has anyone here adopted?

[bjt]

Hi all,
after ttc for a couple of years, we're thinking we should start looking into adoption. I really know nothing about it though, and am unsure where to start looking. The state adoption websites (NY) are rather frightening and not terribly helpful, so there has got to be better places to start getting information! I thought I'd see if anyone here had any ideas on where to start looking, or any info you'd like to pass along.
Also, it'd be great to hear some happy adoption stories!

thanks, and happy New Year!
Barbara

[jaime15]

You might try Bethany Christian Services. Just google the name and it will take you to their site. Once there, you can see how close one of their offices are to where you live.
Best of luck to you! :)

[Janie Miranda]

We adopted. It was an international adoption. As far as happy stories, ours couldn't be happier! If you would like to know more just send me a PM.

[Kara29]

I will be adopting in a few years due to IC. I have already started researching it.
It's nice to have support in the adoption process.


Thanks,

Kara :)

[chainsaw]

Hi Barbara,

Yes, we adopted just last year. Actually it will be a year on Febuary 28, 06. We adopted a little girl from Changsha, China (Hunan Province). She was 15 months old at the time and she is now almost 26 months old. She is the greatest thing that has ever happened to us.

When we were ready to adopt I just got on the internet and looked over adoption agencies. We ended up going with 'PEARL S BUCK WELCOME HOUSE" in Perkasie (up near Philly). Pearl S Buck actually was a writer of books. I am not sure what all states Pearl S Buck Welcome House is license in, and I don't know where you are from either. I have heard of a few other agencies, "Adoptions from the Heart", "The Great Wall Adoptions", "Bethany Adoption Services", I know there are others out there. Another thing you may want to do is look up a magazine called "Adoptive Families", they always have alot of advertisments for Adoption agencies listed in the magazine. Also, they have a newsletter you can get through the email.

We started the adoption process on May 30, 2003. It took me 7 months to be approved thorugh the INS due to my fingerprints being so light they could not be read twice. The first time they took them using the ink and the second time we had to go to Philly to the INS place where they did them on the computer. Looking back now, it was all worth it. It took from May 30, 03-December 13, 04 before we got our referral. Then we traveled to China on Febuary 24, 05, and got our daughter on Monday Febuary 28, 05.

If you have any other questions feel free to email me or sned me a PM.

Kim H

[chainsaw]

Jane,

Which part of China is your daughter from?

Chainsaw

[JOJO]

Hi
We are fostering our first child, he is now 20 mos. old. We have had him for 6 mos. To be honest I dont know if I could do it again I am so attached to this child,and love him so dearly.and there is a chance he will go back. But I do know sometimes people do get adoptions this way. I only mention this, because we have looked into adoption, and I find it is not cheap.I dont know your financial status but thought I would mention this to you-jojo Good Luck :)

[ICNDonna]

Holt International Adoption Services has a web site. They are one of the largest international services. I know about them because their headquarters is in Eugene, Oregon --- I live in the country outside of Eugene.

I'm sure you can get some advice from them.

Donna

[Janie Miranda]

Holt was our adoption agency and I recommend them highly.

[Julia1103]

My husband and I adopted our daughter from Russia two and a half years ago. She was 7 months when we brought her home. I went through 3 years of infertility treatments. After adopting our beautiful daughter, I have come to view our infertility as a BLESSING. I thank GOD every day that I didn't become pregnant. We are currently working on the paperwork for our next adoption. We are China bound this time.

[jen48446]

Gosh seeing all these positive posts gives me hope!!! After 2 years of trying & my switching docs 3 times, they finally asked if my husband had been tested, nope!! That is when we found out he was "shooting blanks". I've been online requesting information on adoption & reading everything I can get my hands on. It puts me into tears just thinking about it. The heartache of wanting a child to love just can't be put into words. I truly can't wait to be a mom, I have 3 cats that are my babies but they sure can't take the place of a human child! We're researching international adoption as well because of the US laws, I'll be darned if I'm gonna take a chance to have the birth parents try to get the child back once it's in my home, that is the primary reason we're not going the fostering route, my heart couldn't handle it.

[chainsaw]

When we decided to adopt, I just got on the internet under "adoption" and checked for agencies and we decided to go with Pearl S Buck Welcome House in Perkasie, PA. It is near Philly. I don't know what states they are licensed in, but you could check out their website (www.pearlsbuck.org) and maybe it would tell you. There are alot of agencies out there and alot of countires with children. We chose China. All the countires seem to have different demands. For example: China, it is required that both parents go over to adopt their child, Korea brings them to you, Russia, you may have to make a couple different trips. And they all seem to have age limits on how old the parents can be at time of adoption. With our ages, China was the best for us. Good Luck. Any questions please feel free to email me, I will be glad to help in any way I can.

Kim H.
Mother to Makayla Zhu (26 months old)

[ICSF]

I have been concerned that my health would be a detriment, is it? I am on private disablity, but I "look" fine! :) I am scared to death they'll use it against me. My cousin, who adopted from China, told me it would probably be worse to them if I had a pool in my yard! :) I think she was trying to lift my spirits. Do all of you work, or could you work. I have worked, and I wouldn't adopt if I didn't think I could do it. (See, I even feel like I have to validate myself to you guys!....It's terrible to feel inferior and damaged because of this. I know that's my problem!)

[jen48446]

I too hope & pray that they don't use my anxiety or my early menopause against me, I do take a lot of vitamins & supplements but I'm healthier so I'm hoping they see things my way.

[chainsaw]

One of the couples in our group we traveled with to China, the mother has MS, but that didn't seem to make a difference on them getting approved or not.
Kim

[painfree4me]

BJT- We didn't adopt, but after 2 1/2 years of TTC we conceived our first daughter, and then after 9 months of TTC we conceived our son. Last month after just 2 months of TTC we conceived a 3rd time, but lost the baby last weekend. We were told that we'd never conceive on our own b/c I have endo. and my dh has a very low sperm count. HAH...God had other plans. I had laparoscopy and we were looking into adoption when we conceived. We would still love to adopt some day b/c we desire to have a large family and there are so many babies out there in need of a special home.
The only real advice I have for you is, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." He will lead you to the answers you seek, either in adoption agencies, personal stories, doctors or literature or other necessary information.
I am living proof. After putting all of my faith in Him, I was able to regain hope, and piece together a treatment plan through the right contacts and doctors. It was amazing how random conversations would lead me in a right direction. There are no accidents. Best wishes for this exciting chapter of your journey!