Willow was born in Mission Viejo,(Orange County) CA on Monday, 9/17/12 at 445am. It seems strange that we were not affected by her birthday, we had a very normal Monday. Her birth parents were both present for the birth. They had travelled 13 hours(!!) south to meet with our adoption agency and had another prenatal doctor appointment scheduled for Monday. Sunday evening, the birth mother went into labor and delivered early Monday morning. They had already chosen an adoptive family and this couple was able to be there for the birth. When Willow was born, she tested positive for Methadone. Drug testing was then done on the birth mom and she was (obv) also positive for a drugs. This set off a series of events:
Since the mom and baby were both positive for drugs at birth, the hospital is required by law to call Children's Protective Services (CPS). CPS came to the hospital to take custody of the baby but when they found that the birth parents had previously made an adoption plan, they left.

The chosen adoptive family verbally backed out of the adoption when the baby was positive for drugs. The adoption agency convinced them to stay at the hospital until they could find another family for the baby so CPS would not take her and place her in the foster care system.

Immediately after delivery, the birth parents wanted to be discharged so they could go home. They live 13 hours away on the border of Oregon and California. They wanted to leave, the mother was afraid of getting in trouble for testing positive for illegal and precription drugs (not prescribed to her). The father (6'4" and 250#'s) was thrown out of the hospital during the delivery for being aggressive, screaming, and threatening the staff and birth mom. It must have been a pretty big deal, each day the nurses would add another interesting detail of his performance. Somehow, his glasses got broke and they were accusing him of being on drugs. He was removed by the hospital security and the sheriff dept. He was no longer allowed on the hospital grounds and the sheriff dept was stationed at the entrances, along with photos of him posted throughout the hospital to ensure this. Because of all this, as soon as they were able the birth parents signed over the medical rights of the baby to the adoptive family there. They were willing to sign over legal custody also, but the adoptive family still unofficially was choosing to back out. The birth parents were not willing to stay in the area for another couple of days to sign rights when the agency could locate another family (us) that would take the baby. Since the birth mom couldn't sign over custody, she was required to name the baby. (baby name #1). They left and went back home.

We were called on Tuesday 9/18 at about 10pm and they stated that a caucasian baby girl had been born and at that time it LOOKED like the family chosen was going to back out. They were not positive but they had to know if we would take the baby if the family decided to back out. Honestly, this was a huge struggle for me. I wanted to adopt because we were told that there is a HUGE need for homes for bi-racial / multi- racial/ and african american babies in the USA. A caucasian girl was not what I was expecting or wanted. I wanted to help a child that could not find a home. Many adoptive families want caucasian girls, I wanted to give a child that nobody else would help the love and safety they deserved. There was a lot of praying and a great deal of "God moments" shown to me before I was able to say that I felt like we should go get her. I struggled with this for a few days and suddenly, while talking out my thoughts, it hit me. This tiny baby cannot find a home. She is a girl and she is caucasian, but she has had TWO families turn her down. I was filled with such compassion for this poor little soul, laying in the NICU- fighting a drug withdrawl thanks to her birth mom, with nobody that even cared. An old Norah Jones song popped into my head from out of the blue. It's called Seven Years and the words struck me. Interestingly, everywhere I went that song was playing. The background music at the store, doctor's office, randomly on the radio, and constantly in my head. I'm not sure of the meaning of the words, but my interpretation is of a little girl that is trying everything to get someone to notice her. Here are the words:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7wyidF2YFk .


The adoptive family at the hospital also named her (baby name #2) before officially backing out late Weds night. Because they and the birth parents all left her at the hospital, CPS was again called. They placed a hold on her and on Monday morning they were to file the paperwork to take custody of her. Her name became Baby Girl Doe (name #3).

Thursday morning, our agency called and confirmed that the previous adoptive family officially backed out and "the little girl, with nothing wrong, that's all alone" was ours and we needed to fly to CA asap. We were able to arrive Friday afternoon. Since CPS had a hold on Willow Gail (baby name #4) our agency and lawyers worked very hard and found an Adoption Service Provider that lived closer to the birth parents. This man and a lawyer met with the birth parents and all papers were signed Thursday evening. The birth parents also waived their rights to a 10 grace period and traded it for a 24 hour period where they could change their minds and come back for Willow. By the time we arrived at the hospital on Friday, the previous adoptive couple had signed off, the birth parents rights were irrevocably terminated, and CPS had removed the hold on Willow. Our lawyer states he has never had such a legal mess "miraculously" change in such a short amount of time! She is 100% legally ours but the adoption will not be final through the courts for at least 6 months. When we got to the hospital, we found a precious little girl, all alone. The nursing staff had dressed her up and "tried to make her pretty so we would want her". The name above her Isolette said "Baby Girl Doe" as did all her charts. It struck me that in that instant this little girl went from Baby Girl Doe who had nobody to Willow Gail Riggenbach who has a huge family and SO many people that love her!