From three to four

BUTLER COUNTY – On December 8, Ruth Pulliam celebrated her one year adoption anniversary. She was adopted by Kevin and Rachel Pulliam, a Butler County couple, on December 8, 2021. 

Prior to her adoption, Ruth adjusted to her new family very well. The wonderful timing of everything allowed for the three to spend their first Christmas together as an official family just a few weeks following. 

Kevin Pulliam says the family did not do anything out of the ordinary to celebrate Ruth’s adoption anniversary, aside from her grandmother being in town. 

Ruth has adjusted very well over the past year. She excels at school, academically and socially. 

“She’s making friends and, in terms of keeping up and learning, she’s doing really well at both,” said Kevin. “She does a really good job of staying on task.” Ruth has adjusted very well to fitting in with the other children at her church in Ackley, where her father is a pastor. 

“She has lots of extended parents, grandparents and great grandparents here at the church that she loves and they all love her. So it’s kind of a big, happy family of sorts. There are many things she’s grown in over the past year,” said Kevin. 

Perhaps the biggest area where Ruth has been given the opportunity to grow, however, is her role in the family. Nearly a month ago, the Pulliams received a call from the state regarding the necessity of an urgent placement for a baby boy. At the time of the call, the boy was only a day or two old. 

“My wife got the call and then she called me and we had decided immediately that we would let him come in,” recalls Kevin. Rachel then drove to pick up the boy and bring him home, where he has been for about three weeks. 

“Since coming into our home, he has gained weight. He was always a pretty healthy little boy and that’s just continued. We’re hoping to adopt him but that’s still up in the air,” said Kevin. 

The adoption process for the Pulliams could take up to half a year. “In this particular case, it’d be about six months if things don’t improve on the biological mom’s end. Because he’s a newborn, that time of finding him a home is shortened,” Kevin shares. 

When asked how Ruth is adjusting to a new baby boy being in the home, Kevin responded with a chuckle, saying “that’s one thing that hasn’t been an issue. She likes being an older sister.” Naturally, there are times where she doesn’t receive as much attention as she is used to. “That’s a balancing act, but in terms of being an older sister, she’s held him now three, maybe four times and she’s enjoyed that.”