungs during the past two years, but has been otherwise healthy. At six months of age, Kass was diagnosed as having profound hearing loss in both ears. Further testing was done and it was determined that for some reason, Kass' middle ear simply never formed correctly. The cause cannot be genetic, as testing shows that her sister hears normally. The cause of Kass' hearing problem is unknown. |
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Nicole came home from the hospital before her sister did, at four weeks old. She did not have as much difficulty as Kass did with eating, but she still needed to gain some weight before coming home. Nicole's name was changed to Gracianna Nicole. When Kass was sick the first time with a viral infection in her lungs (RSV), Gracianna (Gracie) also got it. The girls were in the hospital. During this time, everyone remarked how much better and stronger the girls were when they were allowed to |
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The girls in Europe at 20 months old |
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sleep in the same crib together. The girls always slept together. They shared a crib as infants, and when their parents got them separate toddler beds, they still slept together. The girls were put to bed in separate beds, but by morning, they were always either together in bed or on the floor together. They definiately share a "twin bond." |
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The girls are developing normally and are doing very well. Sandy and Bill have proved themselves to be good parents--I trust them fully. Our adoption is an open adoption, which means we have on-going contact. During the first year, Sandy |
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and Bill supplied me with at least monthly updates--they would e-mail me or call me more often while the girls were hospitalized and/or sick. I received many pictures--many more than the minimum of the three per month that we agreed to. We also |
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agreed to two visits per year for the first three years, and then once per year after that. I visited them when they were six months old and again on their first birthday. During their second year, I visited once.
I have provided the girls and their parents with scrapbooks of their pregnancy and family history from my side of their biological family. I have also filled out extensive medical history forms. I will always keep Sandy and Bill updated on my current address and telephone number. I want to continue contact, though it may decrease or increase in frequency as they get older (depending on their needs and wants as they grow), especially since I am raising their half-sister, Tessa. |
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Abby and Britty Hensel have a very special twin story--click HERE to read |
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Things have been up and down for me over the past two years since they were born, but I am proud of them and never have regreted my decision to place them for adoption. |
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To read about Kass and deafness, click HERE |
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HOME |
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To Read About the Twin's Little Sister, Click HERE |
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