Adoption Update

MendelZ · #1 (**permalink**) 06-18-2004, 10:21 PM

Hi all

I thought I'd give you an update on my adoption process. We have decided to go with an agency that has an African-American Infant Program because of the short wait times (usually 6 months, but it could be as short as 1 day or as long as 14 months) and most of the birthmothers have little or no exposure to drugs or alcohol. We met with the agency this past Monday and just received our homestudy packet today. The agency held a potluck tonight for adoptive parents in this program so we went to that and had a great time. Here's my post about it to the adoption board:

(x-post)
Oh my goodness, we had the BEST time at the potluck! This was a potluck organized by the agency for adoptive parents in the African-American Infant Program. There were about 5 families there not including us, with children from 1 month old to 3 years old. The families were so incredibly nice and most of them gave us their e-mails/phone #'s in case we had any questions about the process. Many are also happy to share their "Dear Birthmother" letters with us and one of them has formed a play group for kids adopted through the program pretty close to where we live (15 minute drive). One of the mothers let us hold her one month old daughter. This baby was so beautiful and precious--I just completely lost it! There I was, sitting on the floor at the agency in the midst of about a dozen people, holding this baby and bawling my eyes out, thinking that I could very soon be holding such a beautiful baby of my own! Here's the funny thing: the baby's name is Olivia and that name just came to me as our future daughter's name when we started to think about going with this program a few weeks ago--I hadn't even told Nancy about it yet. When I mentioned it to her tonight she said that she really likes that name too.

Then, when we got home, there was our homestudy packet, sitting on our front doorstep. Now I know what I'll be doing this weekend!

I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am right now.

Karen

DivaTam · #2 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 05:58 AM

That is great to hear everything seems to be moving along for you Karen.

Here's hoping it won't be much longer and you'll have your own addition to your famil!

Take care

Tam

Hope2BAMommy · #3 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 08:18 AM

Hey Karen,

It sounds like you had a nice experience at the potluck! I'm keeping you and DP in my prayers that you will be holding your baby in your arms very soon! Keep us posted!!

Kim

Alynn · #4 (**permalink**) 06-21-2004, 06:18 PM

Karen!
Oh how exciting! I can't tell by your post that you are finally happy again. I'm so glad. It does sound like you are well on your way. How's the home study going? Could you tell us more about it? I think there are some of us who are considering adoption as an option and we'd love to know all the details.

The potluck sounds great. That was nice for you to be able to get some phone numbers and talk to families that have been through the adoption process. Did you call any of them?

Keep us posted. I'm very, very excited!

(going back to Janes bunny since our ice cream cone is gone)

jsnbean · #5 (**permalink**) 06-22-2004, 10:33 PM

Karen,

I'm so happy things are going well for you. The whole thing sounds wonderful.

Jilda

Kritter · #6 (**permalink**) 06-23-2004, 06:15 PM

Hi Karen!
I'm so happy to hear your update, this is all very exciting! I think you and dp have made such a wonderful decision, and it's amazing to think that you may have your baby in your arms so quickly! I hope the homestudy goes great, keep us posted!!

Ani&Riley · #7 (**permalink**) 06-23-2004, 08:16 PM

I'm so happy to hear that you are happy! God speed with the adoption process, I'll be thinking of you!