Asher and Jude's Family

We talked about adoption off and on for 8 years before the time came to officially start. We never felt called to domestic infant adoption, as we'd gotten to experience the baby stage with our three biological children. We wanted to adopt through foster care, but as a military family frequently on the move, that felt a little too problematic. So that left international, which we weren't opposed to but didn't feel particularly called to. But God used that journey to help grow our hearts and our minds as to what we felt our capacity was. When we started the process to adopt from Colombia, we were happy that they were a special needs program. Due to our background and circumstances, we felt that we were a good fit for kids who had correctible surgical needs or physical needs...but we checked no on the small list of permanent cognitive/emotional needs. That just scared us. But over the course of a winding journey, which is too long to get into here, God opened our hearts. And by the time a friend told me about the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network, we realized that Down syndrome didn't actually sound all that scary at all. In fact, we got more and more excited about the idea. We couldn't get the NDSAN out of our minds, and knew that's where God wanted us. We changed gears on our almost-finished homestudy and got on the NDSAN registry.

Just a couple months later, we are the very excited new parents to Asher and Jude. These cuties are identical twin boys who both have Down syndrome - the chance of having identical twins with Down syndrome is actually one in a million, so they’re pretty special.

They were born unexpectedly early at 30 weeks and 5 days, and just over 2 pounds each. We were chosen to be their family THAT DAY, while we were on vacation visiting family in another state, and a few minutes later we got a call that they were being rushed to an emergency c-section. About an hour later I was saying goodbye to my three bio kids, where I left them with my family for the next month, and I drove 7.5 hours to meet the boys that night.

My husband flew in over that first weekend and we signed the papers to officially become their parents before he had to head back home. For now the babies and I are still in the NICU, and will be for probably a couple months in all. It’s been quite a whirlwind but everything has fallen into place so smoothly and the boys are doing great, all things considered. We spent a lot of time with their birth parents before they went home, and they are wonderful and will remain in our lives in some capacity, which we’re so grateful for.

We are so grateful to the NDSAN and organizations like GLADS who have all had a part in this journey. We love these boys and feel like we've hit the jackpot to be their family.

December 2021

Asher and Jude finally left the NICU after 80 days! They were discharged on oxygen but were otherwise in great shape. Three months and five days after their birth, the boys and mom finally returned home and they got to meet their three big siblings. They're now 4.5 months old (2.5 months adjusted), but still so tiny. We can't seem to get out of newborn-sized diapers and clothes! Though they're tiny and will be hitting milestones on their own schedules, they've weaned completely off oxygen over the last month and are doing so well! You can follow along with their story on Instagram at @theadventuresofaandj.

July 2023

We can't believe it's all been two years now that they've been in our lives. They bring us some grey hairs, haha, but more than make up for it with their smiles, delight and love. Our house is a bit of a circus with 5 kids and a couple big dogs - it is NEVER still or quiet here! But it sure keeps life interesting and full of fun. 

Asher and Jude are doing really well. Medically, they have been fantastic and are so healthy. We have thickened liquids for now but that's about it. Developmentally they are a bit more behind, even by Down syndrome standards and adjusted for prematurity. They are tiny little peanuts and we just got independent sitting mastered before their second birthday. They also army crawl like champs and are pulling up to stand now. We love that they can finally get around a bit more independently. We aren't sure how far off walking is - a ways yet - but hopefully before their next birthday. We'll see! Each new milestone is a huge win and while they're taking their time hitting them, they do keep progressing forward on their own timeline and we're so proud of them.