Multiple Births

They did Placement at a nearby tourist attraction, which was becoming increasingly popular with the other residents for their own placement.
The day she left, she and her roommate, who was due in July, had to practically tear themselves away from each other in tears.

It was an emotional bond, one that her mom observed with tears in her eyes.

Her roommate/best friend spent the rest of the night watching movies with some of the other residents, down about her leaving.

Earlier that day, the residents showed the artistic residents and her parents a video they made of her visiting with her newborn son during a nursery visit.

She pointed out all his features and bragged on him in the video. She looked like such a natural.

Her son joined five other deliveries from other birth moms that month.

April 13, 2000

Tara got a letter from the artistic resident:

“Cheryl (my old roommate) said things have been pretty hectic at the dorm lately what with all the April babies coming and more girls having a change of heart (at least they hadn’t matched with their APs yet,” she wrote. “I am kind of sorry to miss all the excitement but it’s good to be home! Thank you again for all of your friendship at Gladney. I am working on a drawing for you. I want to wish you luck with everything. I think about and pray for you and all the girls all the time. I will be back for my six-week checkup in May and I will make sure to come by the dorm and see you guys. And I may have to come back around August 2nd when you’re due.”

She enclosed a poem and an article about Joni Mitchell’s recent reunion with her daughter she’d placed for adoption for 20 years ago.
The resident who changed her mind and left on the Greyhound bus, Tara had been really scared of, only she didn’t let on to her. She didn’t want to be alone with her and feared she’d jump her in the laundry room. Tara remembered hearing her threaten another resident once – “Pregnant girls can still fight!”

The girl was only 23 but you could tell she’d had a hard life. She was rough around the edges.

The married couple, who was also house parents and religious, didn’t act that way at all – everyone loved them for their good humor and laid back attitude. Plus they were in their 20s so they related to the residents.

A group of residents all contributed to painting a mural in the dining room in the dorm and everyone initialed their handprints. Even though the center would be relocating the next year, it was just something they wanted to do to leave their mark.

Tomorrow Tara’s new suite mate was coming.

April 15, 2000

Tara’s new suite mate arrived that day. She was 29 and this was her third child; her second she’d placed for adoption. When Tara’s new suite mate was a resident at Gladney nine years prior, birth moms were allowed to choose the adoptive couple but not meet them.

April 18, 2000

Tara woke up in the middle of the night and cried about everything – Alex, being pregnant, the waiver, her last two jobs, God, the adoption, her co-workers criticizing her about her adoption decision. She finally slept but woke up a few times and had horrible nightmares.

One of the residents had her baby and had her caseworker choose the adoptive couple. It was her second child, but her first to place for adoption.

Two more residents were leaving in a few days. One had a ten-pound baby boy with no epidural (not planned). The other was a rape victim and her family wouldn’t allow her to discuss the rape or the adoption.

Alex sent Tara an email.

Legal wouldn’t serve him with papers until they knew his diagnosis.

April 20, 2000

Tara talked to Alex that night. He said at the VA hospital they just drug him and give him no therapy. He was on three heart medications, a thyroid medication, and a drug from a drug study. He mentioned he wanted to stay a night in town near her that weekend.

Tara saw the doctor that day. She was 24 weeks along and the heartbeat was strong. She only gained three pounds.

The doctor was inducing a resident at 5 a.m. the next day because she was so big. She was 19 and she and her boyfriend were going through this together. All the residents were envious of her relationship because it wasn’t the norm around there.

Tara felt humongous. The phone cut Alex off just as he said he missed her like crazy. She was supposed to go back to the doctor in a month for a glucose test. She saw an adoptive mom and her little girl that day and it made her feel good about her decision.

April 27, 2000

The day before had been Tara’s dad’s birthday. One resident left after deciding to keep her baby. She was 20, bulimic, and had no support in any way. She also had had some abortions in the past and had a physically abusive boyfriend and an alcoholic mom who didn’t support her at all.

Two more residents left and another was leaving the next day. The latter had placed the day before.

Tara dreamed about her baby.