The Nielsons spoke in an interview in their American Fork home, as Jed bounced a laughing baby Harvey on his lap. On the living room wall is a black-and-white golden-framed picture of Harvey taken when he was only a few weeks old. In the photo, both Jed's and Cally's hands hold the infant.

The situation is taking its toll on the couple. Jed, who owns a countertop business in American Fork, has had to take time away from work for the court proceedings. Cally quit her job as a medical transcriptionist when they adopted Harvey so she could stay home full time.

The couple married four years ago. They tried for three years to have a baby, then filed adoption papers a year ago. The adoption application process was grueling, including six reference letters, about 40 pages of forms, an interview with a social worker and six months of adoption classes, they said.

Knight chose the couple. The Nielsons visited the young woman and got to know her during a trip to Idaho in early June. They opted for an open adoption, allowing the birth mother to correspond with the adoptive parents and visit the child.

The Nielsons were contacted a few minutes after midnight on June 24 and told that Knight had gone into labor. Harvey was born at 9 a.m. Jed and Cally rushed to Coeur d'Alene and held their new baby in their arms by 11 a.m. that day.

Knight confirmed her decision. Papers were signed, and the Utah family settled into its new three-member status, the Nielsons said.

It should be a time for joy with their new baby, Cally Nielson said, but "it's a complete mess ... This is every adoptive parent's nightmare."

To help the Nielsons with their legal costs, a fund has been started at U.S. Bank under the Jed and Cally Nielson Charitable Donation Fund.

---

E-mail: kstewart@desnews.com