[JC10]

Hi! I got your email. I'm so excited for you. My husband and I moved here about 8 yrs. ago from the Monterey area. My youngest daughter was also a private/open adoption however the birth family has elected to have no contact. Foster/adopt was much easier for placement but much more emotional. Dealing with so many hearings, visitations, court dates, trials, social workers, it can be very emotionally exhausting. BUT, completely worth it. I know, my friends/family all think I'm nuts too but they've accepted it all and been supportive for the most part. My oldest son is also high functioning autistic with a diagnosis of asbergers. It too can be challenging. I'm so happy for you, the beginning of the foster/adopt process can be so exciting! We're fnalizing the adoption of our 12 yr old daughter on Wednesday! A little history...we move here 8 years ago w/ our 5 bio children. A friend of the family said there was a girl pregnant who was interested in placing for adoption. And so, we adopted our beautiful Emily. While waiting for her birth, we were placed "temporarily with our 3 angels, ages 10 mo. 2, & 4. Emily was born about 6 months after in Nov. 2004 and at the same time we were notified that reunification was no longer an option for the 3 little ones. By then we were so very attached and decided to adopt. In Aug. 2005 we finalized Emily's adoption and were waiting to finalize on the 3. In Oct. 2005 we got a call that the 3 little ones had an older sister who'd been separated at an early age, no one realized she was also in the system. SO, we have all 4 siblings. We finalized the adoption of our two sons and young daughter Sept. 06 and will finalize wednesday with our 10th child!!! It's all so exciting. I hope to hear from you soon!