{"id":67051,"date":"2023-08-29T16:24:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T16:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celeband.com\/?p=67051"},"modified":"2023-08-29T16:24:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T16:24:00","slug":"i-adopted-my-husbands-ex-wifes-baby-i-didnt-want-him-in-foster-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celeband.com\/lifestyle\/i-adopted-my-husbands-ex-wifes-baby-i-didnt-want-him-in-foster-care\/","title":{"rendered":"'I adopted my husband's ex-wife's baby – I didn't want him in foster care'"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

When Christie Werts, 48, met her husband Wesley, 45, five years ago, little did they know their family was about to get even bigger.<\/p>\n

At first, their blended families included Christie\u2019s children \u2013 Megan, 21 and Vance, 15 \u2013 as well as Wesley\u2019s kids: Austin, 14, and Dakota, 10. <\/p>\n

But then Wesley\u2019s ex-wife, and mother of Austin and Dakota, passed away suddenly after struggling with addiction issues \u2013 leaving behind a newborn baby called Levi.<\/p>\n

Not wanting Levi to end up in foster care, like 48-year-old Christie did as a child, and wanting Austin and Dakota to have their brother in their lives, the couple made the huge decision to adopt him.<\/p>\n

\u2018When I heard about Levi, without hesitation I said we should take him,\u2019 said Christie, who works in IT and lives in Ohio, US.<\/p>\n

\u2018I myself was a foster kid and, although for the most part, I had a great experience, I did not want him going to foster care.<\/p>\n

\u2018My husband did not really speak to the biological mum\u2019s family often, but she had Levi on a Monday and passed away that Friday.<\/p>\n

\u2018We lived in another state at the time, so we sold our home in Ohio and rented a house in Texas because we had to officially foster to adopt him.<\/p>\n

\u2018So we did \u2013 the process took 16 months.\u2019<\/p>\n

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a webbrowser thatsupports HTML5video<\/p>\n

She added: \u2018Although, my experience was overall as good as it can be in foster care, I just knew I loved my step-kids enough to make sure they got to be with their half-brother.<\/p>\n

\u2018I did not want Levi to end up in the foster care system.<\/p>\n

\u2018If I said I did not [have concerns beforehand], that would not be honest.<\/p>\n

\u2018I love kids and bonded with my step-kids real quick. I also was in love with my bio kids at first sight.<\/p>\n

\u2018This was different \u2013 I was going to walk into a child I never met and was worried the circumstances would hinder this \u201cinstant love\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u2018But he stole my heart. I also felt this intense need to protect him.\u2019<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Now little Levi, who\u2019s almost two, is an official member of the family as the adoption papers went through in January 2023.<\/p>\n

Christie said: \u2018We already felt he was our son. But on paper, he was a child with no first name, no birth certificate, and was a ward of the state.<\/p>\n

\u2018Just to know he would have a birth certificate [and] a legal first name was very emotional. I had dreams about him before we even knew about him.<\/p>\n

\u2018We prayed for him, so here was the moment we feel god had planned.\u2019<\/p>\n

Christie said Levi loves his home, calling him \u2018king of the house\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018We are all very close,\u2019 she added.<\/p>\n

\u2018He won\u2019t understand the journey right now, but someday I will let him know we fought for him. The kids are living a normal life again. No caseworkers, no inspections \u2013 just sports and friends.<\/p>\n

\u2018I am currently working on a book about my life as a foster kid, including our adoption story \u2013 which is a tragic and beautiful story.\u2019<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

When it comes to others who might be considering adoption and blending a family, she advised: \u2018First, make sure your relationship is super solid before you introduce the kids.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think my husband and I both made the mistake of introducing people [former partners] to our kids, just for that person to not be around anymore.<\/p>\n

\u2018They may have other parents but treat those kids as if they were yours \u2013 that\u2019s important for both you and your partner.<\/p>\n

\u2018The process to adopt from foster care is not for the faint of heart. I read a comment once that someone said people adopt out of selfishness for themselves, not the child.<\/p>\n

\u2018You must have that desire for a child [but] a desire to want, love, and care for a child at any age has to be just as important as helping a child.<\/p>\n

\u2018Take each day at a time because the system is not perfect.\u2019<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Christie has also shared some snippets of their journey on TikTok, (@cjthemom5), and with one video showing Levi as a baby in an incubator after his premature birth.<\/p>\n

\u2018I wasn\u2019t sure if I would be able to bond adopting my husband\u2019s ex-wife\u2019s baby,\u2019 the caption read, while the rest of the clip shows pictures and moments of them together as he grows.<\/p>\n

Comments under the post, which has garnered 900,000 views and 30,000 likes, are full of support.<\/p>\n

One person wrote: \u2018My heart melted. What an amazing story. Your little guy is absolutely beautiful.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Congrats on your bundle of joy. Some babies are born from the belly and some from the heart,\u2019 said another.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Christie Werts, 48, met her husband Wesley, 45, five years ago, little did they know their family was about to get even bigger. At first, their blended families included Christie\u2019s children \u2013 Megan, 21 and Vance, 15 \u2013 as well as Wesley\u2019s kids: Austin, 14, and Dakota, 10. But then Wesley\u2019s ex-wife, and mother of Austin and Dakota, passed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":67050,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n'I adopted my husband's ex-wife's baby - I didn't want him in foster care' - CELEBAND<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/celeband.com\/lifestyle\/i-adopted-my-husbands-ex-wifes-baby-i-didnt-want-him-in-foster-care\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"'I adopted my husband's ex-wife's baby - I didn't want him in foster care' - CELEBAND\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When Christie Werts, 48, met her husband Wesley, 45, five years ago, little did they know their family was about to get even bigger. 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