Yuma family prepares to adopt foster child

It's been 15 years in the making, and on Friday, one Yuma County family will give one child a permanent home as part of 2009 Yuma County Adoption Day.

Ed and Sonia Frassinelli became foster parents to Eduardo just more than one year ago, when he was 2 days old.

Eduardo turned 1 on Thursday and this week he'll have another celebration as the Frassinellis officially adopt him.

Yuma County will participate in National Adoption Day Friday, and the Frassinellis are just one of several local families that will officially adopt children in a special ceremony.

The Frassinellis said they have wanted a child for 15 years.

Sonia Frassinelli said when she was a teenager, she decided she didn't want to have children; she wanted to adopt.

"I guess God heard me," she said.

What does it mean to them to be able to adopt a child?

"You have to throw yourself in it," Ed Frassinelli said. "Don't think about yourself, think about the kids."

Sonia agreed.

"We said we've go to do this for the kids," she said. "It made it easier to know we've done it for the kids."

They've been temporary foster parents to several children before, she said. They understand that sometimes children might only stay a short time until their parents are able to care for them again.

"Maybe all they need is that little time to be with their parents (again)," she said.

The Frassinellis said they started the adoption process about four months ago.

"I always had my hopes that we were going to keep him," Ed Frassinelli said. "Now it's a done deal."

But it hasn't always been an easy process emotionally, both Ed and Sonia said.

Both the Frassinellis feared that there would be complications during the adoption process. They worried when officials would call regarding the adoption.

"We were so scared because previously they called us twice," Sonia Frassinelli said. "It was really, really scary."  

The Frassinellis said they hope to give Eduardo a brother or a sister.

"We're trying for another," Ed Frassinelli said.

Both Ed and Sonia Frassinelli said they hope to encourage other families to become foster and adoptive parents, and they hope the event Friday will help more people become aware of how many children need to be part of a family.

For now, the Frassinellis said they're enjoying watching Eduardo grow up - and "it's such a fun age."

He's saying "ma ma" and "da," the Frassinellis said, and he's enjoying getting into the kitchen cabinets, pulling everything out. Then he waits for mom and dad to put everything back, and he's completely happy to do it all over again.

Sonia Frassinelli said just looking at him is the best part about being a parent. "Sometimes you go home from work on a tough day and look at him."

Ed Frassinelli said "just to look at him, that just sets everything right."

"I think we got lucky all the way around," Sonia Frassinelli said.

The event will be at 9 a.m. Friday at 2440 W. 28th St. in Yuma. For more information about Yuma County Adoption Day 2009, call 314-1801.

Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.